"I confess, I was following you. I was wrong to do so, and I apologize," Isadora said, attempting to pull her hand out of his grasp.
"Stay out of matters that don't concern you," he said sternly, his grip still tight before he finally let go.
"Alright, I will," Isadora replied, rubbing the spot on her hand where his grip had been firm.
As Isadora walked away, she was more determined than ever to uncover the truth. She didn't give up, but instead, walked until she was sure she was no longer in view.
Then, she concealed herself behind a door, waiting for the perfect moment to sneak back and listen in on Marcus's conversation. She suspected that he would soon enter the private lounge, and she was ready to eavesdrop and uncover the secrets contained in the mysterious file.
Isadora waited for what felt like an eternity, then cautiously emerged from her hiding place, expecting to sneak up on Marcus. But, to her absolute dismay, she found herself standing toe-to-toe with him once again. Her eyes locked onto his, and she froze, her mind reeling with shock and confusion. She was completely unprepared for this unexpected encounter.
Isadora tried to speak, but her words got stuck in her throat. Before she could even gather her thoughts, Marcus seized her hand and pulled her along with him, his grip firm and unyielding. Isadora struggled to break free, but her efforts were futile. She silently prayed that they wouldn't encounter any staff members as Marcus continued to drag her relentlessly. Her heart raced with fear and anxiety until they finally reached her room. Fortunately, their path was clear, and Marcus shoved her inside, slamming the door shut behind her and locking it from the outside.
"Let me out!" Isadora yelled, pounding on the door with her fists. But her cries for help went unanswered, and eventually, she exhausted herself and trudged over to her bed, collapsing onto it in defeat.
"What have I gotten myself into?" she thought despairingly. "I should have just given up."
Her stomach growled with hunger, a stark reminder that she hadn't eaten, and with the door locked from the outside, escape seemed impossible. Alone and isolated, she had no one to turn to, no one to call for help. All she could do was wait and wonder what would happen next.
As Isadora sat in despair, she noticed a small package slide into the room through the narrow gap at the bottom of the door. Curious, she walked over to investigate and picked it up, finding a bundle of snacks and a note that read: "This will have to suffice for now, until everything is settled."
With a sigh, she returned to her bed, feeling a sense of resignation. She opened the snacks and began to eat, grateful that they would sustain her for a while, but her mind was filled with anxiety about her fate. She feared that Marcus might inform Maxwell, which would only make things worse for her. As she ate, she silently prayed for mercy, hoping that Marcus would spare her for the third time.
After finishing the snack, Isadora reached for her phone on the table and was reminded of something crucial. She grabbed her purse and rummaged through it, searching for the memory card she had secretly stashed away.
Her heart raced as she found it and inserted it into her phone. She had been prudent enough to hide it before Maxwell had destroyed her previous phone, and now it could potentially be of use to her.
As Isadora accessed the memory card, the memories she had stored came flooding back. She opened her phone's gallery, and the first image she saw was a heartwarming photo of her and Antonio, capturing their happiness and love.
However, the sight of their joyous faces now filled her with sorrow, as she knew they could never go back to those carefree days. Their love had been genuine, but after her pregnancy, Isadora felt compelled to distance herself, believing she had betrayed Antonio's trust.
Antonio had been a loving and supportive partner, never pressuring her into doing something she wasn't comfortable with. He had respected her wish to wait until marriage before they become intimate, and she couldn't bear the thought of not fulfilling that promise to him and her family.
The most painful realization was that her purity had been taken by someone who didn't cherish it - a wealthy, arrogant billionaire. The thought of Antonio discovering this truth brought tears streaming down her face, as she grappled with the weight of her secrets.
Isadora had often longed to turn back the clock, but it was too late for regret now. She wiped away her tears, gently set her phone aside, and lay down on the bed, surrendering to her sorrow.
After what felt like an eternity, the door finally opened, and Isadora sprang up from the bed. Marcus entered, shutting the door behind him. "How could you keep me locked up for so long?" she demanded.
"I was trying to protect you," Marcus explained. "What do you mean?" Isadora asked, confusion etched on her face.
"Think about it," Marcus said. "How do you think Maxwell discovered your eavesdropping the last time? He has cameras installed in his private lounge, so don't even think about snooping around there again."
Isadora's eyes widened as she realized her mistake. "I should have known better," she muttered to herself.
"Now you understand, stay away from that place, got it?" Marcus warned.
Isadora nodded, "Yes, I will."
Just as Marcus was about to leave, Isadora's eyes landed on the file still clutched in his hand. In a flash, a risky and potentially harmful idea struck her. "Wait," she called out, her voice husky, and Marcus turned to face her, his eyes narrowing slightly.
As she sauntered closer, her movements became deliberately seductive. "You must be very close to Maxwell to know about my past eavesdropping," she said, her voice low and sultry.
"What else do you know?" she asked, her eyes locked on his, her lips curling into a provocative smile.
Marcus's expression turned wary, and he took a step back, his voice firm. "What are you doing, Isadora?" he asked, his tone a clear warning. Undeterred, she continued, her voice dripping with seduction. "Why are you protecting me, Marcus?" she purred, closing the gap between them.
"Isadora, are you out of your mind?" Marcus asked, taking a step back as she approached him.
But she closed the distance, her hand reaching up to wrap around his neck. "No, I just want to know what you know about me," she whispered, her fingers tracing a path down his body, stopping at his chest.
Marcus's response was swift and firm. "No, Isadora," he said, his hands grasping her wrists and pushing her away. He turned and quickly exited the room, leaving her standing alone.
Isadora was aware that she had just played a dangerous game, but a sly smile spread across her face as she gazed at the paper she had surreptitiously taken from the file Marcus had been holding. She turned her attention to studying the paper, hoping to uncover some answers.