The Prince and The Charming

14. The Wrong Turn

Isabella laid with her head over the table, each and every muscle of her body was aching with shooting pains, her limbs her feeling just as numb with the excrutiating pain as ever.She sighed looking over at her desk on the small calendar placed on her table right next to a picture frame.

It was Saturday and she was lucky enough to feel the week ending and her celebration by giving herself a well-deserved rest for the next entire Sunday.

She was lucky enough to have a cooperative team on her department who understood her completely and did every work with efficiency and delivered within the due time, actually loading off a lot of work from Isabella’s shoulders. And why wouldn’t they? They were having an amazing time with Isabella as their head, they were not just learning a lot from the young supervisor but also getting used to of her charming personality and sweet behavior as even under extreme stressful situations she handled everything gracefully.

And her sweet behavior was what made many boys from her department have secret crushes on her, and who could blame them? she was hot, single and sweet.

The intercom on her desk buzzed as her assistant Kathleen who was still working as an anti-Isabella agent, spoke up;

“Ms. Rowan, His highness Prince Charlie is here to see you.” She announced without asking for Isabella’s permission who sighed with great depression as Charlie entered inside the room smiling from ear to ear. Isabella felt disgusted seeing his face, he gave her anxiety and made her nervous.

For the past three weeks, Harold and Charlie had been doing nothing but torturing Isabella with loads of work, making her jump back and forth between her office and the field. She was even serving them work of almost four people but she couldn’t complain because there was no one to complain before The Royal highnesses.

“I hope you do remember the night’s ceremony? You have to be there.” Charlie reminded Isabella, shamelessly roaming around the office, picking out and studying through each and every file. Instead of feeling offended, she rather decided upon ignoring him, knowing that there was no specific action that could ever revoke Charlie from what he likes to do.

But listening to his words did gave Isabella another headache as it intervened with her plan of sleeping and relaxing for the entire night.

“I don’t think I can…” she began but he sharply cut her off, grabbing another file off her shelf.

Most of the files didn’t only contain papers from work around the project but Isabella’s previous projects as well.

“Did I say you were allowed to excuse?” he turned and c****d an eyebrow at her.

She rolled her again at him which quaffed him as no one dared giving that expression to him.

“Ms. Rowan, I guess sometimes you perhaps forget that I am not just your executive but your royal grace.”

Isabella gritted her teeth, trying to maintain her professional stance. She had already sensed that the two brothers must have an idea about her professional past and had tried their best to ruin her more than perfect career line.

“The car will be at your door by seven sharp. Be there, I don’t want people to question the design head’s incapability of showing up to call.”

With that he still held the file in his hands and retorted out of the room. Isabella wanted to grab the crystal globe off her desk and throw it right over his head as he walked away but she again fisted her palm, calming her blazing nerves.

Charlie walked into his office, smirking out from ear to ear. He threw the file he got from Isabella’s office. He read the title that intrigued his curious nerves.

Anything!

He was searching for literally anything that he could get his hands on from Isabella’s work past and this file seemed to be his way in.

He opened the brown file titled, ‘Ritz Vegas’ and began surging through the thick pages of the compressed paper file. One by one he went through the pages. He was rather rendered surprise to see that on her work profile Isabella had stated that she was a co-designer while on that file she was stated as the sole designer and head of the project.

Why would a large instruction company give such a huge project to their youngest employee?

Charlie thought as he went searching through a file and stopped to see the name of an old project head who dropped from the project even before it began but the reasons were stated under miscellaneous. He smirked, thinking he finally caught a big fish in the small bowl. He picked up his phone dialing in a number.

“Yes?” he heard a dark voice chilling on the other side of the phone.

“Get me all the information on Barca instructions’ project details for the Ritz Vegas. I want each and everything about Isabella’s stay in United States, including her whereabouts, the people she met, the guys she dated. Each and everything!”

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“Ugh! Just forget about it! I’ll wear something off my closet.” Isabella complained for the umpteenth time to Matt who stood with secretaries, choosing an outfit from the entourage racks.

“I am thinking about going for something short? Perhaps Taylor Swift at the VMAs short?”

Isabella’s eyes shot up wide remembering the look. “No f*****g way.” She stated taking a sip off her Bellini.

“Stop drinking you drunk head, you have to attend an entire evening.” Pauline, Matt’s lesbian assistant who had an open crush on Isabella spoke to which Isabella simply gave her the middle finger.

“Oh wish you could do that.” She winked at Isabella making her chuckle.

“One of these days you girls are really going to get down to it.” Meredith, Matt’s other brunette assistant spoke.

“Now we really have to look for a dress girls.” Matt pointed out making everyone look at him as Isabella just sighed still feeling extremely exhausted from work and threw her head over the couch she was sitting on.

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Loaded with lots of concealer under her eyes to hide the tiredness she had surging through her body, Isabella stood wearing a white ruffled at the top off shoulder sleeveless dress, that ended in the middle of her thighs, hugging her curves very perfectly and a slit on the top middle of the dress showing off her popping eye catching cleavage.

Her lips were painted devil red, that definitely seemed like an eye catcher towards her pluming full lips. Being round and beautiful her eyes were left to stay without any makeup, making her look as beautiful as ever.

“For Someone who’s tired as hell, I surely do look pretty good.” Isabella stated, turning around and getting a view of her perfectly rounded rear that seemed too inappropriate to her.

“Well it did take a lot of makeup.” Pauline commented making Isabella chuckle.

“I still don’t want to go.” Isabella commented, feeling tired to her bones, grabbing the glass of margarita off the coffee table and sipping it. She was still having second thoughts about going. Something deep inside her instincted her that being out of the office with the two brothers, wasn’t a much pleasant idea.

Moreover, Matt had left her with Pauline and Meredith, to get ready himself which also made it easier for Isabella to escape the situation.

“Yes yes, keep drinking. That’ll help.” Meredith joked making her laugh.

Isabella’s phone beeped with a text as she saw Matt’s message;

Matt Bruce: I am on my way. See you soon. Don’t bail on my ass.

Knowing that there was no turning back as Matt was already on his way to the venue. Isabella sighed deeply while at the same the door to her apartment knocked up.

She opened it up to see a tall, dark guy in a black chauffeur’s uniform and cap over his head, standing with his hands behind his back. Even through the thick uniform one could easily make his muscular physique while his chiseled jawline was visible to the naked eyes. he was indeed a handsome man.

“I am here to pick Ms. Rowan.” He announced.

Rolling her eyes at her helplessness Isabella sighed, walking out of her apartment, with her clutch, waving the chauffeur to follow her. He smirked at Isabella’s ease and swiftness of action, watching her move her body as she walked.

His first impression of the woman was his boss’s mistress, like many other women, he thought of her to be the same. But another thought hit his mind, blocking his way out.

Isabella sat at the backseat of the Mercedes, while the chauffeur named, Michael drove at a normed speed. Through the rearview mirror Isabella would usually catch his gaze stuck up at her, rather than the road ahead and it made her feel uncomfortable. And then a realization hit her. she had already seen that guy with Charlie, almost two days ago when she went to deliver some files after Kathleen left and the man was leaving Charlie’s office. Back then he wore a black attire than made him look like a body guard and now his chauffeur outfit and duties just confused her.

After a long drive of reaching a venue by a large castle near the hills of southern end of Selkent, where a beige plutonic castle stood with a purple and white lights flashing all over the small and confined structure, signifying the essence of the entire place that was darkened at the moment but covered with lush green grass and blooming colorful flowers if observed under the sun.

As the car rolled down towards the entrance Isabella noticed the scarcity of cars as only three black cars were parked near the left end of the castle while no other car, media or any ushers were present.

Maybe they’re keeping it low.

She thought, getting out of the car once it stopped. But what began pinning her anxiety was the fact that just as she closed the door, the car sped away in blazing speed.

She gulped in fear, as her palms began sweating nervously. She looked around and the absence of any person dead or alive just made it seem even worst.

Shaking off her every fear she began walking over the paved pathway that was surrounded with potted and bedded plants and made her way following the lettuce crossway horizontal fences, that gave the pathway a shaded stance. She finally reached the large concrete door that was closed. It was pinning silence and nothing seemed to measure in the atmosphere for any ceremony and everything seemed extremely shady.

She tried pushing open the door but it didn’t seem to buldge. She then tried knocking but the pinning silence only echoed the sound of her knocks.

“Hello?” she tried asking in a shaky voice. She decided to take a step back and call for a cab as the area was entirely secluded for miles and not a single car could’ve been seen anywhere in sight.

“Maybe I am at the wrong entrance.” She tried soothing her mind with her thoughts.

Her anxiety was rising high inside her body making her stomach pain with the churning guts.

She picked out her phone having multiple thoughts running from her brain, deciding to call Matt. But as she opened up her clutch she only found that it only had a few pounds and pennies and a chewing gum that was several ages old with her missing phone. She gasped out loud as her mind swindled with turning thoughts that she might had lost in the car on her way but then it hit her, after reading Matt’s text she had kept it on the sofa and forgot to pick it up.

“f**k!” she cursed out loud.

Now she was stranded on a deserted road with nothing but a stupid silent castle right in front of her.

She decided to clear her mind and walk her way out, until she could get some taxi which was a risky plan for such a dark and cold night while she was only wearing a thick satin dress over her body.

Before she could’ve turned around the large carved concrete door gradually opened up inwards, making Isabella take a step back with bewilderment.

On the other end of the door, a tall woman wearing white satin gown, covering each and every inch of her body and laying lose on her curves stood up. Her wavy black hair were pulled back in a tight bun making her head shine, while her grey eyes studied Isabella’s figure making her feel conscious.

“You’re late.” She announced, waving at Isabella to follow her in.

Stepping in, Isabella’s first feeling was instant regret. Should’ve turned around and just left! she thought following the lady in white who simply was walking down the entire empty hallway that were actually darkened on the surrounding sides, making it difficult for Isabella to make out anything from the architecture of the building she had actually had an assignment on during her college. While the pathway and the corridors that they were walking down leading towards the west wing was illuminated.

“Where is the ceremony going on?” she asked the lady she was following idiotically and blindly.

“Down the hallway.” She pointed at the large wooden open doors from where Isabella could hear loud sounds of murmurs.

To Isabella it seemed like some funeral rather than a celebration, as she saw silhouettes of people wearing black coats roaming around the large ballroom.

“Seriously?” She asked.

“Just go in and tell Victoria, the woman by the door that you’re sent by Prince Charlie, will you?” The lady in white simply rolled her eyes making her way back to the front door.

Isabella felt weirded out at the need of introducing herself as Charlie’s guest.

I am the design head of this project, screw Charlie! I don’t need his name for introduction. With that she entered inside the large ballroom. It had no music playing, just the long creamy walls supported with grey marbled pillars at ends of the room, with all men roaming around the room in different attires.

Only the woman by the door who stood looking at Isabella with confused expression was the only figure with a v****a and breasts that Isabella could see.

Her gaze roamed again inside the room to see men in different traditional attires, from Mexican, to Scottish, to Danish, to Arabian with different types of gowns and covers over the heads, to English attires and even in French. She was rendered surprise to see such a variety.

“Is this some fancy dress show?” she asked the usherette at the door who gave Isabella a confused look.

Isabella noticed even how she was covered from head to toe, in the same conservative white attire and then she looked down at her popping cleavage. She gulped moving a little back as she hit another figure, hearing glasses shredding down into pieces as she gasped and turned around to see that she hit into the waiter wearing his attire, who was now drenched in booze.

She turned back just in time to see the entire room looking at her with surprise and bewilderment.

To see someone beyond a man in the room did come as a surprise to them, a woman who wasn’t an usherette and wore something other than the covering dress, in fact a woman, dressed to look chic and pretty.

She gulped as men stared at her amusingly and she could only think how wrongly she had subsided within the atmosphere.

“I… I…” She cleared her throat, “I… think I am at the wrong place.”

Without considering much she turned around but hit a rock hard figure making her stumble backwards.

Why the f**k does it always happens to me?

Isabella complained, looking up, rubbing her throbbing forehead only to be met by a glacier of cold blue eyes.

She gulped down hard looking at Harold who stood with gritted jaw, that flexed through the sharpness.

His eyes snapped hard at her face, when he studied her entire attire, talking in what she was wearing. One thing he knew that she was actually trapped in her. for the first time he actually understood that she was indeed not at all planning to come there.

He had thrown his annual Global Royal Ball, where the Kings and Princes of all around the world, silent and acting monarchs and crowns came up together, representing their countries in a very low key gathering just to enjoy a night filled with chattering and a small performance by some world class singers and dancers, having their entertainment call, just to show solidity among the crowns of the world.

The gathering was extremely private to be kept on low key basis, for security purposes and to let everyone enjoy a night without any fear of being caught on camera. It was Harold’s grandfather’s tradition who always felt the need to be left alone from the blazing cameras and the buzz life and sensing the rest of the people of his class all around the world felt the same he began a tradition.

Tonight’s ball was thrown by Harold who was taking over the tradition by his father. It was a perfect and a sober way of enjoying a night, but it also lacked diversity not signifying any woman.

He was attending his ball with peace, proud of the way that things turned out perfect when he received a text from his brother.

Charlie: The joke of the night is on its way! Enjoy ;)

Harold felt tinged at his texts that couldn’t be postulated rightly in his mind.

Harold: What do you mean? And who is coming?

According to Harold’s intel all of the three hundred royal men he had invited had reached the place. He couldn't afford an embarrassment at such a situation.

Charlie: I’ve set her up! She is on her way. Don’t worry, I promise you’ll enjoy.

Harold: Quit playing around!

He instantly snapped with anger sensing that Charlie had actually sent in some girl as part of his sick pranks that he can never quit playing. The room was filled with hormonal soon to getting drunk lustful men who had any woman they laid their eyes on at their feet and Harold already began planning for the woman’s safety that Charlie was sending in.

Charlie: Jeez relax! It’s Isabella. She had it coming.

Harold stood confused for a second at Charlie’s text. He actually wanted nowhere to be near her and that’s why he went for the ball instead of the ceremony of the project and now she was about to show up at the ball. He rather felt piqued, he felt trapped having no escape from Isabella.

He also wanted her gone. He had been bombarding her with unnecessary work, just to stress her out and make her quit but she one hell of a stubborn woman. He actually felt strange at finding this new quality that he remembered she lacked missing. But again her face reminded her of how much he loathed her and how she was never the way she presented herself in front of Harold.

He went upstairs to catch some fresh breath of air and to settle his nervous body. Whenever he was around her, he felt an unnecessary push through him. an anger or a sorrow. A feeling he didn’t understand but he wanted to channel it out on Isabella.

He received a call from the usherette that the dancer for the night was here but she was alone and Harold knew exactly who it was.

He heaved a sigh, making his way down the stairs calling the chauffer to prepare for Isabella’s leave.

She was already in the ball room where every man stood gawking at her while she stood looking at Harold with an eased expression.

She felt relieved that she finally found someone that was familiar with, be it if that person wore a huge, ‘Anti Isabella’ label. She still held her breath but felt her muscles relaxing at Harold’s sight. Give some credits to the three glasses of alcohol she had slipped on while getting ready as well.

“You barged in falsely!” he hissed taking a step towards her making her take a step back.

He knew she was at no fault and was actually innocent, trapped by Charlie but he still felt letting go off an anger at her.

“I… I was brought here by that…” she began forming words not knowing what to say or expect as Harold was here but it didn’t seem like a celebration or a ceremony of a project commencement.

All in Isabella was confused and to give a credit to her, so were all of us.

“So? Are you that stupid to be taken anywhere by anyone?” he c****d an eyebrow at her hissing even more sharply at her.

She rolled her eyes but she found his words affirmative. He was right though! I shouldn’t have been that careless and to top it all I didn’t even get my phone.

“I was in no mood to attend the ceremony!” she admitted crossing her hands over her chest, having the courage because of the raging alcohol.

He squinted his eyes tight, trying to control his raging anger, “Open you f*****g brain! This is no ceremony.”

She also had almost gotten the idea by no, “I know! I was promised a chauffeur to drive me to…”

“As I said, it’s your stupidity.” He groaned back in frustration, taking in deep annoyed breaths, “I still don’t get how did you end up working for a huge company.” He showed his disappointment making Isabella open her mouth in annoyance.

“You know you don’t always have to bring that up, that’s literally irrelevant to this situation.” She argued and her arguments irritated Harold even more as she showed her arrogant and stubborn self, something that Harold always found distasteful in not just women but in any human being. Being the king he was never used to talk back.

“You know you should really watch your tone and mouth…” he began pacing towards her but she stood her ground.

“I don’t care. I was brought here without any of my fault. You should actually focus on that rather than my career which seemed to be the only apparent problem of your life.” She pointed out with a stern tone.

Harold took another step towards her, with anger surging high in his veins, but he was interrupted by the usherette;

“Your Highness!” she called him out making both him and Isabella look at her with questioning eyes.

“Everyone is waiting whether there will be a performance or not? The other band just canceled. We just have the DJ who’s playing the music.” She informed him.

His eyes went big hearing that the main performers of the night canceled last minute, something that never happened before. His brain was now clouded with anger and confusion both, until he looked up at Isabella who stood back looking at the entire crowd making Harold notice how everyone was looking at them with utter silence and confusion.

He threw a fake smile at everyone, grabbing Isabella’s elbow he dragged her to one of the wider corridor, with golden shiny lights, creamy walls and a rolled out red carpet over the marbled floor that lead to a number of other rooms with wooden doors.

He pushed her up against a wall making her squirm as she looked at him with annoyed expressions, “Are you crazy?” she yelled with annoyance.

“Consider yourself lucky.” He hissed at her walking towards her completely entrapping her between his body and the wall.

“Lucky? You’re worst then your brother.” She retorted back with annoyance dripping down her voice as she tried escaping but he grabbed her elbow more firmly making her hiss with shooting pain as she felt her skin blistering with his harsh touch.

She looked at him with annoyance as he looked back with equal vengeance.

“If you think your company is something I enjoy than you are at a great mistake. In fact, if I could you wouldn’t be here in London. You were better off in Barcelona, riding your boss’s d**k and cars.” He smirked tugging her elbow harshly making her entire arm jerk forward.

She gasped with the slithering pain but decided to look away, she tried freeing her arm but he kept his hold tight on her elbow, digging his nails into her soft pink skin. She hated listening to his words, so low of her.

“I don’t have much time to waste on you. Listen carefully…”

His brain immediately formed a plan where he decided to teach Isabella lesson that she’ll never forget for a life time.

“Either you go or perform on stage or I tell these men the kind of woman you are and let them bet over you to take you home. That sounds more fun to me. Besides I'll earn something out of it. Consider it charity.”

Her eyes bulged out of her sockets listening to his words as she looked at him with utter shock and disgust.

She haphazardly tried removing his grip off her arm that got tighter with every effort she made, until she felt the pain reaching to her bone that felt like snapping. She whimpered slightly holding back a cry. Not wanting to feel weak in front of the man she loathed with all her might.

He pulled her towards him as she side hit his hard rock chest, removing a good chuck of her hair behind her back and grabbing on to them tight, making her hiss, he leaned down whispering coldly into her ear;

“Do a show, or I’ll make a show out of you.”

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