Shadows of Desire

CHAPTER THREE

“You should stop gaping. You look like a fish,” he said with the hint of laughter in his voice. His voice was deep and commanding but sounded soothing at the same time. He wore a very serious expression and Isabella couldn’t tell if the spark in his eyes was one of amusement or one of arrogance. One side of his lip tilted in a half smile hinting more at arrogance.

Isabella snapped her mouth shut but still couldn’t stop staring. She couldn’t seem to take her eyes off the godlike human that stood a few feet away from him.

Standing at over six feet, he had broad shoulders that conveyed a sense of strength and authority and strong arms that suggested both athletism and capability. He wore a navy green sleeveless dress shirt that showed his tanned arms and made Isabella’s throat go dry. His long legs, well-proportioned, were clad in dark blue classic jeans paired with black loafers that made him look even more perfect.

His hair, dark and meticulously styled, framed his face with a touch of tousled charm, adding to his overall allure. His hair framed his angular and handsome face with high cheekbones that lent a sculpted quality to his features, complemented by a straight nose and firm lips that seemed to hold a hint of a confident smirk. His rugged jawline added a hint of masculinity to his refined features. His eyes were dark blue, like the color of the ocean. They were piercing and intense, capable of both warmth. Every aspect of his appearance seemed to exude sophistication and confidence, leaving Isabella both intrigued and slightly mesmerized by the man before her.

Isabella tried to compare this insanely hot man to the few men she had met in her lifetime and she realized that they paled in comparison to this gorgeousness that stood a few feet away from her. She could tell he was no ordinary man. He had an air of danger around him. He was definitely a man who knew how beautiful he was, and he made his appearance work for him on many occasions.

“You have to let me know when you’ve had your fill of me so that we can move to the next item on the agenda.” Mr. Moretti said, and this time it was in a mocking tone.

Isabella cleared her throat a little too loudly and dipped her head politely.

“Hi. If you’d please pardon my manners, I’m not always lost for words,” Isabella said breathily, and she shook her head as if trying to shake off whatever thoughts had intruded her mind.

Mr. Moretti tilted his head to one side and looked at her like he was trying to figure her out. His ever permanent smirk on his face, he turned to the guard, who until that moment Isabella had forgotten was still there, and with his head motioned for him to leave. The very polite man nodded as he started his walk to the door.

“And Mason,” Adonis called out, “Stand right outside the door. I might need you to come in a few minutes.” Mason nodded and with long strides went out the door.

Isabella gulped and tried to swallow the lump in her throat when she realized she was alone with this man. She tried to think of the sky, clear skies. Of toddlers giggling. Of happy and innocent things. She tried as much as possible not to bite her lips or start blabbing again as she noticed that this strange man was still staring at her.

“So, Ms. Rossi, is it?” he asked.

“Yes, that is me.” Isabella said as she laughed nervously, looking everywhere but at the eyes that looked at her with so much intensity. “And I am sorry for showing up at your doorstep unexpectedly and without an invitation, obviously. But you have to believe me when I say I do not know why I am here or who you are, sir.” She managed to finish in one long breath.

“Wonderful,” he said as he clenched and unclenched his fists. “So, you got into a vehicle with a bag packed full, dressed up, stepped into a van and drove all the way down here with Santoro and didn’t ask any questions?” he had disbelief written all over his face. Isabella could not fault him, she couldn’t believe herself as it was.

“I promise you, sir, that I have no idea what my stepfather is playing at, and I’d rather be anywhere else but here at the moment. All I know is I am supposed to stay here with you, until he is able to get whatever money he owes you and comes to trade me like I am some item on the market. And I don’t mean to sound insensitive, I know you care about your money a lot, and you really want it back, but I promise you that a human should never be the price for whatever money you’re owed, no matter the amount.” Isabella finished her sentence near tears. She could feel the hot tears in her eyes and tried desperately not to show them. She had to be brave.

Mr. Moretti arched his brows in deep thought. He looked her over and decided that she really had no idea what was going on. He swore under his breath and wished at that moment he could lay his hands on Giovanni Santoro. He lifted the crumpled piece of paper in his hand and read out loud:

“To Raymond Moretti. This is my stepdaughter Isabella, a pretty little thing, right? She is ripe and untouched, and I promise you, you can do whatever pleases you with her. There are no exceptions. All I ask is that you give me more time to come up with whatever I owe you, and you can keep her a little bit more than you please. I just need time. Thanks. G. Santoro.”

By the time he was done reading, Isabella wanted to curl under a rock, never to be seen again. But if wishes were horses…..

“So you got yourself a w***e and a slave. What shall I do now, master?” Isabella blurted out before she could stop herself. She lifted her head to lock eyes with him for the first time.

“Exactly. And I am the master that collects young women as compensation for thousands of dollars. He must really think you’re worth a lot.” Raymond said, his mouth curling into a crude smile.

Isabella muttered a silent curse, her embarrassment hitting the roof. Her cheeks were bright red as she tried to conceal her visible mortification.

“I really want to know though; does he think your body can pay for what he owes me? That I can’t get women lying in my bed on my own? And so he resorted to giving me the ultimate price, which is you, by the way, in exchange for my money?”

Isabella tried to ignore the insult but it stung.

“Mr. Moretti, pardon me but….”

“Call me Raymond”

“Mr. Raymond….”

“Just Raymond”

Isabella let out a loud sigh and looked up to the ceiling for some sort of heavenly intervention.

“So do you plan to take him up on his offer?” she asked him.

Raymond looked at her intently like he was trying to figure out what to do. Like he couldn’t make up his mind.

“I’ll understand if you choose to, but you have to understand also that I am not going to give myself over to you willingly.” Isabella wanted to say more, like she wanted to somehow convince him that she wasn’t going to be good a sport, but she had to stop herself before she’d blurt out something she’d regret.

“I do not intend to force myself on you. I cannot and never will. In fact, I plan on sending you back home. It is Giovanni that owes me money and I do not plan on involving you in this mess. You should never have been dragged down here. Mason is going to take you back home and ensure that you are safe,” Raymond said as he finally made up his mind.

He was still watching the young woman though. He didn’t expect her to look frightened when he mentioned her home or for her to look at him with pleading eyes like she was asking him to do whatever he wanted with her rather than send her home.

“You do have something to say, don’t you?” he asked.

“I don’t,” Isabella answered, looking at the ground like she was too frightened to look up.

“You’ll stay the night, it is too late to drive out and you certainly look famished. Mr. Stephen will help you settle in for the night and get you something to eat and tomorrow you’ll be on your way home,” Raymond said in a tone of finality.

Isabella stared at his back as he made to walk away. She knew she should be happy that he was sending her back home, but she couldn’t understand why she was on the brink of tears. She knew this was her chance to free herself from the shackle that is her stepfather and then think of what to do next. Before she knew it, she was calling out to him.

“Raymond?”

“Yes?” he replied without turning around.

“Can I stay?”