Isabella

Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Isabella got back to her lodge after she was done with Carlos Fernandez. She quickly pulled up her gown and shoes and made her way to the bed, she collapsed on the bed trying to get enough rest before she got booked for the evening. She knew Leo would call, he always did.

Rosalinda must be at the party she mentioned earlier that day to Isabella.

Isabella couldn't stop thinking about her last client, Carlos. She could remember the aura of his cologne, it clung to her memory. Isabella enjoyed every bit of time she spent with him, even though she didn't act like it. She knew she wouldn't see him again. After all, their business had ended.

“Hey Ryan, let me guess, you are in town.”

Carlos said as soon as he picked his friend's call.

“Yea, I just came in, I have five days to myself.”

“Your dad let you leave the company? Is he done dealing with you after the last mess you created for him?” Carlos chuckled teasing.

They both laughed.

“I have learnt from my mistakes,” Ryan said.

“No Ryan, you haven't learnt, that I'm sure of.”

“I came here to have some fun and not to be schooled," Ryan replied, chuckling.

“Alright, let's have some fun and make sure you enjoy your short escape before you get back to Quezon city and to work. I'm still at my usual hotel.”

“I will see you tonight, I need to meet up with some people first,” Ryan said before he hung up.

Carlos sat back, his phone was still in his hand but his thoughts drifted. Carlos couldn't stop thinking about his time with Isabella. He never really wanted to spend time with any woman. Carlos had never been into women, but his personal assistant James convinced him that he needed a little distraction so he would be more effective in his work.

Isabella didn't seem like a prostitute to him, she was different. Her beauty was beyond the normal. Her large eyes had a way of pulling him in. They stayed with him even after she had gone. Carlos tried to shake her off but the thoughts lingered.

He wasn't interested in any girl yet, and if he was, he would take things seriously. He wouldn't want to end up like his dad, who never liked taking women seriously. Carlos only saw his dad on a few occasions with women who never stayed for long, at least not one.

Isabella's phone rang loud, it was Leo, she hadn't' even rested properly. Isabella delayed answering the call, but picked it up when the call came in the third time.

“Why is it taking you ages to pick your damn phone?” Leo didn't wait for an answer, he continued. “Get ready for another client by 7pm.”

“I….I really don't feel well.” Isabella murmured, pulling out a lie.

“And what does that even mean?” he asked.

“I don't feel well,” she lied the second time, adding a cough for effect.

Leo was silent for a few seconds. Isabella knew he was calculating whether to believe her or not.

“Isabella, this client specifically asked for you, so you would have to try.... or let's see if we can reschedule," he continued, "But by tomorrow, no excuse will be taken.”

“Thank you,” Isabella said loudly, relieved that she was not working that day.

“Don't thank me yet, if the client doesn't agree, you will still have to show up,” he warned.

“Ok sir,” Isabella replied and sighed slightly.

After he hung up, she stared at the ceiling wondering if this will be all of her, the selling of herself, night after night, offering fake smiles, but this was her world now.

Isabella had the night to herself, she knew Leo wouldn't call back. She turned her phone off and went back to sleep.

“You were with a girl yesterday? I can't believe that,” Ryan said, chuckling as he leaned on the couch eyeing Carlos with amusement.

“You better believe it,” Carlos replied, raising an eyebrow.

Ryan shook his head, “you don't like women, you only care about your job, so what changed?”

“I'm working on a case and I needed something that can tickle my mind.” Carlos replied, tilting his head.

Ryan stared closely at him.

“I need to take a piece of this new girl.”

Carlos grinned.

“Don't go there, stick with Vanessa.

Why didn't you come with her?”

“Man, I have just five days to myself. Every other thing or person can wait.

“I see,” Carlos replied, lifting his drink and swallowing it in one long gulp .

“I think someone is trying to kill my dad.”

Carlos raised a brow.

“What are you talking about? Why did you say that? Do you suspect anyone?”

Ryan didn't answer immediately. He looked down organizing his thoughts.

“That woman of course.”

Carlos blinked. “Your stepmom?”

Ryan didn't respond to that, instead he continued.

“My dad has been complaining of not being able to sleep well, headaches and random dizzy spells. I decided to take his drugs to my doctor to get them analyzed.

Carlos leaned in, his eyes sharp now.

“And?”

The doctor found out that he hasn't been taking the right drugs. He has been taking drugs that don't match with what he prescribed."

Carlos stared at him, stunned.

“And your stepmom is the only one that handles his meditation?”

Ryan nodded.

Exactly, she is the only person that has access to his drugs, not even my sister. She prepares the pills and gives them to him after a meal.

“Have you replaced the drugs with the right ones," Carlos asked.

“Yes I did replace the fake meds with the correct one a week ago. He's been sleeping through the night. No complaints of headache. These are visible changes.”

Carlos leaned back slowly, absorbing everything.

"That's suspicious, I will give you that, but we can't be sure who it is, we can only speculate.”

“I know it's her, this isn't speculation," Ryan said firmly.

“I know I have never liked her but I'm sure about this. I’m yet to find out what her reasons are.”

“We have no evidence and you can't confront her now but we need to work on something,” Carlos replied, staring at his friend with concern on my face.

Rosalinda returned from the party. Her face was a mix of anger and exhaustion. She recounted the whole incident at the party to Isabella. The new girl who she felt pity for.

"Isabella, she was drugged to sleep because she tried to escape.

Miguel's men beat her up before drugging her and she was given to a client who had s*x with her.

She cried all through our way back as soon she gained consciousness.She also threatened she would sue Miguel Martinez and his agency."

Isabella only listened but didn't utter any words.

Ryan checked into a different hotel after he parted with Carlos. He was alone, he wasn't in the mood for a company. He needed time to also process the suspicion he had about his stepmom..

Vanessa called him and after the call, he tried to get some rest in the king-sized bed and cold room just the way he liked it.

The loud ring from his phone jerked him up after he had slept for a few minutes. He looked at the caller's name, it was Santiago Fernandez, Carlos' father,

His brows furrowed instantly. Carlos father never called him directly except it was a case of emergency and not by 11 in the night, he wondered why he was calling.

“Hello sir?”