Theodore watched Malcolm’s silhouette shrink into the distance through the opaque glass of the floor-to-ceiling window. Relief washed over him, a sigh escaping his lips.
"Thank goodness, I noticed him while entering," Theodore said. Turning back to Bella, he found her still nestled in his arms. Heat flared in his cheeks as he awkwardly withdrew his hand, stepping back a touch. He cleared his throat.
"That was a close one," he mumbled, nervously rubbing the back of his head.
"Yes... um..." Bella’s eyes darted towards the plush bed. The memory of their closeness sent a blush creeping up her neck. She couldn’t think of sharing the bed with him again. "So," she stammered, "who gets the bed?"
Theodore frowned. The question seemed loaded, a rejection veiled in politeness. Why was she hesitating to share the bed with him? There was no way he was relinquishing the comfort of the bed.
"This is my room, my bed," he asserted. "Naturally, I’ll sleep here."
"Then I’ll take the sofa."
Disappointment flickered across his face. Theodore saw the resistance in her posture. "The bed is large enough for both of us," he offered. "There is no need for either of us to sleep uncomfortably on the sofa."
"No, I’ll be fine on the sofa," she insisted, hanging her head down. "I don’t want to repeat the same mistake." Her cheeks burned a deeper shade of red as she thought of sleeping beside him.
Theodore chuckled, amusement flashing in his eyes. His eyes, alight with a teasing glint, met hers. "Don’t fret," he soothed, "taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable state isn’t my style. Nothing has happened between us." He finally revealed the truth. "You sobered up after the cold shower and changed yourself. Nothing inappropriate happened."
Bella’s jaw clenched as she shot him a stern glare. A red flush crept up her neck as the truth washed over her. "You lied!" she grunted out, her voice tight with anger. "How could you?" She raised her fist and slammed at him.
Theodore caught her wrist reflexively before her fist could connect him and pulled her close, the warmth of his body enveloping hers. His voice dipped to a husky whisper near her ear, "Disappointed, are you?" A suggestive pause followed. "If you are, I can satisfy you."
Bella gaped at him, eyes wide, mouth agape. His blatant suggestion left her speechless. A moment later, she twisted away, breaking free from his grasp. "Pervert!" she muttered.
Theodore, however, remained unfazed. A smirk played on his lips as he took a purposeful step towards her. "Am I? We are married, after all. Is it so wrong that I want to consummate the marriage?"
She retreated as he moved in closer. Her legs hit the plush surface of the bed, and she collapsed with a gasp.
Theodore loomed over her, his large hands caging her on either side. "Besides," he continued, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, "the contract never mentioned sex being off-limits, did it?"
His face was a mere breath away from hers, his warm breath tickling her cheek. Her senses were on high alert, bombarded by the overwhelming nearness of him. Nervousness battled with a strange, unfamiliar awareness that fluttered her stomach. Frozen, she didn’t even dare to blink, trapped in the web of his dominance.
Bella’s heart pounded in her chest, and she could feel the heat radiating from his body. Theodore’s eyes, dark and intense, locked onto hers, searching for a response.
"You’re unbelievable," she whispered, her voice shaky. Despite her protest, a part of her was drawn to him, captivated by the magnetic pull between them.
"I’m just being honest," he murmured, "and I can tell you also want this."
She swallowed hard, her throat dry.
The truth in his words and the raw desire in his eyes left her breathless.
Theodore’s gaze dropped, lingering on the soft curve of Bella’s lips. He remembered the sweetness of her lips and longed to taste them. He dipped his head down, the space between them shrinking, his intent clear.
Just as his lips were about to brush against hers, a shrill ring shattered the intimacy. His phone blared to life in his pocket. He stepped back, checking his phone, only to see Hugo’s number.
The amusement that had danced in his eyes vanished, replaced by a mask of seriousness. Without a word, he pivoted on his heel and strode out of the room, leaving Bella alone and disoriented in his wake.
She stared after him, the lingering warmth of his nearness replaced by a cold emptiness. Her mind raced. Who had called him that what made him so serious? She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside.
Outside the room...
The hallway swallowed Theodore whole, the slam of the door echoing in the sudden silence. His gaze, no longer lingering on Bella’s lips, was now fixed on the phone clutched in his hand.
"Did you find him?" Theodore asked seriously.
"Yes, we found him," Hugo replied. "He was shot and rushed to the hospital."
The word slammed into Theodore’s mind, a sucker punch to his gut. "Shot?" His world tilted on its axis.
Theodore’s mind went blank. He had not anticipated that the task he had assigned to Skyler would put him in danger. He felt bad for him. "How is his condition now?" he asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"Serious. The bullet pierced just a few inches from his heart, making the surgery risky," Hugo on the other end offered a grim prognosis.
Theodore’s impatience flared. "Did you contact the cops? What are they saying? Did they find those people?"
"Yes, the gang leader was killed. After that, all the gang members surrendered. Unfortunately, Skyler was caught in the crossfire."
"Stay there. I’m coming."
Ending the call, Theodore hurried out of the house without saying a word to Bella.
Claudia, who had just emerged from her room with a water bottle clutched in her hand, saw him storming out of the house. Her brow furrowed. "Where is he going in such a hurry?"
A sly smile then curved her lips. She assumed Theodore and Bella had fought each other.
"No wonder he is leaving at this hour," she scoffed. "They’ve already started quarreling. Theodore, Theodore," she sighed dramatically, shaking her head. "With your temper, no one will be able to stand you for long. Gina is the only one who can truly tolerate you."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunlight slanted through the window, painting stripes across the rumpled sheets. Bella stirred, blinking away the remnants of sleep. She stretched languidly, only to find herself cocooned in the vast expanse of the bed...alone.
A frown creased her forehead. Had Theodore not returned last night?
Memories of the previous evening flooded back – their closeness, the sudden phone call, his grim expression etched in her mind. She sat up, a dull ache throbbing in her head. She had waited for him, tossing and turning until the exhaustion finally claimed her. But where was he now?
A jolt of unease ran through her. ’Could there be trouble at his office?’ she thought. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶
Her first instinct was to reach for her phone to call him, but a quick search of the nightstand and the room revealed that it was missing.
"Oh, no!" she muttered, pinching her brow. She had dropped the phone in that forsaken building. "It seems like I have to buy a new phone." With a defeated sigh, she rose from the bed and padded towards the bathroom.
When she finally came out of the hall, her gaze fell on Gina, perched on the sofa like a smug feline.
"Well, well... Look who has woken up finally," Gina drawled with sarcasm. "I hope you slept well after chasing your husband out of the house last night."
Bella’s eyes narrowed, confusion battling with a rising tide of anger. Theodore left? The thought sent a jolt through her, leaving her momentarily speechless.
Gina continued her tirade. "You are not compatible with Theo," she said, rising from the sofa and approaching her. "This marriage won’t last long."
Her words were like gasoline on the fire of Bella’s fury. "My marriage to Theodore is none of your concern, Gina," she snapped. "These are private matters that don’t require a third person’s commentary."
"Bella!" Just then, Claudia’s sharp voice cut through the tense atmosphere.
Startled, Bella whirled and noticed her approaching with a stormy gait, seemingly frustrated.
"You may be Theodore’s wife in name only," Claudia lashed out, "but Gina is family! You have no right to humiliate her just because your husband doesn’t seem interested in you!"
"Who said I’m not paying attention to my wife?" Theodore’s voice boomed, demanding everyone’s attention.
All three of them turned around and saw Theodore filling the doorway.
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