Chapter 55 Can’t have me.
Isla’s POV.
I was trying to stretch a little more on the bed before getting ready for the day when my phone buzzed.
“Can I have a peaceful morning in my life… my goodness..” I murmured, dragging the phone toward me.
It was Josie. “What was it this time?” I muttered, tapping on the screen.
“Hey, Jo?” I tried to say something, but my voice cracked.
“I was trying to reach you last night, your number wasn’t connecting. Is everything going?” She asked.
“Yeah, I’m good. I was busy attending a charity gala, so I didn't have time to check my phone.”
“I was so exhausted by the time I got home. How’s Iris doing?”
She hesitated for a moment too long, giving a deep sigh.
“He’s okay… just.”
My legs moved before I could stop it. “Why do you sound horrible?”
“Nothing, I just… I just wanted to know you were okay.”
“How’s the situation over there? Has he made a move yet?”
I could feel her heart pumping over the phone, her breath was shallow.
“Did you encounter any group of thugs last night?” She started.
Thugs? No, I bit my lips in confusion, hand scratching my head.
“No, I didn’t. I was with Damian all the time, I didn’t get to move around alone.”
A sigh of relief left her throat. “Thank goodness nothing happened to you.”
“You’re acting strange, Josie. Can you tell me what’s going on?”
“I overheard him on the phone yesterday saying something about capturing and teaching you a lesson.”
My stomach sank, my heart hit my rib cage. “He’s really taking this too far. Hiring a thug to destroy his daughter’s reputation?”
“You really have to be careful, Isla. I don’t think he’s up to any good.”
“Okay, Iris? What about, is he okay?” He’s fine.
“Uncle Damian helped us a lot. Last night Iris almost didn’t make it back home.”
The air in my throat cut, my lungs flared cold and hot at once.
“Thank goodness I overheard his plans last night. I didn’t know how to tell you,… I know you’d handle it quite well but…”
She breathed, while my hands trembled on my cell phone. “I just had to reach out to him.”
“How’s Iris’s condition? Is he okay? I’m on my way…”
“No, sis. You don’t have to come over. I think this was a trap you lure you over. I think he wanted to use Iris as pressure on you.”
“Iris is doing well over here. Just focus on work and our big plan. Don’t let a little panic overshadow your heart.”
My chest rose and fell slowly now, I placed my hands on them.
“Don’t worry Jo. I promise this will be over soon. Just hang on a little longer.”
“I think someone’s feeding him information about your activities at work and at home. I overheard a woman’s voice on his phone.”
My hand froze midair. Who’d dare to do that in the Romano’s?
I hit my head, trying to figure something out.
I didn’t have any grudge with any woman in this mansion.
Haven’t had any conversation about my life and with any woman here.
The only person who had always hated me was Lucia.
I didn’t tell her anything about myself or family.
My eyes paused, trying to recall something.
Last time Josie said she had seen her visit my father… could it be that…
I shook my head. No! She was my husband’s beloved, if she loved him that much she wouldn’t betray him.
“The female’s voice… is it someone you could recall or know?”
She paused for a moment. “It sounded like a familiar voice but… I don’t think I can identify it.”
“Okay. We’ll have to work on that. Don’t panic. Don’t let him be suspicious. Just play along.”
“We’ll talk later,” she ended the call.
I sat frozen. I couldn’t breath, my throat went dry.
What was he up to this time?
Who was that woman? What are they planning this time?
I don’t think I should sit and wait patiently anymore.
It’s time I start acting, I need to show him my words weren’t just childish threats, I meant every single word I said to him.
I tapped on my screen.
Should I release the news of his Tax invasion or money laundry?
No. I needed something that was fatal but would shake his reputation.
And I needed to do it carefully. Let him think. He shouldn’t suspect me now, not until he’s at the brink of death.
I remember Laura had said she worked as a journalist.
My hands quickly found her number and dailed on it.
The line went through on the second ring.
“Hey, Isla.”
“Hi Laura, how are you doing?”
“I’m great, how are you?”
“Is everything okay? You don’t sound good…”
“I’m fine. I have a job for you…”
“Mmm, that’s good. Tell me about it.”
I paused, then continued. “I want you to release a news about my father, I’ll send you the details right away.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes, I just need to make someone feel shaken.”
I quickly sent the details to her.
“Oh my goodness! This will be a killer headline.”
“I want it posted anonymously. I want to make him panic.”
“I will spice it up! You need not worry about that.”
The screen went off.
A smirk left my cheeks. He had always enjoyed my desperation and bitterness. It was time he got a taste of it.
I wonder how those cold eyes of his would look when he sees the image of himself and the wife of his best friend intimately leaving a hotel room on the big screen.
“Hahaha… you think you can just own me. You think you can hurt me and do away with it?”
“No! The show is just about to begin. And I’m just going to sit and enjoy it.”
My phone buzzed. “I smiled, so fast. You never disappoint me, Laura.”
I tapped on the screen. News head line.
Charles Bennetti, president of Bennetti enterprise, was captured leaving the hotel room with the wife of his best friend, Matteo Lorenzo.