Chapter 47

"Does this happen often?" Isabella asked, turning to face Miss Payne after watching Leonardo disappear onto the plane.

"Child, that's just been the way life in our world is." Miss Payne paused. "Should I get you anything, ma'am?"

Isabella breathed out sharply. “I’m fine, Miss Payne,” she said with a small smile.

Now left alone with nothing but empty chairs and food filling the tables, memories began to flood her mind. She remembered all the food fights she used to have with her brother, something she had complained about so much back then. Funny how she would give anything to have those moments back now.

She played around with her food for a while before finally standing up and heading back to her beautiful prison.

Isabella was bored out of her mind. She had watched so many shows that her eyes were practically begging her to stop.

“I hate life at this point,” she swore as she tossed the remote controller aside and left the room.

She walked to the dining room, then back to the living room. She lingered in the kitchen for a while and even stepped outside, hoping to find something, anything, to occupy her mind. But the sight of guns hanging around everyone’s waist sent a shiver down her spine and scared her right back inside.

As she walked around, her eyes landed on the staircase, the very one she hadn’t climbed since she got there. She lingered at the bottom, her curious side pushing her forward despite the little voice in her head telling her she probably shouldn’t.

She peeked around before carefully tiptoeing onto the stairs. Her heart raced with every step, but she kept moving until she finally reached the top. In front of her were several doors, lined up one after another.

“Wow, he must really love doors,” Isabella muttered.

She was supposed to turn around and go back. Of course she was. But instead, Isabella found herself walking from one door to another, peeking at each one. A good number of them were locked.

"You don't want to open that one, ma'am."

Miss Payne's voice froze her mid-step.

"What's in there?" Isabella asked, pressing her ear to the door. "Guns? Bodies? Drugs?"

"It's a private room. Off-limits." Miss Payne reached past her and turned the handle, confirming it was locked tight.

“Come on, tell me, Miss Payne,” Isabella pleaded, folding her arms.

“Instead of worrying about that, come. Leo got you a gift,” she said.

Isabella’s eyes narrowed. “A gift?”

Miss Payne simply nodded before heading down the stairs, and Isabella followed, her mind already wondering what the gift could possibly be.

Her curiosity turned into excitement when they stepped outside the house completely.

“Does he do this often?” Isabella finally asked, one of the questions that had been gnawing at her.

“Does what?” Miss Payne asked, clearly confused.

“I mean, kidnap the daughters of defaulters and keep them captive?” Isabella asked bluntly.

"I think you're going to like this," Miss Payne said, sidestepping the question entirely.

Isabella rolled her eyes but followed her anyway.

Finally, they reached a large door. Miss Payne slowly pushed it open, and the moment Isabella looked inside, she froze.

For one weightless second, her face lit up. Basketball was her favorite thing in the world, the one thing that had always brought her comfort. She reached for the door, something snapped within her, and turned sharply.t

"If he really wants to surprise me, Miss Payne, he can start with my freedom." She walked back toward the house without another word.

"He thinks this will make me forget I'm his prisoner," she muttered, fury simmering under her skin as she slammed her bedroom door and locked it behind her.

\---

Meanwhile, Leonardo sat aboard his private jet, his iPad in hand as he went through the details of his incoming shipments.

“Vito, I think you should tell the suppliers to hold on for a while,” Leonardo said, his eyes still fixed on the screen.

Vito’s brows furrowed. “Why, boss? The customers are already waiting for the goods.”

Leonardo finally looked up, giving him a sharp, warning stare.

“When I ask you to do something, fucking do it. If you spent half as much energy trying to find out who is behind my missing shipment and the warehouse that was burned down, maybe this would be a very different conversation.”

Vito immediately lowered his head. “I’m sorry, boss.”

Leonardo didn't spare him another glance, his eyes fixed on the tablet in his hands.

The jet finally touched down. Leonardo grabbed his jacket and lit a cigarette, letting the smoke curl through the cabin as he made his way toward the exit.

"Go make sure everyone's ready," he told Vito, then turned to Marco. "Call Miss Payne."

Marco lifted his head. "Everything okay, boss?"

“You’re becoming more like Vito. Always asking questions,” Leonardo said coldly.

“I’m sorry, boss.” Marco immediately lowered his head. He had learned better than to hold Leonardo’s gaze for too long.

“Call Miss Payne. Tell her to make some apple pie. It’s Bella’s favorite.” Leonardo reached into his pocket and pulled out a small note. “Send her this recipe. Make sure she follows it exactly.”

He handed the note to Marco before turning toward the tall brick building ahead, ready to walk in and decide the fate of his operations.

Back at the house, Miss Payne received the call and immediately got to work. A few minutes later, she stood outside Isabella’s door with a freshly baked apple pie in her hands.

She knocked once.

Isabella turned the other way, refusing to answer.

Another knock followed.

“I made some apple pie for you,” Miss Payne said.

That alone made Isabella sit up.

She walked to the door and opened it just slightly, pushing one hand through the narrow opening. Miss Payne placed the pie in her hand without saying another word.

The moment Isabella lifted the lid, the sweet aroma filled the room, and a smile slowly crept across her face.

It reminded her of home.

And when she took the first bite, it tasted like home, exactly like her family's chef used to make it.

For a moment, she forgot where she was. She sat on the floor and devoured the entire pie, barely stopping to breathe. By the time she was done, she even licked the spoon clean.

Her stomach was full, her mood was lighter, but her mind was already wandering again.

That room.

The one Miss Payne had been so quick to lock.

What exactly was Leonardo hiding in there?

Isabella stared at the empty pie plate, her thoughts beginning to twist into something else.

“Maybe…” she muttered, a slow smile forming on her lips. “Maybe it’s exactly what I need to get the hell out of here.”