THE INMATE

Victoria moves in

Clark's POV

“VICTORIA?!“ I spelled out with a slight grin.

”Yes, Victoria. She mumbled, then directed her hands towards my couch.

“Can you please sit?”. She demanded, then I smiled and went ahead to sit down.

“What's her crime? Can I serve her punishment in place of her?“ She said, then I smiled again.

“You do believe I'm working for your uncle, right?”. I said, but she remained still.

“How do you expect me to free her and have you…”

“I know you don't work for him. I don't even think you are working for anyone”. She snapped.

Surprised, I began to nod  slowly.

“Quite impressive” I thought, then asked her to sit on the mattress, while facing me.

“Why the sudden change of belief?”. I questioned, then she breathed out and mumbled.

“I have observed you enough to notice you are not working for him. I know you are on a personal revenge on Victoria, what you want with me, is what I don't really know. But I'm even more certain, meeting me after Victoria was a complete coincidence”

Her tone, they were really daring, and I was super impressed with it. But I wasn't going to let her ruin my plans.

“Hmm, quite an intuition… you have greatly impressed me”. I whispered,

“If from what you said, I want to get my revenge on Victoria, how do you think my inner spirit would feel, when you get to suffer for the pain of the actual target? Do you think you deserve it?”. I said, but she remained quiet.

“This is not your fight Isabella. Just stick to your own script, so we can have your brother released as soon as possible”. I let out, while standing up to leave. “I almost forgot, thanks for the juice, it was really tasty”. I added.

“You shouldn't punish her with so much hate. Victoria isn't a bad person, I'm certain something led her into doing that. If you can, maybe it's time you hear her out”. She said, but I smiled and walked up to her. I sat just beside her, grabbing her hands. Again, her body was completely covered with goosebumps. So many thoughts ran through my head.

“Could it be that she is still scared of me? Or impossibly because she is probably still a vir… hmm… this is creepy”. I thought, as she adjusted from me.

“You are scared of me aren't you?” I whispered, while peering deep into her eyes. She avoided my gaze, then shook her head gently.

“You are. Your body keeps getting filled with goosebumps anytime I get close to you, or even tou…”

“It's not personal. I'm just not used to people touching me, and it usually irritates me, sorry if you feel I hate you”. She interrupted quite nervously.

“You don't seem like it. Don't worry, I won't abuse you, I'm not like that. I have control over my body, I'm not some dog or anything”. I whispered, shifting from her. “Not unless you permit me, I won't touch you”. I said, then walked away after I saw the image of my close friend Mark, through the computer of all connected CCTV's. He was at the door. He is a high ranked officer and also a detective. He doesn't know about my dirty games, least of all, the cocaine stocked up in my building.

“Is that an officer?”. Isabella let out terrified as she saw him.

“Yeah”. I let out casually.

“What does he want?”. She let out frightened.

“You”. I whispered, then smiled and continued to leave.

Downstairs, Anthony had already ushered him in.

“Mark!” I let out excited as I walked down the stairs

“Clark!” he screamed excitedly while coming close to hug me. “It's been such a long time bro, I've missed you. I got the information that you were out already. I was so happy. Look at you now, you really did set yourself for some risky game”. He said excited, then paused with an unusual look. I followed the direction of his eyes. It was Isabella, she was watching us from upstairs.

“Who is she?”. Mark whispered, a little surprised.

“Let's just say a little surprise”. I said, turning back, but Isabella had already vanished.

“She's pretty though”. He commended, before we sat down.

“Long time no see bro. Meanwhile, have you seen her?”. He paused, then looked around. “Victoria, I mean”. He continued.

“She's bad news, but trust me, I have even more interesting plans for her”. I let out, while snapping my hands at Anthony who had walked in.

“Wine please”. I demanded, before he got us two glasses and a wine, then left.

“You still work with him. He is a good man, you know?”. He whispered, while watching Anthony leave.

“Yeah, he is a good dude. Tell me, What's up with work? What's the latest? I have really missed all of your daily updates”. I said with a little chuckle.

“Oh well, a lot has really happened since we last spoke. But the latest is that of a drug baron, we are still working on that”. Mark said, sounding a little frustrated.

“You don't look happy, must be a tough one yeah?”. I said, then he nodded slightly

“Oh wow! Maybe I could be of help, you know I usually help you out yeah?”. I muttered, then he looked at me and smiled.

“It's actually a dangerous one and I don't want to get you involved”. He said.

“Is it more dangerous than having Victoria as a girlfriend?”. I said, then he started to laugh.

“You don't seem to like her anymore. But, I'll tell you everything needed for the case. I'm sure your help wouldn't be a bad idea, since you are quite influential, but… you must promise, this will be a confi…”

“And now you are about to sound like one who doesn't trust me or probably already sees me as one that gabby a lot”. I cut in, then he smiled and apologised.

“Sorry, you know I don't mean it that way”. He said, before my door bell rang and seconds later, Victoria walked in with her belongings.

Mark gazed at me confused. Victoria's gaze caught with his, she paused, a little nervous.

“Is there something you are not telling me?” Mark whispered, still shocked.

“I th—ink so”. I stuttered, before Victoria approached us.

“I got your message, where is my room?”. She said, staring dangerously at me.

I was taken back a little. I turned to make sure she was really referring to me.

“Guess I'll leave now. I'll see you around”. Mark mumbled, then left.

“What in SOS name are you talking about?”. I let out still confused, then Isabella's voice interrupted.

“I was the one that sent the message, she said from behind, gradually stepping down the stairs.

”Really?! Why?“ Victoria barked.

“Because—it will be very useful having you around”. She attacked, then came closer and crossed her arms around my neck.

“You know this is such a big house and doing all the chores may harm our baby”. She paused, while rubbing her belly. Victoria's box immediately dropped from her hand. She wasn't the only one shocked, I was even more surprised.

“Could Isabella have even more terrifying plans for me?”. I thought, while weirdly staring at her.

“And since Victoria already knows about our little secret, it wouldn't be bad to just employ her to work as my personal maid also, or don't you think so?”. She whispered. With a deep breath, my eyes caught with Victoria's, they were almost cloudy, then I nodded.

“Um… ye—ah, anything that pleases you”. I said, then she smiled and kissed my cheek.

“I love you”. She whispered.

I gazed at her for a long. Somehow, I couldn't repeat the word, there was just something I didn't quite understand.

She glanced at me, then looked at Victoria.

“Aren't you going to say something?”. She whispered, then I faked a smile, stared at her for a long time, then gradually placed a kiss on her forehead.

“I will always love you and choose you over anyone else”. I let out, before my eyes met with Victoria's, she gazed at me for long, then wiped her wet eyes, right before Isabella turned to face her.

“You see, my husband is cool with the idea. Come, I'll show you your room”. Isabella let out smiling, before walking towards the guest room.

I stood stunned. Watching them leaves. Soon, Isabella came out of the room, her face all squeezed up as usual, she stood and gazed at me for minutes, then walked away.

I went to the guest room, Victoria was seated with her face all welled up with tears. She stared at me, long enough for me to be hypnotized through it.

“You don't love her, do you?”. She let out, I was about to leave, then she ran and closed the door.

“I saw it, it was all in your eyes. You took time to tell her you love her too. You don't love her, you are only using her to get back at me, isn't it?”. She said, touching my face.

“Look me straight into the eyes and tell me you don't love me anymore?“. She cried out.

”Just stop, I've moved on now, I'm happy with Isabella“. I mumbled, pushing her away.

”You haven't, I know you still love me. I love you, I still do“. She said, there was a slight pain in my chest, a sudden blockage through my nostrils and I couldn't even breathe.

“I didn't mean to accuse you, I still regret my actions, trust me…”

“Enough!”. I barked heavily.

“Enough, please”. I whispered, trying to catch my breath. “Sorry if you still love me, I don't think I still feel the same way. You are only here because Isabella wants you around…”

“That's a lie”. She interrupted.

“You also want me here. If you didn't, you wouldn't have let me stay”. She continued, I managed to smile, I raised my hands to her face, then wiped her tears. She held onto it, so tight that I couldn't pull my hands anymore.

“I only allowed that because I'm yet to get my revenge on you”. I whispered, then tears trickled down her eyes.

“Ow! Cool…” She whispered brokenly. “It doesn't look like it would be that easy to get you back”. She whispered, then laughed dryly.

“Tell me, would you still love me even after you get your revenge?”. She let out, staring frantically at me.

“Up until then, but I doubt if I will ever get to love you”. I mumbled, taking a step back.

“You need to settle, we have more pressing issues and I need you to handle them” I muttered, then walked away.

Upon opening the door, Isabella was standing right in front of me. For the first time in my entire existence, I was scared of a woman. There was just something daring about her gaze that made me stutter.

“Wh—what are you doing here?”. I stammered, then she rolled her eyes at me and walked away.

“Isabella”. I called out, while chasing after her. She got to the bedroom first, then speedily slammed the door after her.

“What?! Why are you angry?”. I said calmly, but she refused to talk.

“Bel…”

“What were you doing in her room?”. She barked.

“I—I…woah—woah—woah, hold up, is this jealousy or something close to it?”. I teased, but it got her more pissed.

“Jealous of what? You two?!… That's pathetic Andrew. I will never be jealous of mere leftovers. I'm only trying to protect my identity”. She let out harshly. I buried my head, then smiled a little.

“Leftovers, you say?”. I repeated, then she remained mute.

“I'm only trying to protect myself. If you want her, then go for her and don't keep me here. You are only painting me to look desperate by going to her room. You are supposed to stay away from her, Andrew. I don't want her to see me as a weakling. Just minutes ago, you found it way difficult to even say I love you, I saw everything, the gesture… Andrew, tell me, do you still love Victoria?”. She cried out.