Chapter 37

Luke couldn’t believe his ears. He had to make sure what Isabelle said. After their kiss, he cupped her face.
"Do you mean that babe?" he asked her and she nodded.
His face broke into a wider grin. He couldn’t describe how happy he felt. He didn’t expect her to say that. His wife loved him. He couldn’t stop kissing her again. This time, no tongues. No sucking. It was lips to lips. This was his way of showing her that he was very happy. He was on cloud nine. His Mrs. Contrero was in love with him. Isabelle giggled when he released her. She was having giddy feelings again and she felt relieved that finally she was able to say those words to him. Luke’s expression was adding to her own bliss. But the way he was intensely staring at her was making her self-conscious. He was looking at her like he was memorizing all the pores and lines on her skin. She felt her heart skipped a beat when he finally spoke.
"I think I feel the same babe," he whispered.
This time her heart probably stopped beating for a few seconds. Luke loved her too? He said he felt the same.
"L-Luke,” his name on her lips was almost not audible.
If she were a teenager and alone in the room, she would probably have buried her face on her pillow and scream in delight . For a Luke Contrero to admit something like that was staggering, earth-shattering. She traced the side of his face with her finger.
"R-really?" she asked and his brows knitted.
"I only think about you. I only want you. I am scared stiff of losing you. Is that sign of being in love?" he asked as if to himself and she moistened her lips.
"That is how I feel too babe..." she whispered.
He took her hand and kissed her palm.
"Just put up with me Mrs. Contrero. Please be more patient with me. We will definitely be together for better or worse. You have to learn how to live with my possessiveness. Sorry to say but it will probably be worse now that I realized that I am in-love with you," he confessed.
She nodded. Somehow that didn’t annoy her. One thing only mattered. He loved her.
"Same here. I will still be possessive too babe," she murmured and he chuckled then kissed her cheeks then lips.
After they admitted how they felt towards each other, everything became normal. Isabelle didn’t go out of the house for several days. She stayed home and just waited for her husband in the evening. She wanted the good vibes around them continue.
She was helping Luke with his tie one morning when she decided to talk to him about something. She had been thinking about it for a while but she couldn’t find the right timing to tell him. She didn’t want to break the harmony they had especially if it would change their current situation which was actually more favorable to him.
"Babe can I start working again?"
Luke's brows creased. "Why? You know that you don’t need to.”
She chewed the inside of her cheek. She had expected that he wouldn't say yes easily.
"Joyce is planning to open a travel agency. She wants me to be her partner."
Luke turned the other way when she was done fixing his tie.
"Let's have breakfast I need to be at the office early,” he said coldly.
She sighed. She knew she had no chance today. He changed the topic. She would try again next time. But she had to see Joyce today and she was hoping he would allow her.
"Babe I am meeting Joyce later."
He released air through his mouth then raked his fingers through his hair. He had to admit that he was really selfish when it comes to his wife. He had been feeling relieved and calm since she hadn’t left the house for a few days. She was safer at home so he really liked it. He would be really inconsiderate if he wouldn’t let her see Joyce who just got back from her honeymoon. He had to call Joey again to watch over her.
"Do yo have to?" he sounded irritated.
"I haven’t seen her for weeks babe,” she said.
"Are you bored here? You can take any kind of lessons. Do you want me to arrange baking or cooking lessons for you? Art lessons? I can hire someone to give you lessons here at home," he said matter-of-factly as he put on his suit.
She just shook her head. “I’m not bored babe. I just want to see my friend today. We have a lot of catching up to do," she said with a small smile.
She had to understand him. It was her fault anyway. She let him got used to her being home 24/7. But she couldn’t stay home forever. Finally he nodded.
"Mario will drive you,” he said sounding clipped.
She just nodded. It was better than not allowing her to go.
***
She and Joyce were having lunch at one of their favorite restaurant inside a high-end mall.
"We had a lot of fun on that island Belle! I told Roy I want to go back there soon. Maybe you and Luke could come with us next time!" Joyce suggested with a smile.
" I am so happy for you You look good,” she complimented her with a big smile too.
"You also look great! Is Mr. Possessive taking good care of you? " she joked.
She nodded but she was hesitant to tell her that Luke finally admitted that he loved her too. She felt a bit shy telling her best friend which she didn't know why.
"My husband is the exact opposite of Luke. He never gets jealous which I dislike. I envy you! Luke always makes you feel wanted and desired,” Joyce said with a sigh.
She thought for a moment before replying. “I got used to his possessive ways. But I hate it when he smacks men,” she admitted with a heavy frown and Joyce giggled.
"You find that funny?” she asked rolling her eyes at her. “For your information, I still need to convince him to allow me to be your business partner!”
"Don’t worry! No rush! Who knows? He might let you work again soon. What you need to do is make him happy in and out of bed. Let’s finish eating so we can start shopping!” her friend said excitedly.
***
Luke was at his office. He was talking to a lady bodyguard named Cindy. The agency recommended her since Joey was not available. According to her report, his wife was still having lunch with Joyce.
"Okay just make sure you don’t lose them!” he told her.
"Copy sir!”
He just hung up when Victoria’s number flashed on his phone. His brows knitted.
"Vic?"
"Can you lend me money? " she asked without even saying hello.
He leaned on his chair. “For your ex who is blackmailing you?”
The line went quiet. It took several moments before she spoke again.
"Yes. He wants the money as soon as possible. I don't have that amount right now," she said coldly.
"Okay. Tell me how much." He shook his head in disbelief when she told him. “Do you need the money now?" he asked.
"Yes.”
He released a sigh. "Okay I will call my bank. I will get back to you,” he said.
"Thank you Luke. I promise I will pay you back with interest."
"No need. Pay me when you are able," he replied.
He shook his head again when he hung up. To a very rich man like him the money she was borrowing was no big deal. He was just very curious why she was willing to surrender to the blackmail. He had asked her a lot of times but it didn't work. She just said that she wanted to protect her family so she would give the money. He dialed his phone. He had to call someone.
"Hamilton? I have another job for you," he told the person on the other line.
***
"I will give you what you want but you have to do something for me! I will hand you half of the money now. After you are done with the job, I will send you the rest,” Victoria said on the phone.
"Well since you are paying me a huge amount then I will do it. Just remember not to f*ck with me honey. You know what I am capable of doing. You know me well,” the voice threatened.
“You don’t have to remind me! I won’t do that! I am not like you scumbag!”
The guy laughed." I beg to disagree honey. We are after all alike. You are also shady like me. Maybe the only difference between us is you are better in hiding the real you. Imagine, you were able to fool me for months? Anyway, let's forget that. It's all water under the bridge now. All I want is my money. Besides. I actually enjoyed f*cking you anyway. Now you are giving me a boner. Can I f*uck you again? Just once. I can still imagine how delicious you were…”
Victoria gripped the phone. "Over my dead body that I will let you touch me again! You are not only a rapist! You are also a blackmailer! I will give you the money but you need to do what I want ! Now shut up and listen to me…”
She just finished giving her ex -boyfriend the instructions on what to do when her doorbell rang. Frowning, she stood up to open the door.
Her brow arched when she saw who her unexpected visitor was.
"Hello Victoria,” Eunice greeted her.
***
Luke was reading some documents when he saw his wife's name on his phone's screen. He looked at the time. It was past 4 p.m. She was probably on her way home. He smiled because Joey didn’t report anything bad.
"Mrs. Contrero, it's time for you to go home. Are you in the car? I will leave the office early,” he told her while he had a grin on his handsome face.
"Are you having me watched?!" Isabelle hissed.
"What?!" he asked shock evident in his tone.
"You allowed me to go out because you hired someone to watch me? How could you do that?!” she accused him.
He cursed then raked his fingers through his hair. He rose from his chair.
"Babe let me..." he began to explain but his wife's angry voice interrupted him.
"I HATE YOU!!" she yelled on the phone before hanging up.
"F*cking shit!" he cursed angrily then kicked the table.
"STUPID!! SHIT! SHIT!" He kept on uttering furiously as he dialed Cindy’s number.
The agency gave him an incompetent person!