Chapter 16 (2)

"Is everything alright?" Leonard asked Emily not paying attention to Chloe, he knew she was still finding it difficult to enjoy herself here. He wanted to punish her some more but the more she looked worried, the more he couldn't control the laugh that wanted to erupt.

He decided to put an end to it and stared towards the waiter's direction as the waiter headed for the podium.

The waiter walked up to the podium and took the mic, it wasn't noon yet, if not they would have had a musician singing or a jazz band playing.

When Leonard had left Bella's apartment he had told Jack to reserve a seat in the restaurant and place all bills on his tabs thirty minutes after he had stepped in, this way Emily wouldn't feel she still owed him and she wouldn't know that this restaurant was one of his restaurants.

"Courtesy of our manager, all the food ordered has been placed on his tab," the waiter announced as a low cheer and inaudible clap echoed in the restaurant, to the wealthy men and women that filled the hall, this wasn't a new thing.

Sometimes one could even be celebrating a birthday and order the most expensive wine for everyone but Emily and Chloe were stunned by the announcement and how nonchalant everyone seemed by it.

Everyone just went back to eating and not even ordering anything, Emily thought about home and she knew this was impossible, if they had made this kind of announcement people would have ordered the whole menu.

As she was lost in thought, she felt a light touch on her lap and nearly jumped off the seat as she realized it was Leonard's hand. She dropped her spoon and grabbed the nearest glass of wine taking a gulp.

She stared at him as she brought the wine glass to her lips but he was busy eating with the other hand.

She slowly placed her hand on her lap and on his hand to fling it off but he grabbed her hand instead and intertwined their hands, then placed it on her lap.

Why was his hand cold?

"I will drop you at Bella's apartment, I have a meeting," he said staring at her as she dropped the wine glass.

"She is coming home with me," Chloe replied.

"Then I will drop you both, where is home?"

* * * * * * * * * * *

In the Klar's mansion, Bella was worried sick about Emily, it had been two days and still nothing. She had called Leonard but he didn't pick rather his driver Jack did and reassured her that miss Emily was fine and being attended to by Mr. Klar.

She didn't understand what the hell was going on between them but she was grateful to know that Emily was safe and fine, she was also grateful her father had been away on a bus business trip.

Bella decided to hold on a bit, she knew once Emily was better she would call her but then again Leonard, she couldn't trust Leonard he had been acting weird around Emily, she loved her brother but she also knew he was always up to no good when it came to women.

She tried Jack's number again but he didn't pick and when she tried talking her mother into letting her out, the conversation didn't go the way she wanted.

"You can have the bodyguards follow me I just want to make sure she is okay," Bella pleaded over the dinner.

"and what will I tell your father? Because he will hear about it, worst, your brother," her mother had replied. "You should be thinking about going for the rehabilitation program."

"Your father instead of that you should be sent directly to the rehabilitation center but I had insisted you be brought here first," her mother informed her as she went on a long rant about how her father was upset that she hadn't changed but was now selling drugs to survive.

"If you all had sent me money maybe I wouldn't have to," Bella had burst out silently as she ate her food.

"All we asked was for you to stay here with us," Bianca said touching her daughter's hand on the table. "I know your father may seem harsh in his ways but trust me when I say that he cares about you greatly and he loves you a lot."

Bianca had thought about it and maybe Alex had been too hard on the kids with all his rules and regulations. He always wanted the best from his children hence he pushed them to do more than they could handle.

For Leonard, it had turned out fine but he and Alex never got along no matter what but in Bella's case it had broken her to think that she would never be perfect for her father no matter how hard she tried.

"Emily will be fine and she will be even better if she finds you fully recovered."

Bella remained quiet, she knew prolonging the discussion would get her no whereas her mother's mind was made up. She decided it was best she escaped the mansion and come back when she was sure Emily was safe, she knew how to drive, not so well but well enough to get her to her apartment and back.

When it was night, she kissed her mother goodnight, went into her room dressed in all black, black hoodie, black glasses, black nose mask, black jeans, and black boots.

She hurried and took the elevator from her room down, on getting down and out of the elevator she bumped into someone.

"Little witch,"

Cam!

Bella stared at him through her dark glasses.

"Thought you were smart enough to know how things work."

She had forgotten that Cam was around, he was probably busy with work that was why she had not seen him since that day Emily and she had seen him in the swimming section from her balcony.

She felt him grab her by the arm and pull her back into the elevator.

"What the hell are you..."

"Shhhh," he hushed her placing his finger to his lips and raising his head as Bella followed his eyes before the elevator shut close, a camera was in sight.

Shit!

She had forgotten about the cameras. What was she even thinking?

"So where are you sneaking off to?" Cam asked removing her glasses from her eyes with a smirk on his face as the elevator door closed.

"I...I.." Bella found herself stuttering, she didn't think this whole escape plan well. The elevator open as they stepped into her room. She watched Cam walk to her bed where she had neatly arranged some pillows and tucked them in to look like she was the one sleeping.

"Not bad," Cam grinned taking a seat. He had been busy with work so he didn't have time to come and check on Bella, he remembered staring at Bella's new friend when he was swimming, he had asked the maid about her and found out her name was Emily.

"I just wanted to check on my friend," Bella explained, she and Cam were very close not that they talked frequently but when they did they could talk about anything. Cam was different from Leonard, although they had the same build-up and same dark aura.

Cam was more of a talker than Leonard and he laughed at her jokes and smiled.