As he sent Isabella to his room, Charles got down from his car, his mind racing.
Did Rodrigo Ordinaz decide to come to him instead? But he didn't have a wife yet like he requested.
Then Charles realized, he hadn't been bothered about his biological father matter since he met Isabella. Sure, he still planned to marry her. But not because of his father or any other reason.
As he got into the elevator where two women had earlier entered, he smiled.
He wanted to marry her because he wanted her. Nothing more.
Definitely, that alone came with its benefits.
As the lift tinged, he was brought out of his thoughts. He was closer to his father. Stepping out, his ears got filled with sounds from the women who he had paid no attention to.
For a second, he wondered why they decided to talk when he left. He definitely didn't hinder whatever conversation they could have been having.
That didn't bother him for long. As he stood in front of the huge doors that hid the man on the other side, he let out a huge sigh.
Pushing the doors open, Charles went in with majestic steps, his eyes noting how well furnished the room was. Compared to his, it was more spacious and it had more gold in its features. Too much gold actually.
"Is-"
"Charles, there you are..."
"Father." It wasn't who he thought it was. But he was nonetheless glad to see his old man again.
As the man he always knew as his father got off the huge bed and approached him, Charles moved closer and gave him a warm hug.
"It is so good to see your face after a long time."
"What are you doing here Father? This is indeed a surprise." Charles led the man to a close seat, his eyes noticing how much of silver raided his hair which was once dominated with abundance of the colour black.
Mr. Oxford gave a light chuckle as his blue eyes roamed through Charles's height. "I tried to contact you after being discharged, but I was informed you were here." His slightly wrinkled face frowned a bit. "Why? Is there any problem with that deal?"
Quietly, Charles had his seat and asked, "Are you talking about the one with Osung groups?" As his father gave a nod in response, Charles wondered whether to tell him that he knew the truth about his real father. His huge hands went to caress his lips lightly as he said, "There is no issue at all."
Christopher Oxford then spread his arms slightly, more questions on his face. "Why are you here then?"
Charles smiled. "I found her Father."
The old man narrowed his eyes as he wrapped the furred robe on him closer. "Who?"
"Isabella."
"Isabella who?"
Charles sighed, laughter almost shaking him after. "The woman I told you about years ago."
"The very one that had my son in tears for weeks?"
Charles frowned. "I never cried."
His father gave a hearty laugh. "I definitely saw tears in your eyes. So you found her after all these years?" Charles nodded. "What have you done to her?"
"Done to-" Charles's disbelief got hooked in his throat.
"I watched you grow up Charles and I know you to be very unforgiving at times . So I mean my question. What have you done to her?"
Charles's line of sight went to the line of rings on his father's left hand which he rested gently on his chest as he waited for his response. Charles never really got why he loved those jewelries. But his father never failed to collect them in different sizes.
"What have I done to her you ask." Her small face flashed through his mind. "I have done nothing but make her mine again."
"You might want to elaborate a bit."
Charles grew more comfortable. That was how it had always been between him and his father. They never see each other that much, but that fact has never once affected the way they relate to each other.
"I found Isabella a married woman-"
"What on earth are you playing at? A married woman?" His father definitely didn't like Charles introduction to his explanation.
"Father, just listen." The old man drew a straight line on his lips as his back leaned into the chair. "Isabella might be married but she entered that union because of her father, Alberto Shade." Charles paused. He wanted to see if his father knew the man.
"Alberto Shade." Charles smiled as his father asked. He definitely knew him.
"He was in debt a long time ago and he had her marry Gabriel Manifold to settle it."
"What? Manifold?"
"You know Manifold?" Charles was surprised at that actually. The aspect of business Manifold engaged in was not one his father's company took interest in.
"Yes. I met him years ago through Alberto." His frown deepened. "So, what you are saying is that, Alberto married Isabella off to Manifold's son?"
"Yes."
"What kind of debt is that? That is such a cruel thing to do to one's child. So..." Charles father looked him in the eye. "How do you come in? Did you pay off the owed debt?"
Charles looked ahead, sobriety all over his face. "Gabriel Manifold has done nothing but cause harm to my woman ever since she has been with him." A deep sigh followed. "He doesn't want me to pay the debt. Instead, he insists he wants Isabella to remain his wife."
"Does Isabella want to remain his wife?"
"Heavens no!" Charles almost slapped his father with the glare that came with his words. "She has suffered enough."
"So... what? You are like her knight in shining armour?" The old man teased, immediately easing the heat encamped in his son.
"I am just regular old Charles doing what I do best."
"Regular old Charles my foot," his father snickered. "So... if Manifold doesn't want money, what are you doing to help Isabella?"
"I helped her file for a divorce."
"Wait, are you going to marry her?"
Charles shrugged. "I don't see why not. I almost did in the past."
Christopher Oxford gave his head a light tilt and said, "Your mother won't like that Charles. Speaking of your mother..." Charles didn't get a chance to respond. "Do you have any idea where she might be?"
"She didn't tell you?" Charles did a good job of hiding his surprise.
A light huff came from his father as his fingers played with his arraign of rings. "Your mother acts like a stranger these days."
"How so?"
"She keeps a lot from me and I can't even imagine why."
"Father..."
"What am I doing?" His father chuckled dismissively. "I shouldn't bother you with such stuff." A gentle smile took over his face. "I am glad you are doing great and I am happy you found her again."
"Thank you Father."
"Do send her my luck, she needs lots of it. If there is one thing about the Manifolds I am certain of, they can become very possessive in a horrible, life-threatening way."
Charles's eyes narrowed instantly. There was no way Gabriel Manifold's possessiveness could stop him. "I will make sure she gets your wish," he growled almost like an angered mafia don.
"And do me a favour and visit me more often. I will be leaving here in three days, so I will be waiting."
"I definitely will." As Charles got up, a small frown came as a thought dropped. "Father?"
"Yes son?"
"Mother is actually here in the States. She came in earlier to see me too."
"Oh. Did she now?" The older Oxford didn't look pleased at all.
"When you meet her, tell her Charles said to tell you everything."
The man definitely did not like the sound of that. "Just tell me now."
Charles smiled softly. "See you later Father. I have to go now."
"Okay." Charles liked him for that one thing among others, he never engaged him in useless arguments.
As Charles walked out of the scented room, his legs walked him to the elevator, his mind soon forgetting partially, the man he just met. All he now thought of was Isabella.
As he impatiently waited for the elevator to open, he wondered is she had gotten to his room yet. Taking out his phone to initiate a call, he sensed her.
It was by her scent.
Instantly, the doors came open and there she was, standing with a blank look on her face. As her eyes met his, she gave him a smile that tickled his insides and as she walked in, Charles got an idea and he could not ignore how naughty it was.