******

"Miss!" A distress voice echoed through the room.

"Please wake up, Miss," bella felt a hand on her shoulder shaking her , dragging her out of her slumber, slowly her heavy lashes peeled open and the first thing she saw was a worried expression of a woman in her twenties like her, she was wearing what she assume was a maid outfit. She was leaning over her on the same bed she passed out

"Thank God" she sighed when I finally opened my eyes " I came yesterday to wake you up but Xander said I should let you rest. "Are you alright?."

"I'm fine" I croaked. My vocal cord dried as sandpaper due to all the crying. I could see the pity and remorse on her face so I decided to try my luck and see if she could help me escape.

"Please help me, I don't want to be here ," I begged.

"You need to be careful, mind what you say. I can't help you" the maid replied back anxiously.

"Were you owning as well?" She asked, that was the only logical explanation she could come up with since she is too scared to help me.

The question seemed to throw the poor maid off guard.

"What do you mean Miss."

"Were you forced here against your will, is that why you can't help me?".

"No Miss, I have worked for the Xander since i was a kid and I have ben treated well just like everyone else who is loyal" the maid explained, a little bit hesitant.

I snorted out in disbelief at the words she said. I don't care, I was taken against my will," bella said angrily

"Quiet, you need to be careful" she whispered looking round the room " you

don't want to get on Xander bad side, as long as you don't disobey him, he won't hurt you as long as you do not disobey him, he won't hurt you".

"Easy for you to say. ," Bella spat out angrily..

I could see that my words affected her, making her look away from my direction for a minute before looking back at me.

"I really wish i could help you but I can't,

. I can't help you, I'm too scared to face the wrath of his anger."

I let out a frustrated sigh as tears fell down my eyes, deep down I knew she couldn't do anything to help since she was just as helpless as me, but I just couldn't help but take out my anger on her which I now regret.

"Hm sorry," I let out giving out a tight smile, as I managed to control my tears.

"It's okay, i understand. l'm Sandra, I have been assigned to you by Xander in case you need anything." She said trying to ease the tension.

I'm Isabella" I replied.

"It's nice to meet you bella, despite the situation.

"And you too Sandra, I'm sorry again for taking my anger out on you."

"Okay bella" the dark haired woman said giving me a smile. "I will draw you a bath."

I wanted to protest but the box in her hand caught my eyes, as if she read my thought, the woman explained. "It's a dress, Xander wants you to wear it when you eat dinner tonight".

"Dinner with him.?"

"Yes, he requested your presence" she handed the box to me before walking towards the bathroom. She could hear the sound of running water drumming against my ears. Her stomach coil at the thought of seeing that man again.

Peering into the box, she found a beautiful black dress and a set of matching color lingerie. Her finger trembled and the lump in my throat made it hard for me to breath.

"You were asleep for hours since till this evening, I thought you weren't feeling to well," Sandra said as she came out of the bathroom.

"Your bath will be ready soon, I will leave you to it." breath.

I need to be brave and smart.

The warm water hardly soothed the wreck that became her nerve. She wished more than ever that an hour would turned into two hours anything to keep her away from coming face to face with that monster.

She sat inside the bath untill the water had become cold and her finger was wrinkled.she came out from the bathtub with a bathrobe wrapped around her naked body and she walked back into the room.

She was about to lossen up her towel when she saw Xander walked inside the room.

What are you doing here ? bella asked her

Bella looked into his eyes and saw his brown orbs with fire behind them,

He looked at her, and she felt goosebumps on her skin

She looked away from him and looked at the ground. She couldn't look at him because she knew if she looks at him, she'll be crying

Xander stood up and walked toward her, she flinched at his movement, he stopped in front of her and looked at her head on

“Look at me, bella” he said sternly but softer than before

Bella refused to lift her head and still refused to look at him.

Xander sighed and kneel before her. He held both of her hands and lifted her head, so she would face him.

Bella eyes were swollen, tears were falling from her eyes, her lip quivered, and she can hear her heartbeat beating faster

Xander caress her cheek with his thumb and wipe away her tear, his thumb lingered on her cheek for longer than normal

“I won't hurt you” he whispered

Bells nodded her head and started sobbing loudly. Xander put his arms around her waist and pull her to him while rubbing her back softly.

She sobbed loudly as Xander hug her and pat her back softly, she couldn't believe she will be this nice to her

He is always harsh, but seeing him act like this makes her feel differently

He pulled away from her and stood up, and said

Wear your clothes , I will be back soon, he said as he left the room.

*****

Xander walked out of bella bedroom and let out a heavy sigh, trying to figure out what just happened in there

“Was I being nice to her? No, that is impossible, he felt his cold heart melted for a moment there, and he hated the feeling.

His heart aches, his chest is getting tight, and he hated the way he felt back there.

He walked down the stairs, seeing lucas and some of his men in his living room

“Good morning boss, they all greeted him simultaneously as he nod his head in response to their greetings before sitting on the couch

Lucas sits beside me and I looked at him confusedly. He was staring at me with a weird look on his face.

“What?” I asked him annoyed.

“You were acting strange yesterday,” he said looking at me intently

I huffed and sat up straight

“What do you mean? I was perfectly fine, don't worry your stupid brain.”

He shook his head and chuckled.

“Whatever you say boss, we've been waiting for you go ahead to kill Leonard, lucas said

He was talking about the man who got me into this mess, he betrayed me

Leonard is the mule I've been looking for, he is going to pay for betraying me

“what information did you get from Leonard, I asked lucas

The man shrugged his shoulders

“not much more than that, he only gave us info about a location but nothing else”

I clenched my fist and stood up from my chair

“Fine! You're dismissed everyone, leave”

Everyone left the room except lucas and me.

I ran my hands through my hair in frustration

“Should I order the boys to kill him now, boss?” lucas asked.