The Arrangement

Chapter 13

Isabella
I wonder who it is this late as I open the door. As soon as I do, I'm met with Alessandra, whose face is full of a mix of emotions.

"Alessandra? Hi what are you doing here?" I ask confused.

She doesn't reply and simply enters, shutting the door behind her. She grabs my hand, before guiding me to the living room, sitting on the couch and pulling me down beside her.

I chuckle awkwardly, "Alessandra... can you tell me what's going on? Why are you suddenly here this late?"

She turns to me, cupping my face gently with her hands while looking right into my eyes. "Please tell me Tori was bullshitting me... tell me you're not marrying that bastard..." she says, her eyes filled with concern, desperation and anger.

Instantly my face saddens at the reminder of my impending marriage.

Since my dad dropped the whole marriage thing on me, I've been thinking. At first I was entirely against it, but the more it settled in, the more I realized. Toni is the only man apart from my dad who truly knows what happened and despite that, he stayed by my side and helped me through it all. He knows how hard it has all been for me but never once left. He was never disgusted by me...

If I'm being completely honest with myself, he is the only man I would marry if it came down to it. He never makes me feel unsafe or uncomfortable. I mean after all, it's just business right? Being married to him doesn't mean we actually have to do actual couple things...

Agreeing to him would make my dad happy and it would allow me to continue seeing Amara. I love her to bits and if this is what I have to do, I will.

"I... uh..." I stumble on my words not knowing what to say.

"Please bella... tell me she was wrong. That you're not getting married." She pleads.

"I am..." I admit, my voice barely a whisper.

She looks at me in disappointment as her hands fall onto her lap. "Why? I mean is that what you want?" She asks in confusion.

"It is what I want..." I say and her face falls.

"Alessandra is this why you came here? Just to ask me if I'm marrying Toni?" I ask her slightly surprised and confused.

I'm just her employee, why would she care if I'm getting married?

She sighs as she frustratedly runs her fingers through her hair, "I know it was stupid, this was stupid. I'm sorry I don't know why I... Isabella I don't know why I felt this weird, gnawing feeling when I heard about your marriage... I don't know why I came all the way here at this time, and I also have no idea why I care so fucking much about you." She admits forcefully.

"I've never given a shit about anyone, the way I do about you. Every time I see you in pain or distress or even slight discomfort, I have this immense need to take it away, to comfort you and... hold you..." she says, almost like it pains to admit.

"W-why? I'm just an employee of yours Alessandra... you shouldn't care about me. I mean you don't bother with anyone so why me...?" I ask still confused.

Alessandra shakes her head annoyed. She takes my hands in hers, "can you really not see it? I... I like you Isabella. I have feelings for you, that I've been trying to deny for so long. But I can't anymore, not when you're going to be someone else's entirely in who knows, a few months or so..."

I stare at her confused, surprised and in disbelief. "W-what do you mean...? Alessandra... I can't feel that way... I don't feel that way. Why would you even say that?" I stumble on my words.