Love Made Me Do It

7. Fight Club

Isabella took in a deep breath, looking into the mirror of the visor inside her car, opening her long blond hair and letting them down, fixing her makeup a tad bit. She pondered on her reflection.

She didn't look tired, in fact she barely ever showed any emotions, she felt like a cold stone, no emotion no reaction.

Taking in a deep breath, she walked into Palaice De Vile, the urbanized bewildering-ly most expensive club of the city of the Cherwood.

Where only those in Lamborghinis and Bugattis parked up and stepped out in De La Rentas and Versaces.

Wearing her pastel pink off shoulder tube dress, uptil her mid thigh, parking in her Range Rover, Isabella felt underwhelmed but she didn't care anymore.

She walked up to the gates where a long line of people in waiting rested, getting in exclusively one by one but Isabella wasn't the one to wait. She cut through the line and the bouncer immediately recognized her.

She was the girl his boss brought around most of the time. So he stepped aside and let her in.

Passing through the darkened narrow hallway, Isabella passed the security who also recognized her as Alexander's woman.

Ignoring the blissing euphoric environment busted with drunk heads and cocaine sniffed people, with strippers revolving around the Golden arched poles at the north east corner of the club, Isabella went upstairs into the VIP section.

She hated every single second of it, she hated how she never imagined herself ending up in such busted and self-absorbed environment. She imagined a much peaceful life for herself. Perhaps Switzerland, a place she wished to had flown to and taken the opportunity.

Passing down cornered benches and tables she finally reached the middle zone, where a group of seven women sat laughing and screaming at passive comments that they passed onto each other and other women around.

As soon as Crystal's eyes fell on Isabella a huge smirk of triumph lit up her lips.

"Oh look who finally showed up, an hour late." She commented.

Isabella rolled her eyes slumping on the cushioned benches right next to Emerald.

"Seems like she has her head up her butt." A familiar female voice commented making Isabella look up to it as she watched a Bob cut blonde, sitting in a too short near to the torso skirt and a crop tube top. He smirk mocking Isabella with her challenging green eyes, her surgically plumped lips, circled in a daunting tone. Her Enhanced breasts, popping right through her top as she flashed her perfectly contoured abs.

Isabella rolled her eyes yet again seeing McKenzie and her group of sardines centered around her, ready to act as the sadistic bullies they always had been. They didn't scare or saddened Isabella in fact amused her that they still hadn't grown out of themselves.

"At least I've got my own head in my butt, instead of someone else's." Isabella smirked challenging her back.

The frown on McKenzie's face was enough evidence that Isabella always got under her skin.

McKenzie was not only just another of  associates to the Mayhews through her parent's relationship, being the youngest daughter of Felicity and Conor Mathew, another rich beehive family of Cherwood, in fact she was a narcissistic, self-absorbed spoiled brat who always got what she wanted and the way she wanted things to be. Specifically who she wanted to be with.

She had been an on/off fling of Alexander, from his high school days to college, they both had bedded and pleasured each other multiple times but Alexander was always adamant that they were two friends benefiting each other. While McKenzie knew the power Alexander had in business world, the name she could earn by marrying him, she was sticking besides him until she came to know about Isabella two years ago that the reason why she hasn't gotten in bed with Alexander for a long time is Isabella, who had been his mistress.

She had seen her getting in Alexander's cars on multiple occasions and that alarmed her. With a little money thrown around she found out through Alexander's home staff that snitched the nature of relationship, Alexander and Isabella had.

She tried manipulating her way into the situation, she leaked the information to Crystal who tried confronting Alexander, even threatening to tell their parents but she held that news as a gun over his head, something Isabella was unaware of and to top it all, during Nicholas's Mayoral ceremony, Crystal staged a scene where she sweet talked to Isabella making Alexander believe that Isabella was the one to snitch their relationship it to Crystal, which only made Alexander take drastic actions against Isabella, scaring her for life.

Not only did he punished her in bed by getting savagely rough but also cut off the expenses to her mother's hospital bills and cutting the finance off her company directly to Isabella for three months making Isabella pay her mother's bills from her own pocket and eventually the entire office came to know how Isabella was just the front person of the business that was under the Mayhew wing, leaving Isabella embarrassed.

The waiter came in serving drinks as Crystal, Mckenzie and the rest of their four friends chatted while Emerald and Isabella sat quietly sipping over their red wines.

"Alex and I are actually going to Rome next week for a business venture." Mckenzie stated with a suppressed giggle a little too loud making Isabella and Emerald both give each other a taunting look.

Somehow in gatherings like these the two always became a silent support to each other. While Emerald was more closer to Crystal than she'll ever be to Isabella but there was an unsaid connection between the two that lightened as the two got surrounded by vultures like Crystal and Mckenzie.

"Oh so this means, your schedule for next week is clear then?" Crystal looked upto Isabella making everyone except for Emerald laugh out loud.

Isabella found it ironic how it wasn't her but Mckenzie that had a more sadder life, chasing behind a guy who didn't even care merely about her existence.

"Anyways... Make the best out of this trip, who knows you might come back with a ring?" Crystal giggled making Mckenzie fake a blush.

"Oh please..." Emerald snorted making Isabela laugh as well.

"Wjy?" An offended Mckenzie questioned, "Who knows next year Alex and I would be on our honeymoon."

Isabella and Emerald both gave each other a familiar look and burst into fits of laughter. Annoying Mckenzie and Crystal to their core.

As much as Crystal liked annoying Isabella she believed that Mckenzie was a much sophisticated and better option for her brother.

"Of course, and do let me know, I'll gift you guys a honeymoon package." Isabella stated smugly infuriating Mckenzie even more.

By this time the rest of four friends of Mckenzie and Crystal had started feeling the heat grow up among the ladies and began whispering among themselves.

They'd known that the guy Mckenzie was so driven to had no interest in her but rather the other blond who was simpler and paler than Mckenzie.

"I guess we'll take it to the dance floor." one of the women in the group spoke up and got up with the other two while another one stayed behind as she wanted to get all the juicy details out of the possible cat fight.

As they left through Emerald's side she heard them snicker," I hope Alex dumps them both."

"I'd love to have him inside my mouth." the other one replied back laughing.

"You think you're too smug?" Mckenzie stated looking at Isabella not caring enough to control her temperament.

Isabella shrugged, "Getting to be in bed with the man who willingly discarded you like a tissue paper, of course I think of me as a little smug."

Mckenzie's blood boiled as she held her glass tighter, flexing her jaw hard. Her brooding confidence and stealth now long lost.

"He's just stupid to not to see what's good for him." Mckenzie retorted.

"Hey that's still my brother." Crystal butted in with offense and Mckenzie gave her a surprised look.

"Are you shitting me? Are you actually taking her side?" Mckenzie battled Crystal.

"I'm just defending my brother and mind if I had to take her side. She's his choice after all." Crystal shrugged.

Crystal truly was a Chameleon, she wasn't true to anyone and changed sides like a flipping coin which was expectant to hers.

As Mckenzie and Crystal began fighting and arguing Emerald gestured Isabella and the two ladies got up to leave for a side break.

The went towards the open balcony that was centered with glass walls and even floor all around, giving the view of the silent city at night.

Picking out the cigarette from her clutch, Emerald passed one down to Isabella and fixed one to her lips, lightening it up, the both began puffing smokes of thick air.

"You shouldn't have come. It gets shitty." Emerald told Isabella.

She snorted, "I never get to choose what to do Emerald."

"Choice isn't always a deed."

Isabella scoffed. "What is your deal? You act like you're helpless and stuck like s**t in a meaningless relationship but you're just as free as fuck." she took in a deep smoke with a frown over her eyebrows.

Emerald scoffed and let out a laughter, "Sometimes guilt doesn't let you survive."

"Then you should definitely see the Mayhews, they're guilt free as f**k. They've manipulated half of this city and look at them. They even own the land we stand at, the food we eat, the air we breathe, the bodies we live in."

Isabella said with a venomous tone and Emerald understood her concern.

"It's okay." Emerald stated, "They must get something hard on themselves as wel."

Isabella looked up at her and the two began chuckling lightly knowing how ordained her words sounded.

After finishing their cigarettes, the two walked back into the club, towards their seats, only to be halt on their tracks as they saw a group of four men cornering their booth in which what seemed to be Crystal standing all alone while a tall, muscular blond in a casual tee and jeans, holding her arm as she struggled against him.

The two rushed towards the scene, passing down the rest of the three who stood at a distance hollering amongst themselves, too busy to notice Isabella and Emerald.

"Hey back off!" Isabella pushed past the blond and held Crystal who sheilded herself behind Isabella.

The blond raised his hands in defense while Emerald cornered him on the other side. He looked over his shoulder and saw Emerald waving at the security. He smirked looking at the scene.

"Listen, let me talk to Crystal, you don't want any scene." He warned with a slugging grin.

Isabella gritted her teeth, noticing his stubbled jaw, flexing muscles and handsome features with a ocean of daunting blue eyes looked like right into Isabella’s eyes as he moved his long blond hair sideways and smirked smugly. She immediately recognized him as Jesse Payton, the same guy who harassed Isabella back in high school. But she had been in business with him for a while now as his father, Dante Payton, became a local staple supplier, building an empire with his wife Shelly Rosewald Payton.

"What the f**k Jesse?" Isabella hissed at him.

His daunting blue eyes sparked with a hint of taunt as he scanned a look at Isabella and back at a scared Crystal who was hiding her tears and herself.

"Now you seemed scared. Didn't seem scared two weeks ago." Jesse hissed looking  back over Crystal. He said straightening up and leaning sideways, scanning Crystal's body with his clear blue eyes.

Isabella saw how Jesse's eyes were scanning Crystal and she saw the definite lust behind his gaze.

Security gathered around the place within second, covering the entire area.

Isabella stepped ahead and held Crystal's hand behind her,"Listen Payton..." She set her tone into a warning one, "I'm taking Crystal with me and if you don't want your jaw open into two, stay away from us."

She turned Crystal ahead of her and Emerald grabbed her hand and walked her out of the club.

As she left Emerald signaled the guards to hold Jesse and his friends back before they leave the club safely.

As soon as they sat inside the car, silence engulfed them. Emerald sat in the passenger seat while Isabella drove.

The two had multiple questions lingering their mind but kept it to themselves, sharing glances at each other.

Until they head Crystal sobbing in the backseat. Isabella looked through the rear view mirror while Emerald simply turned and gave Crystal a questioning look, passing her down napkins.

"I swear none of this is my fault, that psycho he's been after me for a while." Crystal sobbed as she cleared her tears.

"What do you mean?" Emerald asked while Isabella took a turn towards the Mendoza street, which was a clear pavement and deep asleep with silence at that time of the night.

"He'd been showing up at every party, every event I go to for the past six months and had been trying to make a pass at me. I ignored him for a while but two weeks ago at the mayor's charity ball... He made a pass again and I left with him..."

"Because you had a fight with your mom and you wanted to piss her off." Emerald added making Isabella look at her and realize how well she knew about the entire family.

"Yes... I should've listened to her. It gets so irritating when my parents hold my life like a f*****g puppet." Crystal squirmed with her words.

"I guess we're discussing something else right now?" Emerald c****d an eyebrow at Crystal as another sob escaped her lips.

"Oh... That asshole Jesse, he tried kissing me and when I refused he tried forcing me so I kicked him in the balls and saved myself but he'd just turned psycho I swear... Ever since than he'd just show up everywhere. I went with my friends, at events, parties and I'm pretty sure he had been following me the entire night because as soon as Mckenzie left, he just showed up."

"You should tell your brothers." Isabella finally stated looking at the rear view mirror right at Crystal.

"They'll just put more restrictions on me." Crystal held back a sob.

"It's better than having an obsessive lunatic chasing you." Isabella argued.

Crystal rolled her eyes throwing her head back sluggishly. "Maybe you're right."

They reached down a square, as the signal turned red and Isabella parked her car.

The three sat silently inside the car, looking out at the dark right with nothing but darkness surrounding them, tall trees shrouding the silent street on all four sides. Over the left was a local community College campus with its backside of faculty residence that was shrouded with trees and plantations, facing the road.

Isabella was looking over to that side when suddenly a thudding voice crashed through her ear drum when something solid hard hit the side of her head facing the window, with glass shredding everywhere and even piercing her skin. Her ear drum began beeping with silent whistles and whispers, as something beeped into her ear and her head fell hard over the steering wheel, knocking her almost unconscious.

While she couldn't make up her surrounding she tried brushing the feeling to cold blood seeping through her forehead as tiny glass pieces shredded her skin. Her head throbbed hard as she could feeling a cutting injury while her ears beat with a low screaming sound that felt coming from a distance.

Crystal and Emerald screamed watching Isabella getting knocked dowm unconscious as someone tried hit through her window.

A male stepped ahead carrying a baseball bat with a daunting smirk as he looked upto Isabella. The doors to Crystal and Emerald's sides opened up, as a strong grip over Crystal's arm pulled her out, turning her around as she stood facing Jesse.

"No!" She screamed out loud.

"Let me Go!" Emerald screamed as another one of Jesse's friends, pulled her out as well.

She watched with horror as Jesse stood gripping Crystal's hair with one hand while cupping her face. She hastened towards them but a strong grip over her arm prohibited her." Let her go! You f*****g asshole!" she screamed but all in vain.

Jesse chuckled looking darkly into Crystal's eyes. "All I wanted was to talk!" He hissed grabbing her jaw tighter making her wince in pain, as he gripped her hair even more tightly.

Tears blinded Crystal's vision as she whimpered sensing his monstrous touch getting a hold of her body.

"Please, let me go." She whimpered lowly, while her entire body shook.

Jesse chuckled coldly, pulling her closer so their noses collided, while he brushed his breath right over her face, "I will, after I make you mine."

He started dragging her towards his car while his friends pulled Emerald out towards another car.

The two women screamed and whimpered, struggling and thrashing against the brooding men who carried them towards to other cars.

Isabella's conscious began ringing through her ears as the loud cries and screams became more closer and clearer. She winced in pain, getting her head up, resting it against the headrest.

Her Vision was still unclear and cloudy. She touched her forehead and saw a thick layer of blood covering her fingers. She hissed as the throbbing pain grew even more.

She shook her head and her eyes went towards the rear view mirror and her eyes bulged out as she saw Crystal being dragged by a tall blonde and her heart leaped as she sensed who it could possibly be.

Isabella lunged towards her glove box and rummaged through some files, finally her eyes landing on the black piece of metal.

She gulped hard, and finally pulled out the black old daisy powerline 340 air soft pistol. The same gun her mother kept in her car but even since Pamela's hurtful condition Isabella had kept the gun in her car but never used it. She even went to range shooting and practicing but used the provided guns, never this one.

But she knew she needed a strong weapon to scare her enemy.

Picking out the gun, she unloaded the magazine and saw it filled with eight bullets. She loaded the gun and removed the safety and immediately walked out of the car.

Jesse continued dragging Crystal effortlessly with one arm while his friends laughed at Emerald's weak attempts of trying to get away.

"If the Mayor finds this out, he's going to kill you guys." Emerald hissed at all of them.

"Good!" One of Jesse's friends pushed her against the car and turned her around groping her hard as she winced in pain.

They just wanted to enjoy a night of their pleasure with the famous actress and model and that's what Jesse had offered them.

While Jesse pushed the car door open and was about to throw Crystal in when a voice shot at him.

"Let them go!" Isabella yelled from a distance walking towards them holding the gun in her hands.

Crystal and Emerald's eyes bulged out looking at the gun, but their hearts filled with hope that Isabella could save them.

Isabella pointed her gun directly at Jesse who underestimated her and smirked, holding crystal's arm in one hand, he walked back into the center, while his friends freaked inside their minds looking at the women who looked extremely ill, with blood tricking down her head and skin pierced at spots, she still stood strong holding a gun pointed at them.

Isabella turned her gun towards them and they immediately stepped back and Emerald rushed towards Isabella’s side.

Isabella them pointed the gun back at Jesse.

"Let her go!" She warned him.

"Or else what? You're gonna shoot me?" He taunted waving Crystal in front of him like a small doll who didn't even matter.

Isabella gritted her teeth hard with Jesse testing her patience, she didn't want Crystal to get hurt but she was in no mood for mind games.

"I said let her go!" Isabella barked in a loud volume even scaring Emerald who had never heard her with that stamina and anger blaring out.

Isabella had a pretty good aim, she had a good practice at shooting ranges and she kept pushing her shoulders out until she didn't hit the bull's eye and she had exhausted herself out but she was confident her aim was pretty perfect.

Jesse chuckled coldly, pulling Isabella to his side, still gripping her arm, "Make me!"

Without another second Isabella but him right over his extended arm over his midaxillary where he was holding Crystal.

The pain of the sharp metal piercing his skin hit right through his arm, shooting throughout his entire body as his grip on Crystal loosened who freed herself and ran back at Isabella and Emerald engulfed her in a hug.

"it's okay!" Emerald assured her.

Jesse held his throbbing arm while his friends stood stunned, they tried racing towards their injured friend but Isabella pointed her gun at them, "Stay back!" She warned.

Jesse looked up to Isabella and gritted his teeth, "You f*****g b***h!" He charged at him but she shot him again through his thigh, making him stumble down as more pain sarged into his body.

"Get inside the car!" Isabella ordered Emerald and Crystal who looked at her for a second.

"Now!" She barked and the two rushed out towards the car.

Jesse's friends tried to reach out for him again but Isabella now pointed the gun at them while Jesse laid almost unconscious.

"There's still six left inside and you guys are three!" she warned and they all stood their hands up in defense.

"He could die!" One of them bargained.

"I don't care!" She smirked.

Within second bright lights flashed behind Isabella and eight black cars approached from different corners, corning the place within seconds. Isabella stood shaking now, knowing her own call and actions were going to end her in up trouble.

From one of the car that stood at the corner, the back door opened up as man in chiseled shiny suit and sparkling suit walked out.

No matter how brave she could be, even holding a gun in her hands she felt chills down her spine, sensing the man walk right up to her.

He assessed the situation as his men cornered the three guys and Jesse and took control of the situation.

He walked right up to Isabella and stood facing her. His jaw was flexing hard, while his eyes held an unsaid anger that wasn't going to be tamed easily.

He gritted his teeth looking at Isabella’s head and then the gun in her hands.

He held it out from her while her body felt collapsing as her blood loss exceeded and her vision blinded. She felt at loss of energy as she finally collapsed right into his arms.