No Turning Back

"Did you see who dropped off Miss Isabella? The CEO!!!!. This girl must be sleeping with this man already," Gem told Alison, the girl sitting alongside her.

"This girl will never get a man if she just gives herself to all and Sundry. Besides the man is married. She wants a promotion but she will get a demotion" Gem said and giggled.

Alison liked Bella, and didn't say a word to Gem's wicked utterances.

Bella sat in her chair and went straight to her work.

She didn't even notice Gem and all the other eyes that were looking in her direction.

"Thank you for sharing your time with me," a text message from Henry.

She didn't reply. She smiled from ear to ear.

Moments later another one came in "I am expecting a reply", she smiled again and willfully ignored it.

Bella loved the way she felt inside when she received messages from her new lover.

She didn't want the feeling to end.

The CEO was swamped in work. Meetings, conferences, signing off on projects.

Apparently, he and his father had just bought Runway, the smallest company of their chain.

He intended to change the face of the new business and set up other branches in different states.

He is from Los Angeles but moved to Spring Lake Jersey to get the business off the ground.

Henry's intention was to stay there for at least six months to ensure the business was viable enough.

The rest of the day went by quickly. Bella kept looking at her cellphone to see if another text would come in from him.

But she lost hope when the clock clicked 4 pm. She packed her bags and left the office. Henry was still at work.

Bella's heart was still in bliss from all the attention she received from a man she hardly knew.

She started a cleaning campaign in her house, something that she had not done for weeks, months even.

Dust bunny's, missing items... all the stuff she thought she had lost were hidden somewhere in her messy apartment.

She danced as she cleaned that place like never before.

When a woman is happy, she performs to the best of her ability.

For Bella, happiness was the last time she saw her mom healthy. That was over 8 years ago.

Happiness was also knowing that someone liked her. Well lets just be frank...Henry liked her.

By the time she was finished, it was already dark.

Bella took a long shower and decided to grab a fruit bowl, sinking into her couch and reminiscing about her lunch date.

But before she could even think or relive the moment properly, her phone rang.

It was Henry. She let it ring until it stopped. Then it rang again and she answered. "I am outside", he said in a soft voice.

"Outside?", but who gave this man permission to show up at my house unannounced like this. AGAIN," she thought.

Bella ran to the door and opened to find him standing there with his usual stern look.

"You didn't tell me you were coming here," she said but he never replied.

He stood in the doorway until she allowed him in. "Henry, you hardly speak. Why is this?" she asked.

"I speak when I have to," he said, sitting on the couch.

He noticed how tidy the apartment was. How fresh and clean it smelled. He smiled in his mind.

Bella sat beside him and offered him something to eat but he refused, saying he had a heavy lunch and seldom eat at nights.

No wonder his tummy is so flat and he looked so good, Bella thought.

Henry's faced was fixated on the television screen but you could tell he was pensive.

He spoke no words so to make conversation, Bella asked, "How much more time do I have before I submit the project?

"It is after working hours " he replied.

"What do you want from me Henry? Bella asked, looking at him.

He never replied with words, instead he leaned over and kissed her lips.

She pushed him away but he held her and squeezed her.

He pulled her closer, resting her head softy on his lap while he stroked her hair.

"Woman relax," he said softly, and she obeyed. As he ran his fingers through her hair, she imagined having this moment forever.

She was in perfect peace. A place that she has never been before.

Bella couldn't understand what was going on and maybe she didn't want to know.

She wanted to feel everything that she was now feeling. Every single bit of it.

She was awakened by the ringing of Henry's phone.

It was almost 11:pm and they both had fallen asleep on the couch. "Hi", he answered.

She couldn't hear who was on the other end but she detected it wasn't work related.

"I will call you when I am free", he said and hung up.

Bella wouldn't dare ask who it was but she felt a little sad inside. Could Henry have a family?

She saw a ring. Could this have been his wife? Am I getting involved in someone else's marriage?" she said to herself.

He raised her head from his lap and she eased and sat up.

"I have to go," he said, slowly standing up and straightening his cloths.

Bella stood up to see Henry out.

He looked at her and walked back towards her direction and kissed her passionately. She felt weak.

He didn't want to stop, neither did Bella.

And they didn't stop. Henry kissed her neck. Her face. Her forehead. Like he explored her upper body with his lips. She cried out.

Moans of passion filled the living room.

His hands were in all kinds of places. Neither of these wild animals could stop what was about to happen, until his phone rang again.

He glanced at his mobile. He was panting.

He pressed the ignore button. Bella was gasping for breath as well, as tears rolled down her warm face.

Why was she crying. Total and complete bliss can do that.

Henry wanted to continue what he had started but decided to leave.

"I have to leave," he said, sliding his hands under her loose-fitting dress and touching her soft skin.

He smiled for the first time since she knew him.

Henry left her standing there. Totally unsatisfied.