CHAPTER 3

It was already an annoying day for Bella. The suit was burnt, which had meant her world was burnt as well, but then looking at the bright side, Bella thought that he might not have the time to start poking around looking for some little girl who stained his suit. After all, he looked super rich enough to own a car like that and also the way he carried himself. She thought carefully and hoped he would let it slide because there was no way in the world that she was going to take the suit looking like hell to that man. He would surely kill her, so her morning was gloomy enough as she headed downstairs for breakfast before school, not like she cared for breakfast with Daniel's, but her mother had told her that it was part of the blending in process, that's if she still wanted a roof over her head.

"Watch where you're going, tart.” she heard Mickey say as she nearly bumped into him, but then, with a glint in her eyes, she demanded,

" Who're you calling a tart asshole?” Mickey was definitely not in the mood to fight with her that morning. He simply laughed and, with a smirk, headed downstairs. He was in there in the morning, he was simply laughing and, with a smirk, headed downstairs. He was in college already and often snuck girls into the room. Boy, he was so hot!!!

"Why did you skip school yesterday young woman?” her mother's voice cut into her stream of thoughts" Oh hell!!! There goes Mary, queen of Scotland with her sermon again, Bella thought.

"I forgot something,” she simply said. Miss Clarkson weighed her daughter and started,

" Listen lady, if you think I'm gonna sit here and watch you waste away, then you are bloody dreaming,”

She retorted,

''What do you care, mother? All you care about are your damn television shows!!!!"

Miss Clarkson, a big-time drama queen, was definitely not having any of this so she was about to lash at her delinquent daughter when Anthony came to her aid.

" Let her be Katie darling, she'll learn. Right Bella?” he tried to pacify.

"Oh yeah, there goes the weasel in her silent mode,” Mickey said, trying to infuriate her further.

"Shut up Mickey!!!” But definitely his father would have none of that, this brightened Bella.

"Yeah, shut up Mickey,” before he could speak and remind her who was older and who was not, she quickly added, " Right dad.” to Anthony's question.

He rewarded her with a smile and a wink. Breakfast went on with no events and soon, she was on her way to school. As soon as Bella stepped out, she was subconsciously aware of being watched by eyes deep and shallow, so she scanned her surroundings, but when it seemed clear, she briskly walked to the bus stop where she took a bus to school, but even then, she could feel a pair of watchful eyes on her. Getting to school, Bella was soon so carried away with events around her that she waved aside thoughts of Jay Martins. She signed up with the drama team, and when it was time to go home, she could suddenly have that early feeling of being watched. She mingled with a group of students heading her way, but still she could feel eyes burning into the very hollow of her soul.

"I pray he forgets. Dear God, I promise you if he doesn't come after me, I'll never masturbate in my life again .” she silently prayed.

Seconds turned into minutes, minutes into days and soon, two days had passed with no event of Jay Martins around her. She became relaxed and then, the only reminder of the event was just the burnt jacket hanging in her closet. For some reason she couldn't find the nerve to throw it away, and so, she kept it as a reminder of what bad thoughts could cause to happen.

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Jay Martins smiled in his car as he watched the high school girl do her thing. Ever since he got her file with the help of Alfredo and the school management, he had been monitoring her during his free time. He was initially angry at her deceit, but during the course of monitoring her, he had decided to let himself be amused by her little gimmicks. He could feel a strong pull in his guts to step out, pick her up and take her home where he would demonstrate to her that he was the boss.

But for now, he wanted to give her enough time to feel relaxed like a stupid rabbit that she showed and then sprang from nowhere and bring doomsday to her doorstep. Jay was a patient man, he usually took his time doing what he knew best to do and was always on time with his plans. He went late only when he felt the coast was clear or that he would make a profit and went early in a similar situation. Right now, he knew he hadn't become the most dreaded man in the city by being rash and he was going to prove to that simpleton of a woman that he bid his time.

On his own part, Alfredo was not really cool with the fact of little Bella putting his friend on the road. It was a dangerous place and those were dangerous times. He hoped that this whole sickness, as he termed it, would end in a flash. If only he could read minds, then he might have known that this was only the beginning of such madness. But to make sure that Jay did not stray, he made available lots of paperwork for his friend and boss, but Jay, being Jay, read into what his friend was playing at, ensured that he finished whatever ever task early and made time to go see Bella.

He started making a draft of a list of things he planned on doing to her. At first, he had thought of openly kidnapping her on the way, but then, that would cause a strain on both his reputation and her dignity. So he kept making plans and remaking more plans. He was a friend with the law enforcement agencies, but that was only if he kept away from public confrontations. But this time, he seriously had to think of a way to legally keep Bella close enough to him. He soon returned to his office to make more plans and soon, he dialed his lawyer, Sammy, one of the best the country had to offer. Sammy had never lost any case in court since he started winning, he kept getting better and better. Jay had known him for years, and kept feeding his bank account so as to make sure that he kept his profile clean, without blemishes and out of trouble.

But also, he knew the middle-aged lawyer at 52 would have a better idea on how to get Bella, so he dialled him. He asked that they meet at the usual spot in one of the casinos. Once it was time, Jay met with Sammy and explained everything to him; Sammy could feel the gravity of love in the youngster's eyes and gave advice that he should involve her parents. So in summary, Jay had to go to her home and plead her offense, although in a gratified manner, so that they had no option but to lease the stubborn daughter into his care. This was the brightest idea he had gotten in a while and he was definitely not ready to compromise it. He decided to give her a full week to feel relaxed and then cut into her dreamy paradise.