CHAPTER 5 The Blackmail

Isabella's POV

Cole Smith was of course exactly the kind of guy my mother would pick for me.

He'd shown up with flowers, actual flowers, like this was 1952 and kissed Mom's cheek before turning to practice his charm on me.

"Isabella. I've heard so much about you." He said as he took my hand and brought it to his lips.

I resisted the urge to pull away. Mom was watching me, and I'd promised myself I'd play nice. One lunch. I could survive one lunch.

"Cole. Nice to meet you."

"The pleasure is all mine."

We sat down at the dining table—where lunch had already been served. Mom now has a fleet of domestic staff at her disposal and she was clearly making the most of it.

Damian had barely looked at me. Now he was the picture of the attentive husband, touching Mom's shoulder, refilling her wine glass, acting like I didn't exist.

Good. That's what I wanted. The devil he was.

"So, Isabella," Cole said, his hand finding mine on the table. "Your mother tells me you're looking for internship opportunities."

"That's right."

His thumb traced circles on my palm. It should've been pleasant but it wasn't.

"I might be able to help with that. I have connections at several publications in the city." He leaned closer, his fingers lacing through mine. "We should discuss it sometime. Over dinner, perhaps?"

Mom was literally trying to contain her grin.

I forced a smile. "Maybe."

"I'd love to hear more about what you're passionate about. What drives you. What keeps you up at night."

"I'm interested in investigative journalism. Uncovering the truth, exposing corruption—"

"How noble." He replied with a smile and his hand moved to my shoulder, squeezing it gently. "Beautiful and principled. You're quite remarkable."

I heard Damian's fork scrape against his plate.

Cole didn't seem to notice. He kept touching me; my hand, my arm, my shoulder, each contact lingering too long. His smile never wavered. Neither did his attention.

"Tell me," he said, caressing the back of my hand with his thumb, "what made you choose journalism? Was it…"

"Drop her hand."

Everyone froze.

Damian's voice was cold and controlled, there was something underneath it that made my hairs stand on end

Cole blinked. "I'm sorry?"

"I said drop her hand. Now."

"Damian…" Mom began looking confused, her smile vanishing from her face.

"She's clearly uncomfortable." Damian replied, his eyes locked on Cole, and if looks could kill, we'd be planning a funeral. "You've been making her uncomfortable since you sat down."

My cheeks blushed red. "I'm fine…"

"You're not fine." He said in a firm voice that could be mistaken for fatherly concern but we both knew it wasn't.

"You remind me of my niece. She had a boyfriend who couldn't keep his hands to himself either. He made her miserable."

The lie came out smooth and believable. I almost bought the lie as well.

Cole released my hand slowly, his perfect smile still in place. "My apologies. I didn't mean to overstep."

"Of course you didn't." Mom said as she reached over and squeezed Damian's arm. "That's sweet of you to look out for her. You're right, Cole tends to be a bit... enthusiastic."

"I just know what I want when I see it."

Cole looked at me with a smile, "And I see a lot of potential in Isabella."

The words sounded innocent but they weren't.

Mom stood up, still smiling even though the tension in the room was choking "Why don't we have dessert in the sitting room? I made that chocolate cake you love, Damian. Let me just grab it from the kitchen."

Damian stood up with her. "I'll help."

They disappeared together, leaving me alone with Cole.

The second they were gone, his expression changed.

The charming smile vanished. Something evil and sinister replaced it.

"Well," he said, leaning back in his chair. "That was interesting."

I started to stand. "I should probably…"

"Sit down, Isabella."

Something in his tone made me freeze. This wasn't the same man who'd been kissing my hand five minutes ago. This was someone else entirely.

"What do you want?"

"The same thing everyone wants. Information."

He pulled out his phone, swiped through it casually. "I have to admit, when I agreed to this little lunch date, I wasn't expecting much. But then I had a sudden stroke of luck."

My heart raced, he had something up his sleeves.

"What’s going on here Cole?"

"The Velvet Room. That's the club where you worked, right? Nice place. Pretty upscale too. I was there a few weeks ago, actually. Celebrating a business deal."

No. No no no.

"I saw something interesting that night." He said as he turned his phone toward me.

The photo was grainy, taken from a distance. But it was clear enough. Me and Damian leaving together, his hand on my butt. My face turned up toward his.

I grasped onto the table for support.

"There are more," Cole said with a smirk on his face. " Very thorough documentation, if I am to say so myself."

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't think. Panic was clawing its way up my throat, but I forced it down, forced my face to remain expressionless

"I don't know what you think you saw…"

"Oh, I know exactly what I saw. The question is, does your mother?"

"What do you want?" I was surprised at the steadiness of my own voice.

"That's better."

He pocketed his phone. "I want something very simple, really. Your cooperation."

"With what?"

"That depends. How much do you value your mother's happiness? Her mental health? Because I imagine finding out her daughter fucked her husband before she even married him would be... devastating."

I gripped the edge of the table. "You're blackmailing me."

"I prefer to think of it as a mutually beneficial arrangement." He leaned forward, his voice low" You do what I ask, when I ask it, and these photos stay private. Your mother never has to know what kind of daughter she raised."

"Go to hell."

"Tempting, but I'll pass." He stood up, straightening his jacket. "Think about it, Isabella. Think about what this information could do to your mother. To your stepfather's reputation. To your future as a journalist. One anonymous tip to the right people, and your entire life explodes."

I heard footsteps in the hallway. Mom and Damian were returning.

Cole's smile was back, bright and innocent. But his next words were barely a whisper.

"You know what I can do with this information. I just want one thing though. Your life will be pretty much safer if you do it.”