30 Twisted! (Edited 08.06.18)

"You're not coming up with me?"

"No way." Davina shook her head. "Boss is even more overprotective than you are; if he sees me like this we'll never hear the end of it. I'll just head to the dorm and relax, come find me when you're done."

"Alrighty then."

At Sunshine Entertainment's underground parking lot, Isabel stood and watched as Davina swiped her employee card to open the basement door then went inside. Only when the door closed behind her did Isabel turn around and enter the elevator, heading straight to the third floor.

It was around noon when the two left Rickson but the traffic in Metropolis' south-east on a weekend was not to be underestimated.

After being stuck in a line up for almost two whole hours, the initially stiff atmosphere that still lingered between the two since entering the car had been blasted away by countless songs sung in terrible pitch and much tom-foolery that made the two laugh themselves to tears.

Isabel was glad of course that Davina was cheered up and was even willing to joke about whatever it was that caused those bruises to appear on her skin, bust she definitely did not find it funny. It wasn't a laughing matter a'tall.

Arriving at the third floor, Isabel punched in the password and the doors slid open.

Stepping out of the elevator and feeling the familiar air of a place close to her heart, Isabel subconsciously relaxed, tossing her handbag to a side on the floor then kicked off her heels while calling out: "Sonny, I'm back~!"

She trudged into the living room/office where Mason was sitting behind his desk discussing something with Sophie who was perched on the edge of the table in a black dress that could only be called 'sexy'.

The dress wasn't short, in fact it could be considered long as it reached all the way down to her mid-calf. The dress wasn't form fitting and the back had a low V line that showed off the enticing form of her scapula as her red hair was draped over her shoulder to fall on her chest, while the front of the dress had a high and modest neckline. However, on the skirt of the dress was a high side split-- this split could be considered Sophie's trademark—and with that single ambiguous split that showed off her legs, it caused the entire atmosphere of the originally modest dress to turn devilish and dangerously tempting.

Apart from her poisonous tongue and cold façade, this ability to influence the atmosphere of the clothes she wore was another reason that Sophie had gained the name 'Red Witch' from Sunshine members.

It wasn't just one or two men who had fallen hard for Sophie's charm and even women, people with power an status, but Isabel could never remember Sophie ever being in a relationship with anybody for as long as she had known her. She thought it was a bit unfortunate.

Groaning, Isabel let herself fall face first into the soft couch then sighed in content while snuggling one of the small pillows on the chair. She could feel her muscles relaxing by the second.

Isabel was exhausted, physically and emotionally. Her day so far had been one heck of a roller coaster ride.

She had woken up and gone to the hospital in high spirits to check on Kelvin only to have her mood ruined when Brycen showed up. Her mood then improved after chatting with Uncle Sam when she met him and cuddling Zac and her own kids, but then it dove again when she discovered those marks on Davina.

As for being physically exhausted, she was caught in a traffic jam for almost two hours, alright. Even if it was fun messing around with her best friend, it was still tiring.

"Izzy, you're here. How's Kelvin?"

"Great! He's definitely much better than me right now."

Recalling Kelvin's spoiled, pouty expression, Isabel smiled as she rolled onto her side.

"He's been discharged since the doctors couldn't find anything wrong with him; he went home with Kim and Phoenix."

"That's good to hear. I was worried."

After adding his signature to one last document, Mason handed it over to Sophie and raised his head, his eyes expressing his genuine feelings while the rest of his face remained paralyzed.

Because he had been busy with work, Mason couldn't afford to visit Kelvin while he was in the hospital, but he called Isabel every day to check up on them and make sure that he was okay.

Every time her friends showed their concern and care in such simple but genuine ways, Isabel always felt more and more glad to have them in her life, but at the same time, her guilt towards them from the past life would increase, further fueling her desire and determination to treat them well in this life.

"You're here, but where is Davina? I said that I wanted to see you both once Kelvin's situation was better, why isn't she here?"

The second day that Kelvin was asleep, Mason had called Isabel's phone saying that something had happened and that he wanted to see both her and Davina as soon as possible. It seemed like he didn't want to break the news to either of them first, almost like he wanted it to be a surprise.

Sadly, Isabel was reborn and by observing the timeline, she could accurately guess exactly what it was that Mason wanted to say to them. Thinking back, in the last life Davina had also missed this announcement and Isabel had needed to send her the message. Then... Davina truly had also suffered those injuries in the last life and she hadn't known.

Isabel heart's quivered as she thought about it, but her expression stayed the same with a slight smile as Mason continued to say: "What I want to talk about is a pretty big deal and I don't want to have to say it twice. Is she coming?"

"It's fine, just say it; Davi won't be coming. She had a pretty rough night and isn't feeling too well. She went to the dorm to relax."

The 'dorm' that Isabel was talking about were single bedrooms rooms on the first floor which allowed artistes to stay overnight comfortably at the company when work became hectic and going home or even to a hotel wasn't something they could afford.

There were ten such rooms in the building but only seven of them were open to general use. Two rooms were perpetually occupied by the two members of Sunshine's only performance group, 'LegionZ' and the other was labeled as Isabel's personal room by the other Sunshine members over the course of years due to how much she had redecorated and personalized it, pinning up photos of herself, Davina, Kim, Mason and the twins as well as other co workers all over the walls. Even though she rarely used it, no one else did because that was 'Izzy's room'.

"Did she sleep at your place last night?"

Sophie who had originally been leaving suddenly turned around to ask and as Isabel didn't turn to look at her, she didn't see the frost that had congealed in Sophie's sea-green eyes nor the dangerous intent that flashed as she stared at the back of Isabel's head. Isabel only waved her hand noncommittedly as she replied: "No. she stayed at the house of a friend from college who also happens to be my divorce lawyer. He brought her to the hospital after I gave him a call earlier in the day."

Hearing Isabel's reply, Sophie's expression instantly quietened and she turned back to continue leaving as though she hadn't asked in the first place. It was Mason's eyes that lit up as he stood from his chair and walked over to Isabel.

"Why did you need to call your divorce lawyer?"

Isabel laughed as she scooted over to make room for Mason on the couch next to her, knowing that he had taken the bait, then once he sat down, she began to recount her face off with Brycen and Dale in a highly animated manner. Her hands were all over the place and the expressions on her face were abundant and entertaining, especially the grumpy face she made while imitating Brycen's voice, it made Mason laugh. Yes, laugh.

Although he was friendly and interacted with them on a ground level, most of the members of Sunshine had never seen their President with so much as a mirthful twinkle in his eyes. If they were to see him now, laughing with delight like a child, would their three views be overthrown? One couldn't help but wonder.

"Amazing! Gorgeous! Izzy, you're a gem darling."

"I know."

Isabel lifted her chin with arrogance in a way that could only be called adorable as she basked in Mason's praise.

"I hope that bastard isn't shameless enough to come crawling back to you when he realizes his mistake in the future."

Isabel rolled her eyes. "Brycen values his pride above everything else, he wouldn't dare. Alright, enough about that." She pulled on Mason's ear. "You called me here for a reason, remember?"

"I almost forgot." Mason's mood was still good. He slapped his hand to his forehead and laughed as he stood up, walked over to his desk and picked up a folder then walked back and placed it in Isabel's hands before he sat down, placing his arm around her shoulders and bringing her close in an intimate manner—very much like an older brother would to his little sister.

"Tell me what this is."

With his lips still curved in a smile and his eyes twinkling mirthfully and with anticipation, he watched for Isabel's reaction.

Holding the folder in her hands, Isabel knew that she had guessed correctly about why Mason had called her over, it was the 'Rachel Sweetheart' contract.

'Rachel Sweetheart' was a foreign fashion company that designed mainly lingerie, and couples jewelry.

The group had made a huge splash when they debuted more than thirty years ago with their beautiful and enticing designs and have occupied a high position in lingerie fashion and jewelry circles since it was founded, however, they had yet to open a branch in A Country.

The contract in Isabel's hands was saying that the head designer behind 'Rachel Sweetheart' wanted her, Isabel Jaeger, formally known as 'Izzy' to be the spokesmodel and face of her brand here in A Country. This contract would run for the next twenty years.

As she skimmed her eyes over the familiar words, clauses, benefits and conditions, a wry expression flitted through Isabel's eyes.

Just like right now, this contract had arrived in her lap just a few days after she found out about Brycen's cheating and her reputation and image in the minds of everyone was still spotlessly clean, refreshing, beautiful and loveable so when she met with the executives of 'Rachel Sweetheart' she had charmed their socks off and managed to sign the actual contract-- the one in her hands was just a sample.

However, it was several days after the contract was signed, the first time that Brycen took Susan Walker to a public event and was openly intimate with her, that Isabel snapped and her tirade began, shocking the world and greatly disappointing the brand she had just signed with.

But, regardless of Isabel's reputation, her smile on a poster could cause people to lose their soul and Rachel's designs were priceless, the branch still performed well, but Isabel knew that it could do better.

She owed these people from her last life, so this time, she would certainly not disappoint them.

Knowing that if she took too long to respond the big dog by her side waiting anxiously for her reaction would be disappointed, Isabel immediately jumped into acting mode, her eyes going wide as she gripped the open folder in her hands and gradually, her hands began to shake.

Seeing her reaction, Mason laughed out, throwing his head back and slapping his thigh. Isabel turned her wide eyes over to look at him, her face red and chest heaving from the 'excitement'.

"S- Sonny, this... no way, me? They want me?"

"What, can't you read?" Mason poked her forehead. "It says 'Isabel Jaeger' right there... though I guess that's incorrect, but they're still talking about you, right?"

"No—no way! Rachel Sweetheart wants me as their A Country spokes model?! I can't freaking believe this!"

Isabel stood up and jumped on the couch.

"You better believe it." By now, Mason's earlier adrenaline had quietened and his expression now only carried a ghost of a smile, but his eyes were full of fondness and affection as he watched Isabel celebrate.

Suddenly, Isabel stopped jumping and quickly sat back down, scrambling to grab up the papers she had dropped in Mason's lap. She held them up and looked at them with eyes full of glittering excitement.

"I can't wait to show this to Davi."

She recalled the other's woman's reaction from across the phone in the last life and she was deeply anticipating to see it in person this life.

#_*_#_*_#_*_#_*_#_*_#_*_#_*_#

On the building's first floor, in a room decorated in warm colors of blues and greens and accentuated with bright pinks, Davina was half asleep on a bed chucked full of stuffed animals; she was almost completely buried amongst the furry critters

Hearing the room door click open, Davina didn't open her eyes and instead turned to nuzzle her face into the furry behind of a stuffed lion. She spoke sleepily to the person by the door.

"Back so soon? What did Boss say?"

However all she heard in reply was the door being closed and an additional click to signify it being locked. Davina's heart jumped in her chest and her hairs stood on end as she felt that something wasn't right.

Sleep had completely fled from Davina's mind. With a shudder streaking furiously down her spine, she jumped up, tossing the stuffed animals into a mess and onto the floor. Her face paled and her heart raced at a stuttering speed as she looked at the woman in a black dress leaning against the door.

Sophie's expression was calm as she stood there with her arms folded across her chest and she looked no different from usual, but by the simple action of her forefinger that was tapping restlessly against her arm, Davina could tell otherwise.

Calm? Oh no, Sophie wasn't calm, she was perfectly pissed.

She had stepped out for less than an hour yesterday to buy some food and came back to find the person she had tied to the bed missing. The ropes were bloody, showing that the person had put no small amount of effort into escaping and Sophie had almost gone mad from anger and worry, yet no matter how many times she tried to reach her, her calls were left unanswered, yet she went to sleep at some man's house.

Blinking her sea-green eyes once, Sophie pushed off the door and began to take steady steps, closing the short distance between her and the bed where Davina was pressed against the wall like a cat that would bolt at any moment; the clicking of her heals against the tiled floor like a metronome of doom ticking away in Davina's ear.

Reaching the bed, Sophie raised her right knee and slid forward, the split in her skirt making the action extremely easy and she slid her hand forward to caress Davina's cheek. Almost instantly, tears pooled in the other woman's eyes and Davina shuddered as she tried not to pull away; the bruise on her neck suddenly felt like it was aching with renewed vigor.

With a sigh, Sophie brushed away a tear from Davina's cheek as it rolled down and she spoke in a low voice that sounded like grumblings full of concern but her words only served to terrify Davina.

"Really Princess, to keep running away only for me to catch you again, when are you going to learn? It's almost like you want to be punished."

Suddenly, Sophie gripped Davina's arm as the hand she was using to caress her cheek changed angle and she ruthlessly shoved Davina's face into the bed and she wrung Davina's arm up, behind her back. Davina screamed, but the mattress muffled her sounds.

"Ssh." Sophie made the sound lowly into Davin's ear as she cried into the mattress, her free hand gripping the covers in agony.

"Why do you keep running away from me? Is there a need to when you obviously enjoy what I do to you?"

Sophie moved to straddle Davina's back and her tone was low and alluring with a bit of frustration causing Davina to tremble.

At the moment, Davina's heart was filled with hate and bitter resentment, but it was all directed at herself because Sophie was right; she did enjoy the things she did to her, but she was ashamed to admit it.

She was ashamed and afraid; ashamed that she was actually someone who took pleasure in pain and afraid because of the way Sophie made her feel. That intense feeling that was like a raging fire wanting to burn her until nothing was left and at the same time like a tidal wave, wanting to pull her under; she was afraid of what would happen if she were to let go of this life saver called 'denial' and allow herself to drown in this desire.

"Princess," Sophie's tone was gentle as she called out endearingly, gently turning Davina's face so she could look at her, but Davina could only tremble in apprehension because those usually still and indifferent eyes were now full of dark obsession and desire to possess.

Tears leaked away from Davina's eyes as she remembered that desire had once been pure, but her own reluctance and indecisiveness had twisted it into something corrupt and Davina cried because she had destroyed the woman she loved.

Feeling Sophie's nose tracing along her neck and moving down to her collar bone, panic rose in Davina's heart, but she didn't resist and only clenched her teeth. Silent tears made tracks down her face and muffled whimpers escaped her as Sophie sank her teeth ruthlessly into her skin.

Biting down until she tasted a burst of metallic flavor, Sophie pulled back then gently licked at the red wound that was slightly oozing blood on Davina's shoulder, guilt simmering in her heart as she watched those thin shoulder tremble and shake, but this was the only way; the only way to make her feel that she owned some part of this person and that she wasn't only a fleeting fling in her heart.

She would mark her in the most brutal and cruel ways and inflict pain on her body so that every time Davina saw those scars the first person she would think of would be her.

Lowering her head to nuzzle into the crook of Davina neck, Sophie laced her finger's through Davina's and held her down, sighing deeply from her heart as she inhaled her lover's sweet scent.

"You are mine, Princess. You belong to me, only I can have you."

Feeling the warmth of the person above her, Davina cried softly and prayed that whatever Isabel was doing, it would take longer. She wanted to feel Sophie's warmth for a while longer, but at the same time, she didn't want this pathetic side of herself to be exposed in the clear eyes of that little girl.