Kelly.

Who would want to lock me inside the steam room? Who had erased that footage from the security system? Marco, Loren, Luca, and Enzo said that the steam room overheated when they found me. Did I turn up the temperature that high? No, I didn't. I would never do that. Someone must have come in there and done that. Someone had tried to suffocate me to death but why? I try to be as nice and as friendly as I could to everyone around here. The only person who didn't like me here was that housekeeper, Mildred. I am wondering if she was the one who came inside there, turned up the temperature, and then locked me inside but how did she gain access to the security room to erase the video footage? There were so many unanswered questions.

The worst thing about it is that I couldn't remember anything. It's been two days now and I'm still cooped up in bed. Marco did not want me to get out. Hell, he didn't even want me to leave the house. I was on sick leave from work but I still did my classes online.

I still have nightmares about Aunt Macy's death. I still can't believe that it's been two months since she was brutally murdered by those scumbags. That jerk, Matteo, got what he deserved. I am not sorry that I killed him.

"Marco, I want you to make me a bowl of my favorite vegetable soup," I told him as I sat up in bed.

He was working from home today.

He closed the computer screen and looked at me. "Sure, when do you want it?" He asked.

"Now," I replied abruptly and stretched my hand across the nightstand to take up my phone.

"Okay, I am going to make it now, Bella." He said as he got up from his desk and sat on the bed beside me.

"Thanks." I smiled at him.

He stroked my cheeks and stared at me. "You're welcome. You're so fucking beautiful." He murmured as we stared at each other.

I couldn't help blushing as I looked away from his intense gaze. I wanted to jump his bones right then and there but I was feeling so weak.

"I don't think that I look beautiful now." I blurted out. "I'm not wearing any makeup, my hair is a mess, and my eyes are swollen."

"Kelly, you don't need that stupid makeup to look beautiful. Your hair looks lovely, and your eyes are beautiful and captivating. You are an alluring woman, bambino." He said, seriously.

I felt my knees getting weak. Marco always makes me feel as if I was the only woman in the world.

"Thanks, baby, you make me feel so special." I wrapped my arms around his neck.

Our foreheads were touching against each other as he held my waist.

"You are special. You know that I love you, right?" He asked and planted a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"Yes, I know," I answered softly.

"Good." He muttered and smiled as I straddled his lap.

I latched onto his neck while he ran his hand along my spine.

He was getting hard.

"Bella," He called but I didn't respond to him.

"Bella," He said for the second time and I still ignored him.

"Kelly," He said more seriously. "I think that I need to go and make you that soup."

I stopped and nodded at him.

I got up from his lap and lay on the bed.

"I'll be back shortly." He said and winked at me.

I giggled at him. "Okay, darling."

**

"Marco, I don't want anymore, baby. I'm full." I told him and touched my stomach.

He stopped feeding me and touched my lips.

"Okay, good." He put down the plate on the table.

"Honey, why don't we go for a swim in the pool," I suggested to him.

"Are you sure about that?" He asked, raising an eyebrow and questioning me.

"Yes, I am," I replied happily.

**

Marco looked so yummy in his black and white swim trunks. He was hot as hell with his tattoos and abs on full display giving my eyes a lot of work to do watching him. Oh, Lord, what did I do to get this sexy hunk? I asked myself as I stared at him.

"Marco, I love the water so much!" I yelled to him and plunged into the water and held my breath as I stayed underneath it.

"Bella," He called and plunged in after me.

"Are you okay?" He asked worriedly as he wrapped his arms around me.

I smiled to reassure him that I was. "I'm fine, Marco. I'm a good swimmer. I've been taking swimming lessons since kindergarten. I can hold my breath underwater for more than five minutes."

He nodded at me, still holding on tight to me as if he was afraid that something bad was going to happen to me.

"You scare the shit out of me, Bella." He admitted.

"I'm sorry, baby," I said, touching his cheeks. "I'm fine, Marco."

"Have you ever gotten your dick sucked underwater before?" I asked seductively as I caressed his shoulders.

"No," He murmured and gripped my ass cheeks so that my pussy was resting firmly against his dick. He was very hard.

"Whose cock have you sucked underwater before?" There was slight anger in his voice.

I quickly shook my head at him. "No one, Marco."

"Are you telling me the truth, Kelly?" He asked, raising his eyebrows suspiciously at me.

"Yes," I said, reassuringly. "You know that you're my first."

"And your last." He lowered his head and gave me a peck on the lips.

He then nibbled and tugged on my lips.

I giggled and gazed at him with my arms still wrapped around his neck while his fingers continued to dig into my flesh.

**

A week later.

I lay in bed feeling sick as hell. My head hurts, my tummy hurts, and I felt nauseous. I had difficulties breathing and I also had diarrhea with bloody stools. My mouth was a bit swollen.

I did over ten pregnancy tests today and they were all negative. I got up and walked to the bathroom. I felt dizzy and almost fell. I had to quickly grip the handle of the door for support.

I looked around the bedroom for my cell phone to call Marco but I couldn't find it.

I was about to open the door when I saw Marco coming in.

"Bella, are you okay?" He asked in a concerned tone as he held me around my waist.

"No," I whimpered in pain while clutching his arms.

"I'm calling the doctor." He took out his cell phone from the pocket of his jacket.

"Marco, I'm going to be sic-" The words didn't come out fully before I vomited all over Marco's expensive black Armani suit.

"I'm sorry," I muttered in a low trembling voice.

An embarrassing feeling washed over me. At that moment, I wish that the ground would open up and swallow me in it.

"It's okay, Bella, I'm going to get cleaned up."

I nodded as I quickly pulled away from him and rushed into the bathroom to empty the content of my stomach again.

What the hell was happening to me? I heard Marco's footsteps following me into the bathroom.

**

Eight days later.

I was still sick but the vomiting had stopped. I still had problems breathing and I had to have a ventilator over my nose and mouth to help pump oxygen into my body. Dr. Page had me do a few blood tests to see what had caused me to be so sick. She thought that maybe it was something that I ate that I was allergic to.

Loren never left my bedside. She was always there for me. Tory was away but she called me every day to check up on me. Even a few of my co-workers called and enquired how I was doing daily.

Marco kept on encouraging me by telling me that I will get better.

"How are you feeling, Bella?" Marco asked while stroking my hair.

"I'm feeling sick, Marco. I want to get better." I told him.

"You're going to get better." He planted a kiss on my left cheek.

He sat at my bedside and held my hands.

"Marco, I want you to come and lie beside me," I told him slowly.

My voice was raspy and shaky.

"Are you sure, Bella?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"Okay." He said while getting up from the chair and taking his shoes off.

He lay beside me and held me in his arms.

"Marco, I don't want to die."

"Bella, you're not going to die. You're going to get better, okay?"

I nodded my response as the tears welled in my eyes.

**
Later that evening.

**

"How are you feeling, Kelly?" Dr. Page asked as she checked my temperature.

"I'm feeling very weak," I replied to her.

"Okay, are you still feeling nauseous?"

"No," I answered while looking at her.

Marco stood in the corner of the room watching with his hands folded across his chest.

"That's wonderful. I have the results from your blood test. It shows that paraquat was found in your system." She informed me as she looked at me.

"What the fuck!" Marco yelled.

"I'm lost here. What the hell is that?" I asked.

"It is a toxic chemical that is used to kill plants and weeds etc." She said while Marco clenched his jaw.

"In other words it is poison?" I asked out loud.

She nodded. "Yes, Kelly. Have you ever come in contact with it here or anywhere else?"

"No, I've never even heard of it until now."

"Doc, is it possible that someone might have put it in her food or something?" Marco was very upset.

"It is possible, sir. The good thing is that it was detected early." She smiled at us. "Kelly, you're going to be fine. I'm heading out now but I'll be back to check on you tomorrow."

"Thanks, Dr.Page."

She nodded at me and went through the door.

"Marco, who would want to poison me?"

"Bella, I don't know but I'm going to find out." He held my hands and I snatched them away from him.

"That's all you keep on saying!" I yelled at him in anger. "Did you find out who locked me in the steam room, turned up the temperature, and left me to suffocate to death?!" I raised my voice at him.

"Bella, I did tell you that I'm working on it." He retorted. "I'm trying to find out who it was and trust me, I will."

"Well, you don't have to search anymore. It's Mildred!"

"How do you know that?" He asked as he ran his hand through his hair.

"It's not rocket science, Marco. She hates me. She's an evil racist bitch. She's the one who wants me gone. So, she's doing everything to make me leave here and leave you."

He sat on the chair and held one of my shaking hands. "Bambino, when I find out who it is, I am going to blow their head or heads off! No joke about that. I have to ensure that I have the right person. I don't want to kill an innocent person and then the fucker is still here." He said seriously.

"I'm telling you, Marco, it's her! She hates me because I'm black!" I shriek.

"Did she ever say something like that to you before?" He enquired.

"No, she doesn't have to." I snapped at him. "Her actions say it all."

"I'll know if it's her and she's not going to get away with it. I can guarantee you that, Kelly."

"Here was supposed to be a safe place. I want to leave here. I want to move into my place tomorrow."

I stared at him as I spoke and that dark cold look appeared in his eyes. "You're not leaving here, Bella." He stated sternly. "You're sick and I'm not letting you out of my sight. I told you that I'm going to find the fucker who's responsible. Can't you at least just trust me?" He arched his eyebrows at me.

"Why are you always controlling my life, Marco?!" I screamed at him.

"Because you're my queen and I have to protect and take care of you." He answered in a low tone.

I turned my head away to avoid looking at him. "Sometimes I wonder if I made the right decision getting involved with you." The words came out before I knew it.

"Really, Kelly?"

"Marco, I'm sorry. That's not what I meant to say." I tried to touch him but he pulled his hand away.

"It's good, Bella. If you want to leave, you can. I'm not going to try and stop you anymore, bambino. I'm going to bed, goodnight." With that said, he walked out of the bedroom and slammed the door without giving me a chance to explain myself.

I lay there sobbing and gazing into the ceiling.