"Gina Willis?" The name slowly sank in as Zack repeated it. Recognition dawned on him—it was the heiress of the powerful Willis family. But why would she be calling him? What could she possibly want?
"You may not know me, but I know everything about you," Gina’s voice continued, cool and confident. "I know that you have feelings for Bella. If you want to win her over, meet me at the Starline Hotel in an hour."
Before Zack could even process her words, the call abruptly ended. He pulled the phone away from his ear, staring at it in disbelief. What just happened? "What she just said?" He squinted, recalling her words. Why on earth would the heiress of Willis want to help him in winning Bella’s heart?
Zack was curious and skeptical at the same time. "I need to find out what she wants," he mumbled, determined to go see her at the Starline Hotel.
Meanwhile, in the design department, Willow wasted no time pulling Bella aside the moment they returned. Her curiosity was gnawing at her, and she couldn’t hold back any longer.
"Bella, what’s going on between you and Zack?" she asked directly. "Is Zack interested in you? Do you have feelings for him?"
"Willow, please," Bella sighed, frustration lacing her voice. Her patience was wearing thin. "I have nothing to do with Zack Hudson. He is my boss, and that’s all there is to it."
Willow let out a small breath of relief, but the questions still nagged at her. "Then why did Ivy accuse you of stealing her boyfriend? And who is Rose?"
Bella’s expression darkened slightly as she shrugged. "I don’t know much about Rose. Ivy once told me that Rose was Zack’s girlfriend, who died in an accident. It was unsettling to find out that I looked like her. Because of that resemblance, Zack seems to have a soft spot for me. But I’ve made it clear to both him and Ivy that I don’t have any feelings for him."
She paused, her frustration giving way to a deeper sense of melancholy. "But Ivy wouldn’t stop plotting against me. And it’s all because of this face," Bella added, her voice tinged with bitterness.
She scowled, feeling a wave of depression wash over her. If only she didn’t resemble Rose, maybe none of this would have happened. Maybe she wouldn’t have been dragged into this web of jealousy and misplaced affection.
Willow stared ahead in a daze, her mind struggling to process the unsettling revelation. "So Zack’s girlfriend is dead, and she looked like you!" Her gaze turned sympathetic as she looked back at Bella, realizing how much she had been through simply because of her appearance. "Does Theodore know about it?"
Bella, clearly weary of the conversation, let out a long, resigned sigh. "Not completely. But he does know about Zack’s feelings for me. He warned him to stay away."
She recalled the stern warning Theodore had given Zack at the charity gala. Bella had hoped that Zack would heed the warning and stay clear of her.
Willow’s concern deepened as she reached out and grasped Bella’s shoulders, her heart filled with urgent worry. "Look, Bella... you should stay away from this man. I know my brother. He is possessive and very protective. I’m afraid he might hurt you out of jealousy and anger."
Bella nodded, understanding Willow’s fear. She had witnessed Theodore’s fury when he had seen her with Zack, and she knew how intense his emotions could be.
Willow’s voice took on a more warning tone. "Zack’s feelings for you are not real. He is still in love with his deceased girlfriend. His attraction to you is because of how much you resemble Rose. It’s frightening. You should tell Theodore about this."
Bella shook her head, brushing aside the concern. "I don’t think it’s necessary. Zack knows I’m married to Theodore. He won’t dare to approach me."
However, Willow’s thoughts were different from hers. Despite Bella’s reassurance, her unease remained. She had seen the intense attraction in Zack’s eyes, a dangerous obsession that could lead to more trouble.
"But Bella..." She tried to warn her yet again, but Bella stopped her.
"I’ll talk to him about it if it becomes necessary." With that, Bella turned on her heel and walked out of the room, leaving Willow standing there, her worry mounting as she watched Bella leave.
Left alone in the quiet room, Willow let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping under the weight of her worries. "I hope he won’t pursue you as you said and cause problems in your life."
Uncertainty clung to her thoughts, refusing to let go. Willow was afraid Zack might cause problems between Bella and Theodore because of his infatuation with her. The thought of him sowing seeds of misunderstanding and distrust between them unsettled Willow.
Later that day...
Later that day, Zack found himself standing in the grand lobby of the Starline Hotel. The sleek, polished floors reflected the soft glow of the chandeliers above as he made his way to the reception desk.
Just as he was about to inquire about Gina Willis, a voice called out from behind him. He stopped in his tracks, turning to see a woman in an exquisite gown approaching with a warm smile.
He studied her closely, the elegance of her attire and the confident way she moved making an impression. "Miss Willis?" he asked, his tone measured as he tried to read her. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺
"Yes, I am Gina." Her smile brightened, and she extended her hand in greeting. "Hello, Zack. It’s a pleasure to see you."
Zack hesitated for a brief moment, his eyes flicking down to her outstretched hand before he took it, his grip firm but his smile not quite reaching his eyes. "The pleasure is mine," he responded politely. "I hope I didn’t keep you waiting too long."
Gina’s soft laughter filled the space between them as she waved off his concern. "You’re quite punctual," she assured him. "I just arrived early. A bit excited, you know." She leaned in slightly and asked, "Shall we go and sit at the restaurant?"
"After you," Zack replied, motioning for her to lead the way.
As they headed towards the elevator, Gina’s every step exuded confidence, her movements smooth and deliberate as though she was already certain of the outcome.
Zack, on the other hand, felt a knot of anxiety tightening in his chest. He couldn’t shake the feeling of unease as he tried to discern Gina’s true intentions. What did she really want from him?
His mind buzzed with suspicion as they entered the elevator, the doors closing behind them with a soft click.
The elevator whisked them to the top floor. The doors slid open, revealing a breathtaking vista of the city. The open-air restaurant, perched atop the hotel, offered a panoramic view of the skyline. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the city in a warm, orange glow, the streetlights began to twinkle like a million stars.
They sat down, and Zack barely noticed the stunning view around them. His attention was locked solely on Gina.
"So, why do you want to meet me?" He was the one who broke the silence between them.
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