Skyler arrived shortly after, carrying a file in his hand. "Sir, I managed to arrange a meeting with the landowner this evening," he reported eagerly as soon as he entered. "You need to go there and secure the land. If we don’t act quickly, we could lose it."
Theodore understood Skyler’s eagerness. The land was prime real estate, the perfect location for their next billion-dollar project. The opportunity was too valuable to let slip through their fingers.
"Thanks, Skyler," Theodore said, offering a smile of gratitude. "You did a great job convincing him for this meeting. I’ll make sure to be there—with Bella."
’Bella again!’ Skyler’s mind raced as he processed Theodore’s words, his irritation bubbling beneath the surface. He had been certain this meeting would be strictly business, but why was Theodore taking Bella along?
"I am going with you," Skyler said. "But why do you need to bring her along?"
"I know you’re coming with me, but I made a promise to Bella," Theodore explained.
"Promise?" Skyler squinted at him with astonishment.
Theodore smiled softly, thinking back to the night before. He had promised Bella that he would pick her up from work and take her out to dinner. He had planned to spend some quality time with her, but he hadn’t expected Skyler to arrange the critical meeting with the landowner for the same evening.
Now that both commitments overlapped, he thought it was better to take Bella along.
"I promised Bella we’d go out," Theodore continued. "So, I’ll bring her along to the meeting, and afterward, we’ll have dinner."
Skyler was left speechless. He knew the landowner they were meeting was a shady character—greedy and unscrupulous. Rumors about his dubious dealings and questionable reputation made Skyler uneasy.
The thought of bringing Bella into such a situation didn’t sit well with him, but he knew Theodore had already made his decision and no one could change his mind.
"Alright then," Skyler finally conceded, though his voice was tight with restrained disapproval. "We’ll leave at 5 p.m." With that, he turned and left the office.
Once the door clicked shut behind Skyler, Theodore leaned back in his chair, his thoughts immediately drifting to Bella. Without hesitation, he reached for his phone and dialed her number.
The moment his name appeared on the screen, Bella felt a warm smile tug at her lips. She answered, her voice light with affection.
"Hello?"
"Missing me?" Theodore’s voice was playful, carrying that familiar teasing tone that always made her heart flutter.
Bella did miss him, every moment they were apart tugged at her heart, but she couldn’t resist playing along. "No," she replied, feigning indifference. "I’m busy with work—no time to miss you."
"Heartless," he muttered dramatically. "You don’t love me at all. It’s only me, hopelessly in love with you."
Bella laughed, a sound that was music to his ears. The truth was, her love for him ran deeper than she could ever express, but she couldn’t resist teasing him.
"I am the luckiest person on this planet," she beamed. "My husband loves me madly."
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, and then he asked with a touch of mock seriousness, "Are you teasing me?"
"I wouldn’t dare," she replied, her tone playful yet trying to sound earnest. "I wouldn’t bring trouble upon myself by teasing you. I respect you."
Theodore could tell she was enjoying every bit of this banter. Her mischievousness only made him adore her more. But inwardly, he was already planning his playful revenge. ’Just wait,’ he thought with a smirk. ’Tonight, I’ll make you pay for this.’
"Glad to know you respect me," he said, pretending to take her seriously. "But listen—I’ve got a meeting with someone this evening, and you’re coming with me."
Bella blinked in surprise. "What will I do in a business meeting?"
"You are my wife. You should accompany me to meetings and parties. I’ll pick you up at 5:30 pm."
"You’re my wife," he replied smoothly. "You should accompany me to meetings and parties. I’ll pick you up at 5:30."
Bella knew there was no saying no to him when he made up his mind. She chuckled softly, surrendering to his plans. "Alright, I’ll be ready and waiting."
Bella was just about to end the call when Theodore’s voice cut through, stopping her in her tracks.
"Wait a minute. Did you submit the resignation?" His tone suddenly turned serious.
The lightness in Bella’s expression faded instantly. "Not yet," she answered softly, sensing the shift in his mood.
"Why not?" Theodore’s voice grew cold, the warmth from moments ago gone. "Have you changed your mind?"
"No," Bella quickly reassured him, her heart sinking at the sudden tension. "Mr. Hudson isn’t in the office today. He might not come in at all." She hesitated before adding, "Ivy is dead. There was an accident last night."
Theodore, on the other hand, fell silent. He had almost forgotten about the accident. Ivy might have been a difficult person, but she was still Zack’s fiancée. He imagined the grief Zack must be going through, the burden of dealing with the aftermath of her death. His anger at Bella evaporated, replaced by a deep regret for raising his voice.
Bella, feeling the need to defend herself, spoke up again. "You always suspect me," she said, a hint of hurt in her tone. "I’m more eager to resign than you are. I can’t keep working here after everything that’s happened."
"Bella—" Theodore wanted to apologize, but she cut him off.
"Do you have any idea what I’m going through?" Bella’s voice shook with emotion, cutting through his attempt to comfort her. "I can’t even go to the restroom without thinking about how Amy died because of me. The guilt—it’s unbearable." 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮
Theodore’s heart clenched at her words. "Don’t blame yourself," he said urgently. "It’s not your fault."
"How can it not be?" The pain and guilt she had been holding back spilled out. "Ivy was after me, Theodore. But Amy died because she was with me. I can’t forget that."
Theodore felt a surge of panic as he heard her begin to cry. "Please, don’t start crying." His voice softened, realizing her anguish. The thought of her suffering alone tore at him, and he wanted to fly to her.
Bella sniffed, trying to pull herself together. "I’m going to check if Mr. Hudson is in the office," she said, her voice regaining strength. Before Theodore could respond, she ended the call, leaving him staring at the blank screen.
Theodore sat there, the silence of the room pressing down on him. His heart ached with the realization that he had only added to her distress.
"She is mad at me," he muttered with regret. "It’s all my fault. I have to find a way to make it up to her."
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