Bella clutched her resignation letter tightly as she made her way to Zack’s office. The elevator ride to the top floor felt longer than usual. When the doors finally opened, she strode purposefully toward the CEO’s cabin, determination fueling each step.
As she approached the cabin, she noticed the door was slightly ajar, which caught her off guard. ’Is he in the office?’ she wondered, a flicker of hope rising within her. Raising her hand to knock, she hesitated as voices drifted out from inside.
"The details of the property at Heritage Avenue are here," a deep voice said. "The property in the heart of the city is indeed prime for your dream project, but there is something odd about it."
"What’s wrong with this property?" Zack’s voice followed, tinged with curiosity.
"Mr. O’Neil is a big fraud," the other man continued. "He has already mortgaged the land but is still trying to sell it. He has not only approached us but also several other potential buyers. It’s a disputed plot."
"What a liar he is!" Zack muttered, surprise evident in his tone.
Bella’s hand froze mid-air, her mind asking her to leave, to respect the privacy of the conversation, but her feet refused to move when she heard the next words.
"Yes... he is," the man said with a hint of satisfaction. "We’re fortunate to have discovered his deceit. But the information is that Mr. Reid is quite interested in the property."
Bella’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively covered her mouth to stifle a gasp as she heard Theodore’s name. What was Theodore doing involved with a fraud like O’Neil?
She stood there, her thoughts swirling in a chaotic mix of fear, confusion, and disbelief. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮
"Really?" Zack’s voice dripped with skepticism.
"He might not be aware of the dispute," the other man replied. "Regardless, I suggest you consider the wetland lowline area."
Zack frowned. "But it has been abandoned for years. Investing there would mean throwing money away."
"No, Mr. Hudson," the man countered smoothly. "I’ve received information that the government is planning to develop that area. The value of the wetland will skyrocket in a year or two. Investing now would be a wise move."
Zack fell silent, clearly weighing his options. Despite the convincing argument, his interest lay elsewhere. "There is no need to invest in it," he finally said, dismissing the idea. "I’m more interested in the Hill property."
His expression darkened. Ever since his engagement to Ivy, Zack had been eyeing both the Hill Group and the prime property. But Theodore had already started the acquisition process of the company. However, Zack wasn’t about to let the Reids claim what he believed should be his. His mind raced with plans.
"I need to go to the Hill mansion," Zack declared abruptly, rising from his chair. "Postpone the meetings."
As the conversation between Zack and his associate continued, Bella stood just outside the door, her mind racing to process what she had overheard. The mention of Theodore and the shady land deal swirled in her thoughts, filling her with a sense of urgency.
She knew she had to warn Theodore about the potential trap he might be walking into. Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed Zack approaching the door.
When Zack stepped out of the cabin, he halted abruptly, surprised to find Bella standing there. His eyes narrowed in suspicion as he took in her tense posture.
"Bella! What are you doing here?" His deep voice jolted her out of her reverie.
Zack studied her closely, his gaze searching for any sign of what she might have overheard. The air between them grew thick with tension as Bella struggled to maintain her composure.
Bella’s heart raced to come up with a plausible reason for her presence, a nervous energy surging through her. She quickly tried to mask her unease with a forced smile. "I came to talk to you about something," she managed to say.
Zack’s face lit up when he realized Bella had come specifically to see him. For a brief moment, he wished he could drop everything, sit down with her, and spend the entire day just listening to whatever she had to say. But reality pulled him back—his upcoming meeting with Ivy’s father was crucial.
The loss of Ivy, the sole heir to the Hill fortune, had set off a chain reaction. The Hill company was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, and its properties were soon to be auctioned off to cover the debts.
Zack wasn’t about to let such an opportunity slip through his fingers; he needed to convince Mr. Hill to rewrite his will in his favor.
"Okay... If it’s not too urgent, can we talk tomorrow?" Zack asked, his mind already shifting to the task ahead.
Bella remembered that Zack was on his way to meet Ivy’s father, likely to discuss her funeral arrangements. With that in mind, she decided not to hold him back. "Sure... we can talk tomorrow."
"Alright." Zack gave her a warm smile, one that lingered even as he turned to leave.
Bella let out a relieved sigh as he walked away, whispering, "He didn’t suspect me of eavesdropping."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At exactly the promised time, Theodore arrived to pick her up. As he called Bella to come out, she felt a surge of excitement for the evening ahead, but she wasn’t ready to let go of her earlier frustration. When she finally appeared in front of him, she kept her expression somber, her face a mask of quiet discontent.
Theodore greeted her with a warm, affectionate smile, opening the car door for her with gentlemanly grace. But instead of acknowledging his gesture, Bella slid into the car silently, her gaze fixed straight ahead.
The smile faded from Theodore’s face, replaced by a look of concern as he realized she was still upset about their earlier argument. He took a deep breath, reminding himself to be patient with her. He had already planned a surprise to make amends, confident that it would melt away her anger.
Settling into the backseat beside her, Theodore glanced at Bella, searching her expression for any sign of forgiveness. But she simply turned her head away, staring out the window.
"Are you still mad at me?" he asked remorsefully.
Bella remained silent, her eyes fixed on the world outside the car window. The cityscape blurred by, but her thoughts were sharp, racing with everything she wanted to share with Theodore. But she held back, deciding not to mention the land deal before his meeting.
She didn’t want to burden him with more stress, especially when she wasn’t sure how much of what she had overheard was true.
"Bella, don’t be like this," Theodore’s voice was tender and coaxing. He reached out to take her hand, but she slapped his hand away.
Theodore flinched, pulling his hand back immediately. He had known she was angry, but this... this was something deeper. Getting her forgiveness was going to be harder than he had anticipated.
"How can I get your forgiveness?" he asked softly yet desperation was palpable. "I’m willing to accept any punishment you give me."
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