It was only at this point Bella turned to look at him, her expression a mix of surprise and amusement. The mighty Theodore Reid, always so confident and in control, was now at her mercy, ready to do whatever it took to get her forgiveness.
A spark of mischief lit up in her eyes. Why not make him sweat a little? She deserved a bit of fun.
"I’m not in the mood to play around," Bella replied bluntly, feigning disinterest. "Why do you want me to accompany you to a business meeting? You could have taken Tristan or Skyler."
Theodore had initially planned to attend the meeting with Skyler, but he had changed his mind at the last minute. Instead, he had sent Skyler to prepare the surprise for Bella.
"You are my wife," he murmured in a low, husky tone, leaning in closer to her. "I can take you anywhere I want." He ran his finger teasingly down her arm.
Bella shuddered at his touch, goosebumps pricking her skin. Her resolve to stay aloof wavered. The warmth of his presence was intoxicating, drawing her in despite her efforts to stay angry. She wanted nothing more than to lean into him, to let the tension between them melt away. But she wasn’t ready to let him off the hook just yet.
"This is a business meeting," she said solemnly, swatting his hand away. "What will I do there?"
Theodore leaned back on the seat, his expression softening as he adjusted his suit jacket. "It’s a land acquisition meeting," he explained, his tone turning serious. "Once everything aligns with my terms, I’ll purchase the land."
Bella listened to him intently, forgetting that she had been pretending to be angry with him. "Is this land important for you?" She was genuinely interested in his plans.
Theodore nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he noticed her shift in demeanor. She was finally engaging with him, no longer sulking.
"Yes, it’s crucial," he confirmed. "This piece of land is in the heart of the city—perfect for the plaza project."
"Plaza project?" Bella echoed, her intrigue deepening.
Theodore’s gaze drifted to the road ahead as his thoughts wandered off. "It was the last project my father was working on before he died. I was supposed to carry on his work, but I kept delaying it because of the bitterness between us."
He sighed, feeling sorry for not having a good time with his father his whole life. Theodore had always blamed his father for so much of his pain, never allowing himself to mend the rift while there was still time.
"After coming so close to death myself, I realized how pointless it was to hold onto that grudge," Theodore continued, his voice reflective. "I wasn’t a good son to him when he was alive. But I want to fulfill his last dream, to complete the project he started. Maybe, in doing so, I can make some sort of peace with him, even if it’s too late."
Bella’s heart softened as she listened to him, understanding the depth of his regret and the burden he carried. "He’ll be proud of you." She reached out, gently placing her hand on his, offering silent support.
Theodore interlaced his fingers with hers, a small smile of gratitude forming on his lips. "I don’t know, but all I want is you by my side." He pulled her closer, his lips meeting hers in a tender, longing kiss.
As the car pulled up to the club where the meeting was scheduled, they reluctantly parted.
"Shall we go in?" he whispered.
"Yes," she whispered back, her face flushed from the hot kiss.
Theodore led Bella into a private room where a middle-aged man, his hair a mix of black and grey, was waiting. The man stood up from the sofa as they entered, his face lighting up with a gleeful smile.
"Hello, Mr. Reid," the man greeted, extending his hand toward Theodore, though his gaze quickly shifted to Bella.
"Hello, Mr. O’Neil," Theodore replied, shaking his hand firmly.
Bella’s heart skipped a beat at the name. She vividly recalled overhearing Zack’s assistant mention this man, labeling him as greedy and deceitful. ’Why is Theodore meeting with such a man?’ she wondered, her mind racing with concern.
She quickly remembered Zack’s assistant saying that Theodore was interested in a property on Heritage Avenue, unaware that it was disputed. ’No, no...I have to stop him,’ she muttered to herself, determined.
Sensing Mr. O’Neil’s eyes lingering on Bella, Theodore introduced her. "This is Bella, my—"
"Secretary," Bella interjected before Theodore could say the next word.
Theodore turned to her, cocking his head in surprise, his eyebrows raised in silent question. Bella smiled meaningfully, her eyes pleading with him to go along with her decision. She hesitated to disclose her relationship with Theodore to a fraud.
Theodore, though displeased and puzzled by her unexpected claim, chose not to react. What was the need to hide their relationship from this man? He didn’t understand her reasoning but decided not to make a scene. Instead, he resolved to address it later.
"Yes, my secretary," Theodore confirmed, his voice carrying a dangerous edge that made Bella shiver. "Isabella Dawn."
Bella felt the tension in the air, knowing he was displeased. She needed to figure out what was going on before revealing too much. For now, she kept her composure, determined to protect Theodore in any way she could.
"Hello, Ms. Isabella." O’Neil reached out to shake her hand, his grip lingering far too long for Bella’s comfort. As she tried to pull her hand back, his hold tightened, his gaze turning lecherous and unsettling.
Bella instantly regretted her decision to hide her marriage to Theodore. She forcefully yanked her hand free.
O’Neil laughed. "Your secretary is a combination of beauty and talent."
"Can we start the meeting instead of focusing on my secretary?" Theodore’s tone was icy, his annoyance palpable.
O’Neil’s smile faltered under Theodore’s fierce glare. He quickly sat down, his demeanor turning awkward as he tried to recover.
"Yes, yes, let’s start," he stammered before his smile turned sly once more. "Everyone is interested in this piece of land, but I’m preferring you due to the series of talks I’ve had with your delegates. I’ve received several calls from other buyers offering more money, but I didn’t give anyone an appointment."
As he spoke, his gaze kept drifting back to Bella, his intentions all too clear. "I only agreed to meet with you, Mr. Reid. When I heard about the plaza project, I knew this land would be perfect for such a luxurious development. But..."
He trailed off, his smile growing more calculating.
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