Ivy’s jaw slackened, dropping towards her chest. She couldn’t believe it in her ears.
How? It was impossible. A renowned designer like Willow specifically requested Bella!
Her bewildered gaze darted from Zack’s unyielding expression to Bella, who stood radiating quiet confidence. A primal urge to dissect and understand clawed at Ivy. How had a nobody like Bella snagged Willow’s attention?
"This can’t be right," Ivy snapped, her voice brittle with disbelief. "There has to be a mistake. A misunderstanding! How could Miss Willow know her?"
She glanced at Bella disdainfully. "She is just a normal member of the clerical staff in your office. She has nothing to do with fashion design! Perhaps Miss Willow meant someone else entirely. We need to clear this up and inform her that she has mistaken Bella for someone else."
Zack sighed, weariness tinging his voice. "There’s no misunderstanding, Ivy. I spoke with Miss Willow myself. Besides," he continued, his gaze unwavering, "Bella possesses a remarkable talent for design drawings. After seeing her work, it’s clear why Miss Willow chose her."
Ivy’s composure fractured further. A humorless, disbelieving laugh erupted from her lips. "You’re joking, right, Zack? Bella? Good at design drawing?" she repeated, the words laced with mockery. "That’s simply unbelievable."
Zack’s features hardened. "Then take a look for yourself, Ivy," he growled, his patience wearing thin. "Bella, show her your work."
With a newfound sense of vindication, Bella extended the file towards Ivy, her hand steady and her eyes glinting with a quiet challenge.
Ivy took it reluctantly, her eyes widening as she flipped through the pages. The intricate, delicate designs rendered with remarkable precision and creativity left her momentarily speechless. The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of the truth sinking into Ivy’s stunned mind.
The undeniable talent laid bare before her was a punch to the gut, but she wasn’t ready to accept that it was Bella’s work.
"These are a forgery!" she exclaimed, slamming the file shut with a resounding crack. "You are deceived—she deceived you. I am damn sure these are not her designs. There’s no way you could have drawn these!"
Bella’s jaw clenched tight for a moment before she released a shaky breath. "I graduated with a major in fashion design, Miss Hill," she explained.
"It was my dream, a dream I had to put on hold due to financial difficulties in my family. I started taking smaller jobs to make ends meet, but my passion for design never faded. I kept honing my skills, practicing whenever I got the chance."
Her eyes flickered towards the file on the table. "Those drawings are my creations, the ones I sent to Miss Willow."
She chose not to mention Theodore’s help, knowing it might create another uproar. "I am honored that Miss Willow is giving me a chance to work with her. I can learn a lot from her. Please, Miss Hill, don’t release me from this project." Her voice softened, and her gaze was pleading. "This is my chance to pursue my dream."
Ivy’s face contorted into a mask of fury. Her carefully laid plan to oust Bella had backfired. She had the chance to turn Zack against her, but the circumstances took such a turn that Bella became an important part of the project. Releasing her would be equal to disregarding Willow. She had to endure it for the time being. With a guttural growl of defeat, Ivy stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind her with a bang.
Bella’s heart trembled as she watched her leave in haste. Ivy’s silence left her reeling, leaving a multitude of uncertainties in its wake. Would Ivy allow her to stay on the project?
"Bella..." Zack’s voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. Lifting her gaze, she met his eyes. "Don’t let her words get to you. You’re not going anywhere. You have my word on that."
Relief washed over Bella, a warm wave dispelling the chill of apprehension. "Thank you," she breathed, a small smile gracing her lips. "I promise to work hard. I won’t disappoint you or Miss Willow."
Zack nodded curtly. "I know you won’t. I have faith in you." Then, his expression clouded slightly. "But..." he hesitated, "you never told me you sent your designs to Miss Willow."
Bella felt a pang of guilt at his words. She could see the hurt in his eyes. "I’m sorry," she began. "I didn’t mean to keep it from you. It all happened so quickly. I didn’t want to tell anyone until I knew there was a chance."
Bella dropped her gaze down and continued, "I admire Miss Willow a lot. She is an inspiration, and I’ve always dreamt of working with her. When I heard she’d be on the project, I didn’t want to lose a chance to get close to her. That day, when you sent me to the Ace Group, I also submitted my designs."
She looked up at him, the weight of her actions settling heavily on her chest. "This whole thing happened so unexpectedly. I never thought she would like my designs."
A wave of disappointment washed over Zack’s features. "Bella," he murmured, his voice laced with a hint of sadness.
"I didn’t even know you were so skilled. You were wasting your talent in a clerical job. If I’d known about this passion, about your gift for design, I would have moved you to the design department in a heartbeat. I would have done everything in my power to help you chase your dream."
He rose from his chair and approached her, his gaze holding a newfound intensity. "You can trust me, Bella. Whatever you need, whatever challenges you face, come to me. Tell me more about yourself, about your aspirations." His hand reached out, gently capturing hers in his warm grasp.
Bella recoiled at his touch, instantly pulling her hands back. Her legs moved backward instinctively, a wave of unease washing over her.
Zack’s eyes registered her hesitation, a flicker of pain crossing his features. He harbored feelings for her, a truth he longed to confess. But Bella’s reaction, the way she retreated from his touch, filled him with dread. He was afraid she would reject him—afraid that she would take his intentions wrongly and start hating him.
With a defeated sigh, he lowered his hands, shoving them deep into his pockets.
"Thank you for being so kind to me," Bella mumbled. "I appreciate the offer. But I want to build my career on my own merit, through hard work."
Zack nodded, disappointment gnawing at him. He would move mountains for her and fulfill any wish she uttered. All it took was a word, a request. "Of course. But there’s no harm in accepting a little help along the way. I’m here for you, Bella. If you ever..."
"I should get started on the project," she interjected, fearing he would say something that she couldn’t reply to. Hurting him with her words was the last thing she wanted. Without waiting for his reply, Bella scurried out of the office, clutching the folder to her chest like a lifeline.
Zack stood rooted to the spot, a numb ache settling in his chest as he watched her retreating figure.
"Stop avoiding me, will you?"
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