Theodore froze, mirroring Bella’s stunned expression. His mind rushed back to the events of that very morning. Instinctively, he wanted to reach for Bella, offer some silent comfort, some reassurance. But he paused as his gaze collided with Zack.
Annoyance flared hot within him. Why did Zack bring Bella along?
Before Theodore could even formulate a question, Zack’s voice boomed through the room, "Mr. Brooke... What is going on? I’ve been waiting for you, and here you are with..." His eyes flicked to Theodore, "Mr. Reid! Are you trying to humiliate me?"
Mr. Brooke, the middle-aged man, waved a dismissive hand. "Don’t fret, Zack," he drawled. "An important meeting is going on here. Don’t disturb us. I’ll talk to you later. Come see me in the office tomorrow, alright? Let’s address this calmly and find a resolution."
The casual dismissal only stoked Zack’s fury further, his eyes blazing as he took a step forward, his fists clenched at his sides. "Calmly? You expect me to be calm when I’ve been deceived?"
The tense counterpoint continued. Theodore and Bella, locked in a silent exchange of worried glances, seemed to be having their own unspoken conversation. Bella was nervous at the unexpected encounter, while Theodore was seemingly distressed to see her with Zack.
Why would Zack bring her to such an important meeting? She wasn’t his assistant, nor his secretary. What game was Zack playing?
Theodore’s irritation grew with each passing moment.
"Humph!" Zack barked, his disdain barely contained. "If you weren’t interested, you could have just said so! Why waste my time? This is disrespectful. You think you can just humiliate people like that?"
His outburst jerked Theodore back to the present, forcing him to tear his gaze from Bella and focus on the escalating argument. Bella, standing on the periphery, felt the tension escalate and wondered how this situation would resolve itself.
"Mind your tone, Zack!" Mr. Brooke snapped. "Don’t forget who you’re talking to. I looked at your proposal. It’s good, but I need more on the profit end. The Ace Group offers a better return. Collaboration with Brico just doesn’t make sense financially. Sorry, but I’m not interested."
Zack’s anger threatened to boil over. His face contorted with fury. "You’re rejecting me for the Ace Group? Without even giving my project a second look?"
"Stop wasting your time," Mr. Brooke roared, his patience at an end. "Leave and don’t disturb us."
The confrontation had reached its peak. Zack’s face turned a shade redder, his fists clenched tighter by his sides. He cast a quick, furious glance at Theodore, then back at Mr. Brooke, struggling to keep his composure. Bella felt a wave of dread wash over her. She could see the fire in Zack’s eyes and knew things were about to get worse if she didn’t intervene.
Bella stepped forward, her voice trembling but resolute. "Mr. Hudson," she began, trying to diffuse the tension. "Maybe we can reschedule this meeting for a more convenient time. There seems to be a misunderstanding, and it would be best if we discussed this calmly."
Theodore’s voice, cold and calculating, sliced through the tension. "He isn’t going anywhere."
Mr. Brooke’s head whipped around, his surprise evident. "Mr. Reid! He’s not welcome here. We’re about to discuss our collaboration."
Theodore’s glare could have scorched steel. "Really?" he countered. "How can I trust someone who can’t keep his word?"
Hearing his words, Zack’s lips curled slightly with satisfaction. On the other hand, Mr. Brooke’s expression turned bleak. He opened and closed his mouth, searching for an excuse, but found himself speechless.
"You made time for Zack," Theodore pressed, his tone turning gravely serious, "only to ditch him at the last minute when a better offer came along. What if you do the same to me? Loyalty is paramount, Mr. Brooke. I can’t work with someone who lacks it."
Desperation laced Mr. Brooke’s voice. "Mr. Reid, I assure you, I’d never betray your trust! This is just a misunderstanding. I’ve been trying to schedule a meeting with you for months. When your office called yesterday, I was so excited, that I forgot to cancel with Zack. It was a simple mistake, and I deeply apologize. I’ll arrange another meeting with him, I promise!"
Theodore remained unconvinced. A man who changed his story so readily couldn’t be trusted. "This meeting is over, Mr. Brooke," he declared with finality. "Please leave."
Mr. Brooke looked at Theodore, his face etched with helplessness. He knew he couldn’t convince him, no matter how much he tried. Throwing a venomous glare at Zack, he stormed out of the booth.
Zack, a victorious smile plastered on his face, offered a sincere, "Thank you, Mr. Reid, for supporting me."
Theodore’s hand shot up, silencing Zack mid-sentence. "Hold on," he said, his tone serious. "This wasn’t about supporting you. It’s purely a business decision. Mr. Brooke doesn’t strike me as a reliable partner."
He leaned back in his seat, his eyes moving to Bella. "Since you are here, have lunch with me."
Bella squirmed under his steady gaze. The image of Theodore’s naked form flashed in the back of her mind, sending a blush creeping up her cheeks. The idea of lunch with him was suddenly unbearable. Escape seemed like the only reasonable option.
However, before she could even stutter a refusal, Zack jumped in, readily accepting Theodore’s offer. "Absolutely, Mr. Reid. Bella, why don’t you sit down?" He pulled out a chair for her with a flourish.
The display of affection sent a jolt of annoyance through Theodore. His knuckles whitened as he clenched his fists under the table.
The desire to pull Bella close, to claim her as his, burned within him. But the promise he’d made, the vow to keep their marriage a secret, held him back.
He couldn’t act impulsively and risk upsetting her. Yet, watching her with Zack, a man he knew held feelings for her, was pure torture.
Unaware of the tension simmering beneath the surface, Zack launched into a spiel. "So, about this project..."
Theodore cut him off with a raised hand. "Enough business. Let’s simply enjoy a meal, shall we?"
"Of course." Zack swallowed the rest of the words.
Theodore’s eyes kept drifting to Bella, who was doing her best to avoid his gaze. She felt trapped between two powerful men.
Plates piled high with steaming food arrived swiftly, and the tension eased slightly as they began to eat. Theodore and Zack engaged in sporadic conversation, but Bella remained silent.
The food was served in no time, and they started eating. Theodore and Zack chatted occasionally, but Bella was silent. She took a tentative bite, pushing the food around her plate in an attempt at normalcy.
Suddenly, a jolt ran through her as she felt a touch brush across her leg beneath the table. Bella froze, her grip on the fork tightening. Her gaze moved across the table and landed on Theodore, his expression unreadable. He continued teasing her, seemingly oblivious to the tremor in her hand.
Zack, picking up on her sudden distress, leaned towards her with concern etched on his face. "Are you alright, Bella?"
"What’s wrong?" Theodore chimed in, his voice smooth as silk. "You look pale. Don’t you feel well?" He didn’t stop rubbing her leg with his.
Bella shot up from her chair. The fork clattered to the plate. "I-I’m so sorry," she stammered, her face flushed. "I need to use the restroom."
She bolted from the booth, leaving Zack staring after her with a worried frown. Theodore’s eyes sparkled with mischief as he watched her retreating form, thoroughly enjoying the effect he had on her.
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