I settled my new puppy from the pet store, stroking its head. “Money! Money! Good boy!” My phone rang. “Ms. Carter, your application has been approved. When can you start?”
“Tomorrow.” I hung up, kissing my little
Samoyed. “Lucky pup! The money’s really
coming!” The next morning, dressed in my
power suit, I walked into Carter Corp. “Wow!
You’re Bella?” A girl with a ponytail rushed over.
“I’m Jessica. I love your designs! Especially the
‘Rose Poetry‘ collection! I can’t believe I’m
working with you!” I smiled. “Thanks. That’s one
of my favorites, too.” After all, Ethan was the
inspiration behind “Rose Poetry“. Jessica was
enthusiastic, filling me in on company dynamics
and office gossip. I quickly settled in. Two days
later, Jessica burst over to my desk. “Did you
hear? The big boss is coming for an inspection
this morning!” “Which big boss?” “Ethan Carter!
And supposedly he’s bringing his girlfriend.”
Ethan and Chloe? I grabbed my makeup bag
and headed for the restroom. I’d thought it
would take time to get close to Ethan, but here
was my chance. A reunion with an ex? Gotta
look the part.
The entire floor buzzed with anticipation.
<
Finally, the department head escorted a man
and a woman out of the elevator, and everyone
fell silent. Ethan held Chloe’s hand, their fingers
intertwined, the picture of intimacy. Jessical
nudged me. “Hey, what are you waiting for?
The head wants the design team in the
conference room!” I snapped out of it and
followed her. Ethan sat at the head of the table,
his posture impeccable, his suit accentuating
his broad shoulders. When we entered, he
glanced towards the door. Our eyes met for a
fleeting moment, and I wondered how he’d
react. He simply gave me a cursory look, then
looked away. Like I was a stranger. A pang of
something akin to hurt hit me. I ignored it,
found a seat, and sat down. The department
head bowed and scraped. “Mr. Carter, Ms.
Sanders, the entire design team is here.” Ethan
raised an eyebrow at Chloe. “Take your pick.”
Chloe turned to us, smiling. “Sorry to interrupt
everyone, but Mr. Carter insists on personally
designing my anniversary gift. So, we’ll need
your help.” Show–off. “I smell the stench of
<
love,” Jessica whispered. “Hey, do you think you
and Mr. Carter’s girlfriend look kinda alike? Or
am I seeing things?” Before I could answer,
Chloe spoke. “I heard Bella just joined us. Could
I meet her?” All eyes turned to me. I stepped
forward, smiling. “Hello, Bella Carter.” Chloe
looked surprised. “I love your work! It’s amazing
how much we look alike, and we have the same
taste!”
Provocation? Definitely provocation. So, Ethan’s
little girlfriend wasn’t a pushover. Fine by me. I
wasn’t exactly an angel. “Yeah, it’s funny, after
three years, Ethan’s taste hasn’t changed a bit.”
I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, met
Ethan’s gaze, and added with a smile, “He
keeps coming back to this type.” Chloe’s face
fell. Ethan shifted uncomfortably, his dark eyes
fixed on me, his voice laced with sarcasm.
“Unlike some people, I don’t flip–flop and walk
away without a second thought.” My colleagues
exchanged glances, their gossip radar going
haywire. “Bella, you’re such a kidder.” Clearly
wanting to end the conversation, Chloe stepped
<
3005
between us, blocking Ethan’s view. She forced a smile. “Well, it’s settled then. Bella, you’ll be designing Ethan’s anniversary gift for me!” She emphasized “anniversary gift” as if to
underscore Ethan’s devotion. Too bad for her, I
wasn’t even remotely bothered. “You’re
welcome. Remember the 30% upfront deposit.” Business is business. If they wanted me to work, they had to follow my rules. CEO’s girlfriend or not. The room fell silent. My boss, Mr. Henderson, glared daggers at me. I could practically read his mind: “Audacious.
Ungrateful.” Ethan stood up, his tall frame
radiating power. He scoffed. “Don’t worry, you’ll
get paid.” He turned and strode out of the
room. Mr. Henderson sighed. “Bella, what did you see in Mr. Carter’s retreating figure?” I feigned innocence. “Tall, dark, and handsome?” “Wrong! Furious! You have a golden
opportunity, and you’re throwing it away!” He stormed off, leaving behind a mix of pitying and gleeful stares. Only Jessica seemed genuinely concerned. “Bella, being straightforward is fine,
<
but in the corporate world, you need to be
more… tactful.” “Me?” I pointed at myself,
confused. “I’m plenty tactful.” Jessica opened
her mouth to say something, but my phone
buzzed. An unknown number. I gave an
apologetic smile and answered. A man’s voice:
“Ms. Carter, this is Mr. Carter’s assistant. He
has something to say to you.” “Oh,” I said. “Are
all CEOs this arrogant? Needs an assistant to
relay a message?” Silence. Then Ethan’s voice,
tight with barely suppressed annoyance: “Bella,
if you want your deposit, unblock me.”
