Chapter 3

Arabella

Meeting an eviction notice hanging on the door of my apartment after leaving the hospital was not what I expected after learning that my Mom needed surgery and the cost was ridiculously high. But it was there.

Honestly, I had forgotten about my pending rent. My landlord had gotten tired of my excuses and this time, he was clear about his decision.

I had promised him a month ago that I would pay but things didn't turn out as planned. I had no savings. All I had saved had been channeled to Mom's treatment and stay in the hospital for the past year. There was pretty much nothing left of our insurance.

Now, instead of half a million, I had to realize about a million if not completely, but from where would I get that amount? The bank? I owed them as well.

What do I do?

what could I do within two weeks?

The clattering sound of my penholder falling from my desk snapped me out of my thoughts. Yes, I was back at work. It was a terrible move after pulling an all-nighter, but that was no one's business here. I made the choice myself.

I gazed around, meeting with Celia's cold stare, she then hissed and looked away. That lady did not like me one bit.

I shook my head, gathering my pens from the floor, and when I set them on the table, I noticed the private elevator lit up, meaning my Boss was on her way up. Just great! Pushing to my feet, I made my way to the coffee maker to prepare her coffee before she arrived but stopped midway when I caught sight of what was being displayed on the TV hanging on the wall across the workspace.

It was Nathan and clinging to his arm was Harley. A painful smile crossed my lips as I read the headline. ‘Power couple step out in style’. I swallowed a painful lump as I watched them. Nathan hadn't called since I left. He didn't care. Rather, the next day, he introduced Harley as his partner.

No one knew about me when I was with him, and truly, I didn't care for the exposure. I only cared about him but it turned out that he felt the opposite.

My jaws clenched at the saccharine smile that Harley wore on her face. Of course, she'd be happy. She had been fucking my fiance for almost a year. Nathan had confirmed that they had been together for that long.

He had fooled me for over a year. I was mad at myself more than I was at him, how could I be so gullible? Why am I always an easy fuck?

I'd cried over him for a day and that was it. He didn't deserve my tears, what he deserved was losing that Dupont deal he badly wanted. That would crumble his ego. I knew how much he wanted that as the preposition he'd presented, was drawn by me.

God, I was an idiot.

He used me, my ideas then dumped me when he was good. How convenient!

"Bella!" My boss's voice startled me out of my reverie. I turned to her, flustered and swallowed when I saw the scowl on her face. Yep, she was in one of her moods today as she is every day, but today might just be worse.

My Boss, Steph, was a pain in my ass but very good at her job as a jewel designer. I idolize her, but that doesn't help her attitude.

"What is so interesting about the News?" She asked and before I could say a thing, she cut in, her voice sharp.

"Just bring me my coffee and be fast about it!" She then strode into her office with elegant steps, a contrast to her attitude.

I could feel Celia's piercing glare from across the room. She's so consistent with her disdain. I wish she could keep the same consistency while making reports. She usually made lots of mistakes that took me hours to edit.

Huffing, I continued to the coffee maker knowing it would take me ten minutes to make my boss the perfect cup of coffee yet get scolded because it took too long.

I let out a weary sigh.

*************************************

After a very long day at work with my Boss on my neck every minute, what I needed was a good night's rest but that reality was far from me at the moment. My friend at work, Susan, requested a pickup from a club, so here I was in a club, dreading my life's choices as the bass sound vibrated through the room.

The club was packed with people that it was impossible to move without brushing against someone. Susan owed me big for dragging me into this disaster. She usually chose better clubs, I wonder what happened today.

I shoved my way through the crowd and finally saw her seated at the bar, flirting with a guy who could barely stand.

"Susan," I called, standing before her, and the guy she was flirting with staggered away.

"Hey, it's my very good friend, Bella!" Susan giggled, her face flushed and lips plump. She jumped down from the stool, wrapping her arms around my neck. I squeezed my face as the stench of alcohol from her evaded my nostrils.

Did she swim in liquor?

"Let's go, lady, I don't have time for this shit," I said as I dragged her with me, shoving passed people as we headed to the exit.

We'd almost gotten there when she suddenly paused, kicking her leg like a child and pouting.

"What now?" I asked her and she leaned against the wall.

"My bag..." She slurred, throwing her hands.

I let out an exasperated sigh. "Where is it?"

"Bar," She responded quickly, and with an eye roll, I sat her against the wall, asked her not to move, and as I headed back into the sea of bodies, she waved lazily at me, grinning.

It took longer than I wanted to fight my way back to the bar, and when I spotted her neon pink bag abandoned on a stool, relief washed over me. I grabbed it, ready to bolt, but before I could turn, someone stood in my way.

It was a man I didn't know, leering at me with a sloppy grin and damn, he reeked.

"Hey gorgeous" He slurred, licking his lips as his eyes roamed my body. A frown formed on my lips as I glared at him

"Not interested," I said curtly, stepping to the side, but he blocked my path, his predatory grin widening.

"Aw, don't be like this. I just want to have a drink with you and, maybe later, see how good that body feels against mine," He said, and my jaws clenched.

"Well, I'm sorry because that won't be happening. Now, move!" I said louder this time but I doubt anyone heard. The music in the room was deafening and must've swallowed my words.

As I made to leave, he grabbed my arm and dragged me back. "Just one drink, gorgeous"

My stomach twisted as I yanked back, but his grip tightened. "Let go of me!" I shouted.

"You're feisty. I like that," He said

I swung my other arm with Susan's bag, but he caught my wrist in mid-air. Panic flared as I struggled harder, twisting against him, but he only laughed. Shit! How did I end up in this situation? I tried kicking but he had bounded me by his grip and proximity that none of my efforts made an impact.

My heartbeat roared in my ears. I was in trouble. For someone this drunk, he was fucking strong.

"Keep fighting, gorgeous, it's fucking erotic!" He cackled and then suddenly, the smile vanished from his face.

A fist slammed into his jaw, sending him staggering backward into a stool. His grip on me broke, and I stumbled back, breathing hard.

Before I could register what had happened, a figure stepped forward and threw another punch at the man causing him to drop to the floor. I breathed out, relieved but my eyes were glued to the man who had come to my rescue.

He was tall and something about the aura he exuded screamed power. Perhaps, it was because of the expensive smelling cologne he wore or the pristine clothing on him.

Whoever he is, he's probably very wealthy.

My eyebrows pulled together as I watched the muscles of his shoulders tense; he ran a hand through his hair and muttered a few curses under his breath before turning to me with a concerned look, which froze the moment our eyes met.

My breath hitched, my eyes widened, and my heart dropped simultaneously. Everything seemed to freeze in place, even the air got thicker as I stared at my savior.

Adrian?

I blinked to be sure I wasn't seeing things but his chiseled face still came to focus.

A bitter taste suddenly filled my mouth and my throat went dry.

It was Adrian fucking Davidson!