Chapter fifteen

“…and I’m telling you, Bella, you look like someone who just survived a war,” Rebecca said from the couch.

 

Bella stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around her hair, her blouse from work tossed over her arm. She stopped in the doorway and sighed.

 

“It felt like one,” she said. “I swear, my legs are still shaking.”

 

Rebecca looked over at her slowly. “Did he say anything else to you today?”

 

Bella dropped onto the armchair opposite her. “Not directly. He just… watches. Like he’s waiting for something.”

 

Rebecca frowned. “That man gives me chills and I’ve never even met him.”

 

Bella let out a weak laugh. “Trust me, you’re lucky.”

 

Rebecca leaned forward. “So? Are you going to tell me or should I keep guessing?”

 

Bella hesitated. She reached up and loosened the towel, letting her hair fall over her shoulders. “He told me something today.”

 

Rebecca’s eyes widened. “What kind of something?”

 

Bella inhaled slowly. “He said I’ll be going on a business trip with him.”

 

The room went quiet.

 

Rebecca blinked. “With him?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Tomorrow?”

 

Bella nodded. “Tomorrow.”

 

Rebecca stood up immediately. “Bella. No. Absolutely not.”

 

Bella raised her hands. “I didn’t even get a chance to react. He just said it like it was already decided.”

 

Rebecca started pacing. “That’s not normal. CEOs don’t just drag new employees on trips.”

 

“I know,” Bella said quietly. “But he said it like it was work-related. Meetings. Contracts.”

 

Rebecca stopped pacing and stared at her. “And you believed him?”

 

Bella didn’t answer right away.

 

“I don’t know what I believe,” she finally said. “But I can’t say no. Not right now.”

 

Rebecca folded her arms. “You just got that job back. You don’t owe him anything.”

 

“I owe myself survival,” Bella replied. “I can’t afford to look difficult.”

 

Rebecca sighed and sat back down. “This man is trouble.”

 

“I already know,” Bella said softly.

 

There was a pause.

 

Then Rebecca clapped her hands once. “Okay. If you’re going, then we’re packing properly.”

 

Bella looked up. “Packing?”

 

“Yes,” Rebecca said, already heading toward the bedroom. “You can’t go looking like you’re unsure of yourself.”

 

Bella followed her slowly. “It’s just a trip. Probably two days.”

 

“Exactly. Which means we need options.”

 

Rebecca pulled out a suitcase from under the bed and dropped it open. “Now tell me everything. From the moment he told you.”

 

Bella sat on the edge of the bed. “He called me into his office. Said he’d been watching my work.”

 

“That sounds ominous already.”

 

“He said I was competent,” Bella continued. “That I didn’t make mistakes.”

 

Rebecca paused. “That’s… actually good.”

 

“Yes,” Bella said. “But the way he said it felt like a warning, not praise.”

 

Rebecca started pulling clothes from the wardrobe. “So what did you say?”

 

“I just nodded,” Bella said. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

 

Rebecca glanced back at her. “You didn’t ask questions?”

 

“I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction.”

 

Rebecca shook her head. “You’re braver than you think.”

 

Bella smiled faintly. “I don’t feel brave.”

 

Rebecca tossed a dress onto the bed. “Too much?”

 

Bella looked at it. “Yes. He’d hate that.”

 

Rebecca paused. “How do you know?”

 

“I just do,” Bella said. “He notices everything.”

 

Rebecca picked another outfit. “This?”

 

Bella nodded. “That works.”

 

They moved around the room together, folding clothes, setting things aside. The tension eased slightly as the room filled with movement.

 

Rebecca broke the silence. “Are you scared?”

 

Bella hesitated. “I don’t know if scared is the right word.”

 

“What is, then?”

 

“Alert,” Bella said. “Like I’m constantly on guard around him.”

 

Rebecca zipped part of the suitcase. “That’s not healthy.”

 

Bella looked down. “Neither is being broke.”

 

Rebecca sighed. “Fair.”

 

She picked up a blouse and held it against Bella’s shoulder. “You’re not weak for doing this. Just remember that.”

 

Bella swallowed. “Sometimes it feels like I am.”

 

Rebecca sat beside her. “You survived worse. You’ll survive this.”

 

Bella nodded slowly.

 

They continued packing.

 

Shoes. Toiletries. A jacket.

 

Rebecca suddenly stopped. “Do you think he remembers… that night?”

 

Bella’s hands stilled.

 

“Yes,” she said quietly. “I know he does.”

 

Rebecca’s jaw tightened. “Then why bring you close again?”

 

Bella shook her head. “I don’t know. And that’s what scares me.”

 

Rebecca zipped the suitcase shut halfway. “Promise me something.”

 

“What?”

 

“If at any point you feel unsafe, you leave. I don’t care what job it is.”

 

Bella nodded. “I promise.”

 

Rebecca pulled her into a quick hug. “I don’t trust that man.”

 

“You’re not alone,” Bella murmured.

 

They pulled apart, and Rebecca forced a smile. “Okay. Let’s assume this is just business.”

 

Bella exhaled. “That’s what I’m telling myself.”

 

Rebecca glanced at the clock. “You should eat.”

 

“I’m not hungry.”

 

“You need strength,” Rebecca said firmly. “Even for pretending everything is fine.”

 

Bella chuckled weakly. “You always know what to say.”

 

“I’ve known you long enough,” Rebecca replied.

 

They walked back into the living room. Bella dropped onto the couch while Rebecca went into the kitchen.

 

“So,” Rebecca called out, “where are you going?”

 

Bella thought for a moment. “He didn’t say. Just that everything is arranged.”

 

Rebecca frowned. “Of course it is.”

 

Bella leaned her head back. “He controls everything.”

 

Rebecca returned with two plates and handed one to her. “Eat.”

 

Bella obeyed.

 

They ate quietly for a few minutes.

 

Then Rebecca spoke again. “When he looks at you… how does it feel?”

 

Bella froze.

 

“Like he’s trying to figure out whether I belong somewhere,” she said slowly. “Or whether he wants to decide that for me.”

 

Rebecca set her fork down. “That’s not okay.”

 

“I know.”

 

“But you’re still going.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Rebecca nodded. “Then go prepared. Mentally.”

 

Bella’s phone buzzed on the table.

 

She flinched.

 

Rebecca noticed immediately. “Who is it?”

 

Bella stared at the screen, it was an Unknown number.

 

Her stomach tightened.

 

“I don’t know,” she said.

 

Rebecca leaned closer. “Are you expecting a call?”

 

Bella shook her head. “No.”

 

The phone buzzed again.

 

Longer this time.

 

Bella’s fingers hovered over it.

 

Rebecca whispered, “Bella…”

 

Bella picked it up.

 

The screen lit her face then she pressed accept.

 

“Hello?”

 

The voice on the other end was calm. Controlled.

 

“Pack lightly,” Darian said. “We leave early.”

 

The line went dead.

 

Bella sat frozen, phone still pressed to her ear.

 

Rebecca stared at her. “Who was that?”

 

Bella slowly lowered the phone.

 

Her throat was dry.

 

“Him,” she said.

 

And the room seemed to close in around her.