Chapter twenty

Bella was still unsettled.

 

They had barely stepped out of the conference room when her phone vibrated in her hand. Once. Then stopped. She glanced at the screen out of reflex.

 

Unknown number.

 

Her chest tightened immediately.

 

She slowed her steps without realizing it. Darian was a few paces ahead, already scanning his phone, his jaw tight as if he were replaying a conversation in his head.

 

The phone vibrated again.

 

Unknown number.

 

Bella stopped walking.

 

Darian noticed this time. He turned, eyes narrowing slightly. “Problem?”

 

“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “It’s an unknown number.”

 

He studied her for a brief second. “Answer it.”

 

That surprised her. “You want me to?”

 

“Yes,” he said, flatly. “If it matters, it’ll reveal itself.”

 

Her thumb hovered over the screen. Every instinct screamed at her not to pick up, but she was tired of running from things she didn’t understand.

 

She answered.

 

“Hello?”

 

Silence.

 

Bella frowned. “Hello?”

 

Then came a laugh.

 

Soft. Slow. Mocking.

 

Bella’s spine stiffened instantly.

 

“Oh, Bella,” the woman said, her voice smooth and amused. “You sound… tense.”

 

Bella’s heart began to pound. “Who is this?”

 

Another laugh. Louder this time. Deliberate.

 

“You really don’t recognize voices well, do you?” the woman continued. “Or maybe you’re just pretending not to.”

 

Bella’s grip tightened around the phone. “If you don’t tell me who you are, I’m hanging up.”

 

“Oh no,” the woman said lightly. “You won’t. You’re too curious. You always have been.”

 

Bella’s breath caught. “I don’t know you.”

 

“Yes, you do.”

 

Her stomach dropped.

 

Behind her, Darian stopped walking.

 

“What is it?” he asked sharply.

 

Bella didn’t look away from the phone. “I don’t know,” she whispered. Then louder, into the phone, “Stop playing games. Who are you?”

 

The woman sighed theatrically. “Still pretending. That’s disappointing.”

 

Bella’s voice rose despite herself. “I don’t have time for this. Say what you want or don’t call me again.”

 

“Oh, I’ll call you whenever I want,” the woman replied coolly. “Especially since you’ve been orbiting around something that belongs to me.”

 

Bella felt heat rush to her face. “What are you talking about?”

 

“Darian,” the woman said plainly. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

 

Bella froze.

 

The world seemed to tilt.

 

Darian’s name on a stranger’s lips felt invasive. Wrong.

 

“I don’t know what you think you know,” Bella said, anger cutting through the shock now, “but you’re mistaken.”

 

The woman laughed again, sharper this time. “Mistaken? Please. I know exactly what you’re doing. Walking around him. Playing the quiet, hardworking act. Showing up on business trips. Hoping someone will finally choose you.”

 

Bella’s chest heaved. “That’s not—”

 

“Don’t insult my intelligence,” the woman snapped, her voice suddenly cold. “Women like you always pretend it’s accidental. You think proximity will do the work for you.”

 

Bella’s hand began to shake. “You don’t know me.”

 

“I know your type,” the woman shot back. “Desperate. Convenient. Willing to blur lines off duty and then act innocent at work.”

 

That was it.

 

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Bella shouted.

 

The sound echoed in the corridor.

 

Darian turned fully now, alarm flashing across his face. “Bella.”

 

She didn’t hear him. Rage flooded her, burning through weeks of restraint. “You don’t get to talk to me like that. You don’t know what I’ve worked for. You don’t know anything about me.”

 

The woman hummed. “Defensive. Predictable.”

 

Bella’s voice cracked with fury. “Who are you?”

 

A pause.

 

Then, softly, deliberately: “Vivian.”

 

Bella’s blood went cold.

 

She turned slowly and looked at Darian.

 

“It’s Vivian,” she said, stunned.

 

Something dark flashed across Darian’s face.

 

“Put it on speaker,” he said immediately.

 

Bella hesitated. “Are you sure?”

 

“Yes,” he said. “Now.”

 

She pressed the button.

 

Vivian’s voice filled the space between them.

 

“Oh,” Vivian said smoothly. “So you’re listening now.”

 

“Enough,” Darian said, his tone calm but lethal. “This conversation ends here.”

 

Vivian laughed. “Still giving orders, Darian? You always loved control.”

 

Bella’s heart hammered as she looked between the phone and Darian. This was no longer just about her.

 

Vivian’s tone shifted suddenly, syrupy sweet. “Bella, darling, I didn’t mean to upset you. Truly. I just hate misunderstandings.”

 

Bella stared at the phone. “You just insulted me for five minutes straight.”

 

Vivian sighed. “Because I was emotional. You walked into a situation you don’t understand.”

 

“I didn’t walk into anything,” Bella said. “I’m doing my job.”

 

“Of course you are,” Vivian replied lightly. “And you’re very good at it, from what I hear.”

 

Darian stepped closer. “Vivian, stop.”

 

“Oh, relax,” Vivian said. “I’m being friendly now.”

 

Bella swallowed hard. “Why are you calling me?”

 

“To be polite,” Vivian said. “And to let you know that temporary arrangements always end.”

 

Bella’s stomach twisted. “This isn’t an arrangement.”

 

Vivian chuckled. “Everything is.”

 

Darian’s patience snapped. “You’ve said enough.”

 

“Have I?” Vivian replied. “I just wanted to say hello. And to let you both know I’ll be waiting when you return.”

 

Bella stiffened. “Waiting for what?”

 

Vivian ignored her and addressed Darian directly. “We have unfinished conversations.”

 

Darian’s voice was dangerously quiet. “Do not contact my staff again.”

 

“Oh, I will,” Vivian said pleasantly. “Especially her.”

 

Bella opened her mouth to protest—

 

The line went dead.

 

The silence afterward was deafening.

 

Bella stared at the phone, chest rising and falling rapidly. “What was that?”

 

Darian exhaled slowly. His face was unreadable now, completely shut down. “You shouldn’t have engaged.”

 

“She attacked me,” Bella said. “She accused me of things I didn’t do.”

 

“I know,” he said.

 

“Then why—”

 

“Because Vivian doesn’t care about truth,” Darian interrupted. “Only leverage.”

 

Bella hugged her arms around herself. “Why is she doing this?”

 

Darian looked at her, eyes sharp. “Because you’re visible.”

 

“That’s it?”

 

“That’s enough,” he replied.

 

She hesitated. “Should I report this?”

 

His gaze hardened. “No.”

 

The word landed heavily.

 

“Don’t speak about this to anyone,” he continued. “Not HR. Not friends. Not coworkers.”

 

Bella frowned. “Why not?”

 

“Because it will escalate things you don’t understand yet,” Darian said. “And I won’t have you dragged into that.”

 

Dragged. Into. That.

 

Bella felt small suddenly. Exposed.

 

“I didn’t ask for this,” she said quietly.

 

“I know,” he replied. “Which is why you’ll do exactly as I say.”

 

She looked at him, conflicted. “Are you protecting me… or yourself?”

 

For a split second, something unreadable crossed his face.

 

Then it was gone.

 

“This conversation is over,” he said. “Focus on the trip. Leave Vivian to me.”

 

Bella nodded slowly, unease settling deep in her chest.

 

As they walked on, one thought echoed in her mind:

 

Vivian hadn’t called to threaten.

 

She had called to announce herself.

 

And whatever was coming next, Bella was already in the middle of it.