Our arrangement

CHAPTER 3

“Mother, she’s staying in the guest room.”

Eric’s voice was firm.

Grace looked at him, unimpressed. “And why would my future daughter-in-law sleep in the guest room?”

“Because we haven’t been married.”

“You’re engaged, Eric. There’s nothing wrong with sharing a room.”

Bella stood between them, wishing the floor would open up.

“Actually, Mrs. Holdings, I’m perfectly comfortable with the guest room.”

Grace turned towards her.

“Please, call me Grace, darling. And don’t worry. I’ll make sure you’re comfortable.”

Eric rubbed his forehead.

“Mother, please don’t make this difficult.”

Grace smiled. “I’m not the one making things difficult. You’re the one who finally brings a woman home, and now you’re behaving like strangers.”

Bella lowered her eyes to hide her smile.

Eric noticed.

“Something funny, Miss Jordan?”

Her smile disappeared.

“No, Eric.”

Grace laughed. “At least she knows how to handle you.”

Eric gave his mother a warning look before turning towards Bella.

“Come downstairs. We need to discuss something.”

Eric led Bella into his private study and closed the door.

“Listen carefully,” he said.

Bella folded her arms. “I’m listening.”

“First, stop looking so terrified whenever my mother speaks to you.”

“I’m not terrified.”

“Then you have an interesting way of showing confidence.”

Bella frowned.

Eric ignored her reaction.

“Second, my mother is going to ask questions about our relationship. You need to answer naturally.”

“I know the details you gave me.”

“Knowing them isn’t enough. You need to make them believable.”

He stepped closer and lowered his voice.

“If she suspects we’re pretending, she’ll make my life miserable.”

Bella raised an eyebrow.

“Your mother seems lovely.”

“She’s also very persistent.”

For the first time, Bella noticed a slight change in his expression when he mentioned his mother. Beneath his cold exterior, there was affection.

“Anything else?” she asked.

“Don’t wander around the house without telling someone. Don’t invite strangers here. And don’t discuss our arrangement with anyone.”

“Understood.”

“Good. Dinner is in ten minutes.”

He opened the door.

Bella followed him downstairs.

The dining room looked like something from a luxury magazine.

Grace sat at the head of the table while Eric took the seat beside her. Bella sat opposite him.

A housekeeper served their food.

“So, Bella,” Grace began, “tell me how my son proposed.”

Bella nearly choked on her water.

Eric slowly put down his fork.

“Mother.”

“What? I’m curious.”

Bella glanced at Eric.

He gave her a subtle nod.

She cleared her throat.

“It was in Paris.”

Grace’s eyes brightened.

“Paris! How romantic.”

“Yes,” Bella replied, forcing a smile. “He arranged a private dinner.”

Eric picked up his glass.

“She was surprised.”

Bella looked at him.

That wasn’t part of the story.

Grace smiled. “I can imagine. Eric has never been particularly romantic.”

“Mother.”

“What? It’s true.”

Bella laughed softly.

Eric turned towards her.

“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“A little.”

Grace burst into laughter.

“Good! Someone needs to teach my son how to smile.”

Eric shook his head and returned to his food.

For a few minutes, the dinner continued peacefully.

Then Grace asked another question.

“How did you two meet?”

Bella froze.

She had forgotten that detail.

Eric answered without hesitation.

“At the charity event last year.”

Grace looked between them.

“And who approached whom?”

Bella opened her mouth.

“Eric did,” she answered quickly.

He turned towards her.

“Did I?”

She gave him a small smile.

“Yes. You asked me to dance.”

Grace looked delighted.

“Really? Eric danced?”

Bella nodded.

“Terribly.”

Grace laughed so hard she had to put down her glass.

Eric stared at Bella.

“Terribly?”

Bella shrugged.

“You stepped on my foot twice.”

“Interesting. I don’t remember that.”

“Perhaps you were too embarrassed.”

For a moment, their eyes met.

Eric’s expression remained serious, but Bella caught the faintest hint of amusement.

Grace watched them with satisfaction.

“Look at that. You two already have your little jokes.”

Bella quickly lowered her eyes.

She was beginning to understand that pretending to be Eric’s fiancée might be harder than she had imagined.

After dinner, Grace insisted on showing Bella some family photographs.

Eric excused himself to take a business call.

As they walked through the living room, Grace stopped beside a large framed photograph.

“This is Eric with his father.”

Bella studied the picture.

Eric looked younger, perhaps in his early twenties. His arm rested around an older man who had the same sharp features.

“He looks happy,” Bella remarked.

Grace’s smile softened.

“He was. His father was his best friend.”

Bella looked at her.

“Was?”

Grace nodded.

“He passed away several years ago. Eric took over the company shortly after.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Thank you, darling.”

Grace glanced towards the staircase.

“After his father died, Eric changed. He became so focused on work that he forgot how to enjoy life.”

Bella said nothing.

“Sometimes I worry he’ll spend his entire life building a company and forget to build a family.”

Bella felt uncomfortable.

She wasn’t the woman Grace believed she was.

“Your son is a good man,” she said carefully.

Grace smiled.

“I hope you make him happy.”

Bella’s smile weakened.

She didn’t know what to say.

Later that night, Bella was returning to her bedroom when she heard voices coming from Eric’s study.

“How long do you intend to keep pretending?” a man asked.

Bella stopped.

She recognised Eric’s voice.

“Until the contract is secured.”

“And what happens when your mother starts planning a wedding?”

“She won’t.”

“You’re underestimating her.”

Bella almost smiled.

The stranger laughed.

“Anyway, I hope this secretary of yours knows what she’s getting into.”

Bella’s expression changed.

Secretary?

She stepped closer, trying to hear more.

The study door suddenly opened.

Eric stood in front of her.

His expression hardened.

“What are you doing here?”

Bella stepped back.

“I was going to my room.”

“Then why are you standing outside my study?”

“I heard voices.”

Eric glanced over his shoulder.

A tall man emerged from the room.

He was handsome, with dark hair and an easy smile.

His eyes moved from Eric to Bella.

“Ah. So this is the famous fiancée.”

Bella offered a polite smile.

“Hello.”

“I’m Daniel Reed,” he said, extending his hand.

Bella shook it.

“Nice to meet you.”

Daniel smiled.

“Likewise. I hope you’re enjoying your stay.”

“Thank you.”

He looked at Eric.

“Don’t forget our meeting tomorrow.”

“I won’t.”

Daniel walked away.

Eric turned back to Bella.

“Go to bed.”

She frowned.

“Goodnight to you too.”

He stared at her.

For a second, she thought he might say something else.

Instead, he stepped back into his study and closed the door.

Bella shook her head.

Living with Eric Holdings was going to be exhausting.

She entered her bedroom and locked the door.

Her phone vibrated.

A new message appeared.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: We know you’ve moved into a rich man’s house. Don’t think that changes anything. Friday is still your deadline.

Bella’s smile disappeared.

She sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the message.

How had they found out?

She quickly typed a reply.

BELLA: Please, just give me a little more time.

The response came almost immediately.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: Three days. No more excuses.

Bella dropped the phone onto the bed.

Across the hallway, Eric stood in his study, looking at a photograph on his laptop.

It was Bella Jordan.

But the photograph wasn’t from the office.

It showed her entering a building late at night, wearing a black dress and standing beside a man Eric didn’t recognise.

His eyes narrowed.

“Interesting, Miss Jordan.”

He closed the laptop.

Perhaps his secretary had more secrets than he realised.