The stranger she knows

CHAPTER 4

Bella was halfway down the staircase when laughter drifted from the living room.

She paused.

A man’s voice followed, deep and cheerful.

“Eric, you can’t keep hiding in this house forever. People are beginning to think you’ve become a machine.”

“I have work to do, Michael.”

“Of course you do. You always have work to do.”

Bella smiled faintly.

At least someone could make Eric sound human.

She continued downstairs, adjusting the sleeves of her cream blouse. Grace had insisted she join them for breakfast, even though Bella would have preferred to stay in her room.

When she entered the living room, Eric was sitting on the sofa with a tablet in his hand. Beside him sat a man wearing dark jeans, a white shirt, and sunglasses pushed into his hair.

The stranger turned.

His eyes widened.

“Bella?”

Bella stopped.

For a moment, she simply stared at him.

Then recognition spread across her face.

“Michael?”

The man jumped to his feet, his smile growing wider.

“I knew it! What are you doing here?”

Before Bella could answer, Michael pulled her into a friendly hug.

Eric slowly lowered his tablet.

He looked from Michael to Bella.

“You two know each other?”

Michael released her but kept one hand on her shoulder.

“Know each other? Eric, this is Bella Jordan.”

“I can see that.”

Michael laughed.

“We met at the charity gala last year. Remember? I was trying to escape a group of reporters, and she helped me find a quiet exit.”

Bella smiled.

“You were hiding behind a curtain.”

“Strategic hiding,” Michael corrected.

“It was a very small curtain.”

“And it worked.”

Bella laughed.

Eric watched them.

He had never seen her laugh like that.

At the office, Bella was always polite, careful, and slightly nervous around him. Even at dinner with his mother, she had seemed determined not to make a mistake.

But with Michael, she looked completely different.

Relaxed.

Comfortable.

Almost familiar.

“How long have you two been friends?” Eric asked.

Michael glanced at him.

“Long enough for her to know my embarrassing secrets.”

“That isn’t an answer.”

“Why are you interrogating us?” Michael asked, grinning. “I thought you were supposed to be happy. Your fiancée is here, and I’m complimenting your excellent taste.”

Bella’s smile disappeared.

Eric’s expression hardened.

“Watch your mouth.”

Michael raised both hands.

“Relax. I said something nice.”

Grace entered the room before Eric could respond.

“Michael! What a lovely surprise.”

He turned immediately and greeted her with a warm hug.

“Mrs. Holdings, you look wonderful.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere.”

“Then I’ll keep doing it.”

Grace laughed.

“Come, breakfast is ready. Bella, dear, bring Michael along.”

As they walked towards the dining room, Michael fell into step beside Bella.

“So, you’re really engaged to this man?”

Bella glanced at Eric, who was walking ahead of them.

“Apparently.”

Michael chuckled.

“That sounds convincing.”

“Keep your voice down.”

He leaned closer.

“Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”

Bella’s stomach tightened.

She glanced at him sharply.

Michael’s smile softened.

“I mean the little escape we planned at the gala. Remember?”

Bella relaxed slightly.

“Yes. I remember.”

Eric turned his head.

“Is there something I should know?”

“Nothing,” Bella answered quickly.

Michael looked amused.

“Your fiancée has a sense of humour, Eric. You should encourage it.”

Eric said nothing.

But his eyes remained on Bella for a moment longer than necessary.

Breakfast was served in the large dining room.

Grace sat at the head of the table, Michael on her right, and Bella beside Eric.

Michael seemed perfectly at home.

He joked with Grace, complained about his latest movie role, and made everyone laugh with stories from his acting career.

Bella found herself laughing more than she had expected.

“So, Bella,” Michael said, turning towards her, “how are you surviving living with this man?”

Eric put down his glass.

“Michael.”

“What? I’m asking a reasonable question.”

Bella pressed her lips together to hide her smile.

“It’s been interesting.”

“Interesting?” Michael repeated. “That’s a polite way to describe Eric.”

“Would you prefer that I say difficult?”

Michael burst out laughing.

Grace clapped her hands.

“Oh, I like this! Bella, you must never be afraid to speak your mind.”

Eric gave his mother a warning look.

“Mother.”

“What? You need someone who can challenge you.”

Michael leaned back in his chair.

“Finally, someone in this family understands.”

Eric ignored him.

But when Bella reached for her glass, he noticed the small smile she was trying to hide.

For some reason, it annoyed him that Michael had brought it out so easily.

After breakfast, Eric returned to his study.

He had barely opened his laptop when Michael walked in without knocking.

“You’re welcome,” Michael announced.

Eric didn’t look up.

“For what?”

“For making breakfast entertaining.”

“I didn’t invite you to entertain anyone.”

Michael dropped into the chair opposite him.

“You’re welcome anyway.”

Eric continued reading.

Michael watched him for a moment before speaking again.

“So, Bella is your secretary and your fiancée?”

“That’s the arrangement.”

“Interesting.”

“What’s interesting about it?”

Michael shrugged.

“I didn’t know you were interested in Bella.”

Eric finally looked up.

“I’m not.”

“Then why is she living here?”

“Because I need her to play a role.”

Michael’s smile faded slightly.

“She’s not someone you should treat like a business transaction, Eric.”

Eric’s eyes narrowed.

“Since when do you care?”

“Since I met her.”

Silence settled between them.

Michael leaned forward.

“She’s a good person. Don’t make her regret trusting you.”

Eric closed his laptop.

“You’re speaking as though you know her better than I do.”

“Maybe I do.”

The words hung between them.

Eric studied his friend.

Michael was rarely serious about anything for long. He joked, flirted, and avoided difficult conversations whenever possible.

But there was no joke in his eyes now.

“Stay out of my arrangement with Bella,” Eric said.

Michael stood.

“I wasn’t planning to interfere.”

He walked towards the door, then paused.

“One more thing. If you hurt her, I won’t pretend I didn’t see it.”

The door closed behind him.

Eric stared at it.

For the first time since Bella had agreed to become his fake fiancée, he wondered whether he had overlooked something.

Later that afternoon, Bella stood alone on the terrace, looking at the garden.

She heard footsteps behind her.

“Running away already?”

She turned.

Michael stood at the entrance, holding two cups of coffee.

“You’re not supposed to be here,” she said.

“That’s a terrible welcome.”

He handed her one of the cups.

“How have you been, Bella?”

She looked down at the coffee.

“Fine.”

Michael gave her a doubtful look.

“You always say that.”

Bella forced a smile.

“And you always ask too many questions.”

“Someone has to.”

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Michael lowered his voice.

“Are you happy here?”

Bella looked towards the house.

Through the glass doors, she could see Eric standing in his study, speaking on the phone.

“I don’t know,” she admitted.

Michael nodded.

“Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, you know where to find me.”

“Thank you, Michael.”

He smiled.

“Anything for you, Bell.”

Neither of them noticed Eric watching from the study window.

He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he could see Michael standing close to Bella.

And he could see the way she smiled at him.

Eric’s jaw tightened.

He turned away from the window and returned to his desk.

His phone buzzed.

A message from Daniel appeared.

I found something about Bella Jordan. I think you should see it.

Eric opened the attachment.

It was a photograph of Bella outside a hotel, dressed in a black evening gown, standing beside an unfamiliar man.

His expression darkened.

He glanced towards the terrace again.

Michael was still there, laughing with her.

Eric locked his phone.

Something about Bella Jordan wasn’t adding up.

And now, apparently, he wasn’t the only man interested in finding out who she really was.