جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 20

BELLA I almost canceled on Ryan three times.Each time my thumb hovered over the message, I remembered Alex’s cold eyes and those sharp words from yesterday. Go have fun forgetting about the old guy. The memory still burned, so I forced myself to get ready instead.I chose a simple cream sweater and dark jeans. Nothing too dressy. Nothing that screamed “trying too hard.”My reflection looked tired puffy eyes from last night’s tears but I dabbed on some concealer and told myself this was fine. Normal. A distraction.Ryan waited outside the cute little coffee shop two blocks from the office, hands in his pockets, easy smile lighting up when he saw me.“Bella! You made it.”“Hey,” I said, managing a smile. “Sorry if I’m a little late.”“No worries at all.” He opened the door for me. “I’m just glad you came.”Inside smelled like fresh espresso and cinnamon. We ordered flat white for me, black coffee for him and found a small table by the window. Rain pattered softly against the glass.Ry

BELLAI couldn’t go home.Not after the way Alex had looked at me in the break room, forehead pressed to mine, breath shaking like he was one second away from losing control. Not after he’d pulled back again and left me standing there with tears on my face and an ache so deep I could barely breathe.So I drove straight to Mia’s apartment instead.It was almost three in the morning when I knocked on her door. She opened it in an oversized T-shirt and messy bun, eyes squinting against the hallway light.“Bella?” Her voice was sleepy but instantly worried when she saw my face. “What the hell happened?”I didn’t answer right away. I just stepped inside, dropped my bag on her couch, and sank into it like my legs had finally given up.Mia closed the door, grabbed two wine glasses from the kitchen, and poured generous amounts of red from the bottle she kept on the counter for emergencies.She handed me one, then sat cross-legged on the opposite end of the couch.“Drink first,” she ordered. “T

BellaThe Thompson deadline had been moved up again. Third time this week. Robert sent the email at 4:30 p.m. sharp: Final deck due by 9 a.m. tomorrow. No excuses.By 6:30 the office had emptied out. Most people had families to get home to, dinners to cook, lives that didn’t revolve around one client’s last-minute panic. But Alex and I were still here, side by side at our desks, the only lights left burning on the entire floor.I kept my eyes glued to the screen, fingers flying over the keyboard as I adjusted the final metrics slide. The air felt thick, charged, like the storm outside had somehow slipped inside the building with us. Rain hammered against the windows, matching the frantic beat of my heart.“Slide twelve still needs the updated conversion numbers,” Alex said, voice low and clipped. Professional. But I heard the strain underneath.I nodded without looking at him. “Already pulling them.”Our chairs were too close. Four feet had never felt so small. Every time one of us sh

The Harper family dining room glowed with warm light from the chandelier and the scent of roasted chicken and fresh herbs. The long oak table was set with Mom’s best china, candles flickering in the center, and laughter drifting from the kitchen where Ethan helped carry in the side dishes. It was supposed to be a simple family dinner to celebrate the Thompson project’s progress, but the air felt heavier than usual.Robert Harper stood at the head of the table, raising his glass once everyone was seated. Alex sat directly across from Bella, Emily beside him, swinging her legs under the chair. Bella kept her eyes fixed on her plate, tracing the pattern of the tablecloth with her gaze. She hadn’t looked at Alex once since he walked through the door with Emily.“To my best friend and business partner,” Robert said, his voice warm and full of pride. “Alex, you’ve been with me since college. Through every late night, every risky deal, every win and every setback. The Thompson project is sh

BELLA The morning after the family dinner felt heavier than usual. Dad’s toast still rang in my ears “To the best partnership in Seattle” while Alex and I had sat across the table avoiding each other’s eyes like guilty teenagers.Emily’s innocent questions from her office visit yesterday kept replaying too: Why is Bella here so often? Alex’s careful deflection, the flash of guilt on his face when she mentioned me coming over for dinner. I’d barely slept.I arrived at the office early, hoping to get a head start and keep things strictly professional. Alex was already at his desk, sleeves rolled up, looking exhausted. Dark circles under his eyes, jaw tight. We exchanged a quick, polite “morning” and dove into work without another word.For the first hour everything stayed surface-level. We reviewed the latest Thompson feedback, traded short comments about slides, and kept our chairs carefully positioned. No lingering glances. No accidental touches. I was trying really trying to