Jake’s 11 a.m. eting wrapped with his usual efficiency. His tone was clipped, his notes precise, and when he finally closed the file, the room exhaled as if relieved to be dismissed. Bella, who had been standing by the side with her tablet in hand, waited for his signal to leave.
Instead, Jake rose to his full height, buttoning his jacket with a practiced flick. His gray eyes found her imdiately.
"Isabella," he said smoothly, "co with . We’re going to et the important person now."
Now? Didn’t he say after noon? Why the change?
Her brows lifted as though she wanted to ask all the questions in her head, but she gave a brisk nod instead.
"Yes, Mr. Stones," she said.
All she had to do was do as he commanded especially now that he was being professional. She told herself.
She gathered her tablet, notepad, and bag, trailing after him. Outside, the driver had already moved toward the car, but Jake lifted a hand.
"Not this ti. I’ll drive," he said simply.
Bella hesitated. That was unusual. Jake almost never drove himself especially when it concerned work; she even co to realize that he seed to have drivers for every occasion.
As much as she found it odd, she didn’t question it. Instead, she slid into the passenger seat as he unlocked the car.
The drive was quiet. Uncomfortably so.
Bella kept her hands folded on her lap, her eyes fixed on the city blurring past the window. Her mind ticked through questions she dared not ask aloud.
Who was this person they were eting? Why hadn’t she been inford sooner? And why had the arrangent co through his mother, of all people? Why did he have to drive himself and why were they going early? Was the ti shifted or they were just going there early?
She bit her lip, suppressing a sigh. It wasn’t her place to pry. Still, the curiosity nagged at her.
Her thoughts drifted instead to Timothy. It was his first proper week back in school and in Sweliss. Everything here was going to be different from how it was for him in Florittle.
Was he settling in? Making friends? Did he run into that friend of his? She could picture his little face, serious one second, and mischievous the next.
She hoped he wouldn’t overwhelm Rachel with complaints about howork and would instead leave them for her to assist him. It would help her get closer to him and know what’s going on with him now that he had started school.
And Rachel — was she managing at Mr. Camden’s? He was said to be a good man but she couldn’t help but think if he would be behaving like a baby now that he was sick.
Bella smiled faintly at the thought of her fiery younger sister in a silent standoff with an older man who hated his dication.
The silence in the car thickened. Jake’s hands gripped the wheel loosely, his eyes fixed on the road, expression unreadable.
Finally, they pulled into the parking lot of an upscale restaurant, tucked discreetly on a quieter street. The kind of place where deals were signed behind closed doors and nas weren’t whispered outside.
"This is the location," Jake said, stepping out with fluid grace.
Bella followed, her heels clicking against the polished pavent. Inside, the restaurant slled faintly of citrus and wood polish, the kind of atmosphere crafted for privacy.
Her eyes swept the room looking for who the important person could be. She only saw couples dining, a group of businessn in tailored suits, a woman sipping wine by the window.
No one looked like they were waiting.
She frowned, turning to him. "Where’s the person we’re supposed to et?"
"They haven’t arrived yet," Jake replied easily, gesturing toward a corner table. "We’ll have to wait."
She nodded, already angling herself toward the next table so she could give him space.
But before she could sit, his voice stopped her. "Co sit with ."
Bella blinked, caught off guard. "With you?"
Why would he suggest that?
Jake leaned back in his chair, calm as ever. "It would look awkward if I sat here alone waiting. Stay. We’ll order sothing, and when they co, I’ll move to the other table with them."
Bella hesitated, suspicion flickering in her chest. "I don’t think—"
"Please," he said, cutting her off.
Her lips parted. Please? Jake Stones, the man who commanded, dismissed, and ordered without thinking twice had just said please.
For a mont she only stared, trying to gauge if he was mocking her. But his expression remained serious, unreadable.
What has gotten into him? Had she been the one misunderstanding him or was he just pretending?
Slowly, she slipped into the seat opposite him. "Fine. But only until your guest arrives."
"Of course," he said smoothly, signaling the waiter.
nus appeared. Bella kept hers low, not wanting to et his gaze. She ordered a simple salad and sparkling water, sothing light. Jake ordered steak and a glass of red wine.
When the waiter left, the silence stretched again, broken only by the muted hum of other diners. Bella focused on the condensation forming on her water glass, determined not to fidget.
Then Jake spoke. "Tell about yourself."
Her head snapped up, eyes narrowing. "About myself?" she asked, wanting to know if she’d heard him right.
"Yes," he said simply, leaning back. "We’ve worked together for a while now. But aside from your na and your competence, I know very little about who you are."
Bella’s first instinct was to shut it down. "There’s nothing worth telling."
But the words felt too abrupt, too defensive. She softened her tone. "Besides, you already know my na and I’m working for you. Isn’t that enough?"
His lips quirked faintly, but he didn’t answer. He only watched her, as though waiting for her to fill the silence with sothing more. "Is it? I want to know more," he said, cocking his eyebrows up.
Bella looked at him and her pulse quickened. Sothing didn’t feel right. The atmosphere. The questions. She sitting across from him and having lunch.
Could this be.....
The thought crept in slowly, unwelco but persistent. What if there was no eting? What if he had set this up, right from asking her to cancel his appointnts, driving them here himself, choosing this restaurant — just to have her here, across from him, forced into conversation?
Her fork hovered above her plate, her mind racing. Couldn’t be. She thought and then narrowed her eyes, suspicion hardening into words.
"Mr. Stones..." she said carefully, "there is an important person coming, right?"
His expression didn’t change as she asked that. Not even a flicker. And that only made her doubt him more.
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