They all had different expressions on their faces as they watched Bella walk in with her slumped shoulder looking at the ground.
Her mother, who was at the counter, counting the money they had made, simply looked indifferent, like she hadn't been expecting anything different. So she simply returned her attention to the money and continued counting.
Her father glanced at her with a worried frown as he tried to figure out what to say to cheer her up, while Ben looked more than a little bit disappointed and sad—thinking about what could have happened for Bella not to have gotten the job.
"I'm so sorry, sweetheart... I wish there were something I could say or do," Her father said as he moved over to pull her into his arms, giving her a warm hug.
Ben, who had been about to say something, suddenly paused and narrowed his eyes at her. The Bella he knew would never have come directly to the restaurant to face their mother's ridicule had she not gotten the job.
"Since you're here, you should put on your apron and go help out with the dishes. Your brother has been busy on his feet all day and needs to rest," Heather said without sparing her another glance.
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that," Bella said with a smirk as she looked around the empty restaurant.
"Why not? You can't get a job, yet you can't also work to earn your keep? Do you think you're a princess? Who amongst us looks like your servant that has to work while you gallivant around doing nothing aside from eating?" Heather snapped at her angrily.
"If you don't want me to get really angry with you right now, I'll suggest you go in there and do the dishes," Heather warned in a low voice.
Mr Stuart observed the smirk on Bella's face and chuckled quietly, "Hold on, she got the job! You got the job, didn't you?" Mr Stuart asked, looking at Bella with wide eyes.
"Yes! I told you I was going to do it! I got the damn job!" Bella screeched happily as she jumped on her father to give him a hug before running over to Ben, who was grinning at her happily.
"I knew you would get it!" Ben said amidst his happy laughter.
Her mother gazed at her in surprise. "You got the job? Like this?" She asked, pointing at Bella in disbelief. She had been hoping no company would give her a job so that she would finally come to her senses and start dressing like the young lady she was.
"Yes. Like this," Bella said, flashing her mother a smile. She knew her mother's plan, but it was not going to work.
"This definitely calls for a celebration! I should get a wine," Mr Stuart said and walked over to the mini cellar to get a bottle of wine.
"I'll be moving in with my boss immediately. My boss needs me to be available twenty-four hours of the day and seven days of the week," Bella announced proudly.
"So, what company did you get a job for?" Her mother asked curiously.
"Uhm... I'll be working for an individual," Bella started.
"There is no way you're going to move in with your boss if he is a male. Who is your boss?" Her mother asked in a questioning tone, looking for any excuse to stop Bella from taking the job.
Bella laughed nervously, and Ben quickly realised it was time to step in. Bella was a terrible liar, but even a much poorer liar when she was being very nervous. She always tended to pull at her ear when lying... and their parents knew it.
"Male? Why would she live alone with a man? Not that anything is going to happen between them anyway. I already checked out the lady she is working for, and you won't believe who it is!" Ben said dramatically, making them all turn to look at him curiously while Bella gave him a look filled with confused curiosity.
"Who?" They all asked in unison. Her parents turned to look at Bella curiously. Why was she asking the same question with them when she was the one who had just gotten the job?
"She will be working as Claire Williams' personal assistant!" Ben quickly announced to distract them from suspecting Bella.
"Claire Williams?" His mother echoed with a frown. That name sounded very familiar.
"Yes. The mother of the renowned actor and musician, Dan Williams," He added, making their parents look at Bella in surprise. Who would have thought she would get to work for someone that famous?
"You mean Dan Williams, the screen playboy? So you will be meeting Dan Williams?" Her father asked with a grin, already having romantic pictures in his head. He had a feeling this young man was going to be the lucky man to tame his wild daughter.
"I should be able to run into him once or twice. I suppose," Bella said with a shrug.
"Then I guess you can get me his autograph," Her father said with a grin.
"I don't think that will be appropriate," Bella said, trying to recall everything on the long list of rules the prick had given her as she took the glass of wine her father was handing her.
"I'm sure you will find your way around that. Let's toast to a better life," Her father said, raising his wineglass.
"We are letting her go just like that? What are the chances that the next time we see her, she won't return as a man?" Her mother asked with a worried frown.
"She won't," Bella's father said with all confidence. He didn't have a doubt that Bella would settle into being a proper lady sooner or later. All she needed was the right man to make her do it, and he was very sure she would be meeting him soon.