Bella got a pretty interesting welcome from her office friends. Along the way to the desk, many pairs of eyes stared at her viciously. The lobby, the elevator, and the pantry were places for pleasant conversation, to the extent that the room felt cramped for Bella's slender body.
Their topic could not be separated from the incident at the party last night. Their heads were filled with questions regarding his relationship with the CEO of Eagle Wings. Shamelessness, pitting one against the other, and many more accusations were scattered in the building.
Bella brewed coffee and pretended not to care. Better to think about what she's going to spend today with Justin's money. Maybe he will take a lot because Justin has made her life more complicated.
"What an interesting surprise, Bella," Kim whispered.
Bella watched the man leave with his coffee to the desk. "She must be the one spreading the rumor," Bella suspected.
Bella caught up with Kim, then whispered, "Thank you. Thanks to you, I got a lot of insults today."
Bella smiled leaving the rotten-hearted man. Kim appeared to deny her accusations. However, Bella did not care.
"Bella." Kim approached. He asked in a low voice, "Don't you know what you're doing?"
"What?" Bella lowered her tone.
"Do you know who your boyfriend is?"
"Yes. He is the CEO of Eagle Wings which also holds several Eagle Group subsidiaries," Bella answered casually.
Kim sighed. "Gosh. You don't know anything. Everyone in this town knows that Justin Aleandro is the future son-in-law of the Oxim Group. And you have made him point a weapon at the leader of that group, aka his future son-in-law."
Bella's eyes opened wide. She knew that Justin would be an arranged marriage. Stupidly, she didn't ask who the man was betrothed to.
Bella feels betrayed. However, the charades must go on.
"What's wrong with a man protecting his girlfriend? After all, Justin refused the match and chose me," Bella said, boasting.
"Bella! Don't you understand yet? You are the prosecutor who dared to harass Jofran, the prospective in-laws of the Eagle Eyes Group, a core member of R-Eyes, and Justin is the son of the leader of that organization. Justin could have pretended to love you, tricked you into their game." Kim reprimands her.
"Oh, Kim. Thank you for the explanation. Don't worry! I won't be their prey, but I will eat them," Bella said confidently.
Bella sat in her chair. She knew that two more creatures were watching her. Bella didn't want to waste time and went back to work.
"You idiot! How could she brag about a relationship that would lead her to death," Gabby sneered.
"Excuse me, were you talking to me just now?" she asked.
"No. I'm just annoyed when I remember the play I watched last night," Gabby argued.
Bella knew Gabby was teasing her and she didn't care. Turning away from Gabby, Bella's eyes caught another loathing in John's. Looks like today is going to be a long day.
Bella knew she was not welcome in that place. However, she made sure they would regret it.
One message entered her chat room. Justin, Bella thought.
Meet me in the lobby!
Bella was shocked. She put her coffee cup on the table. Bella left the room in a hurry.
What is she doing here? Did he want to embarrass me even more? I'll kill him! babbled Bella inside.
The elevator had taken her to the first floor. Suddenly, a bunch of coffee-scented water molecules floated into her body. Bella tiptoed and saw that her white blouse was stained.
Bella looked ahead. Two women are laughing at her. One dark brown hair cut short like a boy. She has dark skin and looks confident wearing a brightly colored mini-dress.
The other woman is the problem. Bella had never met the green-eyed woman. Bella sure never had anything to do with him. However, the coffee cup in the green-eyed woman's hand was enough to explain who was the perpetrator of the sprinkling.
"What the hell are you doing?" Bella asked.
"Oops, sorry. Looks like even coffee doesn't like your presence here," said the green-eyed woman.
"Do you have a problem with me?" Bella asked loudly.
"Oh, look how arrogant this woman is! Hey, not only me but the whole office is in trouble because of you." The green-eyed woman took several steps forward until she found a position that was deemed fit to intimidate Bella. "You have disturbed our peace. Oh, is it because you have such a cool boyfriend that you can act like this? Listen carefully! If anything happens to either of us, it is your responsibility."
"My, how could that be my responsibility? If anything happens to you guys, then it's your fault for allowing the evil in this city to flourish."
The people who previously stared at Bella cynically, now lowered their heads and acted as if they did not hear her words.
"Why are you silent? Are you afraid of losing your pocket money?"
"Shut your mouth, bitch!" The green-eyed woman grabbed Bella's hair. she shrieked. "How could a woman like you become the lover of the CEO of Eagle Wings? What magic did you use? Or, could you seduce him with your naked dance?"
Bella is fed up with blindly bad treatment. She grabbed the green-eyed woman's wrist, twisting her hand. She didn't take long to change positions. Bella got the hang of it.
"One more time you touch me like that, I'll break your hand!" she threatened.
"Impudent! Maria, why are you silent? Get her away from me!"
Bella could smell fear from Maria's body. That's exactly what Bella wanted from this show. Bella let go of the green-eyed woman.
Bella took a few steps back. She stood up straight again, straightened her clothes, and controlled the anger that exploded in her chest.
Suddenly, the green-eyed woman's hand swung again, flying into the air and stuck there. The green-eyed woman turned her head. She was surprised to find Justin standing proudly behind him.
"This hand is really beautiful. Too bad if used for things that are not useful," said Justin, irony.
"Mr. Justin, forgive me," pleaded the green-eyed woman.
"Not to me, but apologize to my lover, before his patience runs out," said Justin.
The green-eyed woman looked doubtful. Twice she looked at Justin and Bella in turn.
"Bella, I'm ... I'm ...."
"What the hell is it?" Ludwig emerged from the main door. He looked at Bella as if Bella was the troublemaker. As a result, everyone involved in the morning's commotion was summoned to his room.
Justin waiting for her in the car. It is almost thirty minutes he stays there. At least, Bella comes out of that building.
"Am I so lucky to have you, even just a fake couple?" Bella muttered. “Oh, Bella. You have to open your eyes and walk back to the right way.”
Justin stood up when he saw Bella walking towards him. It seems, there is something important that Justin wanted to convey. Or maybe the man was angry because of his childish nature earlier. Oh, that's embarrassing.
"Hi, are you ok?" Justin touches her cheek.
"Hi. Yes, I am ok." Bella looks shy. "What are you doing here?"
"Earlier, I just wanted to stop by. But it seems, this will be more than a general meeting. Come on in!" Justin opened the door for Bella.
"No need to bother. I can handle this by myself."
"Sorry. I don't accept rejections today." Justin escorted Bella into his car.
***