Theodore froze, mirroring Bella's stunned expression. His mind rushed back to the events of that very morning. Instinctively, he wanted to reach for Bella, offer some silent comfort, some reassurance. But he paused as his gaze collided with Zack.
Annoyance flared hot within him. Why did Zack bring Bella along?
Before Theodore could even formulate a question, Zack's voice boomed through the room, "Mr. Brooke… What is going on? I've been waiting for you, and here you are with..." His eyes flicked to Theodore, "Mr. Reid! Are you trying to humiliate me?"
Mr. Brooke, the middle-aged man, waved a dismissive hand. "Don't fret, Zack," he drawled. "An important meeting is going on here. Don't disturb us. I'll talk to you later. Come see me in the office tomorrow, alright? Let's address this calmly and find a resolution."
