The sound of Anastasia's breath echoed in the elevator. How could she have made it in ten minutes? The distance between Clara's company and theirs usually took almost twenty minutes, not counting traffic.
As the elevator doors opened, she rushed out towards the office. The sight of the empty space reminded her it was Friday. She dropped her handbag at her desk, grabbed her notebook and pen, and hurried to Daniel's office.
"Mr. Daniel," she knocked on the door.
Silence. No response from inside. She peeked through the glass wall, but the blinds were drawn, making it impossible to see inside.
"Mr. Daniel, I'm here," she called out again, knocking louder.
Still no answer. Glancing at her watch, she noted it was already five fifteen in the evening. "He should tell me if he won't wait," she frowned, walking back to her desk.
Slightly slamming the notebook down, she stared blankly at her monitor. There was still work to do that she had left before going out earlier, but the mood was gone. She picked up her phone and saw a message from Daniel.
"I have a sudden meeting. Wait for me. It won't take long." She read the message out loud, feeling the annoyance rise. Letting out a big exhale, she checked when the message was sent. "Forty-five minutes ago? Why did I miss this?" She had asked Mike to drive faster just because she wanted to hurry, but Daniel had gone out for a meeting five minutes after sending her the second message?
Anastasia let out a frustrated laugh. "Should I get mad or blame myself?" She tapped on the keyboard, muttering, "Whatever, I'll just wait for another fifteen minutes."
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Daniel couldn't sit still. One moment he checked his watch, the next he glanced at his phone, and sometimes he just nodded absentmindedly to the conversation happening in the private room of the Japanese restaurant.
"Mom," he whispered, "Can I go now? I have another appointment."
Diana threw him a suspicious glance. "Your dad told me that your work at the office is done for today."
"Who said? Dad? How does he know? He's not the one working there," he countered, annoyance creeping into his voice, not realising he had interrupted the conversation.
His dad, Edward, started to glare at him but quickly turned his eyes back to the front and smiled. "I'm sorry, where were we?"
"It's okay, I understand," Flynn replied. "I heard Ethan has been back for a month now. Any plans on when he'll start working? If yes, I'd be very interested in hiring him," he joked, glancing at Daniel.
"Dad…" Bella whispered, "he already started today."
"Oh really?" Flynn was surprised. He hadn't known that—or more accurately, Bella seemed to know everything about her Ethan Harrington.
Daniel only nodded to the question, barely paying attention. He couldn't care less; he really didn't want to be there at this moment.
Diana, sensing the tension, turned to Marleen with a warm smile. "Marleen, it's been a while since we've caught up. How have you been keeping busy lately?"
Marleen smiled shyly, her hands fidgeting in her lap. "Oh, I've been quite content, actually. Taking care of the house, making sure everything runs smoothly... It keeps me occupied. And, of course, spending time with Bella."
Diana nodded, her smile growing. "That sounds lovely. It's important to find joy in the little things."
Marleen's smile widened, a hint of relief in her eyes. "Yes, it truly is. I'm very grateful for everything."
Bella, noticing her mother's timid response, chimed in enthusiastically. "Mom's always baking the best cakes! You should try her chocolate cake sometime, Mrs. Harrington."
Diana laughed softly. "I'd love to. It sounds wonderful."
Flynn, noticing the lighter mood, seized the opportunity to steer the conversation towards the matter at hand. "Speaking of families, Diana, Edward, we're very pleased with the arrangement we've been discussing."
Daniel's ears perked up at the mention of an arrangement, his attention finally snapping back to the conversation. He glanced at Bella, who was beaming, and his confusion deepened.
Are they trying to arrange my marriage with Bella? Daniel thought in his mind and started to panic.
Flynn continued, "We believe this will be beneficial for both families."
Edward nodded in agreement. "Yes, if both families agree, we shall proceed to the next stage of their marriage."
"What marriage?!" Daniel exclaimed, standing up in surprise. As he feared, they were indeed discussing arranging his marriage with Bella. "Mom…" He looked at Diana, feeling betrayed. "I never agreed to this. I told you, I already have someone I like."
Diana smiled awkwardly, gritting her words, "Yes… I know. Now sit down."
Daniel frowned at his father, who was already glaring at him, his eyes demanding that Daniel behave like a twenty-eight-year-old should. Gulping, Daniel then said, "I didn't agree to this, and no, I don't want to." He rushed out of the room, leaving everyone speechless.
The room fell into an awkward silence. Bella's smile faded slightly as she looked around, unsure of what to do next. Diana sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, while Edward's expression hardened, clearly displeased with his son's outburst.
Marleen, who had been quiet all this time, finally spoke up, her voice timid but sincere. "Maybe we should give him some time to think. It's a big decision for everyone involved. Anna also didn't know about this yet." She looked at Diana, trying to gauge her reaction.
Bella, who caught the name 'Anna,' blinked in confusion. "Mom, is this about sis?" Her lips turned pale, and her shoulders slumped.
Marleen just realised something and immediately looked at Flynn, hoping for an explanation.
Flynn's expression gave away his discomfort. He still hadn't told Bella about the marriage arrangement between the two families, and he knew it was crucial to avoid any misunderstandings. He sighed deeply, realising that today would be long. They needed time to coax Bella and ensure everything went smoothly.
"Is this your idea, Mom?" Bella asked, her voice trembling with hurt. She stood up, her eyes betraying the depth of her betrayal. "I guess blood really is thicker." With those harsh words, she stormed out, leaving Marleen feeling a pang of heartache.