Beneath the Surface
Bella POV
I waited, watching the minutes tick by, but my mind wouldn't settle. My thoughts kept drifting back to the hushed conversation I'd overheard in the hallway.
"If things go out of control with Kelvin, we're finished."
The words echoed ominously in my head. This family's drama was like nothing I'd ever known. It was clear now this was more than just family tension. It was something dark, something dangerous.
I'd barely had time to let the implications sink in when Sam's guard, the same one who had picked me up the other day, appeared at my door.
"Miss Bella," he said with a polite nod,
"Mr. Sam asked me to take you home."
Relief washed over me, and I quickly gathered my things. The villa felt suffocating, and the sooner I could leave, the better. On our way to the car, I glanced back at the grand mansion, feeling like it hid secrets behind every corner, secrets that were threatening to unravel everything.
As we drove, I broke the silence, turning to the guard.
"I don't believe I got your name the other day."
He kept his eyes on the road but glanced at me briefly.
"It's Jacob, Miss."
"Well, Jacob, thank you for taking me home," I said.
"I have to ask how's the Chairman doing? I couldn't help but worry after he collapsed like that."
Jacob's expression hardened slightly.
"No news yet, Miss. The Chairman's condition is… delicate. Mr. Sam, his uncles, and his sisters are still at the hospital."
I nodded, absorbing the news, though it didn't give me any peace. What did "delicate" even mean? For a moment, I considered pressing Jacob for more, but he seemed determined to keep things brief. When we arrived home, I quickly went inside, heading straight for my room and locking the door behind me.
Once I was alone, I dialed Jonathan, hoping he could shed some light on everything. He had been around this family long enough to understand their ways maybe he'd even know about the power struggle I'd overheard. But the call wouldn't go through. I frowned, trying again, only to get the same result. His number was unreachable.
With a sigh, I sat on the edge of my bed, trying to process everything. The contract I'd signed with Sam felt like a tightening noose around my neck. There were penalties, strict conditions if I chose to break it, and I knew very little about his family beyond what Sam had allowed me to see. And with the Chairman's sudden illness, it felt as though the stakes were even higher now. I was bound to these people by paper, but there was so much more hidden beneath the surface.
The next morning, the house was strangely quiet, almost too quiet. Sam hadn't come home, and without any new information, my anxiety only grew. After breakfast, I wandered through the hallways, trying to shake off the unease, but the lingering tension from the villa wouldn't leave my mind.
Then, as I turned a corner, I saw it the large, imposing door. The same one I'd tried to enter yesterday. This time, it was slightly open, and I could glimpse a room beyond. From what little I could see, it looked like a library. Tall, towering shelves stretched up to the ceiling, filled with books that looked old and rare. The scent of aged paper and leather-bound volumes drifted out, enticing me.
I took a tentative step closer, peering into the room. My breath caught. Sam was seated at one of the massive oak desks, deep in thought, his head bent over a collection of open books. He looked serious, almost intense, as if he were studying something crucial. The soft glow of the desk lamp cast shadows across his face, highlighting his sharp features. His fingers tapped rhythmically on the edge of the desk, a sign of his focus.
I was about to step inside when a voice stopped me in my tracks.
"Miss Bella," Jacob's voice sounded behind me, soft yet firm.
I turned to see him watching me, his expression unreadable.
"I'm sorry," he said, but there was a slight edge to his voice.
"No one is allowed to enter the library without Mr. Sam's permission. He values his privacy, especially when he's working."
I gave a slight nod, stepping back from the doorway.
"Of course. I didn't mean to intrude."
Jacob's face softened slightly.
"Mr. Sam hates being disturbed when he's studying. That room… well, it's his sanctuary."
I nodded again, but curiosity burned within me. What was so important in that library that Sam guarded it so closely? Why did it feel like the room itself held answers to the questions swirling in my mind?
Back in my room, I paced, replaying the scene from the library over and over. Sam wasn't just reading for pleasure in there he looked like he was researching, almost obsessively. But what could be so important? Was it connected to the Chairman's health? Or perhaps… the family's power struggle?
Frustration built up inside me, and I dialed Jonathan's number again. This time, it finally went through. After a few rings, Jonathan's familiar voice answered.
"Bella! Is everything alright?"
"Jonathan, I'm so glad you picked up," I said, trying to keep the relief out of my voice.
"Listen, I… I think something's going on with Sam's family. There's this strange tension. I overheard people talking about control, and "
"Bella," Jonathan interrupted, his tone wary.
"You need to be careful. This family has a long history of… let's say, unresolved conflicts. The Chairman has kept things in check, but now that he's unwell…" He trailed off, as if considering how much to reveal.
I felt a chill down my spine.
"What do you mean? Is there something specific I should know?"
He sighed.
"I can't say too much, but Sam's family… they have a way of dealing with threats. And right now, with the Chairman's health at risk, everyone sees an opportunity. Some see it as a chance to finally take power, while others… well, they might not be willing to wait for him to pass naturally."
The room seemed to close in around me.
"Are you saying they would…?" I couldn't finish the sentence, but Jonathan understood.
"Yes," he replied simply.
"The stakes are high, Bella. And now that you're part of this family, you're in the middle of it."
I felt a surge of panic.
"Jonathan, what should I do?"
He hesitated.
"Stick close to Sam. Whatever happens, he's your safest option. And try to stay out of sight as much as possible. The less they know about you, the better."
I hung up, my mind reeling. The pieces were starting to come together, but I still didn't have the full picture. What I did know, however, was that this family's power struggles went far deeper than I'd imagined. And somehow, I was caught in the crossfire.
That evening, I stayed in my room, unable to shake the feeling that I was being watched. Every shadow seemed to hold a hidden threat, every creak of the old house felt like a footstep approaching my door.
As night fell, I kept my door locked, clutching my phone tightly, ready to call for help at a moment's notice. It wasn't just the Chairman's health that was at stake anymore. It was clear that there were people in this family willing to go to any lengths to get what they wanted.
And with Sam at the center of it all, I had to wonder how much did he know? And what lengths would he go to in order to protect me?