During lunch break, as Bella walked towards the canteen, her mind was full of the things Lala had said to her earlier. She remembered how she had spent the previous day in the café, giving a detailed class on how to win over the office mates and sharing a few ideas.
After getting her meal, Bella scanned the hall. Fortunately, it wasn't too crowded. There were only a few people scattered across five or six tables. Vicki had already claimed a spot near the entrance. He waved at Bella to come over. Bella walked up to him. When Tara spotted them, she immediately ran over and took the seat next to them.
Bella's gaze swept across the hall, observing every table, every person. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she glanced at the food in front of each individual. She quickly calculated in her mind the cost of their meals. The total bill would be around seven thousand rupees, Bella thought. She mentally checked her bank balance and realized that it was within a range she could manage to handle.
During lunch, Lala had suggested that offering a free meal to the company workers would be a great way to win them over, and Bella had confidently stood up from her seat, ready to make the announcement. She adjusted her glasses, straightened her posture, and took a deep breath, preparing herself to speak. Vicki and Tara looked at her, puzzled, not knowing what her intention was.
"Hello, friends! Today, lunch is on me. Enjoy!" Bella's voice rang out with enthusiasm, but before she could finish her words, Han Lee entered the scene, his voice booming through the hall. "Lunch is on me today!" he declared loudly, standing beside Sanjay in a rather proud posture.
Bella froze in shock. Han Lee had stolen her moment. The words she had carefully planned to use were now gone. She had intended to treat her colleagues to lunch, to win their favor, but now Han Lee had come in and completely ruined it.
A surge of frustration rose within her. Was it possible that Han Lee and Lala had discussed this idea beforehand? Bella felt a flicker of doubt in her mind. Her gaze met Han Lee's, and the moment their eyes locked, something inside her shifted. Han Lee walked towards her, his gaze steady and unwavering.
"Why the hell is he coming towards me now?" Bella thought, her mind racing as she felt a wave of unease. She stood there, paralyzed by his sudden approach, her thoughts scattered.
"Can we join?" Han Lee's voice cut through the air, calm and indifferent.
Tara and Vicki responded almost instantly, their expressions lighting up with eagerness. "Why not? Sure, boss," they said, welcoming him with wide smiles.
Bella, still recovering from the surprise, quickly regained her composure and blurted out, "No, you can't." The words escaped before she could even think them through. The others froze, staring at her in disbelief.
"I mean, there are so many empty seats here. You can choose one. But wouldn't it be uncomfortable for Mr. Han to sit with us?" Bella continued, her attempt at a smile faltering. She knew it wasn't convincing, but she had to say something.
Tara and Vicki exchanged a brief, knowing glance, their eyes narrowing as they subtly directed their gaze at Bella. It felt like they were hinting at something, a silent communication she couldn't ignore. Bella, sensing the weight of their look, slowly turned her eyes toward the hall, and her breath caught in her throat.
What had once been a sparsely populated space was now teeming with people, resembling the hustle of a wedding reception. Every table was filled, and the noise of her colleagues chattering eagerly over the free meal filled the air. Bella's eyes widened in shock. The atmosphere, once calm, now felt suffocating as the office staff swarmed in, clamoring for their share.
In that moment, Bella's mind flashed back to the decision she had almost made—to take responsibility for the meal offer herself. If she had followed through with it, the weight of the bill would have fallen squarely on her shoulders. The realization sent a wave of dizziness over her, and for a split second, she felt as if the room was closing in.
"Bella..." Sanjay's voice pierced through her daze, his fingers snapping in front of her face, snapping her back to the present.
"Yes... Yes, you can," Bella managed to say, her voice calm but her thoughts still spinning. As she spoke, a wave of gratitude washed over her, directed towards Han Lee. He had unknowingly spared her from what could have been a costly mistake.
In that instant, a quiet determination settled within her. She silently vowed that she would never again let anyone's advice steer her away from her own decisions. Especially Lala's. If she ever took Lala's advice again, it would be like ordering a three-course meal in a buffet and still walking out hungry. No more—Bella was done.
"Yes, sir. Your order, please?" The waiter, eager to serve, approached their table, likely because Han Lee's presence commanded it. Bella, halfway through spooning some vegetable rice into her mouth, suddenly recalled that Han Lee had already placed the order himself.
Moments later, a lavish spread arrived at their table—non-vegetarian dishes, appetizers, and even an elaborate dessert, a feast that could've fed an entire family. Bella looked at the mountain of food in front of them, then down at her own modest plate of vegetable rice, and let out a quiet sigh.
If she had known Han Lee was treating them, she would've picked something much more extravagant. But there she was, eating from the simple meal she had ordered, reluctant to indulge in anything too lavish when it wasn't her own expense. It felt oddly embarrassing to order lavishly on his tab, so she had opted for the safe, modest choice.
"Enjoy, guys. Today's my treat," Han Lee said with a smirk, noticing Bella's slightly deflated expression, his voice light and carefree. His words were casual, but his eyes held a hint of amusement as he glanced at her.
"Did you really order all of this for us, Mr. Han?" Vicki asked, her voice a mix of disbelief and awe.
"Of course," Han Lee replied, his tone casual, though a mischievous glint flickered in his eyes. "And honestly, would we really eat all this on our own? Everyone's going to dive in, trust me."
Sanjay chuckled, nudging Vicki playfully. "Yeah, we'll be fighting over the last bite in no time."
Bella's mind was racing as she took in the sight before her. The table was covered with all her favorite dishes—cheesy pasta, kappabiryani, grilled fish, and even her favorite milk cake for dessert. It felt as though Han Lee had somehow read her mind. She blinked, stunned, and glanced at him.
Han Lee was watching her intently, a faint smile tugging at his lips, as though he knew exactly what was going through her head.
Bella felt a mix of confusion and discomfort wash over her. How had he known? But more than that, she found herself struggling to reconcile her complicated feelings for him with the unexpected generosity. There was no need to let her irritation spill over onto the food, especially when it was all so carefully chosen.
Without saying a word, she rolled up her sleeves, took a spoon, and began serving herself. Each dish was familiar, comforting. A strange sense of warmth spread through her as she plated the food, determined not to let her inner turmoil spoil the moment. She forced a smile, trying to enjoy the meal despite her stormy thoughts.
As soon as Han Lee stepped into the cafeteria, his eyes immediately found Bella sitting alone, and a surge of determination flashed through him. He wasn't about to miss another chance to be near her, especially when he knew how much she loved food. The dishes before her were the kind he knew she would enjoy, and he saw this as the perfect way to draw her closer.
Bella, however, was oblivious to his intentions. When she laid eyes on her favorite foods, she practically transformed into a child again, wide-eyed with delight. She was back to being the old Bella, the one he remembered. But to his frustration, she wasn't paying him any attention.
Han Lee watched her closely, his gaze never leaving her as she moved from dish to dish. But no matter what he did, Bella seemed utterly indifferent to his presence.
It wasn't until Bella reached for the milk cake that Han Lee saw his chance. In a swift motion, he grabbed her hand, pulled the spoon from her grasp, and placed a generous bite of the cake on it. The suddenness of the gesture left Bella speechless, her eyes wide in shock, as everyone around them watched in disbelief.
"It was supposed to be for me," Han Lee said, his voice calm, almost too calm for the moment. "And besides, there wasn't anyone else here to share it with."
Bella's irritation flared. "All you had to do was ask," she snapped, setting her plate down, her face pinched with frustration.
"It's fine, Bella. We're a team, right? This kind of thing happens," Sanjay interjected, trying to smooth things over. But Bella wasn't interested in smoothing things over. She was glaring at Han Lee, and the more she stared at him, the more infuriating it became. His face was completely devoid of any remorse, and that only stoked the fire in her chest.
"Han, this isn't the first time you've done something like this, is it?" Bella's voice was tight with anger, but the words seemed to hit like a slap. "Don't you know I don't like it?"
As soon as the words escaped her mouth, the room seemed to freeze. Sanjay, Tara, and Vicki were all staring at Bella, stunned into silence. Only after the words left her lips did she realize the weight of what she had just said, and the sharp realization hit her like a cold wave.
"Do you two know each other from before?" Sanjay asked, breaking the silence, his voice full of curiosity. Tara and Vicki exchanged an uncomfortable glance, waiting for the truth to unfold.
"Yes," Han Lee replied simply, without hesitation, while Bella shot back a firm "No."
"We were schoolmates," Han Lee added quickly, but Bella cut him off before he could explain further, her foot under the table pushing gently against his. Han Lee fell silent, a little caught off guard by the subtle pressure, and nodded in agreement, as if conceding that the conversation was over. Bella's expression softened just a little, but the storm of emotions still brewed in her eyes.
"That's great news," Sanjay said, unable to hide his curiosity.
"So, you guys know each other really well?" Tara asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Not Very well, just... well, that's it," Bella replied with a faint, almost apologetic smile. But her response seemed to sting Han Lee. He said nothing, merely nodding along with her words, his own smile faint but carefully maintained.
The conversation was interrupted as the waiter arrived with the bill. Han Lee casually took out his card, swiped it, and handed it back to the waiter. Bella, watching the interaction, suddenly remembered something from the past.
No matter where they went, Han Lee had never once offered to pay the bill—Bella was always the one footing it. Now, here he was, without a second thought, spending freely for a whole group of people.
"You've really changed, Mr. Han," Bella said, her tone laced with slight annoyance as she looked at him.
"I lost the person who always paid my bills," Han Lee replied with a smile, his words loaded with an unintended implication. Bella's stomach twisted in confusion. Was he implying that she was the one who used to pay for everything? Was that her role in his life?
"I hope Mr. Han has found someone else to pay for his bills," Bella shot back, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Seeing the confused looks on everyone's faces, Bella turned to them, raising an eyebrow. "He's married. Don't you guys know?"
"Yes," they replied, nodding in unison.
"So, Mr. Han," Bella continued with a mischievous glint in her eyes, "why don't you tell us about your married life? We'd love to hear all about it."
Sanjay, Tara, and Vicki exchanged uneasy glances, unsure of whether they should probe deeper into Han Lee's personal life. Perhaps it was Sanjay's more reserved nature, but he showed little interest in digging further. The silence in the room deepened as Han Lee suddenly fell quiet, clearly caught off guard. Bella didn't seem to mind, enjoying the discomfort she had caused.
"I still remember how happy he was on his wedding day," Bella said, resting her face in her hands, a soft chuckle escaping her lips.
The words struck Han Lee like a jolt. He hadn't realized Bella had attended his wedding.
"You came to my wedding?" Han Lee asked, his voice sharp with surprise. Bella hesitated for a moment, then, without a word, stood up abruptly.
"I'm done," she muttered, and without giving a direct answer to his question, she walked off, leaving the table behind.
Han Lee sat for a moment, lost in thought. Without wasting another second, he stood and rushed after her, his mind clouded with confusion. He saw Bella already standing near the lift, pressing the button and waiting for it to arrive. A few moments later, the doors opened, and Bella stepped inside, her eyes focused straight ahead.
Just as the lift doors were about to close, Han Lee sprinted toward it and squeezed inside, catching her attention only when she began pressing the floor numbers. Before Bella could react, Han Lee was right behind her, his hands grabbing hers, pinning her gently against the lift's wall. Bella looked up at him, her eyes wide with unease.
"Did you come to my wedding, Bella?" he asked again, his voice low but intense. Bella's gaze locked with his, the question hanging between them like an unspoken truth. His eyes searched hers, waiting for something, perhaps an answer from her.