The Contract Bride of Mr. Reid

The clock ticked past noon. Bella had been diligently working on fresh design drawings while Theodore was tied up in meetings. She was grateful that he had given her a golden opportunity - a chance to showcase her fledgling designs to the esteemed Miss Willow, a legendary name in the fashion world.

It was a great opportunity to chase her dream and work with a famous designer. The prospect sent a thrill coursing through her veins. Focused and driven, she worked tirelessly without taking a break. She knew how crucial this chance was and poured all her energy into perfecting her drawings.

Her phone buzzed on the table, disrupting her focus. A glance at the screen revealed Zack's name and a cold dread pooled in her stomach. She instantly recalled the conversation that had transpired earlier that very morning. She figured Zack might be calling to ask her for lunch.

How was she going to turn him down?

Conflicted, Bella pondered her options. Should she leave Theodore's office to join Zack for lunch? She feared that turning her boss down might upset him and potentially jeopardize her job. Yet, she also couldn't afford to miss this chance to impress Miss Willow. Her mind raced with conflicting thoughts, weighing the potential consequences of each decision.

Finally, after a tense internal struggle, a decision solidified in her mind. 'I shouldn't entangle myself with my boss.'

Steeling her nerves, Bella answered the call. "Hello."

"Bella, you haven't returned yet," Zack's voice crackled through the phone, laced with concern. "Is everything alright there?"

Bella heaved a small sigh at the prospect that he wasn't calling for a lunch date, merely worried about her whereabouts.

"Sir…" Bella began, emphasizing her formalities. "Actually, Mr. Reid tasked me with selecting the best design options. I'm in the midst of it right now. I'll be back as soon as I'm finished."

"What? He let you work for him!" His tone shifted, becoming laced with irritation. "You're my employee, part of the secretarial staff. How could he order you to work for him?"

"You are misunderstanding, sir," Bella interjected, attempting to explain the situation. "I am working for the project—our project."

But Zack wouldn't listen to any of her explanations. "No, no," he cut her off, his voice rising. "You can't work there. Your place is here. Come back. I'll handle Mr. Reid."

Bella felt as if she was trapped between a rock and a hard place. "Um…I…" she stuttered. Her mind raced, searching for the right response. "He is currently in meetings. Please don't call him right now. Once he is free, I'll explain and excuse myself. Please, sir, interrupting him now wouldn't be ideal."

The other side of the phone was silent for a moment. Bella held her breath, waiting for Zack's response.

"Alright." Finally, a grudging acceptance settled over Zack. "Come back as soon as he returns from the meeting."

"Okay. I'll call you later," Bella replied, quickly ending the call. Her heart pounded against her ribs as she stared at the phone, Zack's words echoing in her head.

The tension lingered, but she knew she had to focus. This opportunity was too important to let slip away. She took a deep breath, pushed the conversation to the back of her mind, and returned to her drawings, her resolve stronger than ever.

A jarring chime from her forgotten personal phone, tucked away in her bag, shattered the tense silence. With a startled gasp, Bella remembered the message she had left for the enigmatic stranger earlier that morning. She had requested a meeting, asking him to return her pendant.

Had he replied?

Hopeful, she dug into her bag, her fingers fumbling until the familiar cool surface of the phone met her grasp. A flicker of disappointment washed over her as the screen revealed a message, not from the stranger, but from Mrs. Green.

'Bella, I hope you are doing well. I have been ill these days and couldn't call you. If you can take some time, come to my place. I have something to tell you.'

Bella sighed. Mrs. Green was like family to her. She had always supported and helped Bella and her family whenever they needed it. Now, alone and elderly, she deserved someone else's attention and care. Bella felt she should go and check on her.

She composed a message: 'We are doing well here. I'll come to see you over the weekend. Take care of yourself.'

As she sent the message, her thoughts drifted to the mysterious man.

"He still hasn't replied," she muttered, a frown creasing her brow. A moment of deliberation passed before her fingers flew across the screen once more. This time, the message was directed at the stranger.

'Hello, I haven't received a response to my previous message. I need the pendant back. Can we meet this evening?'

She hit send, a sliver of hope battling with a rising tide of annoyance. The screen remained stubbornly blank, offering no response from the enigmatic man. A low curse slipped past her lips.

Meanwhile, the door swung open, and Theodore walked in, a frown etched on his face. A snippet of her muttered curse reached his ear.

"Were you cursing me?" he asked as he made his way to his seat.

Bella flinched, startled by his unexpected appearance. "No," she stammered, her voice betraying a touch of panic. "Absolutely not. I wasn't..."

"I heard you say something," he pressed on, his frown deepening.

Her cheeks flushed a crimson red. With a nervous jerk, she shoved her personal phone into the depths of her bag. "It's nothing, really. Nothing important. Can you not ask about it?"

Theodore tilted his head, his narrowed eyes scrutinizing her. The sudden need for secrecy piqued his curiosity. "But I'm your husband," he reminded her, a hint of irritation lacing his tone. "You shouldn't hide things from me."

Bella's tongue felt thick in her mouth. Why the sudden display of marital authority? Didn't he say they wouldn't interfere with each other's lives?

A tangle of emotions warred within her. Bella didn't want to argue with him and anger him. At this point, her focus was on winning his favor and getting a chance to work with Willow.

"Actually," she started, desperate to deflect his suspicions, "I finished some design sketches. Would you mind taking a look?" She held out the papers she had just completed, hoping to divert his attention.

Theodore glanced at the proffered work, then with a swift, dismissive motion, shoved them into a folder.

"What? Are you not going to check them?" Bella asked, stunned.

"I'll do that later," he muttered, his eyes already scanning for his coat. "Right now, I'm famished. Join me for lunch."

Bella blinked at him, her mind reeling. It was better to dine with him than Zack. She agreed and followed him out.