Is she Isabella?

Bella didn't expect him to offer her a job. A few months ago, she would have accepted without hesitation, but now things were different.

She had already decided to put distance between herself and Theodore, to start anew far away from him and this place once the term of the contract was over. She couldn't entangle herself more deeply in his world. Distance must be maintained.

"I can't… I can't accept your offer."

Rejection again?

Theodore's head blew off.

Who would reject a job offer with higher pay, especially from Ace Group, where people lined up for such opportunities? What was wrong with her?

"You rejected my offer! Why?" Theodore's disbelief was palpable. He was accustomed to rejecting business deals and offers and canceling collaborations at will. Yet here he stood, stunned and mortified, wondering why she would reject his offer.

"Because I don't want people to think that I used my husband's status to climb up in my career," Bella explained, though it wasn't entirely false. "I don't want special attention or treatment. I hope you understand what I'm saying."

"No, I don't." Theodore was too angry to listen to any explanation. "You can leave now." He turned abruptly and strode to his seat, his back rigid with tension.

This attitude!

Bella felt equally upset. She quickly gathered her things, her emotions swirling in turmoil.

Theodore, now seated at his desk, refused to look at her, his jaw clenched tightly. When he looked up at her, he noticed she was ready to leave.

A deep scowl formed on Theodore's brow. The thought of her meeting Zack sent a fresh wave of irritation crawling up his spine. That lingering stare Zack had given her hadn't escaped his notice.

Theodore could practically smell the man's unspoken feelings for Bella.

The mere thought that she was going to meet Zack made his skin crawl with irritation. Zack's lingering stare at Bella had not gone unnoticed by him. Did she also like Zack? Was that the reason for her hesitation to leave Brico?

Furious, Theodore practically snorted hot air. He snatched up his phone, seeking a distraction, only to be met with two messages from Isabella. His already simmering anger spiked. Visions of Isabella with this supposed boyfriend flared in his mind.

Pushing those images aside, he scanned the messages before composing a curt reply: 'Okay. My assistant will contact you.'

The instant he sent the message, Bella's phone chimed in her bag. Theodore's head snapped up, a flicker of surprise crossing his features.

'Is she Isabella?' the thought slammed into him. His heart pounded as he stared at Bella.

A frantic memory flickered in Theodore's mind – Bella's full name written on the marriage contract: Isabella Dawn. Could she be his angel? Could it be possible that he had been mistaking someone else for Isabella?

Hope thudded in his chest. How nice would it be if Bella turned out to be Isabella, his angel?

Caught in this whirlwind of confusion, he saw Bella check her phone, her expression hardening before she shoved it back into her bag.

"Wait! Who is it?" he asked frantically.

"What?" Bella seemed taken aback.

"The phone. You got a message, right? Who is it?"

She bristled, interpreting his question as an invasion of privacy. "No one. Just some scam. Don't you ever get those?"

Scam?

Theodore's scowl deepened into a dark furrow.

Bella zipped her bag shut, her anger evident in the slam of the door as she stormed out. "This mysterious man is as arrogant as Theodore," she muttered as she walked away.

Theodore slumped back in his chair, defeated. "A scam message," he mumbled, disappointment settling on him. "Maybe it was just a coincidence."

Logic reasserted itself. Bella couldn't be Isabella. She didn't know anything about the accident. Theodore vividly remembered her surprised reaction when he mentioned it.

A dull ache of frustration settled in its wake. He was angry at himself, at his inability to let go of this mysterious Isabella.

"I need to get her pendant back to her," he decided, a new resolve hardening his features. "Then it's over. No more dwelling on this woman."

His gaze fell on the design sketches Bella had left behind. He picked them up, his eyes scanning the intricate details. A slow smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, the gloom momentarily forgotten.

"Incredible," he murmured.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bella arrived at the office and received a call from Zack. She expected it and went there right away. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she neared the cabin. But the sight that greeted her sent a jolt of surprise through her.

Ivy sat perched on a chair across from Zack, her presence an unwelcome addition to the already tense atmosphere.

Bella could feel that Ivy was going to trouble her. She steeled herself, pushing down the knot of anxiety that threatened to constrict her throat. With a professional smile plastered on her face, she offered a greeting, "Mr. Hudson, Ms. Hill."

Zack's expression was a mask of concern. "Bella..." he began.

But Ivy cut him off, "There's no need for pleasantries here. As head of the design department, I oversee this project. You working on it outside the office raises serious questions about protocol."

"I didn't have a choice," Bella defended herself. "Saying no to Mr. Reid wasn't an option."

"You're still an employee of Brico," Ivy countered with icy disapproval. "Your duty is to your immediate supervisor, not outside parties."

"But Mr. Reid is the investor," Bella pointed out.

"If you're so eager to work for him," Ivy spat, "then resign and leave."

The unexpected harshness of the statement stunned Bella. She didn't expect this matter to become so serious.

"Hold on, Ivy," Zack interjected. "I understand Bella made a mistake. But Mr. Reid is a powerful man. Refusing him could have jeopardized the project and the company." He turned to Bella, seeking confirmation. "Right, Bella?"

Bella nodded firmly. "Exactly. That was my fear," she affirmed, hoping her explanation would suffice.

This wasn't entirely truthful. Bella's motivations were far more self-serving, but that was a secret she couldn't share. If she could impress Willow and snag an opportunity to work for her, leaving Brico wouldn't be an issue. Until then, upsetting her superiors wasn't an option.

The room fell silent, the tension still thick, but Bella felt a small measure of relief. Zack's support, though tentative, gave her hope that the situation could be resolved without further conflict.

"Alright, Bella. I'll let this one slide," Zack said. "But consider it a warning. You can't work for others without my permission. Got it?"

"Yes, I get it, sir."

"Good. You can go now."

With a grateful nod, Bella made a hasty exit.

Ivy's chest puffed out in indignation. Turning her sharp glare at him, she hissed, "How can you be so forgiving? Punishing her would have sent a strong message!"

Zack's gaze turned steely. "Enough, Ivy. Leave me to my work."

Ivy bristled, an internal groan rumbling through her. With a final glare, she stormed out of the office. "Bella!" she muttered; the name tasted like bitter bile. "I'll surely kick you out of this office."