Can I Call You Belle or Bella?

Walking to her class by 6am as usual, Kim did not expect to meet anyone. People usually started flooding in between 7am to 7:50am. She bumped into a guy just by the door. Though, he's her classmate, she didn't know his name. they had never really spoken much before. "I'm so sorry, I wasn't watching." Kim apologized first. The guy ran his hand through his hair, "It's not your fault either, it's pretty earlier, you don't expect to see people here." She nodded in acknowledgement.

She strode off to her seat. Placing her bag on the desk, she took out her textbook to go over the previous lectures and the next before the professor comes in. The teenager she bumped into sat next to her, he felt neglected as she paid to attention to him. So he began by introducing himself, "My name Sean Gregory." She turned to him, "Kim Sanders." Ending her introduction with a grin. "I know. So what are you doing?" He questioned. "As you can see, studying." Kim said in a tight voice. 'How do you cut off a stranger from distracting you whilst remaining polite?' she pondered.

Sean was about to continue talking when Kim cut him off, "We should study before the professor comes in." It's one thing to talk to someone, it's another to know they don't want to talk. Sean felt let down, but he couldn't blame her, they were here to study before anything else. They continued in silence until Isabella showed up. She sat by Kim's left while Sean was by her right. Isabella did not want to disturb her friend who was studying so she signaled Sean to come with her.

Kim noticed their every moment, she didn't want them interrupting when she was busy but at the same time, she felt remorseful, it was like Isabella was mindful of her every action when she was close to her. She wanted them to be comfortable with each other as in the case of Nicole. "It's fine you can talk here, I'm done anyway." She said glimpsing at Isabella and then Sean with clear eyes, her things still scattered on the desk.

"Sean and I are within the same circle, so we normally see each other. He's heir to the H. Gregory law firm." Isabella briefly explained.

Kim simply nodded her head before asking Isabella a question, "Can I call you Belle? Or Bella?" Isabella was a little surprised, she had already given up on trying to be close friends with Kim but Kim was actually offering to call her nicknames. She smiled at Kim with welcoming eyes, "Which ever is fine."

"You don't have to be so tensed around me. I just don't want to be interrupted when I'm studying or when a professor is in class. You can behave normally." Kim explained, both hands on the desk propping her chin. She didn't know how to act around people. Though she made up her mind to stop thinking everyone has a motive for their every action, she also believed not every one is like Carl.

Both Isabella and Sean glanced at each other before looking at Kim in disbelief. May be they all had a bad impression about each other, they decided to set aside their opinions first. This marked the beginning of the trio moving together. They would gather together to study before classes and go to the library together after classes. They would also eat lunch and dinner together. It became a boring routine. But they talked normally too. The more they interacted, the closer they got.

Isabella was unaware of the fact that her brother had sent someone to monitor her. Sitting in his office was Chamberlain. Pictures of the trio was scattered on his desk. Standing just in front of him was his personal assistant and the man he sent to watch over her.

He had come to give report of his findings. Chamberlain was pleased by his sister's studious attitude. He knew Sean but he did not know who Kim was. He was interested in his sister's friend. To think his sister let someone else assume the leadership role. It was rather shocking. But from the report, Kim was a good influence on Isabella and she had a good reputation too. And his sister was the one who approached her so he couldn't suspect that she had an ulterior motive. Still he was a cautious person. "Investigate her, I want to know everything about her."

With the new instruction given to him, the man turned leaving the office. The trio continued their boring routine, unknown to them that there was someone watching over them. Even Carl who worked in the same place as Chamberlain was unaware of the new development. He wasn't aware that his boss' sister was friends with Kim and it would lead to an investigation involving him.

Until now, he is yet to find out about the reason why Chamberlain was in town or why he chose their firm. He continued to maintain a low profile with little or no presence at all.