Thirteen

A rush of adrenaline saturates my body as I shut my eyes, waiting for his lips to finally seal against mine.

"Tell me what is wrong with you, Bella."

His words jolt me back to my senses, making me take some steps back. My eyes snap open again, only to see him watching me with an expression I can't get myself to read at that moment.

A knock on the door makes him break his eye contact with me. Lamonthe enters the room, reads our body language before turning his attention to his boss.

"What is it, Lamonthe?"

"Your one o'clock meeting with the Japanese team will start any moment from now."

"Alright. Thank you, Lamonthe. You may see Ms Bella out."

I remain still in the spot, watching Jameson cross over to the other side. He picks up his airpods and connects to the conference call which has already started.

"May I, miss?"

Lamonthe's voice draws me back to the present day. If left for me, I can go on watching Jameson do his thing. He is very much that captivating to watch.

I reluctantly follow Lamonthe out of Jameson's home office, hating the hollowness his absence is creating in my heart.

"Will you be able to get home by yourself or should I drive you?" Lamonthe asks when we get to the front door.

I flash him a bittersweet smile, "I'll get on just fine. You take care of yourself."

I wave goodbye to him, and head to my car, very much aware that his gaze is pinned at the back of my head. The heaviness in my heart grows larger with each second I drive away from Jameson's mansion.

I had come here very much excited, so why am I leaving with so much sadness?

My confused state doesn't know which is it that hurts more between the brand ambassadorship he offered me, which would definitely affect my family's image in the social circle very drastically. Or the fact that I am suspecting that he doesn't feel the same way I am feeling about him.

I decide it's best to stop at a coffee shop along the road to clear my head.

I had just finished ordering some waffles and caramel tea when I notice that two women sitting adjacent to my table have been staring at me.

One of them says something to the other and they both burst out laughing.

"But what was Davenport thinking marrying such a low class girl?"

"Low class? Do you realize whose daughter she is?"

"The Vanderblibs? Oh please! We all know they have been struggling for the longest time ever to make ends meet. My daddy has shares with them, I've told you before, right? Such a chaotic family."

Every frustration I have been feeling for the past few days bursts out at that moment and before I could calculate the consequences of my actions, I have already gotten to my feet and storming towards them.

"If you have something to say to me, why not say it to my face!?"

I am fully expecting them to apologize for speaking so blandly about my family. But instead, one of them gets on their feet as well, her gaze more challenging than mine.

"So what if I have something to say about you? Does it change the fact that you are a disgraceful piece of shit who doesn't deserve to be with Matt?"

"What the heck are you talking about? He was the one who cheated on me on our wedding night!"

"He cheated on you? Oh, wow. Maybe… Just maybe it is because you deserve it. Just take a good look at your miserable plain jane face."

While thinking of how to reply, I somehow notice that all eyes in the coffee shop are on us. I become anxious the very next second, forgetting what I am about to say to the woman altogether.

I turn back to my table, grab my handbag and leave the coffee shop.

My sanity didn't return just yet, even though I am miles away from the coffee shop. What the women said kept ringing at the back of my mind.

"You don't deserve him, that was why he cheated on you."

I bite my lips hard in order to control the tears. This is the second time someone is saying this to me. It is as if they are trying to blame me for not being good enough for Matt.

Why exactly is he doing this? Making everyone around me treat me like a piece of shit, after treating me like trash as well.

I get home just in time for family dinner. I meet mum and some of our help by the table, setting up.

"Hi, mom."

"Are you joining us for dinner?" She asks without the decency to spare me a glance.

Her grumpiness, which I am sure is as a result of my presence, has taken away every form of appetite I think I had for the food. My stomach grumbles, reminding me of the little I have had for the day, but that didn't stop me from heading to the stairs.

"I'm not hungry, mom. Maybe tomorrow morning for breakfast."

I have just climbed the first stairs when I remember the brand ambassadorship deal. My lips curl up in a smirk the very next second as I have just gotten another way to try paying back my family for all the misery they have caused me.

"You know what? I think I might have a bite of that meal."

My mom's head snaps up on hearing my announcement. I notice her fingers tightening around the cutleries she is holding, which tells me that she is not happy about my decision to join them for dinner.

"Is dad going to join us?"

"Your father will be here any moment from now," she answers after a few seconds have passed.

I didn't pay any attention to the stiffness of the tone with which she is replying to me with. I drop my handbag in front of my usual sitting position at the dining table.

In less than fifteen minutes, Lauren and Dad had arrived for dinner. I can feel myself tensing up on seeing Lauren's reaction when she spots me on the table. She curses under her breath before taking her seat.

The dinner goes on in silence at first, until Lauren begins rambling about the vacation she would be going on with her husband during the summer break.

"I can't decide between Santorini and Ibiza, mummy. Can you help me choose?"

"Why not ask your dear sister here for her opinion?"

"But she can't. She doesn't even know the very first thing about planning a trip with her husband." Lauren retorts.

"Yeah, Lauren, that would be because I am having a hard time deciding if I should take the brand ambassadorship deal Pentagon Beauty offered me." I am fully aware that that came out the wrong way, but it's high time they begin hearing from me. My hand goes inside my bag and it comes out a moment later with the paperwork Lamonthe had given me earlier that evening.

When my dad immediately drops his spoon, I know that I have gotten to him at the mention of Pentagon Beauty. I smile inwardly as I await his reaction.

He says nothing, picking up his spoon and continuing his meal as if nothing happened.

"Pentagon Beauty. That name sounds familiar. But why would they offer you a deal? Do they think that you don't look beautiful enough for your husband and decide to help you out?"

"Oh shut it, Lauren!" Mom says before turning to face me, "You trying to start a war you can't fight, young lady?"

"I don't get what you are talking about, mom. Taking up their offer will help clear some of the lies Lauren had painted about me to the media. Or don't you think so?"

"At the detriment of what? Our family's name and business?"

I am so focused on Mom that I didn't hear when Dad got up from his table and storms towards my position. He snatches the contract papers from me and tears it into pieces.

"What are you doing, dad?"

"You listen to me, Bella. This is the last time I will have you bring any form of disgrace to my name. The very next one will have me taking my name from you."

My gaze lowers to the floor. I had expected them to be mad at me for thinking of sabotaging the trust in our family name by taking a deal from an outsider. But not to the point of threatening to disown me again.

"Your words are hurting me, dad."

"Good. That way, you will think twice before betraying the little trust I have left for you."

I sat stuck on my chair, not knowing what to say or how to process my emotions. It's like I have arrived at another crossed road, only this time around, I don't know where to head.

Lauren and Mom continue talking about the past fashion show they went to. Dad is already retiring to his room with a tensed back. Which leaves me, the dejected daughter of the Vanderblibs.

What I did to get the role as the black sheep of the family is what I haven't fathomed till now. I have mostly suspected that maybe I am not truly my father's daughter. I might not be a Vanderblib, after all.

So with every anger in me, I scream at the top of my lungs, shouting "I hate you all!!!"