Chapter 14

Bella

"I can't believe you, Bella. I never expected that you, out of all people, wouldn't trust me enough to share something so important. If Nelly hadn't told me, I would have been completely clueless, and you would have probably continued to deceive me, making me believe everything was fine. How could you do that to me?" Mary confronted me, hurt by the fact that I didn't confide in her about what had happened to me a few days ago.

I distinctly remember warning Nelly not to disclose anything, especially to Mary. However, to no surprise, the moment Nelly was out of my sight, she spilled the entire situation to Mary. Soon after, Mary wasted no time in calling me out and insisting on meeting up.

Unaware that Nelly had already informed her, I had no idea why she wanted to meet. It was only during our encounter that she expressed her disappointment and frustration at being kept in the dark.

"I sincerely apologize for not telling you what happened. I know it was wrong to keep it to myself. But, as I told Nelly, I didn't want to complicate the situation further. That's why I chose to remain silent and try to forget that any of it ever happened," I responded, hoping to justify my actions. However, my words only seemed to intensify her displeasure.

"Are you serious, Bella? Do you honestly believe that ignoring the situation and pretending it didn't happen is the right approach? I understand your concerns about complexity and not wanting to go public, but this is a serious matter. Pretending won't make things better," she argued, her frustration evident.

I sighed, already anticipating her disagreement.

I had deliberately kept her uninformed because I knew she would want to take a more proactive stance. However, I wasn't interested in pursuing legal action or reporting the incident to anyone. My career held paramount importance, and I wasn't willing to jeopardize everything I had worked hard for because of a despicable individual like him.

"Mary, I understand your perspective. But I'm not interested in blowing this out of proportion. Men like him possess immense power and influence, and I can't take such a risk with my career on the line. He's fully capable of making my life incredibly difficult. And since I don't want anything to hinder or derail my progress, I prefer to let go of this incident and move forward. However, rest assured, I won't allow myself to find myself in such a situation again, and I'll exercise utmost caution when it comes to whom I associate with," I reassured her, hoping she would understand my stance.

She scoffed at my response. "You just insulted me, and I'm quite disappointed in you for everything you just said. Fine, the bastard may be influential and capable of making things difficult for your career, but do you not know who I am? Or are you pretending not to know? Sweetheart, I'm Mary Wilfred, and I've been in this business for almost thirty years. Do you think I haven't encountered my fair share of perverted bastards who tried to exploit my situation by offering help in exchange for my body?"

"Do you believe I don't understand what you're going through? Haven't I personally experienced it myself? In this industry, such things tend to happen, especially when we aren't cautious enough. And I assure you, keeping quiet about it won't make things better. That bastard will still come after you, whether you speak out or not, because idiots like him despise rejection. Facing rejection only makes them more desperate and crazed to possess you," she explained.

I listened attentively, intrigued by Mary's openness regarding her early career experiences. I wanted to know how she handled situations similar to mine.

"If something like this happened to you, then I assume you understand why I want to stay silent. I'm not saying he won't come after me, regardless of my actions. However, I don't want to provide him with more ammunition to ruin everything I've worked tirelessly for. I've endured immense emotional stress in the past few months, and I'm trying to gather myself.

The last thing I need is for some deranged bastard to try and dismantle everything I've painstakingly built," I replied, explaining my perspective. Mary sighed in response.

"Bella, I understand you far more than you realize. I comprehend your situation, and I empathize with your concerns. But I can assure you that keeping quiet won't make things any better. I remained silent for far too long, and I still regret it to this day. It was wrong of me to internalize something so emotionally and mentally damaging. It disrupted my life as an artist for a considerable time. I couldn't even hold a paintbrush, let alone create art. And when I managed to create something, it simply wasn't up to par. My frustration and unhappiness were reflected in my work," she shared, revealing her personal struggles.

"Regarding your worry that he might harm your career, my dear, rest assured that it won't happen that way. I haven't built my career and reputation without having the right people in the right places. I will ensure he is unable to cause any harm to your career. I'll reach out to my contacts who can take him down should he attempt anything concerning you," she reassured me, determination in her tone.

"I understand your hesitation, Bella, but I strongly urge you to report him to the authorities. It's a difficult decision, I know, but by doing so, not only will you be saving yourself and aiding your own healing process, but you'll also be protecting other unsuspecting women who might fall into his trap," she advised, her concern evident.

At this point, I was at a loss for words.

I remained uncertain whether I should follow her advice and report the incident or stick to my inclination to keep things quiet. Another reason for my lack of confidence in reporting him was the fear of the situation escalating to the point where the media would become involved. It felt somewhat embarrassing to think that everyone would know I had almost been sexually assaulted, and I didn't want people to pity me or view me differently.

Moreover, I dreaded the possibility of the case favoring him due to his connections and influence, leading people to perceive me as a liar or someone attempting to ruin his career for personal gain. The entire situation felt precarious, and I couldn't risk my entire life based solely on Mary's contacts, which may or may not prove helpful in the end.

"Mary, I'll be honest with you, I'm truly at a loss for words right now. I'm genuinely confused about what to do and how to proceed. The thought of things going wrong deeply troubles me. I acknowledge your own influence and connections, but the person we're discussing practically runs the makeup and cosmetics industry. He has significant sway over most media outlets. I can't shake off this realization, and it's making me reconsider speaking up," I honestly confessed.

Andrew Reynolds was a formidable figure, and prior to meeting him and the unfortunate incident, I had done some research. I discovered that he was the former CEO of a leading cosmetics brand in the country. He wielded immense influence in various aspects of the industry and was among the wealthiest individuals in the nation. That's why I agreed to meet him, believing he merely wanted to invest in my work without ulterior motives.

"Believe me, I am well aware of who Andrew Reynolds is and the extent of his influence. However, there is someone I know who surpasses him in terms of power and influence—someone who can intervene and make things easier for us," she responded, and confusion washed over me, furrowing my brows.

"Who are you referring to?" I inquired.

"Who else but Daniel Russo? He is one of the most powerful men in this industry, as I mentioned before, and we happen to be close friends. He is the only person who can truly help us navigate these circumstances," she replied, causing my face to pale instantly.