CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER TEN

Bella sat calmly on her chair, physically unfettered by the news, but inside her she was restless. She never failed her missions, Why was this one so different? She wished she had done it herself...

"Those incapable morons!" She muttered involuntarily slamming her fists on her desk, she quickly picked up her phone and texted Lilith who on receiving the text rushed to Bella's desk. She got there in a few minutes and as she approached Bella, she wondered how someone who just received some bad news as crucial as this would still look so unperturbed.

" Gosh! Bella, I got your text what fucking happened, how did everything go wrong?", Bella didn't have to worry about privacy here, because there was no CCTV Here and people hardly visited the manager's office.

" my men screwed up! He came..." Bella answered gnashing her teeth in anger. Well, The Don had warned her in Ernest that Williams Santiago wasn't going to be an easy target.

"That man was part of the mafia Bella, He probably noticed some movements or perhaps his men?" Lilith paused for a moment, He must have Some of his past members stationed at every one of his companies, people who are calculated and could jeopardize their plans to come.

Bella seemed to know what Lilith was thinking, Brad was a very good spy and trained assassin, He had worked for her in so many missions, The fault couldn't possibly be from them, she had even noticed how tight the security was around the textile industry, it was obviously the same in the other conglomerates.

"The security must have informed him, they must have found out about the replacements" Lilith assumed. "I just hope Brad and his men don't get caught"

" they'll lay low for a While" Bella responded, they had to switch up their game, it turns out that once a mafia, always a mafia. Bombing wouldn't work, They tried a few years ago and according to Don Armando, From that incident Williams Santiago knew someone was plotting against him. The only way was to perhaps get close to him... Not too close though, He'd Suspect even a buzzing fly. They needed to find the things he cherished and valued and tear them down bit by bit.

"We'll set our sights elsewhere, this was only our first attempt" Bella bit down on her lower lip angrily.

" Well, This time, I hope you don't mind sharing information with your partner and at least listen to some of my suggestions" Lilith Rolled her eyes.

" "Sharing information with a big-mouthed spy? Not a chance girl," she said sarcastically. Lilith slapped her head in frustration, but then something struck her mind.

" Can you give me the guy's number, your spy?" She asked and Bella peered at her suspiciously.

"Why?"

"Nothing, just wanted to ask him some questions you wouldn't want to answer"She sneered, Bella hesitated but she decided to quickly send it to her mobile phone. Besides it was both their operations.

"Please return to your table before someone sees us" Bella, fixed her eyes on her computer and continued with her never-ending work.

" Hey!, Everyone in the company already knows We're somehow related and we live together, We are practically like sisters" She paused studying the pile of files on her desk, they had reduced "Looks like you have a lot of work on your hands so, so I'll leave you to it.

At exactly 4 pm, Ethan had returned from wherever he went. Bella knew He had gone to the sugar company in Brooklyn and He didn't look happy. He looked very upset and Bella noticed he didn't greet her with his dorky smile as he passed by her desk.

It was getting very late, the office was almost empty, Lilith had gone home early as usual and Bella was rounding up her work for the day. Finally, she was done with Ethan's files. She waited patiently as they got transferred to his system, satisfaction washed over her face as she stood outside the building waiting for a cab, unfortunately, none came. Glancing at her watch, she cursed. It was 10 pm on the dot, and she had been so determined to finish the work that she lost track of time. She'd get a cab alright but she would have to stand a little longer.

Across, where Bella stood, a blinding light from a black Lamborghini flashed on her face and she dimmed her eye while the vehicle moved slowly towards her, she couldn't see the driver from the black glass of the car, and as he winded down his glass, Bella's expression darkened.

"Oh! I didn't know you were still here miss Bella" Ethan said from the window of the car, He looked a little disheveled, his clothes weren't as straight and spotless as they were in the morning, it was probably stress.

"Can, I drive you home please, it'll take a while for you to get a cab here" He asked politely. Ethan couldn't miss the disdain painted on her face, perhaps She still hadn't forgiven him. It wasn't his fault she stripped herself naked and held him hostage, what was he to do?

"No need to bother yourself, Mr. Ethan, I'll just call an Uber..." She searched for her phone in her bag, and just as she got it out Ethan Opened the car.

"Look! I'm sorry okay, I'm sorry our first meeting wasn't very pleasant, Your impression of me must be despicable but just... Let me make this right okay" He paused, his face was full of regret. Since he recognized her in his office, he hasn't been getting good sleep "We could get up on a good start you know".

"Well, if you insist," Bella said getting into the car, Her face held no emotion. Ethan drove into the road.

"Grey's Avenue, After the park" She directed as the car zoomed off. Just like any drive with Bella present, this one was no different as the atmosphere was cold and suffocating, Bella's head was turned towards the window with her eyes fixed outside the moving houses and trees.

Bella couldn't keep her mind from wondering what Their next move would be after discovering that someone was plotting against them, she wished she knew what was going on in Ethan's head. Why didn't they just sack everyone in the packaging team? It would have made things easier, they were probably investigating right now... Or could they have figured everything out? Ethan Examined Bella's straight profile, her thin nose, and bold jaws gave her a rather sharp look. He wasn't used to this sort of atmosphere and he was itching to ask questions.

"So you stay with one of our accountants in Grey's Avenue? He began, "The Average blonde girl that's always pestering you".

"Oh! Thank God someone noticed" She said rolling her eyes. "I met Lilith in college, Circumstances made us share a Room...don't ask, I won't answer".

"Oh.... I also noticed you don't have any friends, You're not the social and interactive kind of person" He stated. "The other Employees are not really fond of you"

"Yea! I'm not really good with people, I love my space. Unlike me, you're a popular public figure, you're good with words... Every lady in New York would give up everything just to be with you... Well except me" she said dryly. As much as she wanted to take him deep into the woods and cut his throat, she just had to stay put and continue with the conversation.

"Why? You don't like Cute guys...." He paused "Are you...?"

"Uh uh, Don't even think about it" She snapped, It was normal for everyone to conclude someone was gay if they showed little or no interest in the opposite sex.

"Oh! Come on How could you dislike this face" He creased his brows pointing to his face and Bella swallowed as their eyes met, she felt all the hair on her neck stand.

"Well, Not everyone will like you, that's just how life is, you're bound to be hated by some people and to be loved by some" She sounded so ancient and wise, that Ethan had to turn to look at her face that was glued to the window.

"You remind me of someone, that's why I couldn't leave you drunk outside the bar that night" He smiled sadly, and the bubbly atmosphere died, his face fell and Bella who was so used to his smiley face cowered at how different he looked when he felt sad, Bella wanted to ask but seeing how torn he looked, she didn't want to reopen his scars... But wait! When did she start caring? When did anyone's emotions start to matter? The Don had. always taught her that emotions were a sign of weakness.

"Who's that?" She asked. Her eyes settled on his knuckles that had turned white from clenching the wheels of the car, whoever it was, they were really close.

"My little sister, Emily. She died when we were little" He sighed "She was so innocent... a victim in a game she knew nothing of," He said in a tone Bella swore no one had heard, it was so cold and he sounded like he was in pain, she didn't want the atmosphere to be more awkward than it already was so she decided to stop asking questions.

"I'm so sorry...." She began but he cut in.

"it's fine..." He said. As they passed the well-logged park with few kids outside Her mind drifted off. She had never been to a park, all her life she had trained, she never had time to play, never went to a real school, except for college. She had no childhood, she spent all her years training for this revenge and now she was getting closer to it, she had to stay focused.