A cheap look alike?

Olivia burst through the door, a triumphant grin plastered across her face. "Miss Hill, I have great news for you," she said, brimming with glee.

Ivy looked up from her messy desk with documents, her brow furrowed in surprise. "What is it, Olivia?" she inquired, a flicker of curiosity sparking in her eyes.

Olivia practically bounced on the balls of her feet, unable to contain her excitement. "Your wish to see Bella out of the company is going to be fulfilled soon."

Ivy's surprise morphed into excitement. "Are you serious?" she asked with a hint of skepticism.

Olivia puffed out her chest, her confidence unwavering. "Absolutely, Miss Hill," she asserted. "I overheard Amy whispering to Bella that the boss himself called for her urgently.

"Yes, Miss Hill," Olivia said with confidence. "I heard Amy telling her that the boss had summoned Bella urgently. Seems he is fuming mad about something. Who knows what kind of mistake she has made this time?"

A mischievous glint flickered in her eyes. "But one thing's for sure, it must be serious. Why else would Mr. Hudson summon her so urgently at these early hours?"

Ivy nodded slowly, her lips curling into a subtle, purposeful smile. "You make a good point," she mumbled thoughtfully. "I've never seen Zack come in at this hour before. And the first thing he does is call for Bella? Definitely serious business."Olivia's smile widened into a malicious grin, mirroring Ivy's. She was certain that Bella was in trouble.

Inside the CEO's cabin...

"These are some final design drawings from our chief designer," Zack said with a clipped tone, holding up a folder. "Need you to deliver them to Mr. Reid."

Bella's breath hitched. Her heart suddenly raced at the sound of Theodore's name. "Mr. Reid?" she echoed, taken aback.

Zack nodded. "I received an urgent call from him this morning. He wants to see the new design drawings." He paced around the desk, stopping in front of her. "He has a meeting with Miss Willow today. You need to go to Ace Group right away and deliver the file."

"Miss Willow?" Bella's voice rose an octave, a spark of hope igniting in her chest. The possibility of seeing Willow in person, even briefly, sent a thrill through her. A wide smile stretched across her face that couldn't be contained. "I'll get right on it."

She reached for the folder, her fingers brushing Zack's as he extended it.

Just then, his hand clamped around hers. "Bella…" Zack called out gently. "Have lunch with me when you come back."

His touch sent a jolt of revulsion through her. Her smile faltered. She flinched, pulling her hand away instinctively. "I-I should get going," she stammered.

With a hasty nod in Zack's direction, she practically bolted out of the office, leaving him staring after her in bewilderment.

Zack's face fell as he watched her leave. Disappointment settled heavily in his gut, tinged with a prickle of unease. He didn't understand why Theodore had specifically requested for Bella to deliver the designs.

In his mind, Theodore's words replayed on a loop: 'I don't want to put my faith in anyone but Bella, based on what happened that day at the meeting.'

Zack knew what had happened that day was disappointing, and he had been looking for the culprit, but a nagging suspicion gnawed at him. What if there was more to the story? Why would Theodore choose Bella?

Zack's brow furrowed. A chilling possibility sent a tremor through him. 'Is he interested in her?' The thought landed like a punch to the gut.

Zack grew restless. He had been looking for the right moment to confess his feelings to Bella. He had held back, afraid that if he moved too quickly, he might scare her away. He was afraid she would leave. But today, Theodore's request had thrown him off balance.

He needed to talk to her, take her out, and finally lay his heart bare. He yearned for her to understand, to reciprocate his feelings.

Zack resolved to seize the opportunity and speak to Bella when she returned. His heart raced with a mix of hope and anxiety as he contemplated the pivotal moment ahead.

As Bella exited Zack's cabin, she heaved a heavy sigh, her heart hammering inside her chest. Her steps faltered, a tremor running through her legs. The warmth of Zack's touch lingered on her skin, filling her with a sense of unease.

Olivia and Ivy's conversation replayed in her mind, their venomous words tinged with disturbing suspicions.

Initially, Bella had dismissed their suspicion as mere gossip, a twisted interpretation of Zack's kindness and occasional praise for her work. But his invitation to lunch painted a different picture. She started doubting that he had feelings for her.

The air in the office felt thick and heavy with an unseen pressure. Bella felt like she was suffocating, trapped in a room rapidly shrinking around her. With a surge of desperation, she quickened her pace, her legs a blur as she made a beeline for the elevator.

As she walked down the lobby, she ran into a familiar figure. It was Ivy. Bella's heart lurched. Avoiding eye contact, she ducked her head and swept past, desperate to get away.

Ivy watched her retreat, a smirk twisting her lips. Looking at her slumped posture, she thought Zack had reprimanded her. Feeling a surge of vindictive satisfaction, Ivy preened, her steps light as she entered Zack's office.

Zack barely glanced up at Ivy, a flicker of annoyance flashing across his features before returning his attention to the file before him.

"I didn't call for you," he stated flatly. "What brings you here?"

A triumphant smile spread across her face. The bitterness in Zack's voice betrayed the anger Bella seemed to have ignited. Ivy's doubt intensified. Surely, Bella must have done something to upset him.

"Zack," she purred with forced sweetness, "I am your fiancée, remember?" With a practiced coyness, she sashayed towards him, her fingers trailing down his arm in a suggestive caress. "Can't I just check in on my future husband?"

Zack recoiled as if struck, swatting her hand away with a grimace. "Ivy, you know very well the nature of our arrangement. It's business, nothing more. Don't try to get close to me."

Ivy's face contorted, a potent cocktail of anger and humiliation churning in her gut. "This relationship can work if you give it a chance," she insisted. "I'm putting in the effort, why can't you?"

Zack let out a frustrated snarl, rising to his full imposing height. "Because I don't like you, Ivy," he declared. "Why don't you understand?"

"Oh, come on, Zack!" Ivy shot back, desperate to regain control of the situation. "Let go of the past! Rose is dead, and that woman, Bella... she is not Rose, just a cheap look alike."

A dangerous glint sparked in Zack's eyes. "Get out," he growled. The raw ferocity in his gaze sent a shiver down Ivy's spine.

She immediately realized that her decision to bring up his sore point had been a mistake. Panic surged, momentarily overriding her anger. With a choked gasp, she scrambled for the door. However, her mouth twisted in fury as soon as she exited the cabin.

"Bella!" she grunted out through her gritted teeth. "You have no place here! I'll get rid of you, one way or another!"

Ivy stormed back to her own office, fury twisting her features into a mask of malevolent rage.