"It’s okay, Sean. Don’t worry about me. Just concentrate on your mission," she said, smiling as if Sean was standing before her. "By the way, I went to Sushi Tei a few days ago."
Bella tries to divert the conversation. She refused to let this happy phone call turn gloomy.
"Oh, really!?" Sean’s excited tone could be heard, causing Bella to feel relieved.
"Yes... my office building is close to a Sushi Tei restaurant, so maybe I’ll go there often."
"Sounds great, Bells. Well, I’ll get someone to send you my access card. So you can visit my family’s restaurants and hotels without making an appointment, and you won’t have to queue or pay anything either."
Bella’s smile slowly faded when she heard his sentence. ’Huh!? Why did this conversation change direction!?’
She quickly rejected it.
How could she accept such a thing from him?
If Sean’s family finds out, they might label her a gold digger because she’s already receiving benefits from him, even though their relationship isn’t serious yet.
"Please don’t do that, Sean. I cannot accept it!" Bella refused again after Sean continued to press her to accept.
She started to feel frustrated and regretted bringing up this matter.
"Alright, I understand..." Sean smiles when Bella’s expression flashes in his mind. For now, he stopped to discuss the matter but would still send her something.
Silence hung in the air as Bella and Sean remained mute, each waiting for the other to start a conversation.
Before long,
Bella chuckled softly and asked, "Are you alright there? I mean... everything under control?"
"Yeah, everything is fine. But, I still can’t predict when this mission will end..." There was a hint of frustration in his tone.
Bella’s eyes showed a hint of disappointment after hearing his words. But that was only a moment, quickly replaced by a faint smile on the corners of her lips.
"Please take care of yourself, Sean," she said in concern.
"Sure, I will. I have to return to you and Dax..." He laughed, and Bella couldn’t help but laugh with him.
However, a woman’s voice was heard on the other end before Bella could respond.
"Sean, our dinner ready. I cooked your favori—" the gentle voice suddently paused.
For a slight second, silence hung in the air.
"I’m on the phone. Will end this soon... please wait." Even though Sean’s voice sounded like a whisper, Bella still heard it faintly.
Bella suddenly felt like her heart tightened, hearing a female voice sound so intimate to Sean. Without realizing it, her hand slowly clenched into tight fists.
It felt like she just wanted to end the call. She felt awkward in this situation.
"Bells..."
Silent!
"Hello... Are you still there? Hello Bells... Bella..." Sean’s confused voice came from the other end. "Huh!? Is the satellite signal being disrupted again!?"
Bella cleared her throat faintly before responding to him, "I’m here..." She swallowed, hurt as she felt her throat dry.
"Oh, thank God. I thought the satellite was down again. Bells, sorry, I have to go now. I will call you later if I have time."
A forced smile graces her face, but she tries to answer him as calmly as possible, "Sure, no problem..."
"Love you, Bells..." Sean’s words stunned Bella.
Though she opened her mouth a couple of times, she could not find any words to reply to him.
"And, please send my warm hug to Dax." He continues.
"Sure, I will..."
Beep!
Bella didn’t move from her place even though Sean’s phone call ended. She stood there, looking down at the busy street below, with her mind filled with countless questions starting to torment her calmness.
Later,
Her expression slowly changed; at first, it was shocking, then quickly changed to sadness.
Why does a female cook for him?
Did they share the same house?
If that woman was his colleague, why did she call him by name? Sean was their General.
Who is that woman?
Many questions now pop up in her mind, distracting her completely.
...
To immerse herself in thinking about the woman who cooked for Sean, Bella didn’t hear a knock on the door.
She wasn’t even aware Leo was forced to open the door, and now he stood behind her worriedly.
"Bella, are you okay? Why didn’t you answer me...?" he asked again while standing by her side. He was shocked to see her dark expression.
’Did someone offend her again?’ Leo is even more worried. Afraid Laura Kiels or her manager makes her angry.
However, Bella was still lost in her own thoughts, unaware that Leo was now standing by her side.
"Bella!!" Leo shouted again after she still did not heed him. "What the—" Before he could finish his words, Bella turned to see him in shock.
"Damn, Leo!" Bella was utterly suprised when she saw Leo. "Why didn’t you knock before entering my office?"
Leo, "...."
"Have you finished your report?" Bella asked while walking to the seating area and gesturing to Leo to sit opposite her.
Leo didn’t rush to answer. He casually folded the sleeves of his slim white shirt to his elbows before sitting comfortably on the sofa. His eyes looked at her, curious to see how she felt.
But he was shocked as soon as his eyes met Bella’s sharp gaze, who looked annoyed at him.
He gulped.
"No. Not yet," Leo replied, not wanting to make her even more annoyed.
"Not yet!? So why are you here?" Her voice turns displeased.
"Tsk, Tsk, so it’s true that something was bothering you now!? I talk to you, but your mind is completely not in this place..." Leo chuckled when he saw her frown.
"What do you mean?" Bella was confused.
"My dear Boss... I have called you many times, and I feel ignored. You stand near the glass wall, looking at the street with an empty expression." Leo shook his head before continuing his words. "Who is the idiot that made you lose focus right now?"
Bella slightly shrugs.
She couldn’t believe that thinking about Sean could distract her mind so much and so apparent.