While at the Quantum Capital building.
"Hi, Bella... Long time no see! Do you miss me?"
Bella was left speechless, her mind blank as she gazed into Leo Smith’s gray eyes.
This man was her first crush. She fell for him the first day they met when she saw his eyes; they shared similar eye colors. However, this man is also the first to reject her feelings.
Since then, she has always avoided him. Because of him, she decided not to be involved in the company and returned to Astington.
However, Bella never imagined her return to Astington, only to make her life suffer even more because her family arranged a marriage for her with Tristan. And she was stupid enough to accept it.
She shook her head slightly, trying to forget her stupid past — only thinking about her past enough to make her heart tighten again.
Gosh!
Now, she can’t avoid him.
’How could this man become my assistant now!?’
Bella took a deep sigh before returning her gaze to Leo again.
"Why did you suddenly appear here!?" She asked, pretending she didn’t know.
Perhaps if she greeted him coldly, he would return to New York. This is her prayer. However, God rejected her prayer, as this man would not leave her side.
Leo smiled faintly as he casually put his hand inside his coat pocket.
"Jack didn’t tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"Well, I actually agree to become your assistant. So from now on, you become my Boss, Boss."
Bella opened her mouth to say something, but Leo stopped her.
"Boss, let’s go inside. It would be best to familiarize yourself with your office before you start Monday. Let’s go!" he said, walking to the main entrance. He didn’t give Bella a chance to say something.
Bella had no choice but to follow him inside while she took her cell phone and texted Jack.
[Bella: ] You better call him back to New York!
[Bella: ] If you tried to be a matchmaker, forget it! We will never match. So how could you make him become my assistant?
[Bella: ] (Devil emoji)
She sends the text and walks over to follow Leo. When Bella finally entered the lobby, she was amazed; she felt like she had entered the five-star hotel lobby.
The exterior of the building appeared plain and unremarkable. Still, upon entering the lobby, it became apparent that the interior was quite lavish. The lobby was adorned with numerous seating areas and contemporary furniture.
She also spotted a coffee shop and restaurant on the opposite side of the lobby.
"Boss, you don’t have to use an employee elevator. But take this executive elevator instead. The executive elevator will lead you directly to the 19th and 20th floors." Leo explained.
"How about my identity card? I need it to enter this building, too?" She asked while glancing at the guards standing in a few spots. She didn’t want them to stop her again, like what happened in the parking area earlier.
"Oh, you don’t have to use an ID card, Boss. I already sent your recent picture to them and asked the guard to memorize your face. No one will stop you from entering this building," he said.
Leo stopped right before the elevator and turned to face Bella.
"However, if someone still stops you. You can fire them! You have the right to do so. This is your company, after all." Leo said with a deadpan expression while gesturing for her to enter the elevator.
Bella was speechless, looking at how casually he said those words. When she was about to say something, her cell phone vibrated.
She saw a text from Jack.
[Jack: ] What do you mean?
[Jack: ] Of course, you both match to each other.
[Bella: ] !?
[Jack: ] He is different now.
[Bella: ] No, he is not! He looks the last time I saw him. Cold and handsome as fuck!
[Jack: ] LOL
[Jack: ] He is also solo now. The same as you.
[Jack: ] (Smile emoji)
[Bella: ] What are you trying to say?
[Jack: ] You are single. He is also single.
[Jack: ] You liked him once. And you might still like him. And he might like you back...
[Jack: ] Keep fighting, my dear Bella!!
[Jack: ] This time, he might accept your heart (Smile emoji)
[Bella: ] FU!
She threw her cell phone in her bag and cursed Jack in her mind. How could he try to match her with Leo!? Did he think he was Tinder or something? Did Jack lose his mind?
Sigh!
"You didn’t like this building?" Suddenly, Leo’s voice echoes, surprising Bella. She looks at him with her awkward-looking gaze.
Bella didn’t rush to respond. She simply gazed at the elevator numbers. The doors slid open when the elevator finally stopped on the 19th floor. She immediately stepped out, feeling relieved.
Being in the same elevator as Leo after reading a short message from Jack made her feel awkward. Just thinking of Leo being her co-worker every day made him feel exhausted.
After feeling slightly calm, she glances at him, "I like this place. So this our office?"
Bella looked at the lavish floor decorated with minimalist and modern furniture. The entire floor is decorated with gold and pastel ornament.
"Yes. This entire floor is only for you and a few of your staff; I will introduce them to you on Monday. They will occupy the room over there. While your office—" Leo continues to explain to her while Bella follows him for the room tour.
Before long, they finally entered her office room.
Bella liked her office; the simple and minimalist interior with soft, natural colors dominated the room. There’s a long wooden table and a CEO chair near the massive glass wall with a city view. Opposite her office desk is a seating area with a custom sofa.
After briefly checking her new office room, Bella asked Leo to join her in the seating area. She needs to talk to him — Try to send him back to New York.
"Why did you agree to move here? Did you fight with Jack?" she asked earnestly. Bella thought that was the only reason that could make Leo leave the head office to move here.