"Bella, can I enter?" Leo’s voice could be heard behind the door.
"Sure."
Leo looks concerned as he enters the room, stopping before her messy desk with papers and notes.
"Don’t force yourself. It’s almost 2 PM... You should take a break, Boss." He said.
"Yeah, you are right. I feel hungry now; how about going out to eat something?"
"Alright. But you need to meet your personal assistant first. He already waits outside."
"Hmm," she said and tidied her desk before grabbing her bag and following Leo out of her office.
Bella spotted a man standing near the sitting area with a sturdy posture resembling an active soldier’s. His face appeared fierce, but his eyes conveyed calmness and friendliness.
Approaching him, Leo said, "Boss, this is Samuel Brown, a former Astington soldier who retired several years ago. He’s actually the head of the security division at our head office. Still, Jack assigned him here to protect you, and he’s also assigned as your personal assistant who will follow you wherever you go..."
Bella was rendered speechless upon hearing Samuel’s background.
How could someone as capable as him now become her personal assistant, driving her wherever she goes? What was Jack thinking? Why waste Samuel’s talent and usefulness?
She could only vent her frustration internally while making a mental note to call Jack later.
Bella smiled at Samuel, extending her hand for a handshake. "Hello, Mr. Brown. I’m glad you’re back in this country to help me." She said sincerely, feeling grateful this capable man would become her guard.
"Ms. Donovan, yes, I’m grateful to Mr. Foster for assigning me here to assist you, ma’am," Samuel Brown said politely, accepting her handshake. "Ma’am, you can call me casually, Sam."
"Hahaha, alright... I will call you Sam." Bella gestured for him to sit as they discussed his role in assisting her personal needs.
She also wanted to learn about Sam’s other talents besides guarding her, so they chatted briefly about his assignment.
After some time, she remembered his accommodation.
"Did the company provide a place for you to stay?" Bella asked. She didn’t mind offering him a place; she still had her old apartment, and he could stay there if he wished.
"Don’t worry, ma’am. I live in this building," Sam explained. "There’s a studio-size apartment on the rooftop."
"Very well," Bella felt relieved. After discussing a few more things with him, she dismissed Sam and told him to start working on Monday.
Later, she and Leo left the building. They didn’t drive a car but walked.
"Where are we going?" Leo asked as they walked silently for a few minutes. "We better bring a car, Bella..." Leo suggested.
"No need. The restaurant in that building," she pointed to the building a few meters ahead. "There’s a sushi restaurant there. I used to go there when I was still in college."
When they arrived at the restaurant, the staff came to welcome them.
"Welcome to Sushi Tei. For two people?" the waiter asked kindly.
"Yes, for two. Excuse me, is it possible to reserve the VIP room?" Bella politely asked, noticing the crowded and noisy hall. She preferred a quieter dining experience.
"There is one empty VIP room. If you don’t mind, please wait a few minutes for us to clean it..." The waiter explained.
Bella smiled at him, "Yes, I will wait. Thank you..."
"Ma’am, you can wait at the waiting area over there." He led them to the waiting area before he left to inform his colleagues to clean the VIP room.
Just before Bella and Leo sat down, a middle-aged woman with short gray hair, looking glamorous with thick makeup and bold red lipstick, entered the restaurant.
Beside her was a tall, slender woman in a stylish gray long coat from a famous brand. She wore large black glasses that almost covered part of her face, appearing like a mother and daughter walking while holding hands.
The waiter who had welcomed Bella earlier rushed to the entrance and greeted them.
At first, Bella didn’t pay much attention to the two beautiful women as she continued chatting with Leo. However, when the older woman spoke, she felt goosebumps, recognizing her voice.
Bella glanced at them, taking a few seconds to recognize the woman. No words came out of her mouth; she was shocked and speechless, looking at the older woman.
’W-Why is she here?’ Bella gasped, recognizing Jessica Sinclair, her ex-mother-in-law. She turned her gaze away, trying to hide her face, not wanting Jessica to recognize her.
She avoided her not because she was afraid of her but because she was not in the mood for drama with her.
Sensing the tension in Bella’s expression, Leo leaned closer to her. "Why do you look tense? You recognized them?" he asked, glancing at the two women standing not far from them.
Bella shook her head, taking out her cell phone to distract her mind, not wanting to pay attention to Jessica Sinclair.
...
"I’m sorry, ma’am. Our VIP room is full. We only have two tables in the hall..." the waiter politely answered Jessica Sinclair.
"Do you know who I’m with? We can’t eat in the hall. Please recheck your VIP room. Or, ask your manager to come here to speak to me..." Jessica insisted.
The waiter was slightly surprised when he heard that. He glanced at the tall, slender woman with huge sunglasses almost covering her face. He couldn’t recognize her. Was she a public figure?
"W-Who?" the waiter asked.
The slender, tall woman smiled as she briefly took off her glasses and put them back on.
The waiter gasped in shock when he recognized her.
"L-Laura Kiels—" his voice faded when he saw Laura place her index finger on her lips, gesturing for him not to expose her presence there.
"Now you know her, right?" Jessica smiled at the waiter. "Alright, you go... Call your manager or check the empty VIP room. I believe you still have an empty VIP room..." She said gently, but her gaze seemed like an order.
The waiter felt confused because they didn’t have an empty VIP room. Only one room was available, but it was already occupied, and the customer was waiting for it to be cleaned. He glanced at Bella and Leo with concern.
’Would they give up their VIP room if they were aware that Laura Kiels would like to use it?’ he pondered.