Leo sighed deeply before asking, "—what do you want?"
"Are you sure you can talk with me now? I thought you were with your woman..." Bella asked hesitantly.
There was a chuckle from the other end. "And why are you concerned about my love life?" Leo’s voice sounded more cheerful than before.
Bella, "...."
She tried to hear the voice on the other end. She could hear him walking and opening the curtains but didn’t hear any woman’s voice on the other end.
"Leo, I just want to be a kind friend. I didn’t want to bother you when you were with your woman... Ugh, well, not like what happened in the past, bro." Bella grinned, remembering that stupid past.
When they were both still in college pursuing their master’s degrees, she once arrived at Leo’s apartment one morning. She saw a gorgeous woman leaving his place. The woman then scolded her, claiming that it was because of her that Leo had asked that woman to leave his apartment immediately.
Upon thinking about the incident, Bella felt her face heat up again, embarrassed at the memory.
She shook her head, trying to forget what had happened.
"Hahaha, you like to poke someone else’s wounds, huh!?" Leo laughs bitterly, hearing her words.
Bella rolled her eyes, hearing his casual remarks, but somehow, his words stunned her.
"I’m sorry—"
"I told you before, I just broke up with my woman. That’s why I decided to move here. Bella, you might forget, but... I’m a man who doesn’t fall in love easily!"
Bella, "...."
’Oh, God... Why was I ever falling in love with him?’
"Yeah, I know..." Bella smiled bitterly. This man was the first man who ever rejected her. And the second one is that icy prince, Tristan Sinclair.
Bella took a deep breath, wishing to return to her past to correct everything — not to fall with them. This is a failure, tainting her love story. What a shame!
"I’m in my apartment," Leo’s voice slowly changed from annoyed to gentle. He sighed deeply before continuing, "—a certain man from the head office forced me to work till morning. That’s why I could only climb into my bed when the sun rises on the horizon."
Bella was surprised.
"Wait! You still work for Jack, too?"
"I told him last night was the last. Because tomorrow, I will only work for you and will not bother if he calls me." Leo explained.
"You did the right thing!" Bella said in annoyance. "How dare he make you work again!? That foolish Jack already promised to let you go... But still, he makes you work for him!?"
"Yeah!"
"Don’t worry, Leo, I will call him later and give him a piece of mind—"
"Hahaha, no need to waste your time and spend your international roaming to talk to him. He will still be as shameless as before," Leo can’t help but laugh.
"Ugh, you’re right! Jack never changes!"
"By the way, why did you call me?"
Bella immediately told him what she learned from the report she read yesterday.
The office matter she wanted to solve first was Stellar Entertainment.
That company only makes them suffer. They have high operating costs, but their income never crosses the target they set.
After she had investigated, many problems needed to be fixed. If the problem was complex, she planned to close that company. She doesn’t want to maintain a company that operates in the entertainment sector.
Her plan, Quantum Capital, will only focus on the other sectors that don’t need too much public exposure, like the Entertainment Industry.
Owning the entertainment industry worries her because the company is often exposed on the internet — one mistake from the talents will make netizens find out about Stellar Entertainment related to RDF Group. This worries her.
Their initial plan to establish RDF Group as its parent company was to remain hidden behind the scenes. That was why, ever since their RDF started, she had firmly rejected the idea of Jack wanting to enter the entertainment industry.
However,
She couldn’t stop Jack because a company like that could generate significant income for their company. But she asked him never to open in her country. Still, that foolish Jack opened Stellar Entertainment in this country.
And now, what Bella feared came true. This company actually became a thorn in the company’s side. What’s worse is that one of their talents, although not directly related to her, is related to her ex-husband.
How troublesome!
After hearing her explanation, Leo finally said, "So, you want to clean up Stellar Entertainment for those reasons? Isn’t it because we met Laura Kiels the other day?"
A soft chuckle escapes Bella’s lips.
"Come on, Leo... that’s ridiculous, alright! I never do business using my feelings. Obviously, I do that because she is an eyesore!"
"Hahaha, I know it! That Laura must have bled your eyes. Alright... Alright... I will prepare everything you ask for," Leo replied. He knows Bella; she is ruthless in doing business but very talented in managing finance and risk.
That’s why Jack wants her to return to the company again.
However, unlike other women he knows, this girl is not ambitious regarding wealth, power, and other pleasures — she always refuses to return. Despite everything, the only thing that makes her enthusiastic enough to abandon everything is food.
****
Meanwhile, in another room, Tristan and Dax sat facing each other.
Several minutes had passed, and the two stared at each other without a word.
The tension in the room rose when Dax asked Tristan, "Why did you divorce my mom while she was pregnant?"
This question left Tristan unsure of where to start. He was afraid that his answer would hurt Dax and Bella, too.
He didn’t want his response to jeopardize his chances of winning Bella’s heart.
However, seeing Dax’s eyes looking anxious and disappointed, no longer as calm as before, made Tristan have no choice but to be honest with him.
"Is the answer to that question important to you?" Tristan asked as gently as possible, not wanting to upset him.