Chapter Five

The last thing Bella thought about, the moment she woke up, the next morning, was that she would get a lot of stares that day. from a lot of people too. She noticed people staring at the bus. She took out her phone and used it as a mirror. Her hair was in a high ponytail and her lipstick was not out of place. Was it her outfit she thought? She was wearing a black pencil skirt and an ash colored shirt. In her head, she looked exactly like everyone who worked in the cooperate field. The shares did not stop either as she walked to the office. 

What was going on? She wondered. At the office it was the worst. They were staring, whispering and pointing. At this point she was going crazy. She got into the bathroom and casually called her friend Becky.

“Babes how did I look before leaving the house this morning?” she asked.

“You looked splendid, just like every day” she said then suddenly she gasped. 

“What Becky? Spill I heard that” Bella threatened her friend jokily. 

“I sent you something” Becky said. 

“What is the—“Bella froze as she stared at the picture in front of her. She immediately became dizzy.

“Bella? Bella? Are you there?” Becky said severally.

“Was that why?” Bella muttered.

“Now babe I need you to calm down okay? It’s not the end of the world” Becky said. 

Bella thought about all the ladies outside. Her colleagues and whatnot. They would laugh at her. They would say she threw herself at Alex but they didn’t know the truth.

“It is actually” Bella muttered. For a shy girl who just wanted to keep a low profile, this was the worst thing to happen to her.

“Listen Babe, if you are too embarrassed you can start coming home, I know Alex will understand” she said. All the thinks Becky said was like pouring water on a rock. Bella felt horrible. Her self-esteem was on the floor.

“I will call you back later okay” and Bella hung up even without hearing a response from her friend.  She clicked on the link to the story and her heart beat like the drums of war. The longer the website took to load, the more Bella wanted to cry. When it finally did, she read. On it was everything about her, aside her dad running away, everything about her was online for everyone to see. This time Bella couldn’t hold it in, she covered her face and bawled. At some point while crying, she remembered that her eyes could get puffy. They would laugh the more if they knew she was crying. She finally got ahold of herself and wiped her tears. She washed her face and wiped it clean. 

As soon as she opened the door, her eyes widened in surprise, Alex was leaning on the wall waiting for her. He grabbed her hands. 

“Come on, let’s go” he said as he pulled her to his office. She watched as the people gasped on sighting them together. She watched as Alex held her tight and she was touched.

“Sit” he motioned her to the sofa. Memories of last night rang through her head and when she looked at him, she had no iota of doubt that he was wasn’t thinking same too. He slowly shoved her to seat. Then he went to his desk and emerged with a file. 

“What’s that?” she asked.

“It’s a contract” Alex replied.

“For what?” she asked.

“Okay Bella” Alex began. The leaked picture was going to be a hindrance for Alex in getting the Barlow contract. He spoke to a contract specialist and he told Alex, that he had 48 hour to clean up the mess or he would lose the Barlow contract. Alex and his team thought all night and in the morning of how to make the situation better still, he arrived at a conclusion. He would announce that his privacy was intruded upon and tell the whole word that Bella was his fiancée.  Another beautiful thing about the Barlow contract was that it was given to men who were married. So marriage to Bella would be a plus to him.  Also he has always wanted Bella to be his.

“No I can’t marry you for some stupid contract” Bella stood up. She was pissed and tired but above all she was sad. 

“I will pay for your mother’s hospital bills and pay up your college debt, I will pay anything” Alex said as he watched her pace his office.

“My answer is still no” she said adamantly. Alex walked to his chair and sat. His love for Bella was slowly replaced by frustration and anger.

“I know you need the money” he said quietly. Bella narrowed. She couldn’t believe Alex was trying this route for her to agree.” I can take your job, no one will pay you 50,000 dollars as an assistant secretary. You know deep down that was me” he smirked.

“Why are you doing this Alex?”

“Because I can” he smiled “why else?”

And suddenly she saw the old Alex, who was no gentleman. He took everything he wanted. He had no mercy. He was brutal. Bella made to leave but then she saw him trace a pattern on his desk, with his middle finger and Bella found herself remembering when he used to touch her skin like that. Suddenly he looked up and smiled. A cruel cold smile.

“Yes” he said softly. “I still want you in my bed Bella. I didn’t realize it until yesterday. And you better understand that these days I get everything I want. I will give you 2 days to reconsider. I do not have time” 

“Don’t wait” Bella said with a defiant look. “I can take care of myself” and with that Bella walked out of his office.

The next day hell was let lose for Bella. The hospital increased their fees and a man who her father owed 1 billion dollars arrived for his pay at the hospital. He was causing a ruckus downstairs and Bella tried to keep it down. She went into the bathroom. Numb and tired. She took out her phone and called Alex.

“Alex” she said as soon as he picked.

“Bella” His deep voice fired through her thought.

 Bella took in a deep breath, she shut her eyes and opened them. “Okay I will marry you”