Bella Davis POV_
The sound of keys rattling makes me look up, the dimness of the cell making it hard for me to really see who was coming in.
"You're free to go." The police officer throws the door open, waiting for me to leave.
I stare at him confused, unsure of what to do. Was he being serious or was this some kind of joke.
"What are you waiting for? Leave. Or did you form a bond with the mice here and now you can't leave your friends behind.", He mocks laughing along with his friends.
With a scowl on my face, I leave that place without hesitation. Ignoring the mocking gazes of the police men
The moment i step out of the police station I am enveloped in a hug, the smell of mint and wood wafting into my nostrils.
My first thought was to scream assault, but the voice that follows through makes me pause.
"Are you alright?" Avery asked me still holding me closely. Isn't he supposed to be in the hospital right now?
Wait. Hold on. Did he just ask if i was alright? Did he hit his head so hard that he has gone crazy?
My first instinct was to push him away from me, backing away. He looks at me confused, hurt flashing in his eyes. My eyes goes to his mother and another man I wasn't sure of his identity, standing few meters away from us.
My hand twitch, about to come up and slap his face when the man next to his mother shakes his head subtly. I look at him confused and he mouths 'play along' to me.
My eyes goes to Avery once more and he was staring at me confused. .
"I'm sorry" i force out. The words feeling my sandpaper in my mouth. "I'm jusy angry after spending the night in a prison cell", i tell him faking a smile and this time I wasn't even lying.
I wad indeed angry thay i had spent the night here when I didn't even do anything.
"Uhmm. Ma'am take Avery back to the house. I would see Bella off,." The unknown man tells Avery's mom who has been glaring at me for the past few minutes.
"I can see her off myself, She's my girlfriend." Avery said not wanting to move an inch forward.
Girlfriend? What's happening here?
"Go with her Avery. I'd be fine." I reassure him, rubbing his forearm. He looks at me before walking off to the car, walking right past his mother.
"You little slut. What did you do to him? Why does he think you are his girlfriend when we both know you're not even close to his type." She hissed at me, ready to attack me.
He thinks I'm his girlfriend? What is she talking about?
" Mother?" Avery called from behind her and she pauses, throwing one last disgusted look my eay, she turns away and walks to him.
Being left with the unknown man, i turn to him for an explanation because someone need to explain what is going on here
"Is this another sick joke by you rich people?" I ask. I know i would be stereotyping by classifying all rich people as the same but I didn't care.
If I was right with my guess, this man was Avery's best friend, anyone who followed the business world would know.
"I want to propose an offer." He says ignoring my earlier question.
So what does he think? He would tell me his offer and I'd just agree to it? Is he joking?
"I refuse." I say immediately without hesitation about to walk away but he holds my arm pulling me back. I struggle in his hold, wanting to pull my arm away
"Just listen to what I want to say. It is in both our best interests, especially you who needs money to take care of your father. " He says and I pause, glaring at him.
" How did you know about my father?" I ask him, pulling my arm out of his hold.
How did he know about my father's condition? I hope nothing happened to him. If anything happened to my father ..
"I have my ways of knowing things". He says, fixing his tie.
" But that's not important. Avery got into an accident and now he thinks you are his girlfriend. I don't know how that happened, I don't know what happened but you're going to act as his girlfriend from now on. Until he regains his memories at least. If anyone asks. You were both dating secretly before the accident." He says expecting me to nod along like an obedient dog
"Wait, wait. What?" I asked him confused about all he just said.
He wants me to fake being the girlfriend of that rich obnoxious egotistical man? With his mother who has obvious homicidal tendency?
Yes, no
I helped him the first time and i got locked up. I'm not going to give them a second time, first time is always the charm.
"Before you say no, remember you need money to take care of your father. And you are currently lacking that." He says hitting a sore spot for me.
I want to say no, heck i want to refuse this so badly. But he was right. I needed Money to take care of my father and I was currently low on cash.
And I would do anything legal to get my hands on some money, even if it means pretending to be the fake girlfriend of Avery Tamer.
"I'm Luke, Avery's best friend and his business partner and I would be giving you my business card to call me in case of anything. A contract along with a file containing everything about Avery, his likes and dislikes. Favorite childhood memory, everything he would have told a girl he really likes would be sent to you on tomorrow morning. Have a good day."
I watched him leave, the realization of what i just got myself into dawned on me.
What did i just do?
“ Oh, welcome Avery" Ava called out, sounding all sweet and cozy.Avery paused to see Ava walk up to him. He hadn't been expecting to see her here and wondered what game they were trying to play right here.“What are you doing here? Who invited you over?" Avery asked sternly as she tried clocking her hands around his.Ava, hurt by these words, stepped back a bit, her face downcast on being rejected even before she could attempt.“ I did," Victoria's voice rang out as she replied.“ I thought it was only going to be a family meeting. Why then allow a stranger to reside in our condo?" Avery asked with a scorn etched on his. He knows well enough that his vicious stepmother will be looking for means to get him to be with Ava again.He ignores her and walks to the empty set aside for him. He sits beside Henry who kept his head down since he walked in. On his right is his father, Richard Tamer, who destroyed the family after he had taken a second wife and tried stealing the company from Ave
“I am just going to see a friend's Dad since she is out of town. I hope you don't have any urgent work for me right now" Luke asked." No, I am fine. You can go on with what you have to do. Any work I have, can be handled when you are back”.Luke replied okay and left the office. He pondered on what had happened with Avery lately. He had forgotten about Bella and has fully recovered his memory which seems to be a good thing but bad for Bella. Bella is hopeful that the strings of fate will pull them together. He still sees the love vividly displayed in her eyes whenever he goes to visit her.He drove steadily to the hospital with no worries. Mr. Anderson had discovered what had happened and came to realize the pain his daughter was undergoing. At first, he was grieving at the discovery and had withdrawn to himself for days. He finally relieved himself of the pain when Luke took him to see Bella. He knew he had to be strong for his daughter and improved gradually and visited when he was
" Are you saying that he will have to pay heavily for the termination? Why do you think I would want this?” Cove asked patiently, watching the expression of Henry." You want this as much as I do. I know of your experience with Avery in the past and it wasn't a pleasant one. Avery drowned your business and you tried to work with him but he bluntly rejected you. He mocked you and put you in the position you are in. You had to go underground to get support and investment to start again. I know you want this, so why not work with me and get what you ever desired? “.Cove Brown's eyes were fixed dazedly on Henry. Cove is a tall, refined man. His dark curly hair and thick eyebrows leave ladies drooling. With his broad shoulders, he stood firm and showed a successful gain from weightlifting. One could be said to be Avery's height and with a close look, one can mistake him to be Avery's brother.“ What's your take on this? I know you won't help me if you don't want something in return. I am
***Avery had fulfilled his company task at hand and was genuinely content as the company was growing in height.“ Avery, I need you to go through the contract Cove Hub sent to us. It is against our terms and they are solely insisting that there would be no adjustments to it,” Luke announced, barging into Avery's office, his expression denoting the matter to be a serious one.Avery goes over the file, his expression changing to that of a stern one, “ What does this mean? Call them up and state clearly to them that if they don't make changes to the contract, we won't work with it. By the way, who arranged this contract with them? I have always known Cove Hub to be mean in their dealings and never wanted to work with them following what happened in the past '' Avery said.Luke paused for a minute, staring at Avery." It was Henry. He met up with him and they worked this out” Luke replied." You mean that Henry was the negotiator of this contract. Who made him the head of the company to
Avery nodded, not noticing anything amiss.“Can I have the inventory in all departments? Prepare the invoices for the supplies and orders. Set up a board meeting and that will be all for now” Avery said.Luke nodded and stood to go about the order as instructed. He paused as he heard his name and turned to Avery.“ Luke", Avery called out. “ Thank you for everything", his eyes describing the sincerity of his words.Luke smiled and walked out of the office.Avery picked up the telephone and dialed his secretary's number.“ Please inform Henry I need to see him right now if he is in," Avery said, his voice loaded with authority.He scanned the file that he got from the PR department. A knock interrupted his session.“Come in," he said, looking at the figure who entered." Welcome Avery, I didn't know you were back till I got a call from your secretary. Hope the trip was productive. I heard you went on a business trip” Henry sounded cheerful with his fence of facade built high.Avery saw
Luke hung up. He knew Bella's dad to be a jovial and easygoing person and loved his personality.“ I need to go to bed right now, as I have a working day ahead" he mutters under his breath. He stood up and walked to his room, getting into bed, his heavy eyes shut as he dozed off.***Days passed quickly and Tuesday arrived. Avery highlights from the plane. He looks around and knows he has stepped on the very place where his fate goes and wonders what next will play out. With Bella's discovery, his enemies will decide to use this time to cause damage. He enters the limousine that the airport had arranged to come to pick him up.“Welcome back, Sir" they all chorused at the sight of Avery. Avery with long strides and stoic expression that carries an air of affluence and distinction. His presence derived a collective greeting from his staff as a manner of respect and authority.Avery paused for a moment, looking at them, he nodded at them and walked into the VIP elevator that was used onl