-1-

“Tonight is the last night we can have this affair, Bella. After that we will become general bosses and secretaries.”

A young man stood up, tried to grab his white shirt and put it on casually. His broad chest filled with fine hairs and his strong muscles were so enchanting.

The woman named Bella, who wasn’t even wearing a cloth and was only wearing a blanket, was silent. She tried to get into a sitting position. Her shady expression looked faintly sad, then she smiled wryly.

“Mr Malik, don’t worry, I’m not that stupid of a  woman.”

Both of them looked equally silent, while Bella chose to lower her face deeply. Being stupid by having an illicit affair with her boss was quite a fatal decision.

“Next week I’m getting engaged.”

Bella nodded hesitantly, this man was indeed going to be engaged to one of the daughters of a well-known businessman in this country. For a purpose that was said to be … revenge. However, for Bella, it really had nothing to do with her. Even if Nicholas really fell in love with that woman, Bella had no right to comment. Although maybe she will feel quite … strange.

Bella sat proudly, showing that she was fine. Three years of having an illicit affair with her boss, making love wherever her boss wanted, enjoying hot nights together, for some reason made Bella feel a little annoyed because in the end everything really had to end like this.

“I have transferred the money to your account, you can live in luxury for the rest of your life with that money.”

“Thank you sir.” Bella answered quite briefly.

Bella tried to remove the bed cover which was covering her body. She took steps on tiptoe while covering part of her body. She was about to reach for her evening gown which was on the chair but suddenly the movement was stopped just as the handsome hazel-eyed man stood in her way.

The man sat on the chair. He glanced at her as he put on a small smile.

“Will you later accept another man to make the same agreement, Bella?” Nicholas asked.

No!

Bella really wanted to say that, because honestly Nicholas was the first man who had gotten her virginity, the first man Bella had allowed to touch her life, and would probably be the last man in this forbidden relationship.

Bella didn’t answer anything, she chose to look away and was busy with her own activities until Nicholas pulled Bella’s hand so that her small body was in Nicholas’s lap.

“Are you that cheap, Bella?”

Bella seemed to be shocked by Nicholas’s words which seemed to belittle her, but according to Bella, this was much better than Nicholas having to see Bella like a woman who was begging for everything in front of Nicholas, let alone acting so weak. No, Bella was not that kind of woman!

“None of that is your business, sir.” Bella answered Nicholas’s harsh words curtly.

“Tsk!”

Nicholas finally left, leaving Bella who could only take a deep breath. Until finally, Bella received a notification that a fantastic amount of money had entered her account.

Bella immediately put her phone down, she covered her eyes with her arm, the clear droplets just flowed into the corners of her eyes perfectly.

What was going on?

Why was Bella crying?

That was a question that even Bella herself couldn’t answer. Why was Bella sad to see Nicholas leave her apartment? As if the man was really going to leave Bella forever. Yes, forever.

“Stupid!” Bella cursed to herself.

How could she not be? It was clear that this forbidden relationship was without ties or a heart, so how can Bella offer her heart, who had never known a man before? And now did Bella feel hurt because of that?

Who knew! Bella could only hold her chest which felt empty, as if there was a gaping hole in her heart.

*****

The next day, Bella came to the office, returning to her routine as a secretary there.

Bella walked towards the elevator to go up to the top floor. But as she stopped in front of the elevator door, the female employees who had been waiting for the same elevator chose to back away from Bella in unison.

“You know, the most selfless female employee here is that woman.”

One of the female employees pointed at Bella with her chin, of course Bella heard and knew all that. The conversation seemed to be amplified so that Bella could hear everything clearly.

“Just look, she always dresses sexy with bold make-up. Just because she’s beautiful, does she think she’ll be able to seduce Mr. Malik? I think that woman has very, very big dreams.”

“Sure enough, that woman was just dreaming. Even now, Mr. Malik will soon be engaged to one of the daughters of another famous businessman. It’s clear that Bella can only bite the bullet, and Mr. Malik chose the right future wife, who is equal to him.”

“Of course, it is said that his future wife is a very beautiful woman, and of course after this Bella will no longer have the opportunity to try to seduce Mr. Malik.”

“Aren’t you guys getting into the elevator?” Bella asked suddenly and managed to make all the employees’ conversation about her immediately stop. Bella looked at all the women there then took a deep breath. In fact, since the first time Bella worked at this company, all these annoying rumors had emerged. Yes, about Bella who always wanted to tease Nicholas, something that made Bella patient enough to accept all these evil accusations. “Instead of you being busy talking about people, shouldn’t you use your shallow brain to think about work?” continued Bella, who succeeded in making everyone there slapped.

Bella was about to close the elevator door but suddenly Nicholas immediately stepped into the elevator where Bella was there. Nicholas’s eyes sharpened as he looked at all the employees there, then Nicholas’s trusted employee immediately gave a warning to these employees.

“You all must be working without being condescending and telling lies like that, don’t you know that defaming someone’s good name and making false accusations can result in imprisonment?” said Nicholas’s trusted employee. He immediately entered the elevator until was completely closed.

“Sorry, shouldn’t you enter the VIP elevator, Mr. Malik? With you still in the employee elevator, it will actually cause prejudice from all the employees here and that will only corner me even more.” Bella finally protested.

Bella was sick and tired of all the bad accusations, and she didn’t want to add to the burden in her life just because of Nicholas’s behavior.

Hearing this, Nicholas immediately stepped closer to Bella until Bella’s body hit the back wall of the elevator. Nicholas’s hand then lifted Bella’s chin and Nicholas’s lips approached Bella’s lips.

Bella immediately turned her face away, and this only made Nicholas even more annoyed. Nicholas grabbed Bella’s jaw with his hand so that Bella couldn’t move anymore, the two pairs of eyes met with gazes that were both difficult to interpret.

Bella’s body started to tremble, because she felt that Nicholas wanted to do something to her.

What on earth was on Nicholas’s mind right now? Apart from his trusted employee being there, hadn’t Nicholas and Bella’s illicit relationship ended?