2

Nora's pov…

“Hello baby” I answered the call as I drove out of Bella's apartment. She sat beside me, in the passenger's seat, while I sat in the driver's seat.

The phone was placed on speaker, so I could answer the call while driving.

“I got the contract signed with them, honey!” Rufus announced.

“Ahhhh!” I literally screamed in excitement when I heard the good news.

“Congratulations my baby. This calls for a celebration” 

“Of course, honey, I'll see you at—”

“I'm with Bella right now, and I'm taking her for some shopping. It's her birthday today” I cut in so that he doesn't blow the surprise party out to the celebrant.

“Ohhh” My baby boo understands me so well.

“That is amazing. Happy birthday, Bella” 

“Thank you so much, Rufus. Congratulations on your done deal” She also smiled and he appreciated her

“I'll see you later, baby. Goodbye, I love you” 

“I love you too,” I said before ending the call. 

“Rufus just loves you so much” 

“Yes, he does” 

“You see why I don't want to go for just any man. If he is not as loving and caring as Rufus, why get married?” Her words caused my heart to flushed.

“Thank you for the compliment” I smiled at her and she laughed.

“Why are you heading that way? Isn't the shopping mall by this side?” Bella asked and I nodded. 

“Yes, but Rufus wants me to get something from the manager of the hotel first” 

She believed my fluent lie, and I drove into the hotel before parking the car. The security men around greeted me as I came down from the car. 

The hotel actually belongs to Rufus, it's the biggest and most popular hotel in New York.

Well, don't expect less from a freaking billionaire!

“This might take a while, so can you come along with me?” I asked Bella and she was quick to agree. 

We made our way into the hotel and walked over to the hall when the entire dark place lit up immediately, 

“Happy birthday!” Everyone screamed and Bella froze on her spot. She stood there in a daze, making me giggle. 

I walked over to my husband Rufus, who had taken time to come for my best friend's birthday. 

“Thank you” I murmured to him. Rufus would never get himself involved or else I ask him to, so I knew he was doing this for me and me alone.

“You're welcome, Darling,” he said before giving me a quick kiss. 

“And congratulations” I sang and he grinned, 

“I wouldn't have been able to do it without your help” he kissed the back of my hands, and I was about to reply when Bella pounded on the both of us.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” she said repeatedly, crying for joy.

I giggled when I saw her makeup stain her face. I had asked her not to wear any makeup, but Bella cannot leave her house without makeup on. 

“Hope you like it?” Rufus asked and she hugged him,

“Yes, thank you” she shifted while I smiled so widely at her.

The birthday went exactly as I planned. That's why I am called a professional planner, there is no gathering I don't plan that doesn't go well. 

All the bachelors I had invited to the party came, and they all celebrated with Bella. I hope she likes one of them, I really just hope.

When it was time to cut the cake, Bella had asked Rufus and I to join her, which I didn't object to. I mean, we were her only family here in New York.

After the spelling of Bella, she cut the cake. She picked a little from the cake and fed it to me, while I took the rest from her hand and fed her with it. 

The moment the cake touched her tongue, Bella threw up,

“Bella, are you okay?” I asked as I moved closer to her and held her steady. 

“I… I am fine” she said, “I don't want the cake. It makes me…” another round of emptying her stomach. 

Before I could ask her what was wrong, she fainted.

“Oh no,” I gasped. The crowd went wide with whispers and gasps. 

Rufus, without thinking twice, carried Bella in his arms and rushed her out of the hall. I could not understand what was going on. 

“What happened to her?” One of Bella's colleagues from work asked.

“Must be out of exhaustion,” I said before rushing out of the hall. Rufus had already left, and I was glad he was faster than I am.

Getting into my car, I drove off immediately to the hospital. I knew he would want to take her to our family hospital but when I got there, they weren't there, so I called him. 

“Rufus, where are you? Where is Bella?”

He explained that the family hospital was too far, so he took her to the hospital closest to the hotel. 

I stepped on the accelerator and made my way to the hospital. When I got there, I saw Rufus coming out of the room. 

“How's she? How is Bella?” I asked in a panic, and Rufus urged me to calm down. He was sweaty, and I felt bad I had to make him pass through this. There were other security men that could do the work, but he insisted. That's why I love my husband so much. 

“She is fine. According to the doctor, it was out of stress, and she needed to rest some more” 

“Oh God, thank God” I sighed as I hugged Rufus. 

“I was so scared” my voice broke as I hugged him tighter. 

“I thought something bad had happened to her. Can I go and see her?” I asked him, and he pulled me with him inside the room. 

When I noticed that she was awake, I frowned at her,

“You're twenty-seven, and you still cannot take care of yourself. The doctor said you fainted from exhaustion” 

“I'm sorry, Nora” her voice sounded raspy. 

“Did you eat today at all?” I asked, she shook her head negatively and my frown deepens, 

“From this moment onwards, you'll be staying with Rufus and I. Is that clear?”

TBC