Chapter 3: Re-encounter

“Are you crazy?! You left home, where are you going to sleep now?” Isabella’s friend, Kara stressfully waved her arms around in front of her.

They were now at her apartment, she is the only person she could run to. They’ve been best friends ever since they were kids, so they’re bond was naturally closer. Kara’s mother was her mother’s helper, but after her mother’s death they had to move out, but nevertheless they still kept contact.

“I was hoping I could stay here for a while till I figure things out.” She replied, smiling sheepishly at her friend who was eyeing her as if she was crazy.

“Bella…You do know I’m not rich like you right? I can barely keep up with my rent, you can’t expect me to provide for the both of us.” Kara said, sighing heavily as she sat down beside her.

“I care for you Bella, really. But this…I have a lot of responsibilities on my hand, with mom’s medication and my college fees…” Kara stopped, then her brows knitted together as her eyes moved to Isabella’s face, seriously looking at her, “What about your school, Bella? College is almost opening, what do you plan to do by then?”

“Well—“

Hearing the tone of her voice, Kara could already tell that she won’t like her answer.

“I was planning to skip college this year. Maybe until I can save enough money to provide for myself,”

Isabella still had her card that her dad gave her, but she doesn’t like the idea of spending his money anymore, now that she cut them off already.

“Gosh Bella, your in your last year of college, it will be a total waste for you to stop now,” Kara tried to knock some sense into her friend’s head.

“I know, but…”

“But what?”

“I want to show dad that I am responsible, that I’m not this messed up daughter he recognize because of what my sisters and step-mother has been plotting to me all these years,” she said, tears slowly escaping her eyes.

“I want him to recognize me for what I’m capable of doing Kara, and maybe then…he’ll finally side with me,” she lowered her head, wiping the tears that cascaded down her cheeks.

Kara looked at her friend in pity, she’s well aware of how much her friend has gone through from the hands of those vile witches, thinking about the reason why her friend decided to leave still made her angry.

“Fine,”

Isabella tilted her head up to meet her friend’s gaze.

“What is that supposed to mean?” She asked.

“I’m saying you can stay here for a while, but make sure you can find a job by this week so you can help me with the expenses here, or else I’ll really throw you out,” Kara uttered with a stoic look, but deep down her heart was heavy with anguish for her friend’s situation.

“Really?”

“Why, do you not want to? Cause you can leave…”

“No-no-no! Thank you so much!” Isabella hugged her tightly, and Kara can’t help but give a soft smile, hugging her back.

They pulled away eventually and Kara stood up, her poker face back into action.

“Tomorrow you’ll immediately look for a job okay? You won’t stop until you land on one, do you hear me?” Kara said with a commanding voice.

Isabella nodded her head happily, knowing that although her friend was sounding a little too harsh, she knows deep inside she really cares about her.

“I promise,” she responded with a voice filled with determination, and that was enough for a satisfied smile to make way onto Kara’s face.

“Good,”

—

[One Week Later]

“You still haven’t found a job?!” Kara frustratedly yelled at Isabella, scratching her while walking in circles in her apartment.

“Well…ummm…I thought finding a job would be easy but it turns out it’s really hard,” Isabella replied carefully, not wanting to upset her more than she is now.

“Sigh, look at this,” Kara handed her a flyer.

“What is this?”

“It’s a job flyer, a huge company is looking for an assistant, and since you’re program in college aligns with their requirements, I’m confident that you have a high chance in getting that job,”

Isabella looked at the flyer, and the company does sound familiar “Titan Holdings” but the information seems a little too vague. All they said is they need an assistant, but they didn’t state exactly the specific details as to where they’ll be assigned.

She thought it might just be a scam, but seeing Kara’s face that were burning holes in her body, she gulped and smiled at her, “I’ll look into this tomorrow,”

“What do you mean tomorrow? They accept walk in applicants so you can go now! It’s still early in the afternoon so don’t waste time and start looking for a job!” Kara dragged her butt all the way outside.

“And don’t come back without that job!” She closed the door on her face leaving her with nothing but the flyer in her hands.

She took a deep breathe and turn her heels around. She took one last look at the flyer to see the address and strutted forward, hoping that she finally gets this job after getting rejected a bunch of times these past few days.

…

A few minutes later, Isabella arrived at the front entrance of the building. She gulped an amount of saliva, praying in her heart that she finally get’s this job, or else, Kara might really kick her out.

“You can do this, you can do this…” she kept murmuring to herself as she walked inside.

She approached the front desk and asked, “Hello, I’m here to apply for this job position,” she showed the person in charge the flyer Kara gave her, and the moment the receptionist saw the flyer, her eyes instantly bulged and she immediately called someone on the telephone.

And not a minute passed, there’s a woman wearing a white suit walking in her direction with an expression that Isabella can’t quite catch.

“Good morning Miss, you’re interested in applying for the assistant position?”

“Uhh, yes,”

“Then come with me,” The woman grabbed her wrist and pulled her with her without notice. Isabella didn’t even have time to react. She said one last thank you to the receptionist before disappearing into one of the elevators.

The elevator was rising in a slow pace, and the silence was killing Isabella, she was being suspicious with the woman beside her, cause who the hell handle applicants like that? They seem desperate to her…but why?

“Umm, where are we going exactly?” Isabella asked in a polite manner.

“To the CEO’s office,” Isabella gawked at what she heard.

“The CEO’s office, don’t I have to be interviewed first?” She asked, her heart getting more restless at the uncanny process of this job she’s applying to.

“Not necessary, you just have to last thirty minutes in the room with the CEO and you’ll be hired, if anything unfortunate comes up, you don’t need to worry, we’ll handle all medical fees and compensate you generously. And if you do get hired, we’ll designate someone to seminar you of all your responsibilities. Other than that, you’ll know soon enough after this,” The woman told her in one full breath, and at the same time, the elevator door opened.

Isabella wanted to ask her what she meant by that but woman pushed her out and said one last advice to her before closing the elevator, “As much as possible, make your presence scarce, okay. Good luck!”

Seeing the door slowly close, Isabella began to have second thoughts of whether she should go with this. There’s definitely something wrong in here, but she has to swallow her fear because she badly needs the job.

There was only one door in this entire floor. She walked towards it and her hand was somehow shaking while holding the knob. She closed her eyes and tried to breathe slowly to compose herself before twisting the knob creating a sound that reverberated in the entire space.

As she stepped into the expansive office. Her eyes slowly adjusted to the grandeur of the room. The office was sleek and modern, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the bustling city. The walls were adorned with high-end art pieces, and the furniture was minimalist yet elegant.

She approached the large, polished mahogany desk at the center of the room. Behind it, a man stood with his back to her, examining a stack of papers. His posture was commanding, his presence unmistakable. Her heart skipped a beat as she noticed a familiar imposing silhouette.

The man’s dark suit and neatly tailored pants complemented his broad shoulders, and the slight movement of his hand as he flipped the papers would accentuate the muscle hidden in the suit he’s wearing.

The tension in Isabella’s shoulders tightened. She had seen that silhouette before. She had seen that exact stance, the exact same figure. And there’s only one person that came to mind, a blurry figure that entered the room that night she was drugged by her sisters.

As if sensing her presence, the man turned around.

Isabella’s breath caught in her throat as her eyes locked onto his face. It really was him!

Dominic!

The man she had shared a fleeting, intense night with—the same man who was now, without a doubt, the CEO of Titan Holdings. The man who already has a wife…and the man she unintentionally had an affair with!

'What the hell have I gotten myself into?!’