STAINED BY DESIRE

Chapter 1 Rain drummed softly against the apartment windows while Isabella Hart sat hunched over her laptop at the small dining table that occupied almost half of their living room. The glow from the screen reflected faintly against her tired face as she reviewed the proposal she had spent the last three nights working on. Around her were unopened envelopes, handwritten calculations, and overdue bills she had been avoiding since morning. Electricity. Rent. Tuition payments for Anna and Joanna. Every piece of paper seemed determined to remind her that no matter how hard she worked, life always demanded more. Bella leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes briefly. Three different companies had rejected her proposals within two weeks, each email written politely enough to soften the blow while delivering the exact same message—her company was too small, too inexperienced, too insignificant to take seriously. Her fingers tightened slightly around the pen in her hand. She was tired of hearing no. The apartment suddenly filled with the smell of noodles, followed by soft footsteps approaching the dining area. “You’re doing it again.” Bella opened her eyes to find Anna standing in front of her with crossed arms while Joanna leaned lazily against the wall beside her, holding two steaming bowls. Bella blinked innocently. “Doing what?” “Pretending paperwork is food,” Joanna replied, handing her one of the bowls. Bella smiled despite herself. “I ate earlier.” Both twins gave her the exact same look. The guilty kind. Anna sat across from her and gently pushed the bowl closer. “Bella, you’ve been sitting here since afternoon.” “And your shoulders look stiff,” Joanna added. Bella laughed quietly. “You two notice too much.” “We have to,” Anna murmured softly. “You never say when something’s wrong.” That single sentence almost cracked something inside her. Almost. But Bella had mastered the art of swallowing her exhaustion before it reached the surface. She had been doing it since she was eighteen, ever since their parents died and the responsibility of raising two younger sisters landed heavily on her shoulders. There had been no time to grieve properly. Only survival. Bella picked up the fork and forced herself to eat a little while the twins exchanged satisfied glances. “That’s better,” Joanna declared proudly. Bella shook her head with amusement. “You both act older than me sometimes.” “That’s because stress is aging you,” Joanna replied. Anna burst into laughter while Bella narrowed her eyes dramatically. “Very funny.” Before Joanna could reply, a loud knock sounded from the door. The twins exchanged curious looks. Bella frowned slightly before standing from the table. “Who could that be?” The moment she opened the door, Clara Benson breezed inside like a storm wrapped in expensive perfume and confidence. “Good, you’re not dressed yet,” Clara announced immediately. Bella stared at her blankly. “Hello to you too.” “Oh, right.” Clara placed a dramatic hand on her chest. “Good evening, beautiful family. Hello, my favorite twins.” Anna grinned instantly while Joanna hugged Clara from the side. “You disappeared for two weeks.” “I was working,” Clara defended herself. “Unlike your sister who avoids fun like it’s contagious.” Bella shut the door with a sigh already forming in her chest. “Clara, whatever you’re planning, the answer is no.” “You don’t even know what I’m about to say.” “I know enough.” Clara ignored her completely and placed two large shopping bags onto the couch. Bella immediately looked suspicious. “Why are there bags?” “Because,” Clara said proudly, pulling out a sleek black dress, “you are coming with me to the ValeCor Annual Gala tonight.” Silence. Then Bella laughed. Actually laughed. “You’re joking.” “I’m serious.” Bella pointed at herself. “Me? At a billionaire gala?” “Yes, you. Unless there’s another exhausted woman in this apartment with commitment issues and a caffeine addiction.” Anna snorted loudly. Bella groaned. “Absolutely not.” “Bella,” Clara said more seriously this time, “half the investors and company executives in this city will be there tonight. You’ve been trying to get your branding company noticed for months. This could help.” Bella folded her arms. “And what exactly am I supposed to do there? Walk up to rich strangers and beg them to believe in me?” “No,” Clara replied calmly. “You walk in there and remind them why they should.” Bella fell silent. That was the problem with Clara. Sometimes beneath all the chaos and dramatic behavior, she knew exactly what to say. Bella glanced unconsciously toward the bills on the table before quickly looking away again. She hated that Clara was right. Because lately desperation had started creeping into places pride used to occupy. Joanna noticed the hesitation immediately. “Go,” she said softly. Anna nodded. “Please. You deserve one night outside this apartment.” Bella looked between the three of them before releasing a tired sigh. “If I go, we leave early.” Clara squealed excitedly. Anna laughed while Joanna whispered, “She said yes.” “I heard that.” Two hours later, Bella stood near the entrance of the Grand Meridian Hotel trying not to look as uncomfortable as she felt. The ballroom was breathtaking in the most intimidating way possible. Crystal chandeliers shimmered overhead while soft classical music floated through the room. Conversations blended with the clinking of champagne glasses as elegantly dressed guests moved across the marble floor effortlessly, like they belonged in a world Bella had only ever seen online. She suddenly became very aware of the simplicity of her black dress. Compared to the diamonds and designer gowns surrounding her, she felt painfully ordinary. “You’re overthinking again,” Clara murmured beside her. Bella exhaled quietly. “I feel out of place.” “That’s because this place survives on fake confidence and overpriced wine.” Bella laughed softly under her breath. “Come on,” Clara continued, gently nudging her forward. “You’re here for your company. Focus.” Bella nodded slowly before gathering enough courage to approach a small group of business executives near one of the tall glass windows. At first the conversation felt awkward. Then manageable. Then surprisingly smooth. She spoke carefully but confidently about branding strategies, customer engagement, and digital visibility for growing companies. To her surprise, one of the older men even seemed genuinely interested. By the time the conversation ended, Bella had collected two business cards and something she had not felt in weeks. Hope. “See?” Clara whispered proudly after she returned. “You didn’t spontaneously combust.” Bella rolled her eyes. “Miracles happen.” “Now relax for five minutes before you start looking for investors again.” Bella shook her head with a small smile and moved toward one of the passing waiters, taking a glass of red wine from the tray. Maybe Clara was right. Maybe tonight would finally mean something. As Bella turned around absentmindedly, her shoulder collided hard against someone else. The wine slipped instantly from her hand. Time slowed. Deep red liquid splashed violently across an expensive silver-grey suit. A sharp gasp echoed nearby. Bella froze. Slowly, very slowly, her eyes lifted upward. Broad shoulders. Dark tie. Cold expression. And eyes so sharp they made her stomach tighten immediately. Michael Vale. The entire ballroom fell silent.