A NAME SHE COULDN'T FORGET
918 Words
Chapter Four
Bella barely remembered how she and Clara left the Grand Meridian Hotel.
One moment they were saying polite goodbyes to a few executives, and the next they were seated inside Clara's car, the city lights blurring past the windows.
Clara glanced sideways.
"You've been awfully quiet."
Bella continued staring out the window.
"I'm just tired."
"Liar."
Bella smiled faintly.
"You know me too well."
"I do."
Clara drummed her fingers against the steering wheel.
"So..."
Bella sighed.
"So?"
"Michael Vale."
Bella closed her eyes.
"I knew this was coming."
"You've been thinking about him ever since you left the ballroom."
"I have not."
"You absolutely have."
Bella laughed softly.
"You're impossible."
"I'm observant."
Bella rested her head against the seat.
"I was just... surprised."
"By what?"
"He wasn't what I expected."
Clara raised an eyebrow.
"I expected someone arrogant."
"And?"
Bella thought about the way he'd crouched beside her without caring that people were watching.
The way he'd handed her his handkerchief.
The tiny smile that had appeared when she'd accused him of laughing.
"He was..."
She searched for the right word.
"...kind."
Clara smiled knowingly.
"That caught you off guard."
Bella nodded.
"It did."
After a brief silence, she added quietly,
"And he's incredibly handsome."
The words escaped before she could stop them.
Clara slammed on the brakes at a red light and turned dramatically toward her.
"I'm sorry..."
Bella covered her face.
"I knew you were going to do that."
"You admitted it!"
Bella laughed despite herself.
"I have eyes, Clara."
"So do I."
"And?"
"And that man should be illegal."
Bella burst into laughter.
"Clara!"
"What? I'm only stating facts."
Bella shook her head, still smiling.
"I'll probably never see him again anyway."
She said it casually.
As though the thought didn't disappoint her.
As though she hadn't caught herself wondering what his smile would look like if he smiled properly.
As though she hadn't noticed how warm his hand had been when their fingers touched.
She pushed the thoughts away.
She had more important things to worry about than an impossibly handsome billionaire.
Across the city...
Michael loosened his tie as Daniel drove him home.
The gala had been a success.
Millions had been pledged to the foundation.
Investors had been satisfied.
His father had been pleased.
Yet...
His mind refused to leave one particular moment behind.
A pair of nervous brown eyes.
An embarrassed apology.
A genuine laugh.
Daniel glanced at him through the rearview mirror.
"You've been unusually quiet tonight, sir."
Michael looked out the window.
"I've been thinking."
"About the young lady?"
Michael didn't answer immediately.
Finally, he said,
"Did you find out who she is?"
Daniel nodded.
"Yes."
Michael looked at him.
"Her name is Isabella Hart."
The name settled somewhere in Michael's mind.
"She's twenty-four."
"Founder and CEO of Hart Creative Solutions."
"A small but promising branding and marketing company."
"She lost both parents several years ago and has been raising her younger twin sisters ever since."
Michael listened without interrupting.
Daniel continued.
"Everything I found points to one conclusion."
"What conclusion?"
"She's worked for everything she has."
Michael looked out of the window again.
"Interesting."
Daniel hesitated.
"There is one more thing."
Michael waited.
"Three of her proposals were rejected this month."
His brows drew together almost imperceptibly.
"Why?"
"Most companies considered her firm too small."
Michael didn't respond.
He simply watched the city lights streak across the glass.
Too small.
He'd heard that excuse countless times in business.
Sometimes it was true.
Sometimes...
Talent simply hadn't been given the chance to prove itself.
Bella unlocked the apartment door just after ten.
Before she could step inside, it flew open.
"There she is!"
Joanna squealed.
Anna appeared behind her, trying—and failing—to hide her curiosity.
"So?"
"So what?" Bella asked innocently.
"What happened?"
"Were there famous people?"
"Did anyone talk to you?"
"Did you get any clients?"
"Was the food good?"
Bella laughed.
"Can I at least come inside first?"
The twins stepped aside immediately.
She kicked off her heels with a relieved sigh.
"I've missed the floor."
Anna took Bella's handbag.
Joanna folded her arms.
"Start talking."
Bella smiled.
"The gala went well."
"That's not enough information."
"I met a few investors."
"Better."
"They took my business card."
"Even better."
Joanna narrowed her eyes.
"And?"
Bella hesitated.
"There was... a small accident."
Anna exchanged a look with Joanna.
"What kind of accident?"
Bella scratched her cheek awkwardly.
"I accidentally spilled red wine..."
Joanna gasped dramatically.
"...on Michael Vale."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Then—
"YOU DID WHAT?"
Bella burst into laughter as both sisters stared at her with identical expressions of disbelief.
For the first time in a very long time...
Their little apartment echoed with laughter instead of worry.
But as Bella climbed into bed later that night, exhaustion finally catching up with her, sleep didn't come as quickly as she expected.
Every time she closed her eyes...
She saw him.
Those steady grey eyes.
That calm smile.
The warmth of his fingers brushing hers.
Bella sighed into her pillow.
"This is ridiculous."
She turned onto her side.
"I'm never going to see him again."
Somewhere across the city...
Michael Vale stood on the balcony of his penthouse, looking out over the sleeping skyline.
Without realizing it...
The last thought on his mind before going to bed was exactly the same woman.
Isabella Hart.
Neither of them knew it yet.
But fate had already begun writing the next chapter of their story.
- Writer
