STAINED BY DESIRE

AN UNEXPECTED PROPOSAL

Chapter Five

Monday morning arrived far too quickly.

Bella stood before the mirror in her bedroom, fastening the last button of her cream blouse.

Her black pencil skirt fell just below her knees, while a fitted navy blazer completed the professional look she had worked so hard to build.

She adjusted a loose strand of hair before letting out a quiet sigh.

"Nervous?"

Anna's voice came from the doorway.

Bella smiled through the mirror.

"Always."

Joanna appeared behind her sister, already nibbling on a slice of toast.

"Today's the day."

Bella nodded.

One of the executives she had met at the gala had invited her to present a branding proposal to their company.

It wasn't a contract yet.

But it was a chance.

A real one.

Anna walked over and straightened Bella's blazer.

"You're going to do great."

Joanna grinned.

"And if they reject you..."

Bella looked at her.

"I'll help you hide the body."

Anna gasped.

"Joanna!"

"What?" she laughed. "I'm joking."

Bella couldn't help laughing too.

"I'll settle for getting the contract."

"Even better," Joanna replied.

Hart Creative Solutions occupied the fourth floor of a modest office building in the heart of the city.

The office wasn't luxurious.

But Bella loved it.

Every desk.

Every chair.

Every framed certificate on the wall...

She had earned them.

"Morning, boss."

Liam looked up from his computer.

"Morning."

Clara followed behind him carrying two coffees.

"I brought peace offerings."

Bella accepted one gratefully.

"You are officially forgiven."

"For what?"

"I don't know yet."

Clara laughed.

"I like your optimism."

The three of them gathered around the conference table as Bella reviewed the presentation one last time.

Liam looked impressed.

"You barely changed anything."

Bella shook her head.

"I changed everything."

Clara peeked over her shoulder.

"You moved one chart."

"I redesigned the entire strategy."

"...You're scary."

Bella smiled.

"I prefer prepared."

Before anyone could say another word, Bella's phone rang.

An unknown number.

She hesitated before answering.

"Hello, Bella speaking."

"Good morning, Miss Hart."

The deep masculine voice on the other end made her heartbeat pause.

She knew that voice.

Even before her mind accepted it.

Michael Vale.

Bella straightened instinctively.

"Mr... Mr. Vale."

Across the table, Clara's eyes widened.

Liam looked between them curiously.

"I hope I'm not interrupting."

"No."

She cleared her throat.

"Not at all."

A faint smile touched Michael's lips on the other end.

She sounded just as flustered as she had at the gala.

"I wanted to apologize."

Bella blinked.

"...Apologize?"

"My departure at the gala was rather abrupt."

Bella laughed softly.

"I think that's because your father was waiting."

"Still."

"I prefer finishing conversations."

She wasn't sure why...

But that sentence made her smile.

"So do I."

A brief silence settled between them.

Neither seemed in a hurry to end the call.

Bella found herself tracing absent-minded circles on the edge of the table.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Vale?"

"You can start by calling me Michael."

Bella froze.

"...I don't think that's appropriate."

"Why?"

"Because you're..."

Bella stopped herself.

Michael's voice softened.

"Because I'm...?"

She sighed.

"Forget it."

"No." A quiet chuckle escaped him. "Finish what you were going to say."

Bella shook her head, smiling despite herself.

"I was just being professional."

"Professional?"

"You own Vale Group. I own a branding company. I can't exactly afford to offend someone like you."

Michael was silent for a second.

"Interesting."

"What is?"

"You've already put me in the 'potential business opportunity' category."

Bella laughed softly.

"Occupational hazard."

"Well..." he said, his tone turning thoughtful, "Daniel did show me your company's portfolio."

Her smile faded into surprise.

"He did?"

"He did."

"And?"

"Let's just say... I wasn't disappointed."

Bella remained silent for several seconds.

"Miss Hart?"

She blinked.

"Sorry."

"I wasn't expecting this."

"I gathered."

"I have a presentation in forty-five minutes."

"I know."

That surprised her.

Michael continued,

"My office contacted the company you're presenting to."

Bella frowned.

"They agreed to move your meeting to tomorrow morning."

She stared into space.

"They... what?"

"I'd like an hour of your time today."

Bella was speechless.

He had rearranged an executive meeting...

For her?

"Why?"

There was genuine curiosity in her voice.

Michael answered honestly.

"Because I think your time is valuable."

The simple statement settled deep inside her.

Nobody outside her family had ever said something like that.

Not her former clients.

Not the companies that had rejected her.

Not even investors.

She swallowed.

"What time?"

"One o'clock."

"Vale Group Headquarters."

"I'll have someone meet you downstairs."

Bella hesitated.

Then smiled to herself.

"I'll be there."

"Good."

There was another pause.

Neither of them seemed eager to hang up.

Finally Michael spoke again.

"And Bella?"

Her heart skipped at the way he said her name.

"Yes?"

"I owe you another handkerchief."

Bella laughed softly.

"I washed the first one."

"I know."

"...You know?"

"My assistant collected it from the hotel."

Bella laughed again.

"I'll bring it with me."

"I look forward to seeing you."

The call ended.

Bella remained standing exactly where she was.

Still holding the phone.

Still staring at the blank screen.

Clara slowly walked toward her.

"...Bella."

No response.

Clara waved a hand in front of her face.

"Earth to Bella."

Bella finally looked up.

"I..."

"What?"

"I think..."

She laughed nervously.

"...Michael Vale just asked me to lunch."

Clara screamed.

Liam almost fell out of his chair.

Bella covered her burning face.

"Oh no..."

"What?"

"I think my life just became a lot more complicated."

Somewhere across the city...

Michael placed his phone on his desk.

Daniel entered quietly.

"She accepted?"

Michael looked toward the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.

"Yes."

Daniel smiled knowingly.

"I'll have lunch prepared."

Michael nodded.

Then, almost absentmindedly, he glanced at the silver-grey suit hanging neatly in the corner of his office.

The wine stain had long since been cleaned.

Yet somehow...

He still remembered exactly how she had looked when she'd whispered,

"I'm so sorry."

A small smile appeared on his face before disappearing just as quickly.

For the first time in years...

He was looking forward to lunch.