A BUSINESS LUNCH
1166 Words
Chapter 6
The rest of Monday morning passed in a blur.
Hart Creative Solutions buzzed with quiet determination. Unlike the towering corporations Bella often competed against, her office wasn't filled with expensive furniture or dozens of employees. It was modest, warm, and alive with ambition.
Bella sat at the conference table, her laptop open, several design boards spread before her.
Liam stood beside the projector, flipping through a presentation.
"I think we should simplify this page," he said. "The message is good, but there are too many visual elements competing with each other."
Bella studied the slide before nodding.
"I agree. Remove the bottom graphics. Let the headline breathe."
Liam smiled.
"That's exactly what I was thinking."
Across the room, Clara was reviewing another proposal while scribbling notes into a notebook.
She looked up.
"The executive meeting tomorrow could open a lot of doors for us."
Bella nodded without looking away from her screen.
"If we impress them."
"When," Clara corrected.
Bella smiled faintly.
"When."
For the next hour, the three of them worked almost without interruption.
There were no jokes.
No distractions.
Only the quiet rhythm of people trying to build something bigger than themselves.
Bella checked the time.
12:47 p.m.
Almost one.
Her thoughts drifted briefly toward Michael Vale.
She quickly shook them away.
Focus.
Work first.
Always.
Just then, the office phone rang.
Liam answered.
"Hart Creative Solutions... Good afternoon."
His expression changed slightly.
"One moment, please."
He covered the receiver.
"Bella... it's Daniel. Mr. Vale's assistant."
Bella looked up.
"I'll take it."
She accepted the call.
"Hello?"
"Good afternoon, Miss Hart."
Daniel's calm voice came through clearly.
"I hope I'm not interrupting."
"Not at all."
"I'm calling to let you know that the meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning with Eastbridge Holdings has officially been moved."
Bella relaxed.
"So... Mr. Vale really did arrange it."
"Yes."
"The company confirmed it less than thirty minutes ago."
"Thank you for letting me know."
"There is one more thing."
Bella waited.
"Our driver has arrived outside your building."
She blinked.
"I'm sorry?"
"Mr. Vale requested that we bring you to Vale Corporation for your one o'clock meeting."
Bella instinctively looked through the office window.
A sleek black luxury sedan had just pulled up outside.
Her heart skipped.
Daniel continued politely.
"There is no pressure, Miss Hart."
"If today's timing no longer works for you, I can inform Mr. Vale and arrange another date."
Bella remained silent for a moment.
She appreciated that.
There was no demand.
No assumption that she would simply drop everything because Michael Vale had called.
"I..."
She glanced around the office.
Clara was pretending to organize files while clearly listening.
Liam politely looked away, giving her privacy.
Bella lowered her voice.
"I'll be there."
"We'll be expecting you."
The call ended.
Bella slowly placed the receiver down.
Clara waited exactly three seconds.
"So..."
Bella looked at her.
"So."
"You're going."
Bella nodded.
"It's a business meeting."
Clara smiled.
"And that's exactly how you should treat it."
Bella grabbed the project folder she had prepared earlier.
"If I'm not back before five, continue reviewing tomorrow's presentation."
Liam nodded immediately.
"We've got this."
Bella smiled gratefully.
"I know you do."
The drive to Vale Corporation took less than twenty minutes.
Bella spent most of it reviewing notes inside the folder on her lap.
She refused to let herself think about Michael.
This wasn't personal.
This was business.
The car stopped beneath the towering glass headquarters.
A uniformed attendant opened the door.
"Good afternoon, Miss Hart."
Bella thanked him before stepping out.
Daniel was already waiting inside the lobby.
"Welcome."
He offered a courteous smile.
"I hope the journey was comfortable."
"It was."
"This way, please."
As they walked through the executive floor, Bella couldn't help noticing the atmosphere.
Everyone moved with quiet confidence.
No unnecessary conversations.
No raised voices.
Everything seemed... precise.
Almost like the building itself reflected Michael's personality.
Daniel stopped outside the executive office.
"Mr. Vale is finishing a call."
"He'll be with you shortly."
Bella nodded.
"Thank you."
Moments later, the office door opened.
Michael stepped out.
His sleeves were rolled neatly to his forearms, his tie slightly loosened after what looked like a long morning of meetings.
When he saw Bella, he gave a brief nod.
"Miss Hart."
"Mr. Vale."
He gestured toward the office.
"Please."
Bella entered.
The office overlooked nearly the entire city.
For a brief second, she found herself staring at the view.
"It's beautiful."
Michael glanced toward the windows.
"I rarely notice it anymore."
Bella smiled.
"I don't think I'll ever stop noticing something like this."
A faint silence settled between them.
Not uncomfortable.
Simply... new.
Michael motioned toward a small seating area instead of his desk.
"I thought we'd have lunch while we talked."
Bella hesitated.
"I don't want to take too much of your time."
"I invited you."
"It's already accounted for."
She nodded and took a seat.
Within minutes, lunch was served.
Nothing extravagant.
Simple grilled chicken, vegetables, fresh bread, and juice.
Bella appreciated that.
She had expected something far more intimidating.
Michael noticed her looking at the table.
"Disappointed?"
She looked up.
"No."
"I was expecting something... grander."
"I don't enjoy wasting food."
She smiled softly.
"Neither do I."
For the first time...
The conversation felt easy.
Not because they were becoming close.
But because they had found common ground.
Michael picked up a folder from the table.
"I asked Daniel to review Hart Creative."
Bella's expression became attentive.
"Your company is small."
"It is."
"But your client retention is unusually high."
Bella seemed surprised.
"You looked into that?"
"I look into everything before making business decisions."
She respected that.
He wasn't offering her sympathy.
He was offering her an opportunity based on facts.
Michael slid the folder toward her.
"Vale Corporation is preparing to launch a new community development initiative."
"We need a fresh public image for the project."
Bella opened the folder carefully.
Inside were briefing documents, timelines, and objectives.
She read quietly for a minute before looking back up.
"You want Hart Creative to handle this?"
"I want to know if Hart Creative can."
Bella closed the folder.
There was a long pause.
Finally she spoke.
"I'm honoured that you considered my company."
"But..."
Michael waited.
"I don't want this opportunity because we happened to meet at a gala."
"I want it because you genuinely believe we're capable."
Michael held her gaze.
"If I didn't believe that..."
"I wouldn't have invited you here."
Bella searched his face.
There was no pity.
No favour.
Just conviction.
She appreciated that more than she expected.
Before either of them could continue—
There was a knock.
Daniel opened the door slightly.
"Mr. Vale..."
"I'm sorry to interrupt."
"But Miss Sophia Laurent is here."
Michael's expression barely changed.
"I wasn't expecting her."
"I'm aware, sir."
Daniel replied carefully.
"But she insisted."
Michael exhaled once.
"Show her in."
Bella quietly closed the project folder.
Something told her...
Lunch had just become much more complicated.
- Writer
