Oh My Belle

Feisty & Different

Antonio's POV

Before moving down to Bellingham City, I was once a gym instructor for top celebrities. The movers and shakers of the movie industry made me their personal coach. I was making seven figures monthly until the scandal that almost ruined my career.

I received a call from a press newspaper back at Beverly Hills. Finally, I was being asked the right questions on what transpired between me and Belinda Jones, the actress who accused me of sexually assaulting her.

Emotionally exhausted from all the talking and incessant questions, I opened the door, headed to the kitchen for a glass of water when the chestnut colored hair of Andrea briefly caught my vision.

I retracted my steps back to the living room, to be sure I wasn't seeing things and found her standing like a dog soaked in the rain, with her luggages on the side.

She fumbled with her hands, her eyes moving restlessly, avoiding contact with me.

“I…I'm ready to do whatever it takes to lose weight. I packed my bags, got rid of all the junk food in my house and… please take me back.” She stuttered, fumbling on her words.

Ashton and Theo, already well acquainted with their potential roommate, silently solicited on her behalf, with Ashton placing a hand on her shoulder in a friendly gesture.

I walked past the three of them, dashing their hopes by my silence, turning my neck to the side I asked in a forced serious tone. “Aren't you coming?”

Andrea's face lightened up, her legs trying to match my pace. A gasp escaped her lips on seeing the gym room and the several equipment. I didn't know if her reaction was that of astonishment or fear masked as shock.

“The weight bell varies. For starters, you'll begin with lighter weights, then gradually I'll introduce you to the treadmill. As for your meals, I'll work out the routine.” I said, getting her acquainted with the gym.

Andrea touched the weight bell, lost in thoughts. With a deep sigh she spoke aloud. “I quit my job. I promise to pay my part of rent once I find a new one.”

An apartment on this side of the city was over a million bucks. If Andrea knew she would choke on her words. Besides the rent joke, and quitting her job there was something else bothering her.

Andrea was already at the gym before six, struggling to lift weights. The look of determination on her face, her already sweaty, yet not relenting bothered me.

She wasn't meant to be over exerting herself, skipping the basic exercise I assigned her to. But she was trying everything all at once.

After trying to lift the weights, but falling on her behind, she whimpered, crying silently.

I announced my presence with a clap of my hand. “I'm impressed, day one and you're determined to break the Guinness world record.”

She sniffed, wiping the tears off her cheeks. “The Guinness world record is underrated, I want to break the world record.”

A light laughter temporarily transpired between the both of us after her sarcastic remark. Again, I was tempted to ask what changed her mind, why she decided to come back after turning down my offer, but curtailed my tongue.

Andrea freshened up, joining us on the dining table. She stared at the single banana on her plate and small portion of omelet and then back at me.

“This can't be my breakfast, not after all the weights I lifted.” She complained, her voice dropping to a silent plea.

I smiled, taking my time to chew the food in my mouth before responding to her endless streams of complaints. “I never asked you to lift those weights, you did on your own accord. Omelet and a banana is your breakfast for at least three months. If you don't like it, speak to my lawyer directly.”

The contract Andrea signed gave me full permission to alter her diets, it also added that my lawyer could adjust the clause if she found any uncomfortable. But with her out of a job, it would cost her a lot to make those changes without going broke.

She scooped a spoonful of omelet, chugging it down with an awful scowl. Ashton chuckled at her facial reaction, while I pretended not to notice, checking my mail for news from my interview.

“ I need to make a quick stop at work. I still haven't handed in my resignation letter and cleared my desk.” She muttered quietly, picking on her meal.

“I'll drive you. I was headed into town anyways.” I offered, concerned about her well-being.

Andrea hesitated to leave the car, staring at the company building like it could eat her alive. With a deep sigh, she bid me goodbye walking into the building.

I held the steering wheel, torn between driving out or waiting until she returned. After much contemplation, I chose to act on my whims, heading into the building in search of her.

Two ladies ambushed her in the hallway. One of them was more or less a spectator, watching everything unfold.

“Andrea, I really don’t care if you leave the company for good. Clear my name, that is all I ask. Our co-workers have created a group chat called the man snatcher with my face as the display picture!” The lady in her face sneered, eyeing Andrea with disgust.

Andrea, clutched the carton box tightly, raising her neck up to meet the audacious woman at an eye to eye level.

“Did they lie? Are you not a man snatcher?” Andrea sneered right back, daring her to defend herself or say otherwise.

The other lady enjoying the debacle intervened in time before they went at each other. “That's enough Lena, once she's gone, everything will die down.”

Andrea chuckled mockingly, interrupting their self absorbed conversation. “And who told you that I quit? I'll be back and when I do return, it will be to teach you traitors a lesson.”

The ladies scowled at her, Lena ready to dive into a fight, raised her hand in the air, aiming it at Andrea's cheek. Before she could succeed with her aggression, Andrea caught her by the wrist, pushing her to the other lady, the both of them falling on each other.

This version of Andrea was feisty, different…

When she reached where I was, she placed the box on my chest, and with both her brows furrowed asked. “What are you looking at?”