Chapter 11
1538 Words
Even though Bella was reluctant, it seemed like she had no other choice but to go up on stage and go along with it. Without saying a word, she stepped forward and made her way up. She could hear the sighs of the men behind her, who also followed her up the stage.
Once they were onstage, she glanced back at them and gave them a meaningful look. However, when she turned her gaze toward the audience, she grimaced upon seeing her cousin staring at her seriously. Their eyes met, but her cousin quickly looked away. She was clearly hurt—it was evident in her eyes. She had a crush on JG, after all.
'Damn it! If I had known this would happen, I would’ve just given the bottle to Mara earlier.'
'Is she really mad at me?'
'Ugh, this is so frustrating!'
Bella's thoughts were interrupted when the emcee beside her spoke again, making her turn to him.
“So, we now have here the beautiful lady who won the treasure hunt,” he said with a smile while looking at her. “What’s your name, ma’am?” he asked, holding the mic up to her lips.
“I’m Bella,” she answered curtly, giving him a slight smile.
“Bella! What a beautiful name! It suits you perfectly!”
“Uhh… thanks?” Bella replied awkwardly, forcing another smile. She wasn’t sure if he was flattering her or not. But she had been taught to always say thank you when receiving a compliment, so she did just that.
“What are you doing here at Adam’s Island Resort?”
“I am having a vacation with my family.”
“Single or taken?”
“Taken for granted.”
As soon as Bella said that, the crowd erupted into cheers. She had meant it as a joke. Seriously, would she have joined the hunt if she were already taken?
“Oh, looks like someone’s heart will be fixed this Valentine’s Day!” the emcee exclaimed excitedly.
Bella chose to ignore that remark. But for some reason, something compelled her to look toward one part of the bar. Her heart pounded when her eyes met a pair of intense ones already staring at her—the same man who had kept her up all night, the one who had filled her mind with endless questions since arriving on the island.
‘Beast…’
They locked eyes for a few moments. Bella didn’t know why, but something told her this man could help her. He was just standing in the corner, silently observing. But then, he suddenly started walking toward the stage.
In an instant, the spotlight turned to him, and the emcee spoke again. “Before anything else, let’s all welcome to the stage the founder and manager of Danger Zone!”
‘Wait, what? Founder and manager?’
When he finally stepped onto the stage, he glanced briefly at Bella. She instinctively stepped back when he walked past her. After thanking the emcee for the introduction, he took the microphone and began his speech.
“Good evening, everyone! Some of you may already know me—not only as the founder and manager of Danger Zone but also as one of the regular performers in the band. But for those who don’t know me yet, I am Cliff Alvarez, but you can just call me Beast,” he introduced himself. “It’s been almost a decade since this band was formed. We were once disbanded, but we managed to reunite thanks to all of you who continue to support us. If not for you, Danger Zone wouldn’t have come back to life. Thank you very much.”
Bella hadn’t realized she had been staring at him the whole time he was speaking. Beast remained formal and serious throughout his speech. He hadn’t even smiled. But for some reason, he still looked incredibly handsome in her eyes. And there was something about him that made her feel drawn to him.
When Beast suddenly turned to look at Bella, she quickly averted her gaze and pretended to fix her hair. They both remained standing there, and Beast still hadn’t handed the microphone back to the emcee, who was now looking confused.
“Do you have something else to say, Beast?” the emcee asked.
Beast cleared his throat and took a step closer to Bella in the middle of the stage.
‘Oh no, what is he up to now?’
For every step Beast took forward, Bella took a step back, trying to keep her distance. Her eyes held silent questions as she looked at him, while he remained serious and unreadable.
“Bella, watch out!”
One of the Danger Zone members suddenly shouted.
At the same moment, Bella nearly fell off the stage’s steps—if Beast hadn’t grabbed her arm just in time. She had been backing away so much that she hadn’t realized she had reached the edge.
Bella landed in Beast’s arms. She instinctively shut her eyes, gripping his shoulder with one hand and his arm with the other. When she opened her eyes and looked up at him, he smirked before helping her stand upright again. Then, he guided her toward the center of the stage.
“What are you doing?” Bella whispered, trying to calm herself as she looked at the audience. When her gaze landed on her cousin Mara, she saw her cousin’s mouth slightly open in shock. The resentment she had seen in Mara’s eyes earlier was gone, replaced with curiosity and excitement.
“Stay put. I’m helping you,” Beast said seriously, turning to her.
“What?”
Bella was confused, but she chose to stay quiet and wait for whatever he was about to do.
The entire crowd reacted with various expressions when Beast suddenly pulled Bella close by the waist. She was about to protest and push his hand away when he shocked everyone even more with his next words.
“I know how excited you all are for this Valentine Hunt for JG. But I’m sorry to say that the hunt has now been forfeited.”
Even the people on stage looked bewildered. When Bella turned to the other band members, they only shrugged, indicating that they had no clue what was happening either.
‘What the freak is going on? What is wrong with this man?’
“What do you mean?” Bella couldn’t stop herself from asking.
Beast smirked at her before speaking again.
“Ladies and gentlemen… this lady in front of you is mine. Therefore, she couldn’t be anybody’s treasure. She can’t go on a date with JG.”
“Beast, what the—”
Bella was cut off when someone from the audience spoke up.
“Then who will go on a date with JG?”
“Yeah! Who will it be?” another person echoed.
A few more people began asking, and the place started to get chaotic. The murmurs and questions only died down when Beast spoke again.
“About that…”
He paused for a moment before turning his gaze to Mara, who was still in shock and watching everything unfold from her seat.
When Beast pointed at her, she instinctively pointed at herself in confusion.
“Her. She’ll be the one to go on a date with JG.”
The moment he said that, Beast grabbed Bella’s hand and pulled her off the stage.
Before leaving, he called out to his bandmates. “You guys take care of the rest.”
“What’s happening, man?” one of them asked.
“Just handle it. I’ll explain later.”
And with that, he hurriedly led Bella out of the bar. The crowd parted for them as they passed, watching them in stunned silence.
Once outside, Bella forcefully pulled her hand away.
“What was that all about, mister? Why did you do that?” she demanded, her hands now on her hips.
“I told you. I was helping you,” he said seriously, looking straight at her.
“I didn’t ask for your help! And how exactly did you help me? You just caused a scene! Now I’m in even more trouble because of you!” Bella groaned in frustration before sitting down on the sand. “I just wanted a peaceful vacation. What the heck is happening now?”
Before she knew it, Beast had sat down in front of her, matching her eye level.
“You’re thinking too much, Miss—Bella. That’s your name, right?”
She nodded absentmindedly, almost hypnotized by his gaze.
When Beast stood up and extended his hand to help her up, she took it without hesitation. But as soon as she was on her feet, he pulled her close—causing her to land against his chest.
“Beast…” she murmured.
“I like it when you say my name…” he said with a smirk.
“You’re crazy.”
“I told you. Maybe I really am…”
Then, he leaned in and whispered, “You know what’s crazier?”
“What?”
“Ms. Isabella Fortes, I think I want you to be mine.”
- Writer
