ENTANGLED WITH THE NEW CHAIRMAN

CHAPTER THREE:The Call

Rosa opened the door and took one look at Arabella's tear-stained face before pulling her inside.

"Oh my God, Bella, what happened?"

Arabella collapsed into her friend's arms, and the words came tumbling out in broken sobs. "They used me, Rosa. Everett, Lilian, my own father, they all used me. The baby... they said I was just a surrogate. They took my mother's inheritance. Everything. They took everything." Her voice cracked completely. "And my father... he slapped me. Told me to get out."

Rosa held her tighter, her own eyes filling with tears. "You're staying here," she said firmly. "For as long as you need. You're not alone, Bella. I promise you're not alone."

…….

It had been four months since Arabella's life turned upside down. She’d gotten a job as a personal assistant at Palmer Group, thanks to Rosa. And one month since she moved into her own apartment.

She’d been gradually rebuilding, slowly and painfully.

It was Saturday morning. Arabella sat curled up on her small couch with tea, enjoying the peace of a weekend off work.

Her phone buzzed. Unknown number.

She frowned. She almost let it ring out, but something nudged her to answer. She wiped her hand on her shorts and picked up.

“Hello?”

There was a soft pause… then a voice she didn’t recognise at first, deep, steady and polite. She sat up straight, blanket sliding off her legs.

“Good morning. Am I speaking with Arabella?”

“Yes… who is this?”

Another small pause, then, "It's Adrian. Adrian Palmer."

She swallowed, her heart suddenly beating faster. She hadn’t heard from him since that night. He had promised to text or call, but none came. She’d convinced herself he was just being kind at the moment, rich men had lives far too busy to remember a crying stranger outside a hospital.

"I'm so sorry I didn't call sooner as promised" he said quickly, sounding sincere. "I had to travel suddenly for a business trip. I've only just gotten back. I am truly sorry."

Something warm bloomed in her chest. He sounded genuinely apologetic, almost frustrated with himself. Arabella found herself smiling before she could stop it. “It’s okay. Really.”

“I just wanted to check on you,” he continued softly. “I’ve thought about you a lot… about how you were that night. I wanted to be sure you’re doing better.”

Her chest warmed unexpectedly.

"I'm... managing," she said carefully. "Better than I was four months ago."

"I'm glad to hear that." There was a pause, and she could hear him take a breath. "Listen, I know this might be forward, but would you let me take you to dinner? Tonight, if you're free. I'd really like to catch up with you properly. Make sure you're truly okay."

Arabella hesitated. Dinner with a man she'd only met once? A man who'd seen her at her absolute lowest?

But then again, Adrian had shown her kindness when she had none. He'd held her when she broke down. He hadn't judged her or walked away.

"Okay," she heard herself say. "Dinner sounds nice."

"Really?" Adrian sounded pleased. "That's wonderful. I'll pick you up at seven? If you text me your address, I'll be there."

Arabella gave him her new address, and they said their goodbyes. She hung up and dialed Rosa’s number immediately, a small smile tugging at her lips for the first time in months.

"Rosa, you won't believe who called me just now," Arabella said, as soon as Rosa picked up.

"It’s Adrian. The man who helped me at the hospital four months ago. He apologized for not calling sooner, that he was traveling for business and you won’t believe he asked me to dinner tonight."

Rosa's eyes widened, then a slow smile spread across her face. "Bella, that man has fallen for you. I can tell. Men don't remember women they helped once unless they're head over heels."

Then, she said more seriously, with excitement. "You should go. And honestly? If things go well, I think you should marry him. That would shut them up real quick."

Arabella laughed nervously. "Rosa, it's just dinner. I barely know him." "That's how it starts," Rosa said with a knowing grin. "Just dinner. Then just coffee. Then just forever. Trust me, Bella. Go. Let yourself be happy for once."

………….

At exactly seven, a dark car pulled up in front of her building. Arabella stepped outside, smoothing her simple dress nervously. The evening air was cool, brushing against her skin and calming her racing heart.

Adrian came out of the car.

Seeing him again almost knocked the breath from her lungs.

He looked expensive and smelled so good. Dark jeans, a crisp white shirt, and a blazer. Casual but well put together. But it wasn’t just that, there was this quiet confidence he carried and a calm aura around him.

When he saw her, his eyes softened instantly.

"You look wonderful," he said sincerely.

"Thank you." Arabella felt heat rise to her cheeks.

They drove to a cozy restaurant downtown, not too fancy, but warm and inviting with soft lighting and quiet music playing in the background. Adrian pulled out her chair for her before sitting across the table.

"So," he said once they'd ordered their food. "Tell me how you've really been. And don't just say 'fine' or 'managing.' I want the truth."

Arabella looked down at her hands. The truth. What was the truth?

"It's been hard," she admitted quietly. "Really hard. Some days I wake up and forget everything that happened. And then I remember, and it feels like I'm drowning all over again. But I'm trying. I got a job. I got my own place, plus I'm not where I was four months ago."

"I’m so glad to hear that." Adrian said. Their food arrived, and they ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes.

"What about you?" Arabella asked, wanting to shift the focus away from her pain. "You said you were on a business trip? What do you do, exactly?"

"I'm in business,I work for my family. My grandfather, actually. He's... demanding. But he means well." Adrian said vaguely. "I just moved back into the city, from Tokyo. I'd been working there for the past few years, but my family needed me back here to help with some operations. I had only just come in briefly when we bumped into each other four months ago. But, I had to go back again urgently, which was why I wasn't able to reach out until today.”

Arabella smiled slightly. "Wow, Interesting.”

“Tell me about yours too?” Adrian said, looking interested.

"There's not much to tell, really. I work at Palmer Group as a PA. I've been there for about two months now. I really like my job, it keeps me busy.”

Something flickered across Adrian's face. "That's good." He set down his fork, looking more serious. "Arabella, I'm curious… what really happened at the hospital, when I met you?"

Arabella's appetite vanished. She set down her own fork, her hands trembling slightly.

"It's complicated," she said quietly.

"I've got time."

Before Arabella could respond, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen. Crystal Crest Hospital.

Her heart stopped.

"I'm sorry," she said to Adrian. "I need to take this."

"Of course."

"Hello?" She answered.

"Ms. Hart? Good evening. This is Dr. Gwen from Crystal Crest Hospital. I am calling regarding your pregnancy from earlier this year.”

Arabella's entire body went rigid. Adrian noticed immediately. "Yes?"

"Ms. Hart, there was a mix-up in our fertility lab. The sperm sample that was used for your IVF procedure... it wasn't your fiancé's."

The world tilted. Arabella couldn't breathe. "What?" she managed to choke out.

"I know this must come as a shock," Dr. Gwen continued. "We've been conducting an internal investigation, and we've discovered that due to a labeling error, the wrong sample was used. The child you carried and delivered... isn't biologically related to Mr. Everett Quinn."

Arabella's mind was reeling. Not Everett's. The baby wasn't Everett's.