Loving Devlin

Chapter Two: Pretending Nothing Happened

The morning air was crisp as Bella stepped onto the sidewalk outside the establishment. She had walked fast across the foyer, staring straight ahead not daring to meet the eyes of the early morning staff cleaning up and preparing for business of the day. Her heart pounded as she gripped her purse tighter, barely registering the hum of early city life around her. She quickly hailed a cab, giving the address of her apartment.

She needed to get home. Fast.

She forced herself not to look back at the towering building behind her. She would forget anything ever happened there and forge ahead with her new life and her new job.

By the time Bella reached her apartment, exhaustion settled in her bones. The previous night’s incidents—heartbreak, anger, drinking and reckless physical abandon—had drained her completely.

She steeled herself and opened the door to her apartment. It was empty. Ethan’s things were still there but he was not. His jacket hung on the hook by the door. His cologne still lingered in the air, once pleasing but now suffocating her. A painful lump formed in her throat, but she wouldn’t cry. No, he was not worth a single tear.

She grabbed a trash bag and started yanking his things off the shelves, out of their drawers. Gone. It all needed to be gone. Keys, shirts, books he had never bothered to return to the library. Every little thing that had tied him to her life went into the bag. By the time she was done, her hands were shaking, her breathing uneven, but the space around her finally felt lighter.

She dumped the bag out in the hallway and slammed the door shut with finality. Good riddance.

---

First Day at Ascot Enterprises.

Monday came too fast.

Bella stood outside Ascot Enterprises, staring up at the massive skyscraper. She had woken up with excitement and quite some fear about her first day at work. She would try to stay clear of Devlin and she hoped he would play along and act like nothing happened. She had to keep this job. This was her new beginning—a chance to prove herself in a world that had always felt out of her reach. Right now, this job was the only meaningful thing in her life. Betrayed by her love and her only family, she would put all her emotions and devotion to this job.

She straightened her blazer, exhaled slowly, and stepped inside.

The moment she walked through the glass doors, the difference between her and the employees around her was glaringly obvious. Women in impeccable designer suits clicked past her on towering heels, men in expensive ties barely acknowledging her presence. Everything screamed wealth, power, and untouchable privilege. But there was also discipline and focus. No idle employee lounging around. Everyone was busy and gave their attention to whatever they were doing. It was clear that

She swallowed hard and forced herself forward.

At the reception desk, a woman with a tight blonde bun and a crisp white blouse barely glanced up. “Name?”

“Bella Smith.”

The woman scanned the list and then nodded. “Seventh floor. Office 709. Your ID will be waiting at security.”

Bella thanked her and moved toward the elevators, gripping her bag tighter.

Inside, she pressed seven and leaned against the mirrored wall, inhaling deeply. She could do this. She belonged here. She—

The doors slid open.

She stepped out, expecting a quiet hallway, but instead—She saw him.

Devlin Ascot stood at the far end of the corridor, hands in his pockets, engaged in conversation with an older man in a sleek navy suit. His presence was magnetic, a force that commanded attention without even trying.

Bella’s stomach clenched.

She knew she’d see him again. She had prepared for it. But that didn’t mean she was ready.

He glanced up, gray eyes locking onto hers. For a split second, time stopped.

Then—nothing. No reaction. No acknowledgment.

Devlin turned back to his conversation as if she were just another employee.

Bella swallowed the strange pang in her chest at being so blatantly ignored and forced her feet to move. This is good, she thought. That’s exactly how it should be. Feeling some relief that he was on the same wavelength with her, Bella lifted her chin and walked briskly to her designated office.

---

Thrown Into the Fire

Her office was small but modern—glass walls, a sleek desk, and a high-tech computer. Not even five minutes after she sat down, a stack of files landed in front of her.

“Ms. Smith?”

She looked up to find a woman with sharp brown eyes and an even sharper tone. “I’m Olivia Marsh, head of the administrative department. These reports need to be reviewed and filed by noon. Can you handle it?”

Bella nodded, already flipping through the first document. “Yes, of course.”

“Good. Don’t disappoint me.”

“Yeah. No pressure”, Bella thought to herself.

The morning flew by in a whirlwind of spreadsheets and numbers. By the time it was noon , Bella had filed the last report: her fingers sore from typing. She leaned back, exhaling but feeling very pleased with herself.

She had survived her first morning.

Or so she thought—until her desk phone rang.

“Ms. Smith?”

Her stomach clenched at the familiar deep voice. Devlin.

“Yes, sir?”

“Come to my office. Now.”

The line went dead.

Bella stared at the phone.

What the hell did he want?, Bella thought to herself, a sense of unease filling her mind.

---

The PA Trap

Devlin’s office was on the top floor—larger than some apartments, with a panoramic city view. Bella barely had time to take it all in before he gestured for her to close the door behind her.

She did.

Then he spoke, his voice calm, controlled. “You’re no longer in Admin.”

She frowned. “I—I don’t understand.”

“I need a new personal assistant. You start today.”

Her heart slammed against her ribs. His personal assistant? No way. She was having enough trouble keeping the memories of that night in check. She absolutely could not work in such close proximity with him. Besides, this wasn’t what she was hired for. Panic flared through her.

Was he doing this because of that night?

No. She refused to believe it. He was a CEO; he had better things to do than play games. But deep down, she knew this wasn’t just a coincidence. And that scared the hell out of her.

“What? No—Sir, with all due respect, I was hired for administration. I—”

“Ms. Smith, you must be under some form of misconception believing I am making a request. This is an order. Now leave my office.” he cut in coldly, his gaze never leaving hers.

Bella’s nails dug into her palm. This wasn’t fair. She had worked so hard to land this job and now he was forcing her to work under his thumb or leave. She couldn’t leave this job now. She had nothing else going for her in her life.

“Why?” The word slipped out before she could stop it.

A flicker of surprise crossed his face. Then he leaned back in his chair, a slight tilt to his lips. “You seem… capable,” he drawled, his voice laced with something that set her teeth on edge, “and your services are required for an important project the company is undertaking. However, if this task is beyond your qualifications and skills, we will understand. We won’t assign responsibilities to you beyond your capacity and knowledge.

Bella stood speechless, her chest tightening.

In one fell swoop, he had questioned her qualifications and skills hinting at her being incapable of meeting the demands that comes with working at Ascot Enterprises. Not to mention bruising her ego. She stood as straight as her 5 ft 8 frame could hold her. She knew damn well that this had nothing to do with skills or capabilities. But does this mean that he wants her closer to him? Why the hell would he want that? Dismissing such disturbing thoughts, she replied in her coldest and most professional voice, “Very well, Sir. Will there be anything else?”

Devlin had gone back to flipping through the files on his table. Not bothering to look up at her, he responded “No. You may leave”.

Her blood boiled, but she turned on her heels and walked out.

As she got back to her seat, she realized that her hands were trembling. “This was not good”, she thought agitatedly. She was already ridiculously attracted to Devlin. How would she suppress her emotions working so closely with him? Suddenly feeling overwhelmed, she picked her bag and informed Olivia she was going out for lunch. She practically ran out of the office into the streets. Getting outside, she took in a long breadth, trying to calm her racing heart. “I can do this”, she told herself.

She might be forced into this role, but she’d be damned if she’d let Devlin Ascot get the better of her.

She was here to do a job. Nothing more.

With this thought strengthening her resolve, she walked into a modest restaurant around the corner and ordered some chicken soup and noodles. If nothing else, she would need a full stomach to face the nerve wracking challenges ahead.The morning air was crisp as Bella stepped onto the sidewalk outside the establishment. She had walked fast across the foyer, staring straight ahead not daring to meet the eyes of the early morning staff cleaning up and preparing for business of the day. Her heart pounded as she gripped her purse tighter, barely registering the hum of early city life around her. She quickly hailed a cab, giving the address of her apartment.

She needed to get home. Fast.

She forced herself not to look back at the towering building behind her. She would forget anything ever happened there and forge ahead with her new life and her new job.

By the time Bella reached her apartment, exhaustion settled in her bones. The previous night’s incidents—heartbreak, anger, drinking and reckless physical abandon—had drained her completely.

She steeled herself and opened the door to her apartment. It was empty. Ethan’s things were still there but he was not. His jacket hung on the hook by the door. His cologne still lingered in the air, once pleasing but now suffocating her. A painful lump formed in her throat, but she wouldn’t cry. No, he was not worth a single tear.

She grabbed a trash bag and started yanking his things off the shelves, out of their drawers. Gone. It all needed to be gone. Keys, shirts, books he had never bothered to return to the library. Every little thing that had tied him to her life went into the bag. By the time she was done, her hands were shaking, her breathing uneven, but the space around her finally felt lighter.

She dumped the bag out in the hallway and slammed the door shut with finality. Good riddance.

---

First Day at Ascot Enterprises.

Monday came too fast.

Bella stood outside Ascot Enterprises, staring up at the massive skyscraper. She had woken up with excitement and quite some fear about her first day at work. She would try to stay clear of Devlin and she hoped he would play along and act like nothing happened. She had to keep this job. This was her new beginning—a chance to prove herself in a world that had always felt out of her reach. Right now, this job was the only meaningful thing in her life. Betrayed by her love and her only family, she would put all her emotions and devotion to this job.

She straightened her blazer, exhaled slowly, and stepped inside.

The moment she walked through the glass doors, the difference between her and the employees around her was glaringly obvious. Women in impeccable designer suits clicked past her on towering heels, men in expensive ties barely acknowledging her presence. Everything screamed wealth, power, and untouchable privilege. But there was also discipline and focus. No idle employee lounging around. Everyone was busy and gave their attention to whatever they were doing. It was clear that

She swallowed hard and forced herself forward.

At the reception desk, a woman with a tight blonde bun and a crisp white blouse barely glanced up. “Name?”

“Bella Smith.”

The woman scanned the list and then nodded. “Seventh floor. Office 709. Your ID will be waiting at security.”

Bella thanked her and moved toward the elevators, gripping her bag tighter.

Inside, she pressed seven and leaned against the mirrored wall, inhaling deeply. She could do this. She belonged here. She—

The doors slid open.

She stepped out, expecting a quiet hallway, but instead—She saw him.

Devlin Ascot stood at the far end of the corridor, hands in his pockets, engaged in conversation with an older man in a sleek navy suit. His presence was magnetic, a force that commanded attention without even trying.

Bella’s stomach clenched.

She knew she’d see him again. She had prepared for it. But that didn’t mean she was ready.

He glanced up, gray eyes locking onto hers. For a split second, time stopped.

Then—nothing. No reaction. No acknowledgment.

Devlin turned back to his conversation as if she were just another employee.

Bella swallowed the strange pang in her chest at being so blatantly ignored and forced her feet to move. This is good, she thought. That’s exactly how it should be. Feeling some relief that he was on the same wavelength with her, Bella lifted her chin and walked briskly to her designated office.

---

Thrown Into the Fire

Her office was small but modern—glass walls, a sleek desk, and a high-tech computer. Not even five minutes after she sat down, a stack of files landed in front of her.

“Ms. Smith?”

She looked up to find a woman with sharp brown eyes and an even sharper tone. “I’m Olivia Marsh, head of the administrative department. These reports need to be reviewed and filed by noon. Can you handle it?”

Bella nodded, already flipping through the first document. “Yes, of course.”

“Good. Don’t disappoint me.”

“Yeah. No pressure”, Bella thought to herself.

The morning flew by in a whirlwind of spreadsheets and numbers. By the time it was noon , Bella had filed the last report: her fingers sore from typing. She leaned back, exhaling but feeling very pleased with herself.

She had survived her first morning.

Or so she thought—until her desk phone rang.

“Ms. Smith?”

Her stomach clenched at the familiar deep voice. Devlin.

“Yes, sir?”

“Come to my office. Now.”

The line went dead.

Bella stared at the phone.

What the hell did he want?, Bella thought to herself, a sense of unease filling her mind.

---

The PA Trap

Devlin’s office was on the top floor—larger than some apartments, with a panoramic city view. Bella barely had time to take it all in before he gestured for her to close the door behind her.

She did.

Then he spoke, his voice calm, controlled. “You’re no longer in Admin.”

She frowned. “I—I don’t understand.”

“I need a new personal assistant. You start today.”

Her heart slammed against her ribs. His personal assistant? No way. She was having enough trouble keeping the memories of that night in check. She absolutely could not work in such close proximity with him. Besides, this wasn’t what she was hired for. Panic flared through her.

Was he doing this because of that night?

No. She refused to believe it. He was a CEO; he had better things to do than play games. But deep down, she knew this wasn’t just a coincidence. And that scared the hell out of her.

“What? No—Sir, with all due respect, I was hired for administration. I—”

“Ms. Smith, you must be under some form of misconception believing I am making a request. This is an order. Now leave my office.” he cut in coldly, his gaze never leaving hers.

Bella’s nails dug into her palm. This wasn’t fair. She had worked so hard to land this job and now he was forcing her to work under his thumb or leave. She couldn’t leave this job now. She had nothing else going for her in her life.

“Why?” The word slipped out before she could stop it.

A flicker of surprise crossed his face. Then he leaned back in his chair, a slight tilt to his lips. “You seem… capable,” he drawled, his voice laced with something that set her teeth on edge, “and your services are required for an important project the company is undertaking. However, if this task is beyond your qualifications and skills, we will understand. We won’t assign responsibilities to you beyond your capacity and knowledge.

Bella stood speechless, her chest tightening.

In one fell swoop, he had questioned her qualifications and skills hinting at her being incapable of meeting the demands that comes with working at Ascot Enterprises. Not to mention bruising her ego. She stood as straight as her 5 ft 8 frame could hold her. She knew damn well that this had nothing to do with skills or capabilities. But does this mean that he wants her closer to him? Why the hell would he want that? Dismissing such disturbing thoughts, she replied in her coldest and most professional voice, “Very well, Sir. Will there be anything else?”

Devlin had gone back to flipping through the files on his table. Not bothering to look up at her, he responded “No. You may leave”.

Her blood boiled, but she turned on her heels and walked out.

As she got back to her seat, she realized that her hands were trembling. “This was not good”, she thought agitatedly. She was already ridiculously attracted to Devlin. How would she suppress her emotions working so closely with him? Suddenly feeling overwhelmed, she picked her bag and informed Olivia she was going out for lunch. She practically ran out of the office into the streets. Getting outside, she took in a long breadth, trying to calm her racing heart. “I can do this”, she told herself.

She might be forced into this role, but she’d be damned if she’d let Devlin Ascot get the better of her.

She was here to do a job. Nothing more.

With this thought strengthening her resolve, she walked into a modest restaurant around the corner and ordered some chicken soup and noodles. If nothing else, she would need a full stomach to face the nerve wracking challenges ahead.