Chapter 20: What Honesty?
The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime, and Bella stepped out, adjusting her blazer as though it could somehow hold together the storm swirling in her chest.
Lunch hour had arrived, but she didn’t feel hungry in the least. The nerves Jake had tangled her in that morning were still crawling under her skin.
Still, she had promised Chloe. And truthfully, she needed her friend’s presence more than food. Chloe always had a way of grounding her, reminding her she wasn’t entirely alone in this city or in this company that already felt like a trap.
Bella turned down the corridor that led to the fashion design wing of StoneTech Solutions. The atmosphere there was so different—colorful swatches pinned to boards, sketches taped to glass walls, mannequins clothed in half-draped fabrics. Even the scent was different here: less of ink and steel, more of creativity and fabric dye.
Now she’d seen just what Chloe had meant when she said her department was like another world since the Stones hadn’t touched much there after the takeover.
Chloe’s office door was cracked open, music humming softly from within. Bella knocked lightly.
"Come in," Chloe’s cheerful voice floated out.
Bella pushed the door wider and found Chloe perched at her desk, sketching quickly, her locs pulled back into a bun. The moment she saw Bella, her eyes brightened.
"There you are!" Chloe exclaimed, setting her pencil down. "Perfect timing. I was about to go hunt you down."
Bella smiled faintly. "I thought I’d save you the trouble."
Chloe hopped up and grabbed her purse. "Good. Because if I had to walk into Jake’s office to fetch you, I might have declared war on the man." She looped her arm through Bella’s as they walked out together. "So... tell me. How was today? Was it better or did he try to make things difficult for you?"
Bella sighed. "Not just difficult. I don’t even understand what he’s playing at exactly."
Chloe glanced at her curiously as they walked down the hall toward the cafeteria. "What do you mean?"
Bella hesitated, pressing her lips together. But Chloe’s expectant gaze broke her defenses. "This morning, I spilled coffee on him—completely by accident but now I don’t regret it——"
"You don’t regret spilling a steaming hot coffee on him? Just what did he do?" Chloe cut in curiously.
"Can you imagine that when I tried to clean the spilled coffee up, he... grabbed my hand and....." Bella let her words trail off, not knowing how to describe what had happened earlier.
Chloe’s brows lifted. "And?"
"And he said things, Chloe," Bella muttered, cheeks heating at the memory. "Inappropriate things."
"Like?" Chloe asked suspiciously.
"Like how he wondered what my hands would feel like on his chest. Can you imagine him saying that to me?"
Chloe stopped walking for a second, frowning. "Bella..."
Bella rubbed her forehead, suddenly embarrassed to even repeat it. "I don’t get him. Why say something like that? Is he trying to mess with my head? Is this his way of punishing me because he knows I’m lying about not remembering him?"
Chloe’s lips pressed into a thin line. "Or..." she said carefully, "maybe it’s not punishment at all. Maybe it’s because he actually likes you and maybe wants to spend another night with you," she added with a wink.
Bella’s heart thudded painfully, and she gave her friend a sharp look. "No. No, Chloe. Don’t even say that. He won’t dare want another night with me neither does he like me. I won’t even let him come near me in that way again. I think he’s just... flirting. Or trying to get under my skin. That’s all. And if that’s what this is about, then maybe I should just tell him the truth. That I do remember."
Chloe bit her lip, considering. "At least, that could spare you all this trouble. Maybe honesty is better than suffering like this."
Before Bella could reply, a voice came from behind them, making both women startle.
"What troubles? Who’s troubling who? And what honesty?"
Bella’s stomach dropped, and Chloe squeaked as they turned to see Raymond walking up with his easy grin, hands in his pockets.
"Raymond," Bella breathed, pressing a hand to her chest.
He chuckled softly. "Sorry. Didn’t mean to sneak up on you two."
"It’s fine. We weren’t just expecting you or anyone. That’s why we got startled," Chloe said before Bella could say anything, making Bella remember they were yet to discuss what it was going on between Chloe and Raymond.
"I’m sorry. So, what troubles and honesty were you both talking about so seriously?" he asked again, bringing them back to the discussion.
Bella forced a laugh, though her nerves were still jumpy. "It’s nothing serious. Just... my boss, trying to make life a little hellish for me, that’s all."
Raymond’s expression softened. "I feel sorry for you, then." His gaze lingered on her for a beat before he added, "Actually, that reminds me. What do you think about Florittle? There’s a job opening in one of the places I know. If you want, I could help you get a better job there."
Bella and Chloe exchanged a look, and both of them exhaled heavily at the same time.
Raymond frowned. "Okay, what’s with the long faces? Did I say something wrong?"
Chloe hesitated, then said, "It’s just... Florittle is where Bella used to live. She only moved here to Sweliss for a fresh start."
"Oh," Raymond nodded slowly. "I see. But that’s not a problem. Since you can’t go back there, I can find other StoneTech subsidiaries here to connect you with. Don’t worry about it. I’m assistant HR after all."
Bella’s chest tightened at his thoughtfulness. "Thank you... in advance."
Raymond smiled warmly. "Anytime."
By then they had reached the cafeteria—a wide, bustling space filled with employees chatting over trays of food.
"Why don’t you ladies grab a table?" Raymond said. "I’ll handle the orders."
Chloe grinned at him. "Such a gentleman."
Bella let him go with a polite smile, then turned to Chloe as soon as he was out of earshot. "Okay. Spill. What’s going on between you and Raymond?"