The boardroom slowly emptied, leaving behind only scattered paper, drained coffee cups and the soft hum of the overhead lights. Bella remained in her seats, hand resting in her closed laptop, her eyes fixed on the empty doorway where Evie had lost stood.
"Dinner at nine …"
The word echoed in her head like an unwanted melody she couldn't turn off.
She let out a slow breath and rose to her feet, gathering her things with practiced precision. Her movement were calm —- measured, even. But inside something twisted.
She had sat quietly through the entire meeting, delivered the flawless presentation, ensured every metric and graph was in place….and yet, it felt like she was invisible.
Her mind flashed back to the night in the car. The promises Samuel had made. The warmth in his voice when he told her. "After the award, it's our time."
And now, here she was watching him share easy smiles and subtle glances with the heiress of their former rival company – as if none of that had ever mattered.
As if she didn't mattered.
Bella exited the boardroom slowly, heels tapping softly against the floor.
Her office was just around the corner, but instead of walking towards it, she veered to the restroom. She needed a moment. A place to let herself breathe without being watched.
She stared at herself in the mirror at the restroom, her hands slightly trembling.
Bella closed her eyes, trying to will away the burn behind her lashes. But it was no use.
She wasn't just hurt with their conversation. She felt confused either to hold on to Samuel promises or not.
Not because of dinner plans with another woman — but because he didn't even have the decency to acknowledge that she might be hurting.
He hadn't said a word about their conversation.
Hadn't looked at her like she was anything more than a secretary assigned to prep a slideshow.
Bella pressed the cold rim of the cup to her lips and stared out the windows, her jaws clenched.
Evie's voice still eched in her head, cool and confident, like a woman used to getting what she wanted. And Samuel? He hadn't said a word in protest.
Had he really agreed to that dinner before the meeting? Or had it been spontaneous invitation Evie threw out, knowing Bella was watching.
The whole thought soured her stomach.
She was still lost in it when a light knock at her door pulled her back.
"Bella," cheerful voice called. It was Trish from HR, poking her head in. "You're missing out. Mr Chase arranged a little celebration meal for the entire department. Everyone's already in the lounge, and you better come before the food disappears,"
Bella blinked, trying to reset her expression into something neutral.
"Oh, right. Thanks I'll be there in a minute."
Trish smiled and disappeared.
Bella stood slowly, smoothing her skirt and inhaling deeply. No matter how she felt, she wouldn't let the staff see it, not when they were all excited. Not when the moment was meant to celebrate their hardwork, too.
The lounge was bustling with laughter, chatter and clinking utensils. Tables were packed with team members savoring the catered spread— trays of gourmet meals, sparkling drinks and celebration desserts. The atmosphere was warm and lighthearted.
And in the centers of it all stood Samuel m, greeting employees, patting backs, nodding in approval like the generous CEO he was.
Bella kept to the side, mingling politely, sipping from a glass water.
She caught Samuel's eyes once— but it was brief, transactional.
He cleared his throat and stepped forward, raising his glass. "Ti the best team I've ever worked with," he said, "Synertek's success is because of each nad everyone of you. Enjoy tonight. You've earned it."
Applause followed, and for a moment, Bella let herself be proud.
But then came the hollow part.
Samuel checked his watch. "Unfortunately, I won't be able to stay long. I have another engagement tonight."
Bella's heart skipped.
Another engagement.
Before she could stop herself, she stepped closer and said softly, just enough for him to hear, "but what about our dinner? The one we planned to celebrate the award…you told me we'd."
Samuel didn't even blink.
"Tha was before the Lexora meeting confirmed," he said coolly, his tone clipped but polite. "This is important, Bella. We'll talk later."
He gave her a nod – nothing more – and turned to leave.
Bella stood frozen, her words caught in her throat as she watched him walk out of the room leaving behind the celebration, staff….and her.
Again.
Her fingers clenched tightly around her glass.
The room was still full of joy, laughter, and praise–but to Bella it suddenly felt suffocating.
************************
"You're late," she said, her voice calm but edged with authority. "I would've expected more punctuality from someone trying to stay ahead of competitors."
Samuel adjusted his cufflinks as he slid into the booth across from her.
"I had matter to handle with my team."
Evie's red lips curled "of course. Celebration. Praise. Applause. All well deserved….but easily lost without foresight."
Before she could respond, his phone buzzed in the table. Bella's name lit up the screen–again.
Samuel's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't move to pick it up.
Evie leaned in casting a glance at the screen. "Someone's persisted." Her smile didn't reach her eyes. "If it's that important, perhaps we should pause our conversation."
Samuel hesitated.
Evie tilted her head, her tone laced with feigned concern. "Or maybe…. it's something you're ready to leave behind,"
He said nothing.
With a sigh, Samuel reached for his phone –but instead of answering, he poured it off.
Evie gave a soft , approving hum. "Good. I'd hate for this moment to be interrupted."
************************
Across the city, Bella stood in her apartment, staring at her phone in disbelief. One call. Two. Five. Ten.
Now….it was off.
"He turned it off…" she whispered, her voice cracking, "he turned it off … really!" She shouted .
Her chest tightened as her hand trembled. The silence was louder than any argument. Her eyes swelled as she clutched the phone like it still held the answer she refused to give.
Then, fury
She began to dragged everything in her living off the appropriate places. The nearest lamp hit the floor with a crash. Next was the framed photo of her and Samuel at the early days of Synertek, smiling to the world couldn't touch them. It shattered into jagged pieces as she screamed.
"Lair!" She shouted, falling to her knees, her sobs raw and loud. "You've said I was your future…. You said after the award, everything would changed."
She crawled toward the door bar cart, fumbling for a bottle of wine and pulling off the shelf like it had mumbled the ache—the betrayal.
Her tears fell faster as memories flooded her. They words he used to hold her in the silence of the office after midnight, the way he promised, "it's you. Always you. Just wait until the world sees us."
But the world wasn't seeing them.
It was watching Evie.
Dinner at nine.
Bella laughed bitterly and poured more wine, letting her head fall back as heartbreak drowned her.
***************************************
The waiter removed their plates, leaving behind untouched desserts and two glasses of aged scotch.
A country musical sound was play behind the scenes for them both
Evie reached into her bag and brought out a sleek leather folder. With graceful precision, she slid it across the table toward Samuel.
He looked at it with a raised brow. "What's this?"