The moment Bella stepped out of Ethan's office she exhaled sharply.
What the hell just happened?
She could still feel her heart racing.
Lunch. He asked her to have lunch with him.
Ask? Nah he told her.
Bella shook her head slightly as she walked towards the elevator.
She had managed to decline his request with the excuse that her table was already set and my friends were also waiting for me.
Her stomach made that growling sound again.
"Not now.... You've embrassed me enough,silly" she murmmured as she headed to the cafeteria.
Bella spotted Nathy immediately sitting at their usual spot near the window. Another man sat across her. She had never seen that face before.
She ordered her usual meal and approached them
"Take it back." Bella said as she dropped into the empty seat. "I said he was arrogant yeah... add controlling to the list.."
"oh what did he do this time?" nathy asked raising her brow.
I debated telling her what had happened. The invitation,the tone, the way he looked at her. But instead she shook her head slightly.
"nothing, he just looks like it."
"Right" Nathy said slowly as she took her drink.
"And Yeah, meet Collins he's from the finance department and collins meet bella the personal assistant to the new boss....also a close friend of mine." Nathy added introducing them.
Bella turned my attention to him. "Nice to meet you" she said with a smile extending her hand. he looked calm in the grey shirt and black pants he had on.
"same here" he replied returning the gesture
The rest of the minutes went by with us talking about work coupled with random gist about our private lives. It was fun. After the break, we headed to our respective floor. We bid collins goodbye as he got out of the elevator. Then Bella and Nathy went ahead to the top floor. They headed to their respective desks to proceed with the rest of the work that was left.
Bella immediately resumed attending to calls, emails, and scheduling adjustments.
Everything felt faster now. Like the entire company was trying to catch up with Ethan Cole's pace.
Bella's phone buzzed. She opened it and saw a text from Mr. Ethan.
"Come to my office."
Bella spine straightened up instantly.
She adjusted her dress and headed to his door.
Knock knock knock.
"Come in" his deep voice echoed through the door.
Bella went in closing the door behind her.
"You requested to see me sir."
His expression was unreadable. His eyes was fixated on the laptop in front of him.
"Schedule a meeting with the board tomorrow." he said in calm tone."We need immediate action regarding the company's current state."
Bella nodded quickly. Taking mental notes.
"Yes, sir."
"The company's decline has affected it's stock value" he continued. "I want all the relevant documents prepared."
"Understood," she replied. "I'll have everything ready within an hour."
He nodded without giving her a glance.
With that, she turned around and left.
The company had been involved in a marketing scandal, reducing its stock price below average and altered it's recognition in the buisness world. So it was a suprise that a man like him bought the company regardless of its state.
When Bella was done putting all the documents together, I reported back to his office.
Stepping into his office, the temperature seemed to get hotter. There he was, Ethan cole was standing facing the floor-to-ceiling windows that showed the perfect view of milano. When he turned,
Bella nearly forgot how to breathe.
He looked devastatingly handsome in a way she couldn't comprehend, his hair that was previously styled now had a slightly messy appearnace, he looked like he was distressed about something. Even his white sleeves were now rolled up leaving his perfectly tan skin to bare eyes. Those gossip news did no justice to him at all.
"That took more than an hour." he said with a deep voice, calm and without trace of emotion.
Bella blinked, caught off-guard "The documents were plenteous so i had to summarise the important details that you needed." placing the documents on the table.
Ethan moved to sit behind his massive desk, studying the documents. Bella saw something flicker in those coffee-brown eyes, Impression?Or interest? i couldn't tell.
He leaned forward slightly and lifted his gaze to meet hers, "Good work, i'll let you know if i need any other thing." he said, dismissing me.
"okay sir" I responded, as i turned to take my leave.
..............
Bella was exhausted. It was closing hours.
She logged out of her computer and grabbed her purse. Stretching her spine as she stood.
Unconsciously, she took a glance at Ethan's office, he still hadn't come out yet. She debated going in to inform him that it was already time to go home.
He probably already knows. She thought, since it was quite obvious, pushing the previous idea behind her.
But anyway her feet had a mind of their own. In a few seconds she found myself opening the heavy wooden doors.
He looked worked up staring looked intently at his computer, the sounds of his fingers flickering against the keyboard filled the room. He completely oblivious to the fact that another presence had joined him in the room.
"Mr.Ethan?" i called slowly causing him to direct his attention to me.
"How may i help you?" He asked, his gaze still on me.
"It's already closing hours..... but i didn't see you step out yet so i thought to check-in. You seem pretty....occupied." i said as my eyes scanned his desk.
"Ohh... you're heading out already?" he said drifting his eyes back to his laptop.
"I was about to." Bella replied.
He nodded subtly.... "Hold up i'll be done in a few" he said calmly his eyes still on the screen.
Bella sighed. "Alright."
Her eyes scanned the room and landed on the cushion by the corner. Without much thought, she walked over and sat down.
A small moan escaped my lips as i landed on the soft couch, i was really tired. After a while of distracting myself by scrolling through the media, in a moment everywhere went black.
....
Ethan was done with work.. he had to conduct to a thorough research on how to improve the company situation at hand. The Axton company had huge potential and i had to make that happen as soon as possible.
Closing his laptop, he caught her figure from the corner of my eyes. She was sleeping peacefully.A wave of guilt washed over him for keeping her waiting. Placing everything in order, he walked over to her slim frame, debating on whether to wake her up or let her sleep for a litle longer.
"No,she can't sleep here." Ethan muttered. I tapped her gently but that wasn't enough to wake her up as all she did was to adjust her body and turn her head to the left.
A small smiled formed in corner of my lips, she looked cute. I called out her name this time and she woke up staring at him with those sleepy blue eyes that quickly turned into a look of shock.
"I'm so sorry, i didn't know when i slept off" Bella said as she stood up putting herself together.
What was she sorry for?
"There's no need for an apology, your body probably needed it." He cut in.
It was already late.
"I'm taking you home." Her expression changed slightly and i knew for sure that she was about to decline like she had did earlier.
"It's not up for debate." I added before the next words could come out from her mouth. I walked towards the door with her small frame reluctantly following behind me.