Josef sank onto the couch, clutching his head as a fierce migraine gripped him after the tumultuous confrontation just moments earlier. Bella had hurried out, followed closely by the matriarchs, leaving him alone with his pounding temples.
A soft knock interrupted his thoughts. Elena entered quietly, holding a glass of water and a pill. Her expression was calm, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of disappointment. She moved with practiced poise, trying to mask her feelings to preserve her dignity.
Josef accepted the water and pill silently, understanding her silent judgment. Deep inside, he knew Elena was disappointed—not just with him, but with the chaos that had unfolded. She maintained her composure, but her eyes lingered on him with quiet reproach.
It was only partly true that Elena had saved him before. As the sole heir to the country's media empire, she had once helped cover up his wedding scandal, shielding it from the press. That moment had allowed him to salvage his company from ruin, but now, the stakes felt different.
Elena's voice broke the silence, sharp and commanding.
"Why is she here?" Her expression was stern, unwavering.
Josef hesitated, searching for words that wouldn't betray too much.
"For the project," he finally answered, concise and guarded, hoping to avoid missteps.
Elena's brow furrowed slightly.
"I know that 'project' is your priority right now," she said coldly, "but you have to remember—I am still your fiancée."
He met her gaze, level but strained.
"I did not forget that."
Her eyes narrowed, a hint of warning behind her calm.
"Are you sure? Because what I heard doesn't quite match your words. Don't disappoint me, Josef. You know what happens if I am. Finalize your divorce."
Josef understood—more than a warning, that was a threat. His jaw tightened, and he nodded slowly, acknowledging her unspoken warning.
In that moment, he realized the fragile balance he was walking—the lines between duty, deception, and desire growing thinner by the second.
----
While riding in the taxi, Bella's mind was a whirlwind. She suddenly realized she had nowhere to go. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to drop by her office—at least for a little while.
Maybe I could stay there while looking for a new place, she thought.
She had been with the company for a month. Despite her high-ranking position as a senior researcher, her pay was mostly allowances—funds that had already been redirected to Josef as repayment for her hundred-million-dollar debt. Essentially, she was penniless.
But, wait, she mused. Since the debt is now waived, according to the witches back at the manor, I should be able to get my salary now. But does that mean I have to resign? Oh no...
Helplessness crept in once again. If resignation was the only way to escape this tangled mess, she saw no choice but to do it.
As she sat at her desk, typing out her resignation letter, her phone buzzed. She was summoned to a board meeting.
Reluctantly, she gathered her papers and headed out with her fellow researchers.
The conference room was larger than she expected—expansive, sleek, and intimidating. Several men and women, all dressed in crisp suits, filled the space. At least ten people were seated around an elongated table, their faces glowing with pride and confidence.
They were about to take their seats when the room fell silent. Josef entered, exuding an air of authority, his presence commanding the room.
Everyone straightened in their chairs.
"I believe you've all heard the news," Josef announced, his tone a careful blend of pride and seriousness. "The project we've been waiting for is finally complete."
A man on Josef's left stood, voice resonant and sure.
"I know we've kept this under wraps for years, but this is nothing short of revolutionary. This will cement our company's position at the pinnacle of innovation—our new atom-powered energy source."
Applause erupted, thunderous and proud.
The man continued, a gleam of triumph in his eyes.
"And of course, none of this would be possible without the brilliant minds of our researchers, led by Dr. Smith."
More applause followed. Bella looked around at her fellow researchers, feeling out of place amidst all the admiration and celebration. She wasn't used to this kind of spotlight.
The man stepped toward her, extending his hand to shake hers—and then to her colleagues as well.
"Did you know, Dr. Smith," he said with pride, "that we've been watching you for the past three years? We heard about your proposal through our rivals, and I was the one who recognized its brilliance."
His voice was almost reverent, as if he believed this discovery was destined for greatness.
"Thanks to me, this breakthrough happened," he added, a hint of arrogance in his tone. "Finding you wasn't easy—Dr. Smith, you were elusive. Even our president, Mr. Harlington, had to go through great lengths just to locate you. But in the end, you came to us. I couldn't be happier."
He paused, then pressed her shoulder gently but firmly.
"Just so you know," he continued with conviction, "you are the most important person in this company right now. We simply cannot afford to lose you."
Bella looked at him, unsure whether to feel flattered or overwhelmed. The room buzzed with approval, but inside, she wondered what this newfound attention truly meant for her future.
----
"Wait, this is just too much pressure," Arisa, Bella's fellow researcher and trusted friend, blurted out as she stormed back toward the laboratory. "And they want us to work in front of the entire management for a whole month before the presentation? Oh, come on. Even the president has to watch us? I don't think I can do that."
A chorus of agreement echoed behind her, voices rising in frustration.
"You have to talk to the management, Miss Smith," Arisa continued, desperation edging her voice. "They can't keep us under this kind of scrutiny—it's too much."
Bella sighed deeply, knowing what she had to do. She already dreaded confronting the board, and now, Josef as well.
Later that evening, her colleagues headed to a nearby bar, celebrating their breakthrough with reckless abandon—drinks flowing until they had drained every last drop, trying to drown the pressure looming over them.
One by one, she watched them stumble into cabs and disappear into the night, leaving her alone under the dim glow of the streetlights.
She hesitated for a moment before walking back toward the office, swaying slightly from fatigue and alcohol. She tried to steady herself before the security guard, claiming she had something to finish—though deep down, she knew she simply had nowhere else to go.
As the elevator doors slid open, she froze. Standing inside was Josef—tired but still impeccably crisp, as if he'd just stepped out of a meeting.
He looked her up and down, his expression unreadable.
"We need to talk," he said, voice firm.
"Can we do it tomorrow? I'm not in the mood," Bella replied, dismissive, trying to brush past him.
But Josef stepped out of the elevator and blocked her path, eyes weary yet piercing.
"I saw you—drunk, stumbling back here. Why are you back in the office?"
Bella hesitated, then admitted softly, "I forgot something."
Before she knew it, they were inside her office. Josef's gaze flicked to a glimpse of her luggage, and a flicker of guilt crossed his face.
"I'm sorry for what happened this morning," he said quietly. "I... I'll fix it."
Bella sank into her office chair, pretending not to hear him, her mind swirling.
"I was going to resign this morning before the conference," she said, her voice steady despite everything. "But hearing how important I am to this company now, it seems the tables have turned."
Josef looked away, tugging on his coat as if to leave.
"That's not so simple," he said softly. "You're still bound by your contract with me."
A smirk curled on Bella's lips.
"That's not what your mother and grandmother want," she retorted. "Let's see who gets to decide first. But for now, just let me sleep."
She made her way around her desk to the sofa across the room, sinking into it and closing her eyes. Within moments, she drifted into sleep, exhausted and defeated.
Josef watched her with a mixture of pity and concern, silently contemplating her fragile state. Carefully, he removed her shoes and his coat, draping them over her for warmth.
He sighed deeply, then pulled out his phone, hesitating briefly before making a call—leaving the scene wrapped in quiet tension, the weight of unspoken words hanging thick in the air.