Chapter 139 The Calm Before the Storm

At 11:30 am. Charles was still in a meeting and Bella was rushing to the elevator with the bag.

She didn't want to repeat yesterday's events again today; she would not be away from Charles for long.

Fortunately, this time, everything went smoothly.

When Bella arrived at the appointed location there were not many people in the cafe.

She sat in the corner and waited until noon and it was then that she saw a very stylish, young man walking through the door.

As soon as the man entered the door, he walked straight to her, took off his sunglasses and set them on the table. His lips twisted into a sinister smile and he looked down at her.

Bella stood up and saw that he didn't mean to shake hands with her. She stood there and said in a timid voice, "Hello, I am Bella."

"Sit down!" he barked at her.

Bella sat down and felt her temples bursting.

She always thought that an entrepreneurial boss might be either very serious or as gentle and cultivated as Edwin, she didn't expect the boss to be so fashionable with such a steely demeanor.

Nick wore a black diamond in his left ear and a two-finger wide mermaid shaped ring on his right index finger. His eyebrows were sharp, like a rebellious teenager's.

Bella sighed silently, she hadn't been aware of such a stark age difference before their meeting. Nick was considerably younger than her.  

"Hey!" Nick's fingers knocked on the table. "Like what you see, sweetheart?” If Bella had had water in her mouth, she would have sprayed it in his face.

Is this how young people speak now?  Bella ignored his question and asked, "What do you want to eat? It's my treat."

"Of course it's your treat, you are apologizing to me, right?" Nick took a look at her for a moment. He rested his arm on the back of the chair and finally looked up waiter who had been waiting for a long time, "I'll have pasta carbonara, a chicken burger without cheese, escargot, the filet, and an iced black coffee."

The waiter checked the menu and looked at Bella, "Anything for you?"

Bella waved her hand quickly at the waiter and said, "No, no. I'm fine, thank you." Nick had ordered the most expensive items on the menu, she couldn't think of ordering anything else. Nick casually sipped his drink as he glanced at the diamond ring on her hand, "Oh wow, a custom diamond ring! You are clearly rich, so why would you be looking to pick up private work? What, the money your husband gives to you isn't enough to support your gigolo?" he scoffed at her.

Bella was speechless at his playful words. She rubbed her painful temple and asked, “Mr. Williams, can we talk about the product design of your company now?"

Nick looked at her confused, "Don't you think you should explain the reason why you stood me up yesterday?"

Bella was speechless again. To this man, she was a helpless little girl, but she still  wanted to try to see if she could get the job.

"Someone in my home had an accident yesterday and I didn't have time to call to tell you." Bella picked up her phone and showed it to him. "Then, there was a problem with the software. You see, my phone couldn’t download it, it's broken. Again, I'm really sorry."

Charles chuckled. "I always think that women's words are not very credible, but it's rare to find one lying through her teeth like you." He bounced her big diamond ring with his hand, "Is the person wearing a 20 million dollar diamond ring crying to me and saying that she can't afford a mobile phone worth 300 dollars? Is that what's happening?"

Yes, it was true. To be honest, if it weren’t for the existence of Charles she really couldn't afford a phone.

Originally, her mobile phone was able to download software. But, when she was thrown against the wall by Charles, the phone in her pocket was also smashed on the wall. Else had healed her, but her phone was not repaired.

Bella suddenly felt she may get nothing here today. This Nick seemed to come here to settle the account with her today and to have no interest in talking about the design.

Forget it, just think, you can cross off a bad review on the design website.

Bella appeased herself and smiled at Nick. "I am sorry for yesterday. I am going to pay the bill, and may you enjoy your meal." She got up, but her hand was caught by Nick.

Nick clasped her wrist and smacked his lips, revealing a smug smile. "After the explanation, isn't it time to report your work to me?"

Bella was puzzled at first, then she said, “You, you don't you believe me, do you?”

“Hey, doubt is one thing, work is another.” As they spoke of this, the waiter brought their food. Nick glanced at her and asked, "You don't want to eat anything for lunch?"

Bella was surprised. She pointed to the table full of food in front of him and asked, "What do you mean, all of this food is for you?"

"Did you think I was ordering for you?" he scoffed and began to eat his food.

Bella was very embarrassed. She thought that since he had ordered so much that he would have wanted to share some with her, but it was all for him!

Bella had to order a glass of water and a burger, then she talked about her thoughts on the design.

All of this is for money. All of this is for money. All of this is for money. She reminded herself over and over again.

“I feel that the product must have a texture and the real map is also essential. If your company can submit some real-life maps, it will be more attractive after typesetting. Because of the real scene...”

Nick interrupted her. “Does your husband know that you are looking for private work?”

Bella didn't understand, but she still shook her head, “No, he doesn't know."

"Then he doesn't know that you are here seeing me now?"

"No, he does not know."

Nick took a bite of the burger and gave a satisfying sigh. "It’s so good, although I'm not married, I am having had an affair.”

Bella was speechless, "We are not having an affair. We are talking about work."

"As far as I know, an affair means that a close relationship is  kept with a third party when he or she has a girlfriend or boyfriend, or he or she is married. You are married, but you come out secretly to meet another guy to have lunch together. If it's such a secret thing for a married woman to have lunch with a guy her husband doesn’t know, isn’t it an affair?" Nick said as he looked at Bella.

Bella couldn't eat anymore. She put the burger down on her plate and stood up. "I am here today to apologize to you. You can choose not to accept it, but you should not humiliate me. I wouldn’t work for your company after this. Goodbye!"

Nick grabbed her hand and watched her struggle against him. "How violent–tempered you are. Think about my mood yesterday when I was got stood up by you."

"I have already apologized to you."

"But I haven't finished eating my apology meal. I haven’t cooled down yet." Nick pointed at the food in front of him.

Bella had a headache. "What do you want?"

"Sit down and eat with me. This job is yours. I've already transferred the money for your services."

"How is that possible? When?" She hadn't finished speaking when she received a text message from the bank.

"Three...thousand?" Bella looked at him unexpectedly. "You gave me the full amount? Aren’t you afraid that I will not be worth it?"

"No, this is half. When the job is finished I will pay you the remaining three thousand. How about it? Or will you still insist on leaving?" Nick looked at her with a faint smile.

Bella at down and said, "I won’t. Mr. Williams, you can take your time to enjoy your lunch."

Nick suddenly stretched out his oily hand and touched her hair, "Financial fans." Bella was completely immersed in the joy of making money and was not aware of his strangeness or the odd enchanted yet fierce look in his eyes.