ELLA.

Honestly, I was already getting fed up with the man who had just walked into the office.

From the moment he stepped in, there was something about him that rubbed me the wrong way. At first, he claimed he was looking for Lawrence, which should have been simple enough...but the moment Lawrence showed up, his attention shifted.

To me.

And I didn’t like that.

It wasn’t compulsory to know everyone. I didn’t owe him familiarity, conversation, or recognition. Yet, the way he looked at me...the way he spoke...it felt like he was trying to drag me into something I didn’t ask for.

And honestly?

I didn’t like the aura he carried.

There was something unsettling about it, something sharp, intrusive, like a presence that refused to respect boundaries.

Aside from that, I was still pissed at Lawrence.

Very pissed.

So the last thing I wanted was to stand there and give him even the slightest opportunity to start another conversation with me. I didn’t trust myself to stay calm if he did.

Without giving it a second thought, I turned on my heel and walked out without looking back.

My steps were quick and determined as I made my way straight to Leonard’s office. If anywhere could give me a moment of peace, it was there.

Pushing the door open, I walked in and headed straight for the assistant’s desk. The familiarity of the space settled around me as I dropped my bag beside the chair and sank into it.

Finally, some quiet.

I exhaled softly, letting my shoulders relax just a little before reaching for the file I had carried with me earlier. If nothing else, I could bury myself in work and ignore everything else happening around me.

Page after page, I flipped through the documents, my eyes scanning the contents, forcing my mind to focus.

For a moment, it worked, until...the door burst open.

A sharp, familiar feminine voice followed almost immediately.

"Bitch! Why do you just seem to be everywhere!"

I didn’t even need to look up to know who it was.

Bella.

Of course.

I felt the irritation rise instantly, but I forced it down, keeping my expression neutral as I continued reading, pretending like she didn’t exist.

Maybe if I ignored her, she would go away.

But clearly, that was too much to hope for.

My silence only fueled her anger.

I heard her heels click sharply against the floor as she stormed closer, and before I could react, she grabbed my bag and threw it to the ground.

The sound echoed louder than it should have.

"I’m talking to you, bitch!" she yelled, her voice laced with fury.

I shut my eyes briefly, inhaling deeply.

Gosh.

I really didn’t want to deal with this.

But at the same time, I could feel my patience slipping, thread by thread, snapping under the weight of everything that had already happened.

Slowly, I lifted my head, my gaze meeting hers at last.

"What do you want, Bella?" I asked, my tone flat, controlled, but just barely.

"If you’re here to see the triplets," I continued, leaning back slightly in my chair, "then Lurgard and Leonard aren’t in the office at the moment..." I paused briefly, my eyes holding hers. "...but Lawrence is."

Bella let out a sharp, mocking laugh, crossing her arms as she tilted her head slightly.

"Oh, how thoughtful of you, Theresa," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Giving me updates about my brothers like you suddenly belong here."

I didn’t respond immediately. Instead, I bent down, picked up my bag from the floor, dusted it lightly, and placed it back on the desk like nothing had happened.

That only seemed to annoy her more.

"Are you deaf now too?" Bella snapped, stepping closer. "Or have you suddenly grown wings because you think being their secretary makes you important?"

I flipped a page in the file calmly.

"If you’re done, you can leave," I said without looking up. "I have work to do."

"Work?" she scoffed loudly. "You? Working? Please. We both know why you’re really here."

That got my attention.

Slowly, I lifted my gaze to meet hers.

"And why is that?" I asked, my voice dangerously calm.

Bella smirked, her eyes glinting with mischief and hatred.

"To spread your legs and trap them, of course," she said bluntly.

My grip on the file tightened slightly, but I didn’t let it show on my face.

"You really think so low of your own brothers?" I asked, raising a brow. "That any random woman can just ’trap’ them?"

Her expression darkened instantly.

"Don’t twist my words!" she snapped. "You’re not just any woman. You’re a parasite."

I let out a small, dry laugh.

"Interesting," I muttered. "Because from where I’m sitting, you seem more threatened than concerned."

That hit a nerve.

Bella’s face twisted in anger as she stepped even closer, slamming her hands on the desk.

"Don’t get ahead of yourself!" she yelled. "Do you really think they would choose you over me? Over their own family?"

I leaned back slightly, folding my arms.

"I didn’t know this was a competition," I said calmly. "But if it is...you’re the only one competing."

For a moment, she just stared at me, her chest rising and falling rapidly. Then she laughed again, but this time, it sounded...unstable.

"You’ve gotten bold," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Too bold."

"Or maybe," I shrugged lightly, "I’m just tired of entertaining your nonsense."

Her hand twitched slightly, like she wanted to hit me, but she held back.

"You think you’ve won something, don’t you?" she said, her voice dropping lower, colder. "Living under the same roof, working in the same company..." She leaned closer, her voice barely above a whisper. "But don’t forget who has been running things in that house."

I met her gaze without flinching.

"And don’t forget," I replied, "who tried to push me down the stairs."

That did it.

Her eyes widened for a split second before narrowing dangerously.

Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating.

Then suddenly...She straightened, smoothing her dress like nothing had happened.

A slow, sinister smile spread across her lips.

"You know what?" she said lightly. "Enjoy it while it lasts."

I didn’t respond.

She turned to leave, but paused at the door, glancing back at me one last time, her eyes were cold and empty filled with something dangerous.

"Just you wait," she said, her voice low and threatening. "I will get rid of you."