Bella returned to her office, the waitress who had played her part earlier rushing over with visible relief.
“I was scared to death! Mr.
Salvador is so handsome! He also has such an intense charm that my face turned red when I saw him.
Did I screw up, Ms.
Thompson?”
“No, you did a great job,” Bella reassured her, handing over an envelope.
“Here, you deserve this.
“
“Thank you, Ms.
Thompson!” The waitress eagerly accepted the envelope and felt the thick wad of cash inside.
Just then, Steven handed her a confidentiality agreement.
“I know you’re an honest lady, but for both parties’ sake, it’s safer to sign an agreement.
“
Bella’s smile was cold but composed.
“Please don’t reveal anything about what happened here today.
If a third party learns of our conversation with Mr.
Salvador, I’ll treat it as a breach of contract and pursue legal action.
“
The waitress nodded nervously, quickly signing the agreement and repeatedly assuring them that she would keep everything confidential before leaving.
“Isn’t Justin Salvador supposed to be ruthless? I think he’s just a fool in love! Don’t you think so, Ms.
Bella?” Steven asked, only to be met with Bella’s icy demeanor.
When Bella heard Steven, she snapped back to reality and gave a dry laugh.
“Yeah, Mr.
Salvador really loves Ms.
Gold.
He doesn’t mind compromising his dignity for his fiancée.
”
“I heard that Mr.
Salvador was once married and mistreated his ex-wife.
Ms.
Gold picked up the baton and reaped the benefits of what his ex-wife sowed…”
Bella slammed her palm on the table, glaring at Steven, who immediately froze, not understanding what had provoked her anger.
“Ms.
Bella, now that you and Justin Salvador are at odds, what’s next?” Steven quickly shifted the conversation.
“We’ll wait.
”
“Wait for what?”
“When the Golds can no longer bear the pressure and send Zeke to clarify their products’ quality issues, they’ll try to clear their name.
That’s when we’ll strike.
” Bella’s smile was full of venom.
“Will Justin help them again?”
“No, he won’t.
” Bella’s gaze shifted to the framed calligraphy Justin had complimented earlier.
“He was kept in the dark and didn’t see the Golds’ true colors before.
He was taken advantage of.
Now that he knows the truth, he won’t help them again.
He only cares about Rosalind, never anyone else.
This time, he helped because he was afraid that the Golds’ mess would affect his company.
He’s just calculating the risks.
”
Justin had climbed ten floors for Rosalind, but he wouldn’t even help Anna Brown with something as simple as pouring water.
— “Justin, my stomach hurts.
Will you please pour me a glass of water?”
— “I have something urgent to attend to.
Get Wilma to help you.
”
Bella burst into laughter, her eyes filled with mist.
“Justin, you and Rosalind are meant to be together.
You two are equally vile.
”
The memory of Justin’s behavior stayed with Bella as she thought about his visit to the hotel: rain when he arrived, thunder as he left.
The mood in the car felt just as oppressive, like a funeral.
Justin rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of the situation.
“Mr.
Salvador, what is Ms.
Thompson like? Why are you in such a bad mood after seeing her?” Ian asked, puzzled.
“You’ve always been able to handle everyone with ease, but this time…”
Justin’s mind drifted to a childhood picture of Bella, stirring something strange within him.