Through thick and thin

Through thick and thin
(Dean)

Full tilt into my meetings and I've barely come up for air. It's been a busy day, even so more than usual.

And I can't wait to get done with it and head back home to my woman and kids. I couldn't wait until I could hold Bella in my arms again.

But then, I had an odd feeling when I called Bella before getting on with these meetings and she didn't answer, I texted her and waited for a while but got no response.

Humphrey came to inform me that it was time for the meeting, my eyes had flickered on the phone before I put it on silence and handed it over to Humphrey, alongside my other phone.

I do that whenever I have important meetings to avoid distractions, and this one is with international investors, so yeah.

"We're looking forward to working with you, Mr. Brennan." One of the men says with a grin as he extends his hand toward me.

A smile sits on my lips as I take the hand he's offering. "It's a pleasure, Mr. Duke."

Once done, I head out to where Humphrey is seated, waiting.

He gets on his feet as he sees me approaching, and then he pulls the door open and gives me a polite nod.

"How did it go, sir." He asked as we head back to the hotel suite.

"Aced it, they're investing," I say with a proud smile and Humphrey nods, returning my smile.

I lean my head on the backseat and breathe out a long sigh, tired. It's been a really long day and some rest would do.

Humphrey hands me my phones as I step out of the car and I almost forgot about it, now I'm worried about hearing from Bella.

I take the phones, my eyes scanning for Bella's text or calls but there's none. Just tons of missed calls from Ethan.

Before returning his call, I dialed Bella's number again but just as before it didn't go through, this time it entered voicemail, that's strange.

I call Ethan back as I step into my suite, tugging at my tie to get it off.

"Where the heck did you leave your phone," Ethan purred, his voice couldn't be more tense and high-pitched.

But then, I rolled my eyes like he could see me, he knew about this meeting. "Just got off a meeting with —," I tried to answer but Ethan's voice cuts me off halfway.

"Well, I take it that you haven't seen the news, it's partly been taken care of but you still need to see it, check your phone, Dean." He says and sucked in a shaky breath.

I pulled my other phone out, and checked the photos Ethan had sent me, air escaped me as if I had choked on it.

My eyes zeroed in on those pictures that once ruined us, it was on the Internet, every freaking where, what the hell!

My hands clench against my phone and I almost saw red.

I stared at the screen of my phone, the surge of rage, heated anger flooded every ounce of my body.

"Fuck, this has to be why I couldn't get through to Bella," I swear, I'm going to sue the station, pages, the newspaper for publicity, every freaking one of them.

Just when we're beginning to get close and this happens?

My jaw clench at the thought of how this will affect Bella, mentally and otherwise. She doesn't deserve this.

I can't put this past mother and Ashley. They're are the only ones that has those pictures aside from me.

I won't let this one slide, I'll deal with them for doing this, for hurting my wife, I swear I will.

"See? It's that bad. I have pulled it down from socials, I have handled it, you do the PR part, but you need to get back to New York first," 

"Thank you, man." I breathed out and killed the call.

After Ethan's call, I immediately packed and got my private jet ready, informing Humphrey that we're heading back, of course he has his eyebrows raised at the last minute change but by mere looking at my face, he knows not to ask any question.

There's no time to waste or sleep, not when my woman is there, feeling shattered.

I need to be there for her, we'll get through it together.


I got off my jet and told Humphrey to handle the lawsuit.

That was all I said before I darted towards my car, heading straight to Bella's house.

The anxiety is killing me, what if this takes us back to where we've been? What if Bella decides that being with me brings chaos? What if she doesn't want me anymore?

My thoughts were all over the place. My breath became too shallow, my heart thundering against my ribcage, I was worried sick.

But I know I need to be a little bit calmer to handle the situation so I swallowed several deep breaths until my heart rate became less frantic.

Raymond pulled over, I stepped out of the car and practically rushed to Bella's front door.

I sucked in a sharp breath before I pressed the doorbell, and waited.

The door cracks open and those familiar eyes landed on me.

I squint, looking at the figure before me, same eyes. But it's not my Bella.

A lady, with dark hair and poise just like Bella gives me a quizzical look, her arms crossed below her chest.

And the way she carries herself, almost too familiar.

I can tell she's feisty with the way she's giving me a death stare, unfazed.

But what is this strange woman doing in Bella's apartment?

Who's she?

She clears her throat. "How may I help you?" She says, pulling me out of my thoughts, her tone neutral but not welcoming.

I steady my voice and reply. "I'm here to see, Bella. And you are?" 

She rolls her eyes but she doesn't answer, instead she straightens up and takes a step backwards, her voice firm as she says.

"I don't know who that is, I just moved in," And with that she shuts the door in my face.