Chapter 9 Entangled in Power
BELLA
My heart raced as David stood before me, his eyes gleaming with a mix of arrogance and amusement. He leaned in, his voice low and smooth. "I want you to be my personal assistant."
I shot up from my chair, my voice louder than I intended. "What?!" The office fell silent, all eyes darting toward us. My mouth hung open in disbelief. His assistant? The words swirled in my mind like a whirlwind.
"You already have an assistant!" I stammered, taking a step back as he advanced toward me, a smirk playing on his lips. "Why me?"
He leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. "You started this, Bella, and I’m going to finish it. Just make sure you don’t fall in love with me."
His words sent a chill down my spine. Fall in love? I blinked, trying to shake off the absurdity of it all. No way. Not with him. This was just a contract—a year at most. I would never allow myself to fall for someone like David Copperfield, no matter how captivating his voice or how close he hovered near me.
The entire office seemed frozen, eyes glued to the unfolding scene. Where was Vivian? She should be here to see this—her brother practically handing me this position on a silver platter.
David’s voice sliced through my thoughts. “From now on, nobody in this company is to bully Bella. Anyone who does will answer to me.”
Whispers rippled through the office, and I felt dozens of eyes bore into me. My cheeks burned under the sudden attention, my hands trembling as I grabbed the files David’s assistant had handed me.
“Follow me,” he commanded, leaving no room for questions.
I stumbled after him, struggling to process everything. Williams Corporation Group? I had heard of it, of course—one of the biggest shareholders of Copperfield Group. But why was I being dragged along?
“We have a meeting with Mrs. Williams,” David said, his tone steady, but my mind was anything but. Mrs. Williams? THE Mrs. Williams?
When we arrived, the atmosphere in the boardroom shifted. David’s usually cool demeanor softened; his interactions with Mrs. Williams were surprisingly warm, almost familial. He greeted her like an old friend, his eyes lighting up as they spoke.
Still dazed, I nearly jumped when Mrs. Williams turned to me, a smile dancing across her lips. “I was at your wedding, you know.”
My heart skipped a beat. “You... you were?” I stuttered, barely able to mask my shock.
Her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Oh, yes. I was there when you hesitated, almost saying no. I observed every detail; I knew you were the right fit for David.” Her wink caught me off guard, and I felt my face flush.
“I... I didn’t realize…” I muttered, my words trailing off, lost under the weight of her piercing gaze.
“You can call me ‘Mother,’” she added, her tone both warm and commanding. Then she turned back to David, her voice all business once more. “Bring her to the family dinner tonight.”
I swallowed hard, the room spinning as she continued discussing contracts and negotiations. But one name jolted me from my haze—Emma Group. My breath caught in my throat. Michael. My ex. He worked there.
Before I could fully grasp the situation, Michael entered the room, followed closely by his assistant. My heart hammered in my chest as memories flooded back. David’s hand suddenly found mine, pulling me toward him.
His grip was firm, possessive. “Sit here,” he said, his voice low, leaving no room for argument. My pulse quickened, and I shot a glance at Michael. His eyes locked onto David’s hand intertwined with mine, his expression darkening.
David, sensing the tension, stood, his hand sliding to my waist, pulling me even closer. “Relax,” he whispered, but the tension in his voice betrayed him. Michael’s gaze darkened further, his jaw clenched tight.
David’s fingers pressed into my waist, and heat radiated from him. He tilted his head slightly, his lips close to my ear again, sending a shiver through me. What was he doing? He was acting like we were a couple, holding me like he owned me. And in front of Michael, of all people. Did he know about my past with him? Or was this some twisted power play?
As I struggled to breathe, David’s gaze flicked to Michael, and the air crackled with unspoken tension. I knew Michael was observing everything—our connection, David's possessiveness, my unease. What game were we playing?
“Ready for the meeting?” David asked, his tone casual, but I could sense the underlying challenge.
I took a breath, trying to find my footing. "Yeah, let’s get this over with." I hoped my voice sounded steadier than I felt.
But as the meeting began, I couldn’t shake the feeling that everything was about to unravel. The stakes were higher than I ever imagined, and with David’s unpredictable presence, I was caught in a web of emotions that could ensnare me at any moment.