CHAPTER 82: BEHAVE YOURSELF

For a long, tense moment, they just stared at each other, the air between them thick with everything unsaid. Then Jake nodded slowly, and defeated. She didn’t seem like she wanted to talk to him.

"Alright," he murmured. "If that’s what you want."

When she didn’t answer, he turned and walked out, the weight in his chest almost unbearable. He didn’t understand it. None of it made sense. Why was she suddenly acting like this? What exactly had happened?

Bella’s hands shook slightly as she poured coffee into his mug a few minutes later. She hated how her chest still ached. How the sight of him, confused and sincere, almost made her want to believe him.

But the image from last night wouldn’t leave her mind no matter how hard she tried to push it off her mind.

She blinked hard, trying to shove the memory away. Maybe this was what she got for trusting him again. For thinking that he was different now.

Carrying the coffee and her tablet, she walked into Jake’s office.

He was standing near the window, staring out at the skyline. The light hit his frame—sharp, handsome, and.... tired. When she entered, he turned immediately, hope flashing briefly in his eyes.

"Bella," he began softly. Perhaps, she’d want to talk to him now.

She forced a small, professional smile. "Your coffee, sir," she said, setting it down on his desk.

He frowned at the "sir," but didn’t comment. That was the least right now. Everything would go back to normal if he could just talk to her and find out what it was.

"I’ll go over your schedule now," she continued briskly, scrolling on her tablet. "You have a meeting with the marketing team at ten, a design presentation at noon, and lunch with the board at one-thirty. Your call with the investors has been moved to four."

He just stared at her. Every word felt like a dagger—so impersonal, so cold. He didn’t even hear a word she said.

"Bella," he said finally, stepping closer. "Can you just stop for a second?"

She looked up, her expression calm but guarded. "Yes, sir?"

He flinched at the formality again. "Don’t do that, please," he said quietly.

"Do what, sir?" Bella asked, holding her head up even though she was shattering deep within.

"Don’t talk to me like I’m some stranger, please. What’s going on? Why are you acting like this?" he asked in confusion.

Bella looked at him and her throat tightened. "I’m not acting like anything," she said, forcing steadiness into her voice. "I’m... just doing my job."

"That’s not what this is," he said, moving closer. His voice lowered, raw and pleading. "You’re angry. I can see it. Just tell me why. It can’t be just because I stood you up. What happened? Did I do something I don’t know about?"

Her pulse spiked. For a moment, she almost cracked — almost told him what she’d seen, how much it hurt. But then, how could he not know? He didn’t just make her see him with Helena, he made her realize nothing could ever go on between them. He had Helena, he loved Helena and the thought made her shut down again.

He’d just wanted to make her feel.special, probably just to make up for the guilt he said he’d been carrying towards her for the past five years.

"I’m not angry, Mr. Stone," she said softly. "I just think it’s best we keep things... simple. You’re my boss, I’m your assistant and that’s all. Things shouldn’t progress more than that."

He exhaled sharply, frustration creeping into his tone. "Simple? Things shouldn’t progress? Why? We were talking, Bella. We were finally being honest with each other, and now—"

"Now, I realize it was a mistake," she cut in, her voice low. "It’s better this way. Please, Mr. Stone, go back to your desk. I’ll bring in the documents you asked for."

Jake stared at her—her face calm but her eyes shining with unshed tears.

Something deep in his gut twisted. She was hurting. There was something more he didn’t know. He wanted to reach for her, to shake the truth out of whatever wall she’d built overnight. But instead, he forced himself to take a slow step back.

"Alright," he said hoarsely. "If that’s how you want it."

Bella nodded faintly. "It is."

She turned to leave, but before she could step out, he reached for her arm. Not roughly — just a desperate touch. He couldn’t let her leave this way. It was breaking his heart too.

"Bella," he whispered. "Please. Whatever happened... whatever I did... I’m sorry. I really am. Just forgive me and let’s go back to the way we’ve been. I miss you, Bella and I want to be able to hold you again, to look into your eyes lovingly. I want to be able to.... kiss you again, please."

She froze, her back stiff, her heart breaking all over again. Slowly, she pulled her arm free and said quietly, without turning around, "Behave yourself, Mr. Stone. Whatever happened between us was in the past. It’s over so please, let me be."

And with that, she walked out.

Jake stood there, staring at the closed door long after she was gone.

Her words echoed in his head, hollow and sharp. Behave yourself. In the past.

He sank into his chair, running a hand over his face, confusion and regret burning in his chest.

Something had happened — something he couldn’t remember or didn’t know. And somehow, it had destroyed everything he’d been building with her or everything he thought he’d build with her.

And as he stared at the steaming cup of coffee she’d left behind, one thought consumed him:

What if it wasn’t just that I stood her up? What if there’s something else I don’t know? He needed to find out but how?

Why couldn’t she just say something? What exactly could have happened to make her this mad? Or was it related to Timothy or her family?

He sighed, facepalming himself. He needed to do something before he lost the only chance he had to be with Bella, again.