CHAPTER 88: NOT FAIR

He nodded slowly, guilt softening his expression. "You’re right," he murmured. "I just... hate to see her like this and not be able to help."

Chloe gathered her things, her irritation ebbing into tired sympathy. "I know. We all do. But next time, try listening instead of saving."

Before he could respond, she stood, slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked away, her quick strides echoing down the hall as she went after Bella.

Bella’s office was quiet when Chloe arrived. The door was slightly ajar, and through the narrow opening, she could see her best friend sitting at her desk, staring blankly at her computer screen. The monitor was on, but nothing was moving—no typing, no clicking, no life.

Chloe knocked gently before slipping in. "Hey," she said softly. "I told him off for you."

Bella’s lips twitched faintly, though it wasn’t quite a smile. "You didn’t have to. He was just trying to help."

Chloe pulled up a chair and sank into it with a sigh. "Yeah, I know. But I still think he was pressing too much. You said no, he should’ve stopped."

Bella glanced down at her hands. "He didn’t mean harm."

"Still," Chloe muttered. "There’s a difference between caring and cornering."

For a moment, silence hung between them — not awkward, just heavy with unspoken thoughts. Then Chloe leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees.

"So," she said gently, "this quitting thing. You really want to quit? Because of Jake and Helena."

Bella didn’t answer immediately. She just stared out the window at the faint outline of the city skyline, sunlight pooling through the blinds in soft stripes.

Then she sighed—heavy and deep—and nodded slowly. "I keep trying to shake it off, Chloe. To pretend it’s nothing, that it doesn’t matter. But every time I see him, every time I walk into his office, it’s like I’m seeing it all over again. That image. That moment. And it’s not just embarrassing—it’s haunting. I don’t want to make my work about that. I don’t want every hallway or meeting or glance to remind me of him with her. And to think he’s only apologizing for standing me up? I mean, what about texting me your address and making me see you with your girlfriend? It’s just so frustrating and annoying. I want my peace, please and staying here won’t give it to me."

Her voice cracked slightly at the end, and Chloe’s heart twisted painfully, her friend’s pain piercing deep into her heart too. How can Jake be that heartless?

"So you’re going to quit?" Chloe said quietly.

"I.... I have to," Bella said, her tone resigned. "It’s the only way I can breathe again."

Chloe sat back, her hands curling into fists on her lap. "This is just unbelievable," she muttered under her breath. "He gets to sit in his office — Mr. Perfect, Mr. StoneTech himself — charming the board and every woman who looks at him, while you’re the one ready to throw away a job you just started because of him and his deceit."

"Chloe—"

"No, I mean it!" Chloe’s voice rose. "It’s been, what, a month since you got this job? A month! And now you’re ready to walk away because that boss of yours wants to eat his cake and have it. I mean, if he already has someone, why would he even try to lead you on just to make you see them in bed? Was that some sort of payback for not telling him you recognized him or what? That’s not fair at all."

Bella gave a weak smile. "Fair doesn’t really matter here."

"Well, it should!" Chloe snapped, then stopped herself, exhaling hard. "Sorry. I just hate that he gets to keep going like nothing happened while you’re here trying to pick up your pieces. After everything you’ve been through. Liam, your mom, Timothy and now this!"

Bella reached across the table, her hand brushing Chloe’s. "It’s okay. Really. I’m not blaming him or trying to bring up the past. I just... can’t stay here anymore."

Chloe looked at her for a long moment, her anger softening into helplessness. "So what then? You’ve already decided? What next? What happens after you’ve quit?"

"I haven’t really thought about that," Bella said quietly. "I’ll think about it through the day. Maybe... when we get home, we’ll talk more about it. I just need to clear my head first."

Chloe nodded slowly, though she didn’t look convinced. "Alright," she said finally. "We’ll talk later. But I swear, if I see Jake anywhere, I might actually throw something at him."

That earned her the faintest laugh, although small, and brittle, but it was real.

"Please don’t," Bella said softly. "The last thing I need is you getting fired too."

Chloe grinned despite herself. "You underestimate how good I am at controlled chaos."

"More like professional troublemaking," Bella teased weakly.

Chloe’s grin widened. "Same thing."

They sat there for a while, the silence between them stretched but understanding. Chloe leaned back in her chair, her anger settling into quiet determination. She didn’t like this—not one bit—but if Bella was going to walk through it, she’d walk beside her.

Outside, the glass partition glowed faintly with sunlight. Beyond it, just a few meters away, Jake’s office door was closed. Chloe glanced at it once, her jaw tightening.

Maybe Bella didn’t want a fight. But Chloe? She wasn’t sure she could let this go so easily. She would stand by Bella, no doubt but she wasn’t going to let Jake do this to her friend and act like nothing happened.

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