Capítulo 10: Take It or Leave It

The handsome man in front of her smiled sarcastically, and Bella felt her heart ache. What her father did to Reef must have hurt him so much that he insulted Bella like this.

"Why?" asked Reef. "Don't tell me you don't know. You're just pretending."

"I really don't know!" snapped Bella under her breath. "You think you're the only one who feels played? Eight years ago, when our family left Saco, I was told that my father had taken care of everything. Aunt Ruth said he talked to you and like me, you were heartbroken but understood."

"No, I didn't. I wasn't told. All the townspeople knew about your moving plans, except me."

"What really happened?" asked Bella softly. "In the end, word of your rampage reached my ears from Mariel and Brenda. Since then I've never come here again because I feel guilty. No one told me then that you followed me to New York. Mariel told me yesterday. But she didn't want to tell me more. What did my father say to you then?"

"Ask your father," Reef said. "I wonder what he thinks about it from his great perspective. Then I'll tell you what happened from my perspective."

Bella moved on. "I will," she said. "When I arrive in New York tomorrow, I'll go to my father's house and ask him for an explanation."

"So, what about Red House?"

Bella glared at Reef. "Of course I'm not willing to stay with you, even if it's just for a week, Reef! Especially since you said that was the first condition. What's the next condition?"

Reef shrugged. "I'll tell you if you agree to the first condition."

"Then forget it!"

Bella grabbed her bag and moved to head for the door, but Reef immediately got up and grabbed her arm. "Wait, Bella!" Reef pulled her so that Bella's body almost crashed into Reef's chest. Bella gasped and tried to pull away. "You really want Red House, don't you?"

"Not anymore!"

"You're lying." Reef brought his face closer to Bella's. His gray eyes were like overcast clouds harboring a storm. "You want that house so badly, Isabella Ross. I saw it clearly on your face. You almost shed a tear when you saw it again."

"Not anymore, Reef Davis. I'm going back to New York. Just take the house for yourself."

Reef's eyes roamed over Bella's face, and stopped at her lips. His lopsided smile is one Bella knows if he's flirting with her.

"Really?" Reef's free hand comes up and rests on Bella's shoulder. "You'll regret it later."

"I won't, because I'm not willing to let you set me up on ridiculous terms!" snapped Bella.

Now the hand was raised again to Bella's face. With the tips of his fingers, Reef brushed Bella's lips, while his other hand now wrapped around Bella's waist. Bella tried to back away, but her body was held by Reef's desk. Reef's smile was still teasing her, and the man's fingers caressed her lips. Bella refrained from sighing. Her body was locked by Reef's body, her hips half leaning on the edge of the table.

"How about I give you half price?" asked Reef. His eyes still did not leave Bella's face. "Four hundred thousand dollars, hm? But still on the same terms."

"No."

"Okay. I'll sell it for two hundred thousand dollars."

"Still on your ridiculous terms? Still no."

You're still the same old stubborn girl." Reef shook his head. "What do you think if I give you the house for free?"

Bella glared. "You're such a nutcase! What the hell are you doing? You're trying to buy me off with that house? What kind of girl do you think I am to trade a week of my life for a house?"

But Reef didn't seem to care about Bella's anger. He pulled Bella's body even closer, and Bella felt her body heat increase. "Reef, stop it!" she hissed. But Reef's lips were now very close, and Bella could feel his warm breath and masculine scent that always managed to make her weak. When Reef's lips touched hers, the effect made Bella forget whatever they were arguing about.

Bella opened her mouth, letting Reef explore gently and soulfully. Her eyes were closed, enjoying every second of the kiss. Reef's hands caressed her back, while Bella had unconsciously draped her arms around Reef's neck. This was their second kiss after eight years had passed. Eight years! Oh my!

The kiss would have been so long and taken their breath away if only the warning ring didn't go off in Bella's mind.

"Oh, no!" Bella moved her head away, dodging when Reef was about to kiss her again. "What are you doing? Everyone can see us through that glass!" Bella's hand pointed at the large glass window in front of them.

Reef laughed. "Gee, I forgot." His hand reached out to the table behind Bella's back, and a remote was now in his hand. Then the entire glass darkened. "Well, you don't have to worry anymore."

But Bella immediately disengaged and moved away from Reef. "Why do you always flirt every time we meet?" she snapped irritably. "You make me look like an easy girl!"

"I'm just making things easier. Don't you have the same desires as me? You and I used to love kissing. You know, me and my messy life. Every time I kissed you I forgot all my misfortunes. You are my encouragement, Bella."

However, Bella, who was already upset, refrained from being impressed. Reef had nothing to feel sorry for. His life is well established now. He was no longer a broken home youth who had to work hard for his family. The current Reef was a rich man who was brash and too arrogant to forget the past.

"We have nothing more to talk about. I have to go." Bella straightened her clothes and headed for the door. This time, Reef did not try to hold her back.

"I'll ask Grace to escort you outside."

"No, thank you. I can manage on my own." Bella was about to open the door, when Reef called out to her.

"The sale of Red House and its terms will always be valid," Reef said. "It will always be open to you. Consider it and call me if you agree."

Bella did not answer. She strode out of Reef's room without looking back. However, just a few steps down the corridor, Grace approached her from the opposite direction.

"I'll walk you out," the secretary said kindly. "Are you okay? You look... uncomfortable. "

Did Reef tell his secretary that Bella was his ex-girlfriend? Bella hoped not. "I'm fine, Miss Nolan." She forced a smile.

"Call me Grace, Miss Ross."

What a lovely, friendly girl, Bella thought. Too perfect to be just a secretary. "Call me Bella. Have you been working here long?"

"Since Mr. Davis was appointed CEO," Grace said. "Almost four years."

"Long enough then. I guess you must like working for Mr. Davis."

"He's a strict and disciplined boss. But he's also kind and concerned about the welfare of his employees. Yes, of course I love working for him."

Bella smiled at Grace Nolan. The secretary had no idea her kind-hearted boss was nothing more than a man filled with a desire for revenge on his ex-girlfriend.

***

Eight years ago.

That day they had a date. Bella would be flying to New York in a week, on a morning flight. Her father had already booked her ticket. Reef picked her up after breakfast, this time in an old chevy truck painted light blue.

Bella ran from the front door and immediately jumped into the front seat next to Reef. "Hey, what a cool car! Where's your dad's Buick?"

"It just broke down," Reef said as he drove away from Bella's house. "This is Mr. Baker's. He's willing to lend me his car as long as I help him fix his kids' treehouse."

"The treehouse is nice, but it's a bit decrepit. It's dangerous for the kids. I once went up there with Mariel to take photos."

"Taking pictures of Greg Russel and his friends camping across the river? I wouldn't be surprised if you brought binoculars too!"

Bella laughed. "I was just accompanying Mariel. She had a huge crush on Greg at the time. But a month later Mariel forgot about him, because she thought Greg was boring."

Reef turned his head. "Are you going to forget me too?"

Bella looked back at Reef. "Why would you think I would?" He pretended to be offended.

"Because you'll be moving to a big city and there you'll meet a lot of people. You might meet someone more interesting and fun than me."

"That's not going to happen! Reef, I love you! We promised we'd stick together. You'll follow me there, right? I'm sure you'll get accepted to New York Tech next year."

"Yes," Reef said firmly. His jealousy disappeared. "This year I'll keep studying while working." He had stopped the car on the riverbank near the bridge, their favorite spot.

Bella spread her arms and hugged Reef, who hugged her back.

"You promise you'll wait for me, Bel?"

"Of course. Are you going to wait for me too?"

"Yes. Always," said Reef. "Come here, I want to kiss you, to seal our promise."

That day, they made out and kissed in Mr. Baker's Chevy Truck, as if there was nothing in the world for them to worry about. Both assumed that they would be together forever. However, they were wrong. Alex Ross was already waiting for his daughter to come home to give her a bomb blast.

"We're all moving out of here at the same time you're leaving for New York," her father said, after he sat Bella down in his study. "I mean, we're all moving there. You should also cut your ties with Reef Davis. That kid's life is too messed up. What can you expect from a guy like him?"

Bella yelled in anger which caused a commotion with her father, and the commotion took a toll on her mother's weak heart.

"You almost killed your mother!" Aunt Ruth stared at her sharply in front of the Hospital Emergency, while inside the doctor was examining her mother who had not regained consciousness.

From then on, Bella knew she had only one choice: obey her father. Because then, the health of her mother who has heart disease will be fine.

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