Chương 9: Stay with Me
"Please don't fight" was the text message Mariel sent to her cell phone, before she got out of the car. The next message came from Brenda, who wrote "Are you planning a lunch date with Reef without telling me anything? How dare you."
Bella rolled her eyes and didn't reply to any of her best friends' messages and got out of her car. She put on her sunglasses to protect her eyes from the sun's reflection as she walked across the parking lot.
The office building she was headed to was a modern four-story building with an impressive ecogreen concept. The glass windows were large, taking in the light from outside fully, so there was no need to turn on the lights to illuminate the room during the day. Bella wouldn't be surprised if they get their electricity from solar panels on the rooftop.
Urban Tech Industries, Inc. Was originally a small contracting company on the verge of bankruptcy where Reef worked after graduating from college, which later, thanks to Reef's shrewd managerial potential, emerged from the crisis. Now with passage of time, seventy percent of the company's shares were eventually owned by Reef, which led to his appointment as Chief Executive Officer. Despite being the youngest in the company's executive board, no one has questioned his leadership until now. Reef is respected for his hard work and dedication. He is also labeled as a fair and wise leader.
Bella knew all this from her brief research on Reef on the internet, before leaving for Reef's office at 10:30 am. This morning, Reef's secretary called her back and told her that Reef would be expecting Bella at 11am.
A young man who appeared to be a junior employee greeted Bella at the lobby and escorted her directly to Reef's office on the top floor, then handed over the responsibility to a pretty blonde woman who smiled kindly.
"Hello, Miss Ross. Nice to meet you. I'm Grace Nolan. You really came on time, just like Mr. Davis said.
"Oh hi. Yes, that's my habit. I totally understand that making people wait a long time is very frustrating."
"Of course." Grace smiles. Her white teeth gleamed, making Bella wonder why a woman as beautiful as Grace Nolan became a secretary instead of a model. Because in addition to her very attractive face, her body was also tall and ideal. "Mr. Davis said that you are a very disciplined person. He is in his office. I'll take you."
Bella followed Grace down the hallway whose walls were decorated with paintings of natural landscapes, while asking herself how much Reef had told the secretary about her. Were Reef and his secretary so close that they could tell each other about their ex-lovers?
Grace opened a door at the end of the hallway, let Bella in and left her after smiling sweetly. Bella barely recognized Reef. There he was, sitting behind a large desk, looking down to read a piece of document in his hand. Reef was wearing a light blue shirt without a tie and a suit. They were neatly draped on a hanger stand in the corner of the room. Both long sleeves of his shirt are folded up to his elbows. He looked up when Bella stepped in. His serious face slowly relaxed as he realized who was in front of him.
"Hello, Reef." Bella greeted him. She didn't know what else to say, as she still felt uncomfortable from the fight the day before.
"Bella! Good to see you here!" There was no sign of aggravation in Reef's demeanor. He was as calm as the water on the surface of the pond. His smile expanded and he got up to greet Bella. "Come, let's sit down."
Reef's room was spacious and immaculate. The large glass windows provided a beautiful view of the garden outside. Just like the interior of the Red House, the interior of his room was modern minimalist and chic.
Reef directed her to a Scandinavian-style sofa facing the window. Bella sat with her heart pounding, unable to guess Reef's intentions of inviting her. Meanwhile, Reef sat opposite her, leaning back casually. "What would you like to drink, Bel?"
"No, thank you."
"So, are you going back to New York tomorrow?"
"Yes. I've already booked my ticket."
Reef nodded. His eyes looked at Bella deeply and intently, not the angry gaze he had when she left him yesterday. His gaze this time was a calm and calculating. Bella realized that she was dealing with Reef the CEO, not with a sexy man who was her ex-boyfriend. "I guess, we don't need much ado. I'll tell you what I mean by inviting you here." Reef cleared his throat. "I've been thinking about your intention to buy Red House. I think I can sell it to you."
Bella was stunned. "You .... are really going to sell it to me?" Dumbfounded, she stared at the man. "Why?"
"You really want that house, don't you?" Reef asked back.
"Yes, of course. But yesterday you said you wouldn't sell it to me. Why did you suddenly change your mind?"
"I thought about it all night. That house means a lot to you. You have memories of your childhood in the Red House, compared to me who has few memories. I saw your sadness as you crossed the threshold and realized how much things had changed since you left. I knew that, as you wandered around, you marked many scenes from the past in every corner of the house. How could I possibly own that house if you, who grew up there, coveted it so much?"
"Oh, I thought you would never understand. You were so angry yesterday."
"About yesterday I apologize." Reef sighed. "I shouldn't have reacted so harshly."
"Oh, Reef... I'm sorry too." Bella's tension melted away. Now, she smiled gently. "I shouldn't have told you my intentions so bluntly. Considering you must have had your reasons for buying Red House. I was also insensitive. I didn't know you had memories of that house too."
"You really don't know, Bella."
"Yes. I feel bad for you. I really don't know anything else about you. I'm sorry, Reef."
Reef smiled back. "That's okay. Now, let's talk about the business. I'll sell the house for whatever price you offer."
"Really?" Bella was wide-eyed. "You've got to be kidding me."
Reef shook his head. "I never joke in my office."
Bella paused. "I don't know what the market price of the house is. How much do you want to sell it for?"
Reef smiled at Bella's innocence. "I don't mean to belittle you, but do you really not mind if the price of the house is the same price I paid to Mrs. Lopez's heirs?"
"You mean eight hundred thousand dollars?"
"Yes."
Bella nodded. "I agree."
Reef raised one eyebrow. "Just like that? You agreed right away? I don't mean to underestimate your finances, Bel. But you can still bargain, really."
Bella shook her head. "No need. I thnk that price is worth it for Red House. Even if you sell it for a million dollars, I'll still buy it."
"Wow!" Reef chuckled. "I didn't realize you were such a rich author!"
****
Reef looked at the woman in front of him who seemed to calm down at the price he mentioned. Eight hundred thousand dollars was not a small amount but it was worth it for a solid old house in a quiet old settlement.
Reef knew from various articles that Bella owned several private properties, houses and apartments, all in elite neighborhoods. Her success as an author was followed by an increase in her coffers every year. Every novel written by Bella has always been a best seller. Even one year ago, one of Bella's novels won the National Book Award and was translated by publishers from France, Japan and Germany.
Since high school, Bella has secretly enjoyed writing. That's why she majored in literature at Columbia University. However, she didn't think she would actually become an author.
"It's not that," Bella said. "It's not about the money. Like you said, that house is my storehouse of memories."
"My storehouse of memories." Reef mumbled, mimicking. His eyes fell on Bella. How beautiful she looked sitting on the beige sofa, with her knee-length light green skirt and flowing red hair. The refracted sunlight shone on the top of her hair like a halo. She looked like a goddess. Bella was the repository of her memories. "Alright," Reef said. He swallowed, trying to focus on what he was going to say. He had been planning this since last night. "Eight hundred thousand dollars if you have a deal, but I also have some conditions."
"I don't understand." Bella looked at him confused. "Why do you have to have conditions?"
"If you really want something or achieve something, don't you have to overcome obstacles?"
"Reef, what conditions?" Bella was getting more and more confused. "What are you talking about?"
"First condition, I'll sell you the house if you stay there with me for one week."
"Are you crazy?" Bella was dumbfounded.
"Bella, you're the one who said that I haven't forgiven you all this time. You were right. I haven't been able to forgive you. No matter how many times you apologize, to me it's just empty words. For eight years, you never once appeared before me. You really left me with a cold heart. How could I believe that you were truly sorry? I need proof, Bella. If you really are sorry and want my forgiveness, if you really loved me once, you must be willing to make up for what you did to me by staying with me at the Red House for a week."
"Are you seriously giving me conditions like that?" Bella glared at him.
"I am serious." Reef nodded. "I'm not messing around."
"I can't." Bella replied curtly. "I don't want you to play games like this! Who do you think you are? You should think again before saying something like that to me. It's an insult to me."
Reef suddenly laughed. The laugh sounded bitter and tasteless. "You know, Bel, those are exactly the same words your father said to me eight years ago."
Reef enjoyed the look on Bella's face as it slowly paled in front of him.
****
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