“Sure.”
I didn’t ask Bianca what kind of competition she was going to attend. We were all adults, well-versed in taking responsibility for our own actions.
In truth, I didn’t know Bianca well enough to interfere in her decisions.
But as I reached for my car keys, ready to leave, I changed my mind about remaining uninvolved.
Using the excuse that calling a taxi might be inconvenient, I invited Bianca to stay until I’d finished my business and could drive her home. At the very least, I could delay her departure until Garrett arrived and could give her another professional evaluation.
Bianca didn’t give me a clear answer, but I knew she agreed.
With my meeting with the Barnes Group representative drawing near, I couldn’t delay any longer. I grabbed my coat and documents and headed out.
Driving smoothly, I arrived at the address my assistant had sent me. Following the parking attendant’s instructions, I parked in the designated spot.
After some thought, I messaged Garrett, informing him that Bianca was awake and double-checking the time for her follow-up appointment.
Garrett, fresh out of surgery, responded amidst his busyness:
Don’t rush me. Almost ready.
I replied with a simple “OK.”
A new message from my assistant popped up:
Assistant:
Are you near the restaurant?
I switched to the chat window:
Me:
I’ve arrived.
Assistant:
Got it. The private room information has been sent to your phone.
I took the details and followed the restaurant staff to the designated room.
“Fancy seeing you here, Bert.”
Inside, Joela greeted me with a smug smile.
The scene before me aligned perfectly with my suspicions.
This business meeting was nothing but a trap set by Joela.
“What’s wrong, Bert? You don’t look surprised at all.” Joela was dressed impeccably, like a princess-elegant, proud, and clearly reveling in her own plans. She gestured for me to sit. “I guess you’ve been expecting this meeting for some time. Were you looking forward to it?”
I stared at her coldly. “I had an appointment with Mr. Thomas.”
Joela feigned surprise. I knew it was an act.
“Didn’t Thomas tell you? He’s been reassigned to another project within the Barnes Group. I’m now in charge of the collaboration between Barnes and F. M. Allow me to formally introduce myself-Joela Barnes.”
Her smug expression was deliberate, as if she were savoring her victory. “Now, can you sit down and enjoy a meal with me? I specifically ordered Moules Marinieres for you.”
“It’s your favorite dish, isn’t it?”
As a gentleman, I shouldn’t refuse a lady’s generous invitation. But Joela’s deliberate provocation made it impossible for me to maintain my usual decorum.
“I’ll pass,” I said flatly. “Subtle tactics aren’t your style, Joela. If you have an agenda, just say it.”
“You always assume the worst of me, Bert.” Joela instantly put on a mask of wounded innocence, sighing dramatically. “All I wanted was to invite you to lunch.”
“Thanks for the invitation, but I don’t appreciate deceptive methods,” I said, as my phone buzzed with a new email.
Bianca?
Had she left?
“I have other matters to attend to. I won’t intrude on Miss Barnes’ meal any longer.”
My abrupt departure caught Joela off guard. She shot to her feet, the chair scraping loudly against the floor.
“Stop right there, Bert!”
“If you leave now, aren’t you worried Barnes will cancel the collaboration with F. M.?”
“If you have the authority to do so, feel free to proceed,” I replied calmly. “Though I’d recommend going through the proper channels. Send the termination notice directly to my work email.”
“Thank you for your cooperation, Miss Barnes.” I opened the door to leave.
The bodyguards stationed outside immediately stepped forward, blocking my way.
“Mr. Falcone, you’re not allowed to leave just yet.”
I wasn’t alarmed by their interference. In fact, I found it amusing. “Resorting to imprisonment now?”
“My assistant has already contacted the police,” I said, showing Joela my phone screen, where my chat with Mr. Barnes was displayed. “Perhaps your uncle would prefer to discuss this directly with them?”
Joela let out a frustrated growl. “Are you threatening me?”
I spread my hands casually. “I think I’ve made my intentions clear.”
“Bert!”
Ignoring her anger, I asked politely, “May I leave now?”
Her bodyguards hesitated, waiting for her command.
Grinding her teeth, Joela made her decision. “Let him go!”
The bodyguards stepped aside, allowing me to leave.
“Apologies, Mr. Falcone. I’m not sure why Miss Barnes was the one who showed up at the restaurant,” my assistant stammered over the phone, panicked by the unexpected turn of events. “I was in contact with Mr. Thomas’ secretary as recently as this morning to confirm the meeting!”
Mr. Thomas’ secretary?
I had a good idea of where the problem originated.
“Cease all communications with Thomas’ secretary for now. Wait for my instructions,” I said.
Still flustered from the mishap, my assistant paused before replying, “Yes, sir.”
If Joela truly held sway over the Barnes Group’s collaboration with F. M., I’d need to prepare contingency plans to ensure our expansion into Mexico proceeded smoothly.
I put on my Bluetooth headset and dialed Mae’s number as I drove out of the restaurant parking lot.
“Hello, sir?” Mae’s voice came through, confirming that Bianca had indeed left the villa.
“Her bodyguard picked her up,” Mae added.
Though I hadn’t expected Bianca to leave early, I was relieved to know she was safe.
“Got it,” I said, shelving my concerns and refocusing on my work.
Not long after I left the restaurant, Thomas called me directly, inviting me to meet in person.
My eyes remained fixed on the documents before me. “I don’t see much sincerity in Barnes’ collaboration efforts, Thomas.”
“It seems our little princess has caused you quite a bit of trouble,” Thomas said, unfazed by my cold tone. He chuckled and extended a new invitation. “How about a thrilling motorcycle race? I promise Joela won’t be there.”
I couldn’t deny the importance of the Barnes project to F. M. After some thought, I accepted his enthusiastic proposal.
What I didn’t expect was to see Bianca at the race.
She was one of the participants-bold, unrestrained, utterly fearless.
She dared to accelerate while taking the curves! Was she insane?!
The roaring cheers from the crowd couldn’t drown out the pounding of my heart. My hands gripped the railing tightly, my upper body leaning forward as my gaze locked onto her slender, determined figure.
The final curve!
Bianca maintained her lead, executing a daring, masterful lean as she sped through the bend, crossing the finish line with an undeniable advantage.
“Brilliant!”
“Oh my God, that was incredible! Is she a newcomer to U. C.?”
“Hey, Bert, where are you going?”
“I’ll follow up on the collaboration later. Something’s come up,” I said, leaving Thomas behind as I hurried away from the stands.
I was heading straight toward the girl who shone brighter than the sun.