Bella told Bianca about the call she had received, about how Dylla had been sold overnight. She expected Bianca to rage with her, to be as furious as she was. Instead, Bianca leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Wait, wait, wait. Forget the car for a second. How hot was Christian Hampson in real life?"
Bella's jaw dropped. "Are you serious right now? You are married, Bianca. Married. And that is what you want to ask me?"
Bianca only laughed, tapping her crutch against the floor. "Come on, Bell. It is Christian Hampson we are talking about. The man is everywhere. Blogs, television, magazines. Forbes just named him the youngest billionaire bachelor in the world. You cannot tell me you did not notice how fine he is."
Bella crossed her arms, furious that her best friend could even joke about it. Christian Hampson was more than a headline. He was a problem. And now, thanks to him, Bella was without Dylla, the car her grandmother had given her on her eighteenth birthday. A car that meant far more than its paint or engine. Dylla was her last memory of her grandmother, who had died in a tragic fire not long after. Losing Dylla felt like losing her grandmother all over again.
"They just cannot take her away from me without a fight," Bella said, her voice trembling as she tried to keep her tears in check. "I cannot lose Dylla like this. Not to some billionaire who thinks he can buy and sell people's lives."
Bianca's smile softened. "So what do you plan to do? What is the plan?"
Bella straightened her shoulders. "I am going to see him. If I have to work for years to pay him back, so be it. What I will not allow is for him to sell off my only car like it meant nothing. The money he got from Dylla would not even cover the cost of repairing his Bentley anyway. Why does he have to be so cruel?"
Her voice broke on the last word, tears spilling onto her cheeks. She wiped them quickly, refusing to show weakness. She stood, changing out of her hospital gown and pulling on her clothes.
"I am going to give Christian Hampson a piece of my mind." She slipped her feet into her shoes, determination hardening her features.
"Then let us go together," Bianca said, trying to rise with her crutches.
Bella sighed. She had no intention of leaving Bianca behind. "Of course. I cannot face this without you."
The drive to Hampson International was tense. Bella gripped the wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white, while Bianca hummed under her breath as though this were just another adventure. But when the building finally came into view, both women gasped.
"Oh my goodness," Bella whispered.
"Just wow," Bianca added in admiration.
The skyscraper loomed before them, glass and steel stretching into the clouds. Sixty floors of power and wealth, with Hampson International's name gleaming in bold letters near the top. The building looked even more magnificent than it did on television.
Bella parked at the entrance, her chest tightening. Getting inside would not be easy. Men in black suits guarded the doors, their expressions unreadable, their posture stiff. She knew they would never allow her in without a reason.
"Stay here," Bella told Bianca gently. "Your leg does not need this stress. And if anything goes wrong, I do not want you caught in it."
Bianca looked ready to argue, but she nodded, settling back into her seat.
Bella inhaled deeply and stepped into the lobby. Her heart pounded, but she forced herself to walk with confidence, though her plan was fragile at best. She spotted the receptionist immediately. The woman was stunning, with sleek hair and perfectly painted lips. Her name tag read Nancy.
"Good afternoon, Nancy," Bella said in a high pitched voice, forcing a smile as she batted her eyelashes. "I am here to see Chris."
Nancy blinked at her, stunned. Few people ever dared to call Christian Hampson by his first name, let alone shorten it. Bella had not only crossed the line, she had stomped on it.
Nancy's glare made Bella flush. The sweetness act would not work here. She straightened her back and tried again.
"I need to see Mr Hampson," Bella said firmly. "I was the one who ran into his car last night. He was kind enough to take me to the hospital, but this morning I learned that he sold my car without my permission. I want to talk things out with him. If you could set up an appointment or just let me in, I promise I will not take much of his time."
Nancy leaned back in her chair, folding her manicured hands across the desk. "Miss Walter. Mr Hampson gave us clear instructions this morning not to let you into this building. He said you might come barging in like a homeless beggar, and by the looks of you, he was right. You certainly do resemble a vagrant. I am sorry, ma'am, but I value my job. You will not be seeing Mr Hampson today."
Bella's blood boiled. He had called her that? He had dared to reduce her to nothing more than dirt? She clenched her fists, ready to storm out, but Nancy's smug expression made her stop.
"Listen here," Bella snapped, her eyes blazing. "I understand that you are only doing your job, but you had no right to call me a tramp. I may not be wealthy, but I work every single day to support my family. Do not you dare insult me again. And as for your boss, you can tell him this: he cannot just sell my car like that. Dylla meant something to me, and I will fight him if I have to. I will sue him if I must. Even if I lose, I will go down fighting for what is mine."
Her chest heaved with anger. She spun around, ready to leave, when suddenly her feet lifted from the ground.
"What the...Put me down!" she shouted, thrashing against the strong arms that held her. She kicked, punched, even bit, but it was no use. Whoever carried her was far too strong.
"You monster!" Bella cried, her voice echoing through the lobby as the world tilted once again.