She couldn't enter to meet Rachel, as her daughter had been taken to the ICU and was still unconscious. Leaving the hospital in tears, Bella made her way home.
She checked her phone and saw her savings: 100,000 dollars. Still not enough. She sat on the bed, her mind consumed with worry for Rachel, unable to think clearly. She opened her closet and reached for her earrings, the only luxury she owned. Even if she sold them, it still wouldn't be enough.
She was about to close the closet when her eyes fell on a neatly folded coat — his coat. The man she had encountered that night. She took it out and searched the pockets. Inside, she found only a visiting card:
Lucas Costanzo
LC Corporation
Phone number: xxx
Bella grabbed her overcoat and headed to his office. She realized he might be able to help, considering he had booked a VIP room that night. Upon arriving at the company, she went straight to the reception desk.
"Excuse me! I need to find Mr. Lucas Costanzo. Can you please let me meet him?"
"Sorry, ma'am, but you can't meet the CEO without an appointment. Do you have one?"
"No, I don't. But this is a really important matter. Can you please call him to ask if he can meet me?"
The receptionist, a professional woman, didn't make decisions on her own. Still, the urgency in Bella's voice made her pause.
"Alright, ma'am. Please tell me your name and wait in the lounge while I call."
"My name is Bella Knights. Thank you."
Bella sat in the waiting lounge, still shocked to learn that he was the CEO of LC Corporation. She had known he was wealthy, but owning such a massive company was not something she had expected.
Meanwhile, the receptionist made the call. "Hello, Mr. Mark. There's a lady here who wants to meet sir. Her name is Bella Knights. She doesn't have an appointment."
"Wait a minute. I need to ask sir," Mark replied.
He quickly went to Lucas's office and knocked. Upon being granted permission, he entered and was met by Lucas's questioning eyes.
"Ms. Bella Knights is here, sir. She wants to meet you."
"Why?" Lucas asked, his tone flat.
Lucas wasn't surprised by her arrival. Most of the women he had spent a night with would eventually come to him — for money. He hoped Bella had come for another reason.
"Don't know, sir. Should I call her up or not?"
"Let's meet her then. Fetch her."
"Yes, sir."
Mark informed the receptionist and then made his way to the lounge. He spotted Bella immediately — she was even more beautiful than in the pictures he had seen, though her red eyes and tear-stained face made him wonder if she had been crying.
"Hello, Ms. Bella. I'm Mark, secretary of Mr. Lucas."
"Hello, Mr. Mark. I want to meet Mr. Lucas. Can I?"
"Sir has asked you to meet him. Please follow me."
He escorted her to the elevator, and soon they were at the top floor. Mark knocked on the CEO's office door.
A deep voice responded, "Come in."
Mark opened the door, and Bella stepped inside. The office was spacious, with a monochrome black-and-white interior. She looked around before her gaze settled on a figure standing by the window.
"Good morning, Mr. Costanzo," she said.
Lucas turned to face her, his eyes deep and unreadable. For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw longing there.
"Mr. Costanzo?" He chuckled. "That's not how you addressed me last time, Bella."
Heat rose to her cheeks as memories of that night surfaced. She liked the way her name sounded in his deep voice, but she quickly pushed the thought aside, remembering why she was here.
"Well! What's the reason for your arrival?" Lucas asked.
"I… I came to return your coat."
"After so many days?"
"I didn't know about you. I just found out today."
"Keep it on the table. Is that the only reason you came?"
"There is something else too…"
'Are you like them too?' Lucas thought bitterly. 'Do you also come to ask for money? Why do I hope you're not like the others?'
"What is it?" he asked aloud.
"Can you lend me some money? I need it for something important. I promise I'll try to pay it back soon."
And there it was — crushing the hope he had harbored. His eyes hardened.
"Why should I lend you money? Can you give me a reason?"
Bella lowered her gaze. He was right. Why would he help her when he barely knew her? But if she told him the truth, would it make a difference?
"Can't think of a reason?" Lucas's tone was sharp. "Well, how about I suggest one? Maybe because I spent a night with you? Isn't that good enough?"
"What do you mean? What do you think of me? Am I a slut to you?"
"Well, didn't you come here to ask for money?"
"That doesn't explain my character. Can't I ask you for a loan?"
"I guess we don't know each other that much Bella, unless you count that night. So I can only give you money because of that night."
Bella stared at him in disbelief. He was right — he didn't know her, so why would he give her a loan? But she couldn't accept money under that condition.
She was angry, but she had nowhere else to turn. Someone had to back down, and given the situation, it had to be her.
"What do you think then?" Lucas asked, his voice low.