Chapter 152: Chapter 152 Time to act mean
"Mhm," Bella nodded, eyes glowing now. "He looked up tutorials online and everything! He was so careful and focused—it was actually really cute." She laughed softly, clearly remembering the moment, her hand resting on her lap as she gazed out the window like it was a sweet memory.
And something inside Leonardo burned. Hot and ugly. His grip tightened again. That little brother of his... watching her up close, touching her face with those clumsy hands, earning that soft laugh?
His jaw flexed as he pressed the accelerator just a bit harder than necessary.
The engine responded with a low growl, but Bella didn’t notice. She was still smiling. Still thinking about Jay.
Leonardo didn’t say anything for a long time after that. He just stared at the road with stormy eyes, silent... while something sharp twisted inside his chest.
***
Bella and Leonardo arrived on time, but Stella hadn’t shown up yet.
The private restaurant room was beautifully decorated, dimly lit with golden sconces on the wall and a long oval table at the center covered in white linen and a minimalist floral centerpiece. Bella sat down beside Leo, trying to look composed, though her fingers tugged nervously at the edge of her silky green dress.
He hadn’t said much after they got out of the car. Only a short "This way," and she had quietly followed him inside. Now, sitting together, she could sense a heaviness in the air. Leonardo looked... irritated. His jaw was clenched, and the muscle near his temple kept twitching like he was trying to hold something back.
Bella glanced at him from the side, her heart pounding. Is he always this serious at dinner meetings? Or was it because of Stella?
Before she could think more, the door opened with a soft click.
"Sorry I’m late," a sweet, sultry voice rang out, floating into the room like perfume.
Bella turned her head, and her eyes slightly widened.
Stella Aldridge.
She walked in like she owned the place—heels clicking softly against the floor, her blood-red dress hugging every inch of her perfect body. The neckline dipped low, showing off a deep, intentional cleavage line, and her curled dark hair looked like it belonged in a luxury shampoo commercial. Not a single strand was out of place. Her lips glistened, painted with some glossy shade of expensive pink.
She looked like the kind of woman who knew exactly how to steal attention the moment she entered a room.
Stella’s eyes were fixed on Leonardo.
"I had to change my dress twice," Stella said with a delicate smile as she gracefully sat in the chair across from them, crossing one smooth leg over the other with practiced elegance. "My stylist couldn’t get my hair right either. I told her, ’I can’t be late for this one,’ but oh well..." she chuckled softly, brushing her hair back as if she were filming an ad.
Bella blinked.
The way this woman was speaking like this was some high-end date night rather than a simple conversation dinner.
And worst of all she was acting like Bella didn’t exist.
Bella tried to stay composed. She had memorized lines from Scarlett’s "mean girl training."
Be cold. Be unimpressed.Don’t smile.
But she couldn’t help it. The way Stella’s eyes roamed over Leo like she wanted to eat him alive made her stomach twist.
Leonardo, for his part, didn’t even try to hide his displeasure. His expression remained blank, but the tick of his jaw only grew sharper.
Bella’s fingers tightened under the table.
Should she say something?
Would it sound petty if she did?
Her heart was thudding, and she was about to speak when Leo’s cold voice cut through the air.
"Miss Aldridge," he said without looking at her, his tone colder than frost. "Kindly stop staring at me and come to the point."
Stella blinked, as if shocked he called her out so directly.
Bella’s eyes widened slightly.
Did he just say that?
Stella tried to laugh it off, flipping her hair as she picked up the glass of water the waiter had just placed.
"Oh, Leo," she said with a soft laugh, "I was just thinking how handsome you’ve become. Is that such a bad thing?" She said it sweetly, even though she had only ever seen him in photos.
Bella took a slow breath. Her fingers curled into the fabric of her dress.
No.
No more quiet.
Time to act mean.
Just a little.
She turned to Stella with a soft, innocent smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "Busy remembering how handsome he is?" Bella asked sweetly. "Funny you couldn’t remember what time dinner started."
Stella blinked.
Leonardo glanced at Bella, a flicker of amusement in his stormy eyes.
Bella smiled softly, the picture of polite kindness.
"And you must have had a hard time choosing a dress," she said. "I mean, you were only... thirty minutes late."
She blinked innocently, then added, "But don’t worry, we didn’t eat without you or anything. We just memorized the menu six times."
Stella’s smile twitched.
Bella sipped her water calmly.
Inside, her heart was racing like she’d just run a marathon.
But outside she looked like a little green-dressed angel with a sprinkle of claws.
Stella narrowed her eyes slightly, but before she could say anything back, Leonardo finally spoke again—cold and commanding.
"Let’s not waste time. We’re not here for compliments or memories," he said, flipping open the folder his assistant had given him earlier. "You said you wanted to talk about your friend who helped with our firewall breach. Talk."
Bella didn’t look at Leo, but the corner of her lips tugged.
"I’ll bring her to meet you," Stella said with a smile, brushing invisible lint from her expensive sleeve. "She’s a brilliant hacker — sharp, fast, and discreet. I think you’ll want to hire her. Maybe tomorrow?"
Leonardo didn’t say anything immediately. His eyes were fixed on the paper in front of him, but his jaw moved slightly, as if he were grinding his molars together.
Bella’s heart gave a dull thud in her chest.
She turned her gaze slowly toward Stella, a fake smile twitching at the corners of her lips but her eyes? Her eyes narrowed like a warning. Her fingers, hidden under the table, curled tightly into fists on her lap.
So that was the plan?
Bring the so-called hacker.
Take credit for her work.
Smile sweetly and pretend like they were doing Leo a favor?
Bella bit the inside of her cheek so hard she nearly winced.
Scarlett’s voice echoed in her mind: "Don’t let anyone steal your credit..."
Bella’s breath was quiet, but her blood was roaring in her ears.