Chapter 359:
Ella pressed her lips together in slight disappointment. After a few seconds of silence, she said, “If Bella isn’t working here, will you even bother to call me back?”
Klein hesitated, then replied, “Ella, you’re a very mature and rational woman. Why are you acting like this?”
Ella’s tone softened.
“I’m only stating the truth.”
“If it weren’t for the fact that I know you well, I wouldn’t have asked you to look after Bella,” Klein said with a laugh.
Ella responded, “If Bella hadn’t happened to come to my company, you wouldn’t have sent her to me, would you?”
Klein chuckled lightly.
“You’re overthinking it. Actually, I’ve always wanted to introduce her to work at your accounting firm. She just didn’t want to.”
Klein’s explanation eased some of the tension in the conversation, but Ella’s mind was still preoccupied with Bella’s absence.
“I believe what you said. Bella is a smart and independent woman. She always does her best to learn and never complains. No wonder you’re so attentive to her, willing to give up all the other women just for her.” Ella teased.
“Enough. What do you want from me?” Klein asked, slightly irritated.
Ella responded, “Bella has caught a severe cold these past few days. I asked her to go home and rest yesterday morning, but she hasn’t come to work since then, and we can’t get in touch with her by phone. We don’t know where she lives, so I called you…”
Stay tuned for more gαlnσνℯℓs.c○m
“Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” Klein’s voice was sharp as he cut her off. Before Ella could say anything more, he let out an irritated roar and hung up the phone.
“Hello?” Ella said into the phone, but it was too late. She looked down at the phone in her hand, now disconnected, and a sense of annoyance crept in. She tossed the phone onto the desk, feeling both disappointed and angry.
More than a month ago, Klein had personally contacted Ella and invited her to dinner. She had dressed beautifully for the occasion, thinking it was just a casual meal. However, she hadn’t expected that the purpose of the dinner was for Klein to ask for her help with Bella, whom he had just recruited. At that time, Ella had felt a little frustrated. But, not wanting to appear petty, she agreed to his request. Additionally, she was curious about the kind of woman who had made Klein decide to give up on Vivian.
What Klein had asked of her was simple: to share some details about Bella’s recent life and to ease up on her at work, helping her out occasionally in everyday matters. Initially, Ella thought Bella would be a delicate, fragile woman. But as she got to know her better, Ella realized that Bella was strong, smart, hardworking, and very straightforward. She admired Bella’s determination and dedication to her work, but this admiration didn’t quell her feelings of competition. Ella often told herself that she was much more capable than Bella, though deep down, she knew there was nothing she could do about it. To make herself feel better, she sometimes told herself that Bella was younger and inexperienced.
The driving distance between J City and Wharton Mountain was three hours. But in less than two hours, Klein had arrived.
Ding dong… Ding dong…
“Bella! Bella! Open the door! Are you okay?” Klein knocked frantically on the door, but there was no response. He frowned, frustration creeping in. He stepped back, then suddenly kicked the door open with a forceful kick. Clang! The door splintered, and a hole appeared in the wooden door. Klein immediately rushed inside, heading straight for the bedroom. There, he saw Bella curled up on the bed. He hurried over, reaching to touch her forehead. It was burning with fever, and her body was trembling.
“Bella?” he called gently, lightly patting her cheek.
