Bella had been buried in her books all week, preparing for her upcoming exams. Focused and determined, she barely had time for anything else.
One afternoon, her mom made a special dish for Grace as a small thank-you for all her hard work during her internship. Bella was tasked with delivering it to William's law firm.
As she entered the office, she scanned the room—and froze. Anthony Manchester. Standing by the reception, calm and composed, as always.
Her cheeks flushed immediately. After the birthday party, she had tried to text him, but he never replied. She hadn't known why, and now seeing him in person made her feel a little embarrassed.
She cleared her throat and forced a smile, walking toward him and trying to act casual. Anthony looked up, surprised to see her, and for a moment they both just froze—an unspoken tension hanging between them.
Later, Anthony caught up with Bella in a quieter corner of the office. He smiled apologetically.
"Bella… I never got your message," he said.
Bella blinked, surprised. "You didn't?"
Anthony shook his head. "Nope. Turns out… you sent it to the wrong number."
Bella's eyes widened, a mix of relief and embarrassment washing over her. "Oh… wow," she murmured, covering her face for a moment.
Anthony chuckled softly. "I guess fate wanted us to meet in person instead," he teased gently.
Bella couldn't help but laugh, her earlier embarrassment melting away. "Yeah… fate has a funny way of doing things," she said.
"I'm glad it did, though. I'd much rather see you here than over a text," Anthony added.
Blushing, Bella looked down. "I… I'm glad too."
Anthony smirked lightly. "So… next time, maybe double-check the number before you send anything?"
Bella giggled, playful. "I'll make sure of it!"
---
After Bella delivered the meal to Grace, Anthony invited her to have lunch with him, but she politely declined—she barely knew him.
Once she left, Anthony walked over to William's office.
"Guess who I saw at the reception?" Anthony asked.
"Who?" William replied with a grin.
"I saw Bella," Anthony said, shooting him a quick glare. "You know she's still a bit young, so I don't want to make any advances on her."
"I know, man," William said, "but she has to at least know you have eyes for her. Bella's a pretty girl—I bet a lot of guys want her."
Anthony knew William was right, but he had just met her, and he didn't think she'd be interested in an older man like him. Still, he couldn't deny that something about her intrigued him, and a small, reluctant smile tugged at the corner of his lips.