Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Bella alighted from the cab she boarded earlier when she left the company. She paid the cab man, and hurried to her apartment. The tears she held up in her ever since she received the call from one of her neighbours left her eyes and rolled down her cheeks freely when she really saw her properties outside her house. Not like she has many things she could refer to as properties, but she is always contented with the little she has which were majorly just a few buckets, an old standing fan, and a big leather bag where she keeps her clothes, shoes, and other of her properties

Not having anywhere else to go or anyone to turn to, she moved closer to her landlady's apartment and knocked on her door. At the third knock, a middle aged woman with wrinkles on her face came out.

"Ma'am Lisa. Please, kindly spare me till the end of this month. I'll try all my possible best to pay the rent" Bella instantly went on her knees in front of the woman.

"This is not the first time you'll say that. Ever since your father died, you haven't paid the rent. Yet, I allowed you to stay all because of your promises to pay. Did you fulfill them?" the woman fired at her. Bella couldn't answer the woman's question because she didn't pay as she promised.

Life has not been easy on her. Her mother died when she was in college due to the inability to pay the hospital bills and her father also died of hypertension after her mother. While running his business, he accumulated a lot of debts with the hope of being able to pay back but unfortunately, he suddenly went bankrupt after a few months and the cause of his business going down remain unclear. This made Bella so determined to study Business Administration in the university so she would be able to help her father make a comeback in his business, without her knowing he'll leave the world so soon. She studied really hard, that she had no time for parties or fun whatsoever.

However, luck was no on her side. After her father's death, Bella was left with a huge amount of debt to settle. The debtors her father owed constantly came to accost and harass her leaving her with no choice than to use the salary she receives to pay up the debt little by little which was her reason for not paying the house rent. Her plan of making her father's business grow back by picking up the pieces was shattered since she does not have the resources to execute it.

The landlady turned deaf ears to her and left her on the spot crying and still pleading.

"What do I do?, Who will take me in?, Where will I pass the night?, I don't have enough money to get another house right now. My previous month salary have been quarterly used up. If I tell my boss, will he assist me?. Even if he does, I don't want to be a burden to anyone". All these, she thought of until she finally decided to spend the night at the company, then find a solution to her homelessness the next day"

She picked up her things and dragged them behind her. Headed for her workplace.

*******

Catherine left her husband's company in the evening. It has been a really long day for her. As usual, she went to the company to fulfill her duties as the CEO's wife that she is. Second in command of the whole Basse Company. Most employees in the company do not really like her recent ways and actions of relating with people and handling things. Like she changed to her child, she also changed to outsiders. It was more or less like a complete change as she never stopped complaining about every single thing they do.

"What's with the sudden change?". That's the most frequent question often asked by the workers when they see her acting all mighty and snobbish.

She entered her car and asked her driver to drive to her favorite restaurant because she was really famished.

"At your service ma'am" the driver replied her. He started the car, and drove out of the company.

On the way to the restaurant, Catherine rested her back on the seat thinking. For the whole day, she used her time searching online for information about the Arrowhood Group of Companies. Her husband would usually tell her to never do anything that would upset them which she complied as they were the leading business group in the business world. A single action from them can make another company come to an end.

But today was different. Something triggered her to make some research about them. Why have they always been the number one?. It's not like the other companies are not trying. What's thier secret?.

From her search, rumor has it that the director of the company's activities is not Scott Arrowhood who is popularly known as the CEO, but an anonymous person. How true is it?. Catherine wanted to find out, but how would she go about it?. Everyone she knows working in the Arrowhood Company are tight-lipped and she also can't let her husband know what she's trying to do as bringing them down is her very new plan she wants to execute.

"Well, no rush. One step at a time to avoid mistakes" she smirked at her thought and looked outside the car window.

Surprisingly, she noticed a lady walking slowly with a luggage behind her on the other side of the road. She sat bolt upright immediately so she could have a very good look at the person.

"It's Isabella" she said aloud unknowingly.

"Ma'am, what do you mean?. No one is here with us" the driver said to her wondering if her state of mind changed as well.

"Stop the car!" Catherine instructed and the driver parked properly on one side of the road. Then she pointed at the lady she saw, and directed her driver to reach out to her.

"Miss!" the driver shouted as he ran towards the woman who was still walking.

"Yes, do I know you?" came the reply.

"Er..r..m. My boss told me to call you" he scratched his head with his forefinger not sure of how the message should be delivered.

The lady was not so sure of what's going on, but she still asked who and where his boss is and the the driver pointed to where Catherine's car was parked.

"Is this some kind of joke?, I don't even know who's in that car and he expects me to follow him there. What if it's a plan for me to get kidnapped?. If his boss really needs me, he or she will get down and stop being foolish".

The lady looked at the driver and then to the car, then continued walking to her destination ignoring the person in front of her and his so called boss.

"Isabella!" she suddenly heard someone call her name. She turned around facing the direction, and was shocked beyond words upon seeing the person who called her.

"Catherine!" she exclaimed and walked over to where the caller who had just alighted from her car was.

" Long time no see Bella" Catherine hugged her with so much emotions passing through her at that moment. It's been a long time she saw her best friend. Bella and Catherine were friends who met in the university. They studied the same course and were often supportive to each other, but the fact that Catherine came from a rich family made them less closer than they should be with time.

"How have you been?" Catherine asked checking her friend out from head to toe.

"I've been doing fine. At least, I'm trying my best. What about you?" Bella asked in return.

"Doing great too. But what's all this luggage with you?. What happened?. Where are you going?. And why are your eye lids swollen?" Catherine bombarded Bella with different questions all in a rush.

"It's a long story" Bella sighed weakly.

"Alright, I'm on my way to the restaurant now. I don't know if you'll like to come with me"

"Sure" Bella answered quickly. "Thank my stars. This will save me the stress of carrying all this luggage while walking" she thought and entered the car after Catherine as the driver began driving again after he placed Bella's luggage in the car boot.

Soon, they arrived at the restaurant. Throughout the ride, no one said a word. They were only stealing glances at each other thinking about how they've changed after a long while.

"Let's go in" Catherine said and walked forward after they all got down from the car. They entered the VIP section and she ordered food for both of them.

"So what's the long story?" she asked while they were eating. Bella cleared her throat and narrated her ordeals to her friend, starting from what happened to her father's business, to the reason she's with a lot of luggages.

"You should have put a call through to me. I might be of help" Catherine said with pity. Bella was irritated by Catherine's look of pity, but does she have a choice?.

"This might be the only person who could help me out right now".

"I lost your contact after we graduated" she said while Catherine only nodded and they continued eating.

"Did you say you work in the Arrowhood Group of Companies now?" she suddenly asked not sure if she heard well.

"Yes. Any problem?" Bella asked suspiciously and Catherine replied that she's just surprised that she's working in such a big company. Not just any company, but the very best.

"I'm not as lucky as you are. You come from a rich family, and you're married to a billionaire. I won't be in this state if I'm that lucky". Catherine smiled at Bella's words. Then, a thought struck her.

"Since Isabella is the present secretary to Mr Arrowhood, she'll know a lot about the company procedures and activities. I can get the information I need from her. But, how do I get her to work for me?. Let me try helping her first, then see how things go"

"I can help you with your accomodation right now" Catherine said to her friend. By this time, they've finished eating.

"Really!" Bella asked surprised and Catherine nodded.

"Thanks a lot. You don't know how great your help is to me this moment." Bella clasped her friends hands totally elated and grateful.

"I can also help you with the rest of your father's debt and some other things you might need." Catherine added.

"Wow. Thanks a lot. You are such a darling. I'll try to repay yo........"

"But on one condition" Catherine said stopping Bella from completing what she wanted to say.

"What's the condition?" Bella asked.

"You'll have to provide me the information I need when it's time"

"What information?, information about what?"

"The Company you work for!" Catherine said and Bella looked exactly into her eyes immediately.

"What for?." she queried Catherine.

"Oh!. Look at you. All tensed up. Just little information about thier services. That's all" Catherine said with a grin on her face.

Still not sure of what Catherine has in mind, Bella asked her to give her some time to think about it.

"Sure. But I need a reply tomorrow and you can stay at one of my houses from now till whenever. That's not included in the conditions". Catherine said and told her driver to drop Bella at one of her houses.

"I can board a cab. Her situation is more pressing" she said and the driver obeyed.

With that, he began driving Bella to the location given by his boss while Catherine stood there smiling.

"One step towards my goal!".