Broken Pieces

Bella could not sleep that night. She tossed and turned. Restlessness had taken over her.

She woke up with baggy eyes contemplating whether she could even make it to the office with the shame that flushed her face.

Henry hadn't called after he left her. She thought about that phone call he had received.

She regretted allowing him to go so far with her not knowing his intentions towards her.

She knew what it felt like to be hurt by a man. She didn't want to feel that way again.

So, she decided to have a talk with him and promised herself that she would never become trapped in any triangle.

"If he has a wife, I will end this madness right then and there", she said to herself as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. "I won't become anyone's mistress," she whispered again.

Folding her hands together she kept on repeating over and over, "Lord give me the strength to be able to walk away".

Date Night

It was Friday and the office resembled a zoo, with everyone trying to finish their assignments so they could leave at 4 pm.

Staff would usually go to the boardwalk for the Happy Hour lime after work.

It's an open-door event. Live band and lots of food, from barbecue ribs, grilled fish. You name it. You found it there.

Bella was met by nasty Gem in the corridor who insisted on starting a conversation.

"You look like someone with a lot on their shoulder," she said patting Bella's back.

"Gem please", she said, shaking her body so hard that Gem hands bounced off her back.

"Touchy touchy. PMS?", she laughed but Bella couldn't be bothered with her at all.

When Bella stepped into her office, she sat in her chair so hard, in bounced up and down before stabilizing.

She pulled some files and pretended to be working. Her mind could not settle.

She read documents but she didn't understand what she was reading.

Her vision went blur for a moment and she closed the documents and headed to the bathroom. Bella sobbed.

She heard footsteps in the bathroom and remained quiet.

Mrs Dominique was on the phone arranging for the CEO to fly out to Los Angeles.

"Please have him on the 10:30 am flight on Saturday and he will return on Monday 7: 15 am".

Henry was very private about his life. Besides he hardly uttered a word.

Bella waited until Mrs Dominique was finished with the bathroom before she flushed and went back to her office.

"The Boss was down at our quarters looking for you Bella," Alison said.

"He wasn't pleased you left your phone and no one could contact you," she added.

When Bella looked at her cellphone, she saw five missed calls from Henry.

"I bet he was calling about the proposals that I am to deliver which I haven't finished," she said aloud so the other staff wouldn't be suspicious.

Her phone rang again and she quickly answered "Hello".

It was Henry. "My office", he said and hung up.

She made her way to the office. The door was opened and he was leaning against the window.

"Close the door behind you" he said, turning his head towards the window.

She walked towards him but he didn't look in her direction. "Henry you were looking for me", she said.

He didn't reply. Instead he walked towards the office door, turned the knob to ensure it was locked and pulled her towards him.

"Don't ever have me looking for you and I can't find you,", he whispered in her ear.

He then bit her lips real hard, causing her to cry out his name softly.

"I need to speak with you. I have questions. What is going on between us? Are you married? I like you but I don't want to be just a fling. I want something real. I won't settle for less", she said.

The questions were coming fast and furious..

Henry gave her a pitiful look saying... "I won't hurt you,"

"Henry that doesn't answer my questions. "I need to...", but before she could finish, he held her and whispered "I want you to be mine".

Henry didn't give Bella much time to even ask further questions. He kissed her passionately saying..."Go back to work,".

When Bella went back to her office, she packed her stuff and decided to take the afternoon off.

She believed that with some peace and quiet, she could get her work done.

Bella informed Mrs. Dominique, her supervisor that she was leaving at noon.

As a company policy, a memo would be sent to the CEO whenever staff members are sick, leaving early or have emergency engagements.

Henry saw the short memo: Please be informed that Ms. Isabella Blake has taken the afternoon off to attend to some personal matters.

Henry quickly pulled out his phone and dialed her number. "Hello?", she responded, as she tried to start the engine of her broken down car.

"What's wrong?", Henry asked firmly.

"Oh nothing. I Just needed to be alone so I could finish that document to have it ready for management," she said.

Henry realized that Isabella was struggling with what was happening between them. He saw anxiety coupled with fear on her face when she was at his office earlier.

He wanted to assure her that all he really had in his mind was to love her and take care of her the way a real man should.

"I will see you tonight. Wear something nice. We are dining out", Henry said and hung up.

Bella didn't have anything to wear that would match up to what a man like Henry was expecting or so she thought.

It could be that she was just a typical woman who liked shopping for new clothes, to use only once.

So, miss head over heels Isabella decided to make a quick run to a boutique.

She chose La Bella Famme. Which means beautiful woman.

The dresses there are quite expensive but she wanted to look her best for the man who made her feel her best.

"Can we help",? an attendant said as she walked into the store.

"I am looking for something nice but inexpensive to attend a romantic dinner tonight", Bella said.

The woman looked excited to help. She showed Bella so many dresses.

She eventually picked a royal blue tube top dress that was both elegant and sexy.

It showed just a little cleavage and hugged her enough to define her curves but protected her from looking too promiscuous.

Bella bought silver jewelry and a low heel silver pump. She was all set for a date with her man.

Bella forgot about her promise to finish that assignment at home.

For some women, a man can make them lose their senses.

It was 7 p.m and Bella looked in the mirror, making sure she looked perfect.

She waited for him to arrive. She looked lovely. He knocked on her door at 7:12 pm exact.

She opened and he froze for a moment. She said "goodnight".

He didn't answer instead he held her hands leading her to the car.

This time he wasn't wearing that ring. It made her feel less uneasy.

Henry had a chauffeur that night. He wasn't driving. Who was this man? She asked herself.

Different cars, chauffeur, he buys off an entire flat of a restaurant?

On the way to the dinner Henry didn't say much. He only sat astutely next to her in the back seat of the black limousine.

Henry wore a tuxedo that night. He looked so handsome and delicious. His eyes dazzled...his face was very relaxed compared to the way he looks at work.

Bella could see the driver looking at her through the rear-view mirror constantly, with a smirk on his face.

When they arrived at their destination, the chauffeur said "I will be right here Mr. Henry".

Henry didn't reply but nodded as he opened the car door and let her out. Bella's feet were killing her and she was nervous too.

Plus, she could hardly breathe from having to tuck in her belly under that dress. She wore a body shaper to flatten her stomach so all organs were under pressure.

The things women do for men. If men only understood the torture that comes along with beauty then they wouldn't give us such a hard time.

The restaurant they dined that Friday night was different than the previous one where they had lunch. It was a romantic setting.

There were a few couples dining too. Soft music... chilled wine, candles, the ambiance was so peaceful.

Bella understood the menu this time. Thank God...She ordered a grilled chicken dinner while Henry had the same.

"Tell me about yourself Henry", Bella said. But he never replied until his mouth was empty.

He patted his mouth dry and said "what exactly do you want to know?".

"Well I don't know you and I am here with you as if we are..." before she could finish Henry said "hush woman. Let's enjoy this moment".

When he realized both their plates were almost empty, he stood up stretching his hands saying "dance with me".

"These shoes will definitely kill me tonight", she thought.

Women can really torture themselves and endure stuff like that.

Bella stood up like a champion, ignoring her aching ankles and obvious suffocation and danced with her man.

No talking. Just dancing. She rested her head on his shoulder, silently sniffing him like a puppy looking for food.

Isabella felt safe and secured in Henry's arms.

His arms...very firm and strong, even while they were gentle. Unlike the first dance, this one was more intimate.

He held her so close, she felt she was going to pass out from all that squeezing. Remember the body shaper wasn't helping at all.

When the music stopped, he released his hold and kiss her.

Nope not on the forehead. This time she got a real kiss. The one on the lip. People call it French kissing. We can call is trying to swallow the other person.

"I'm traveling to Los Angeles in the morning," he said. "On business? ", she quickly asked.

He hesitated and then said "no, my family lives down there".

"You mean your parents?", she said as she nervously waited for him to reply.

Bella was quick with the questions. Henry took a long pause and sighed before replying "No my wife and children".

It was as if the world stopped and Cinderella lost her slipper.

Everything suddenly seemed untidy and disorganized in Bella's mind.

The beautiful scene of the restaurant looked like the Gaza strip and her beautiful dressed transformed into rags.

She didn't feel safe anymore, or beautiful, or wanted, or loved. Her shoulders dropped.

"Why am I here Henry?", she asked as the tears built slowly in the corner her eyes.

"You are here because I want you to be here", he said as he tried to pull her towards him.

Bella took several steps back..."Take me home", she said softly.

Bella didn't want to make a scene so she walked hurriedly down the stairs and Henry followed her pace.

All the pain she felt in her ankle disappeared. She became numb. It happens when women become angry.

Henry dropped a cheque on the table before he pulled out his cellphone and called the chauffeur.

By the time they reached the entrance of the restaurant the driver was already there.

She didn't wait for him to open the door. She grabbed the handle so hard it frightened the driver, causing him to turn around.

The driver looked confused and worried at the same time.

Bella sat quietly in the back seat. She tried so hard not to show any emotion. Henry's face was cold and hard. Like a flint.

He didn't want to hurt the woman that he had grown so fond of but he realized it was too late.

He could feel every pain that she was feeling. Bella was looking out the window. Clearly, she was crying.

She didn't want Henry to see how hurt she was so she avoided looking his way. But he saw the loose tears dripping on her dress.

The drive back to her apartment was the longest. Everything was moving in slow motion.

You could hear a pin drop from the back seat. Henry stretched his hands to touch hers. She pulled her hands away.

The silence was deafening and uncomfortable.

When the driver pulled in the driveway of Bella's apartment, she got out to the car without saying a word.

Henry got out from the opposite side and followed her to the door.

He wanted to ensure that she was safely inside.

She opened the door and went inside her space, shutting it very hard.

She didn't look back at Henry. Once she was inside, all the emotions she had buried came out like a flood.

Bella fell to the floor and wept violently.