The sapphire pendant

On the way back to the office, Bella dialed Joe's number. The call connected after a few rings.

"Sorry to call you at this hour. Did I disturb you?" Joe's familiar voice filled her ears.

"No, no, you didn't," Bella assured him quickly. "What is it? Do you need something?"

"Yes, I need your help."

"Okay!" Bella grew intrigued.

"Tomorrow is Bridget's birthday, and I planned a surprise for her," Joe said excitedly. "But I need your help to bring her to that place without letting her know about the surprise."

He narrated his surprise plan in detail, outlining exactly where Bella should bring Bridget and at what time.

"Just this! Consider it done," Bella said with enthusiasm.

"Bella, you are the best. Thank you, thank you so much."

As the call ended, a big smile spread across her face, a sense of joy and fulfillment filling her heart. But her smile soon faded as she remembered she hadn't discussed the important matters with Theodore that she had intended to.

"Oh no!" She grimaced. She had let her annoyance cloud her mind, causing her to forget to bring up the topic she needed Theodore's attention on. "It seems that I have to set up another meeting with him."

With a defeated sigh, Bella slumped deeper into the car seat, her eyes drifting to the scenery outside the car window. The city's bustling streets blurred into a haze of colors as her thoughts wandered. She felt a mix of frustration and determination.

The chime of her personal phone pierced the silence that had settled in the car. A new message, from the same cryptic number that had haunted her since last night, brought a fresh wave of unease. As Bella read the text, the lingering thrill from her conversation with Joe evaporated completely.

'Hello, Miss Isabella. You might not remember me or the incident from six months ago. But I remember the night when you rescued a man from an accident. I'm that person. I want to thank you for your kindness and return the thing you dropped. Can we meet tomorrow? Tell me the time and place.'

Bella's eyebrows furrowed, a crease etching itself between her eyes. Memories flickered back, a blurry image of a mangled car and a figure slumped behind the wheel, face obscured by blood. 

She had called the paramedics and sent the man to the hospital, but never followed up. Never knew who he was. After so many days, she had almost forgotten that incident.

'Why is he contacting me now?' she thought, a knot forming in her stomach.

Then, she saw it. Attached to the message was a photo. It was her sapphire pendant, a gift from her father.

Bella had never seen her real father. He had died before she was born, leaving behind only this pendant as a tangible memory. Her mother had told her that this pendant was an heirloom from her father's family.

"My pendant," she whispered, a tremor in her voice. Tears welled in her eyes, blurring the screen. She had searched high and low for it. Convinced it was lost forever, she stopped looking for it. Now it appeared again. Relief washed over her, laced with a touch of grief.

This pendant was the only link she had to her biological father. She couldn't lose it. With trembling fingers, she composed a reply.

"Okay, let's meet. Tomorrow at Hotel Siera. Sharp, 8 p.m."

Bella had just agreed with Joe to take Bridget to Hotel Siera, and now she thought to meet the mysterious man at the same place. She hit send, a mix of apprehension and hope swirling in her chest.

The response was immediate: 'See you tomorrow.'

As the car sped through the city streets, Bella's gaze drifted to the passing scenery outside, her thoughts swirling like a storm. The excitement of retrieving her lost pendant mingled with the curiosity and apprehension of meeting the man she had saved.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Bridget had been a storm cloud all morning, her dark mood casting a shadow over the house. She muttered curses as she roamed around the house. She muttered curses and roamed around the house aimlessly.

"He totally forgot my birthday. Can you believe it?" she exclaimed, stopping abruptly in front of the kitchen. She cast a forlorn look at Bella, who was busy baking a cake. "I thought he would take a day off and have time with me. But he left. Does he have to be at work today? Even you took a leave."

Her mouth formed a tight pout. "I think he lost his love for me."

Bella, knowing about Joe's elaborate surprise, had to bite her tongue. She could only offer a noncommittal shrug. "Maybe he really is busy. Didn't he receive an urgent call from the office?"

But Bridget was inconsolable, continuing to whine and mope around the kitchen. Sensing that a distraction might help, Bella pulled her into the kitchen and handed her a piping bag. "Come on, help me decorate this cake. It'll take your mind off things."

With a heavy heart, Bridget joined Bella in the task. As they worked together, squeezing out colorful frosting and placing delicate decorations, Bridget's mood gradually lightened.

Finally, the cake was ready, a beautiful creation adorned with intricate designs and vibrant colors. Bridget looked at it with a mix of pride and lingering sadness. "It looks amazing," she admitted, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

Bella smiled back, hoping that the surprise Joe had planned would erase all of Bridget's doubts and frustrations. "It really does."

Bridget sighed, her eyes turning watery. "I wish Joe was here."

Bella squeezed her friend's hand reassuringly. "Trust me, Bridget. He hasn't forgotten. Just wait and see." She ceremoniously lit a lone candle atop the magnificent cake. "Alright, birthday girl," she chirped. "Make a wish and cut the masterpiece!"

"Okay!" Bridget, her earlier dejection forgotten in the face of sugary temptation, beamed.

With a silent wish whispered to the universe, she brought the cake knife down, its smooth slice parting the fluffy vanilla sponge. The scent of warm cake and sweet frosting wafted through the air, making Bridget's mouth water. She eagerly fed a generous piece to Bella before savoring a bite herself.

"Mmm," she moaned contentedly, savoring the explosion of flavor. "Bella, this is incredible! You're a natural-born baker. You should seriously consider opening your own bakery someday. I'd be your first customer, for sure!"

"That's a lovely thought, Bridget. Now," Bella said, her voice taking on a playful edge, "enough about cakes and bakeries. It's time to get ready. We're going out!"

Bridget's eyes widened with excitement. "Are you taking me shopping?" she inquired, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

"It's a surprise," Bella declared, reveling in the anticipation she had managed to create. "Don't ask questions, just get dressed. There's an adventure waiting, and trust me, it's better than any shopping spree."

With a gentle shove, Bella ushered Bridget towards her bedroom door.

"Uh, Bella? You can at least give me a clue," Bridget urged.

"I am going to take a quick shower."

Before Bridget could launch into another barrage of questions, Bella made a hasty retreat into her own room, slamming the door shut with a playful giggle. Bridget, left standing in the hallway with a mixture of excitement and confusion swirling around her, could only shake her head and smile.

Half an hour later, the taxi pulled up to a hotel, revealing a facade that shimmered with opulence. "Wow, Bella! What surprise did you prepare for me? I am really curious."

Bridget gasped, her eyes widening as she took in the grandeur of the hotel. The air itself seemed to hum with a quiet sophistication.

Bella, a secret smile playing on her lips, offered no explanation as she ushered her friend towards the entrance. Inside, the world unfolded in a tapestry of plush carpets, glittering chandeliers, and soft murmurs of conversation.

Following Bella's silent lead, Bridget found herself entering the lavish restaurant of the hotel. Soon, she was deposited at a reserved table tucked discreetly into a corner. Plush velvet chairs and crisp white tablecloths screamed luxury, a world away from the restaurant where she worked.

"You are treating me to a meal here!" Bridget stammered with a mixture of awe and surprise. She would never dare to enter such a lavish hotel to dine. A flicker of excitement danced in her eyes, but Joe's absence still nagged her heart.

Determined to put on a brave face, she pulled out her phone and clicked a selfie. "Let me show him how I am enjoying my birthday. I can have fun without him. Come here." With a playful grin, Bridget pulled Bella close, their faces pressed together in a display of camaraderie as she took another selfie.

Just then, a chime interrupted them – Bella's phone buzzing with an incoming message. It was the mysterious man.

The message read, 'Where are you?'

A flurry of nervous energy flickered across Bella's face. Gathering her thoughts, she quickly typed, 'Come to the restaurant. You will find a reserved table in the right corner. I'm with my friend.'

Across the table, Bridget was blissfully unaware, lost in the act of capturing herself on the camera.

Meanwhile, Theodore, tucked away in his chauffeured car parked discreetly across the street, read the message with a frown furrowing his brow. His gaze flickered up from the phone to the imposing building before him. With a sigh, he straightened his suit jacket and stepped out of the car, his face a mask of cool indifference.

As he entered the restaurant, his eyes immediately scanned the room, focusing on the tables tucked discreetly into the corners. And then he saw her – a blonde head bathed in the soft glow of lights. A scowl instantly contorted his features.