Chapter 305: Chapter 305 Late
It was time to focus on her next goal.
She began searching for apartments, a space close enough to Leo’s company to be practical, yet hidden enough that no one would easily trace it. A secret place she could truly call her own.
She didn’t even notice how time passed. Her eyes sparkled as she compared photos, scrolled through prices, and imagined little things like where she’d put her desk and how she’d decorate the walls. It made her excited and giddy.
Then her inbox chimed.
A new email.
The sender: Leonardo Moretti.
Her heart skipped a beat. She hesitated, biting her lip, then clicked it open.
[ Subject:Contract Details
Message:
Isaac,
I’ve attached the documents regarding your project contract.
Review them carefully and let me know if you have questions.
Also, don’t stay up too late. You have work tomorrow.
L. Moretti ]
Bella stared at the last line, her lips curving faintly.
Don’t stay up too late.
⊹₊ ˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹
Meanwhile, Leo had to check the warehouse himself, a task he usually left to his subordinates. But today, something about the reports had rubbed him the wrong way. He wanted to see it with his own eyes.
The car stopped in front of the large industrial lot, its metal doors towering under the dull afternoon light. As he stepped out, the sharp smell of oil and dust met him, and his jaw tightened slightly. He hated this part of business, the grime, the noise, the faint sense of disorder that always lingered no matter how well-trained the workers were.
"Sir," Jack hurried forward, clipboard in hand. He was the manager in charge of warehouse operations—loyal, sharp, but always nervous around Leo. "We’ll need to buy a new warehouse soon. This one’s running out of space, and the humidity here is damaging some of the stored equipment."
Leo’s cold blue eyes flicked to him for a brief moment. "Hm."
Just that. A sound. No promise, no refusal.
He began walking slowly down the rows of crates, his expensive shoes clicking lightly on the concrete floor. Workers froze as he passed, lowering their voices and straightening their postures. The air felt heavier wherever he went.
Jack followed at a cautious distance, his steps quickening to keep up. Leo didn’t say much, but he didn’t need to. His sharp gaze moved across every corner, every detail, as if the entire space was being dissected under a microscope.
His senses were always sharp, too sharp. Years of dealing with threats had tuned him that way. Even the smallest wrong sound or movement stood out to him like a whisper in silence.
He paused near one of the storage sections, his eyes narrowing. A faint scratch on the lock, almost invisible to anyone else.
Leo’s fingers brushed the metal lightly, his expression unreadable. "Jack," he said quietly.
"Yes, sir?"
"Get the camera footage from this section," Leo said, his voice calm but cutting through the air like steel. "And tell security to check the visitor logs for the past seventy-two hours. I want to know who entered this place and why."
Jack nodded quickly, his face pale. "Y-yes, sir. Right away."
As Jack hurried off, Leo stood there for a moment longer, his gaze fixed on the shadows between the crates. Something in his chest tightened, a strange, instinctive tension that told him this wasn’t just a minor security issue.
Someone had been here.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw the notification light up the screen.
A message—from Isaac.
Or rather, Bella.
His lips twitched faintly. The storm in his mind quieted just for a heartbeat.
Then, sliding the phone back into his pocket, he turned toward the exit, his voice low and firm. "Double the night guards," he ordered the nearby staff. "And tell them, if anyone enters without my approval, they won’t be leaving."
The men nodded, their spines straight as fear flickered through their eyes.
Leo stepped out of the warehouse, the wind tugging lightly at his dark shirt.
He then stopped beside his car, his hand resting lightly on the door as he leaned back against the cold metal. For a long moment, he said nothing. The faint hum of the city in the distance was the only sound that reached him.
The night was still and endless, its darkness stretching so deep it seemed to swallow the horizon itself. Not a single star dared to appear, only the faint silver outline of clouds drifting slowly past the pale moon. The wind moved softly through the open space, brushing against his face, teasing his hair, carrying with it the smell of oil and earth.
Leo closed his eyes for a brief moment, letting the chill air cool the fire inside him. His lashes lowered, shadowing the storm that flickered in his gaze.
Meanwhile, Bella couldn’t stop glancing at the clock. It was already late, far later than when Leo usually returned. The soft ticking filled the quiet room, and with every passing minute, her heart began to grow heavier with worry.
She tried to distract herself, but her mind kept circling back to him. Why hasn’t he reached yet?
A part of her tried to stay calm—after all, he was Leo, the man who always seemed unshakable, untouchable. But another part of her, the softer one, couldn’t help but imagine him out there, tired, frustrated, maybe even hurt.
She walked into their bedroom, her steps light and hesitant. The room smelled faintly like him—his cologne, his shirts, that pleasant clean scent that always lingered in the air after he left. She looked around at the quiet space, the neatly folded blanket on his side of the bed, Dorabella sitting upright on the couch as if waiting too.
Bella’s lips curved weakly. "He’s really late today," she murmured, brushing Dorabella’s ear with her fingers before turning away.
Her worry was growing now. Maybe something had happened at the company? Or maybe he was too busy and forgot to call? She tried to scold herself for overthinking, but her body wouldn’t rest.
Finally, she went downstairs, deciding to wait for him properly. She switched on the TV, hoping some noise might ease the restlessness in her chest.