You Can Run But You Can't Hide My Contractual Wife novel Chapter 69

The words from him made Arabella stupefied for a moment, but she was turned more anxious when she saw William’s shaky hands while sharpening the pencils.

“William, are you okay?” Arabella drew to his table more even closer.

The man in front of her wasn’t hearing her as he continued to sharpen his pencils on the table.

“William, William, are you okay?” She made her voice louder as if she was already screaming to get his attention, but William didn’t have any reaction and just kept what he's doing.

Arabella was a little scared of William’s action, but she refused to just leave him. She tapped his shoulder anxiously, “William! William! You’re scaring me.”

At that moment, William put down the sharpener and pencil on the table, then he looked at her deeply.

“Are you okay?” Seeing his eyes was on her, Arabella asked baffling.

William then smiled, he was like his senses was lost for a moment and he just regained it back.

“I am okay.” Finally, he replied.

“I am worried.” With her sincere voice, Arabella uttered.

Hearing her words, William stood up and drew himself in front of her. He then put his hands on each of her shoulders.

“I am happy.” William smiled the sweetest. He suddenly back to his gentle demeanor.

Feeling the normal William in front of her, “William, as for my request…” Arabella used the chance to continue her urgent matter.

“Shhhh…” William had cut her. “Promise me that you will never leave me.” He added while his eyes fixated at her.

At this moment, Arabella had no time for thinking too much. Her job in Capital Z was important for her. If she went back to N city probably, she would just be back being a makeup artist and be supervised by a nagging manager everyday. If she had to choose, her best option was to stay and remained as a manager in Capital Z.

“I promise.” Without thinking too much she replied. “But only if you will allow me to work with Bill Sky.” She stood up toughly. She was aware that she was talking to her boss, the director, but William asked her to treat him as a friend and be open to each other.

William was quite satisfied. That they, he was wearing his smile all day. The office was peaceful and harmonious. For the first time, he treated everyone for lunch outside. His employees were stunned, but very happy for his effort to bring them all closer.

Days had past, William didn’t sign the merged and kept his words to Arabella. In his sweet little way, he started showing care of her without making it obvious. Arabella had always enjoyed William’s company. They became more closer for a few days of working, eating and hanging out that she forgot about Bill.

Monday, while having their weekly conference, meeting, Mia Zimmer called angrily. Everyone in the office was in a panic as the news online that NZ Cosmetics had gone bankrupt spread out the internet.

“William, you should know what will be the consequences of turning down the merged with Sky Corporation.” Mia was yelling from the other line.

“Look. I will handle it.” For Arabella, he could do anything.

“How? Can you actually afford to see all our employees to suffer and lose their jobs? Think of them, will you?” Mia managed to calm herself for she knew, pressuring her brother would worsen the situation. She didn’t know what exactly his reason to turn down the merge, but knowing his brother for a long time, she already had the hint.

“I will handle it.” He replied calmly but firmed then he hanged up without her permission.

Mia was not satisfied of her brother’s answer. She knew him well and she knew Bill. The first time he met him, she felt her world had stopped. In her lifestyle and career, she already encountered many handsome and hot men in their industry but Bill was too different. Adding his powerful aura and domineering temperament, she could not take her eyes away from him. Good thing, she was chosen as a new face for his company where she got a chance to get closer to him which he allowed her.

Now, Mia was caught in a big dilemma. She didn’t want to offend Bill and she could not go pressuring her brother. After thinking for a while, she got her phone and called the right person to ask for help.

“Arabella, It’s Mia.” She knew, she was the right person who could save her company.

After knowing who’s the caller, Arabella was a bit puzzled.

“Hi Mia.” She replied.

“I need your help.” Mia opened up.

“What can I help you with?” Without thinking too much, she asked.

“I would be direct to you since you are not a stranger to our family.” Mia cooed without any hint that she was just playing William’s girlfriend. “Please ask William to sign the merge. That was the only way to help the company. Think of your co-employees who will lose their jobs if these things continue, NZ Cosmetics reputation to people will greatly be damaged. We couldn’t afford to go against Sky Corporation. Do you understand?” Mia added with a sad and worried tone.

“Did you already talk to your boyfriend about this?” Arabella had felt pity in her voice, but she couldn’t help her curiosity, why Mia could not stop his boyfriend from doing it to her company?

“It’s a long story.” Mia answered. To save her face, she didn’t want to open up how she claimed Bill as his boyfriend just to show up in front of her family. “I knew Bill, he wouldn’t listen to me.” Mia added, but it was merely true and false. She didn’t dare to talk to Bill about it because she was afraid of him. After that night, Bill already told her to scram.

“Arabella are you there? Are you still listening to me? ” Mia asked when she didn’t hear any reply from her.

“Yeah. I heard.” Arabella replied. It was obvious to her, but not to everyone that Bill had done the spreading of fake news to ruin NZ Cosmetics. In just a minute, their sales report dropped rapidly. The once harmonious office became chaotic and in panic.

“Please Arabella, do whatever it takes to save the company.” Mia’s last words before she hanged up the phone.

Arabella felt heaviness in her heart.

“If this company close, I’m afraid, my brother would have to stop his study.” Lizzy sadly said to her co-worker.

“What about my mom’s treatment? All my salary here, just went to her chemo.” Another staff butted in.

“How could I sustain my family with my newborn baby?” A gasp of frustration from a father employee.

Sitting in the pantry, Arabella heard everything. Her heart became more even heavier. Those employees had become her friends and her new family. Without so much of a thinking, she quickly stood up and ran to William’s office.

“Come in.” She heard William’s voice after she knocked three times on the door.

“William, I want to talk to you.” Arabella rushed inside.

Upon seeing Arabella, William with a gloomy look instantly smiled pleasantly.

“What about it?” He stood up and transferred to the brown leather sofa.

“I… I changed my mind. I want to work at Sky Corporation now.” Arabella had already decided for the sake of her friends in the company. Knowing Bill, he won’t stop until he got what he wanted. Let her suffered alone rather than other people would suffer because of her. For the time being, it was the best solution she could do to save NZ Cosmetics.

“Are you sure?” William’s facial expression was obviously thinking deeply and weighing things with her.

“Yes.” She nodded her head. How could she be so sure of this? Surely, she’s entering the lion’s den again. Staying alive from his tortures was the question if she could make it with Bill everyday. Arabella gritted her teeth, ‘Can I really go back to that monster Bill for William’s company?’ she had a second thought, but, in the end, she made up her mind and chose what she thought was right.

“Well then,” He stood up and went to get his pen and the documents on his table. She presumed it was the merge contract, William then signed it. “Bring these documents tomorrow to Sky Corporation.” Before Arabella showed up in his office, he had already decided to court her in a way that she would not feel ashamed with her co-worker in the office. But thinking about it, that would be impossible to happen as he knew Arabella was delicate on everything specially her reputation. So, if she’s working outside his office that would probably change everything.

“Okay.” With her hand shaking, she slowly got the documents from William’s hand and got out of his office with soft knees.

She still couldn’t believe that she was going to work for Bill in his office. She was supposed to go far away from him. The farthest she could go from her fake husband the better. But now, the decision had been made, there’s no backing out anymore.

Night came, Arabella couldn’t sleep. She kept on thinking her status working with Bill and his scheme. It made her dizzy that she jumped out of her bed to vomit. She kept on feeling dizzy lately, but she had no time to see a physician for consultation. Plus, the problem in NZ cosmetics had grown tremendously. Maybe because of these problems made her uneasy and weak. For her, it should be solved quickly and after she would find her way out from the monster.

Morning came and she dragged herself to work. This her first day of work in Sky Corporation’s roof. She’s feeling dizzy, but she had to comply with her decision. The day she went to see Bill, her torturer again. This day supposed to be exciting as a normal employee gone to work on her first day but for Arabella, it was the opposite. Scared, frustrated and her anxiety mixed all up together on her first day.

“Hop in!” William’s pleasant voice snapped out her senses. That time, Arabella was outside her house well dressed up in her office attire. She didn’t want to drive to save gas so, William’s presence and offer were at her advantage.

“Why you’re here?” As a friend, she would understand if Sky Corporation was on the way to NZ Cosmetics. With that, it won’t be too much of a bother to fetch her up, but the two companies were on its opposite way.

“Well, I wouldn’t miss it. Come on, it’s your first day. Don’t be late.” William blinked at her coolly.

Arabella smiled seeing him like a cute little boy in his sports car. His gentle expression had always made him look young.

“Okay, my Director, who am I to refuse?” She smiled and blinked at him in response.

Since they had still too much time, they grabbed a quick breakfast near the building of Sky Corporation before hitting the road again to her destination.

Outside Sky Corporation, Arabella got out of a black Porsche sports car.

“Thank you.” Arabella smiled at him sincerely.

“See you tonight and Good luck.” He blinked at her again and sped off.

Tonight? Arabella shook off her head as she had felt she misheard something.

The very familiar gigantic building greeted her eyes. Collecting her courage to enter, she gritted her teeth and clenched her hands into fists. Though her knees suddenly softened again, she tried her best to stand and compose herself confidently. Now that she was entering the lion’s territory again, she had prepared herself in some worst situation. In this kind of game, the weak would be bullied and Arabella refused to be bullied more specifically by him. With her widest smile, she then entered the building with her chin up and with her best striking confident look.