PTE

e was a man who commanded respect, not just because of his weal

he city. But by night, he was a different person altogether - a mastermind of undergro

alley. He adjusted his jacket, smoothing out any wrink

d, his voice low

ve his eyebrow, stepped forward. "The job w

a hard time passing throug

ious, boss. I'll have

le. "Good. I want the goods sold and

bling down notes on a

t then stopped. "And wha

rvously. "We're still gathering intel

t you do. I want everything on

swallowing har

ght, leaving his men to wonder what he

isplaying various surveillance feeds. He sipped

voice dripping with malice. "You're

chair, a plan beginnin

own a peg Belle. And I'm

* *

id out before her. Emma, her PA and best friend,

d, running a hand through her

even giving them a chance. Just go

Emma. The stakeholders are getting impatient, If I

let them dictate your life. You need to find someone yo

the pressure was mounting, an

. "Set up the dates. But if they'r

's the spirit! Now, let's get y

he hundredth time. Emma had set her up on a blind date w

ma said, handing her a glass of w

You're not the one who's been threatened with

er it. Belle's heart sank as she saw Ryan sta

striding over to her

. "Thanks, Ryan. You

ey, I'll take tha

tried to make conversation. "So, Ry

his chest. "I've started like five different

. "That's impressive. W

y. "Oh, you know, just some onl

for fun?" She asked, ho

urite hobby, collecting rare coins. Belle listened polit

ed on ordering for Belle, despite her protests. "Don't w

ut she tried to let it go. Maybe R

ersation, barely letting her get a word in edgewise. He talked about himself, his business v

g Belle pictures of his coin collection. Belle's eyes widened i

e a break for it. "Excuse me, I need to go to

come with you," he said, standi

now? You gonna come with me to the

way I just wanted to assist you.

know what, I don't think I wanna go ag

breathed a sigh of relief. She cou

e over for dinner Ryan," she said, for

roblem Belle. I'll

ank. Please don

o Emma who had already gotten to the

I told you he w

s. "A bit much? That

ry Belle. We'll find you

ope

y was nice enough, but they had nothing in

ose hope. Maybe she was

And then, just when Belle thought she couldn't take

said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But this

o you

ve been sending out in

m h

vite himself. He's invitin

eyebrow, "Real

a moment, Belle wondered

aid finally. "And trust me

ho this mysterious Adam was. And whether he mi

ldn't shake the feeling that her li