You Can Run But You Can't Hide My Contractual Wife novel Chapter 221

The bidding schedule was fast approaching.

Bill was very busy as the company wanted to win this project so badly.

This project was known internationally.

It was spread everywhere by the international media and was dubbed as the biggest project of the year.

All big companies were competing to win the bidding for this project.

Whoever wins this project would secure a great shoot-up of stocks in the stock market.

Whoever loses would get the opposite.

The leading companies were said to be Sky Corporation and Golden Arm by Eric.

They were the biggest of the biggest and the best of the best.

Since these two companies were competing, everyone was eyeing and thrilled with the competition.

Every day, the project was always advertised on television, on the big LED billboards, and in business magazines around the world.

Bill formed a committee for this project.

He chose them by himself and those were the person who he trusted the most in the company.

Since it was a big project, there’s no room for mistakes.

All their conversations and plans were discrete.

Their proposal is the most confidential document right now in the company.

This is their winning piece for the bidding.

“I will be coming late tonight,” Bill informed Arabella earlier when he went to her office.

“Bill, anything I could help with?” Arabella asked sincerely.

Bill smirked tiringly and he shook his head.

“Just take care of all the documents that I need to sign. I and my committee were working on it. Okay?” Bill said with a reassuring tone.

Arabella just nodded.

When Bill left, she heaved a sigh.

Then she dialed Lira on the landline.

“How are you there?” Lira stayed on the CEO's floor as Bill's new secretary.

“Ms. J, Thank God you called! I’m fine but still adjusting to my new boss.” Lira sounded in a tiring tone.

“Oh common! You will get used to it.” Arabella pacified Lira. If there’s another person she could trust, that’s Lira.

“For you Ms. J, I will.” Lira’s tone had brightened up.

“Let’s go for lunch.” Arabella invited her. Lira was always her beck and call as she refused to have a secretary for the moment.

“Sure! But can I invite James?” Lira’s tone was a bit shy.

“Hmmm… no problem! Lira, you have to tell me all I want to know later. Bye.” Arabella dropped the call.

When they met in the restaurant just inside the building of the company, James was still not there.

“Lira, can you tell me what’s your relationship with James?” Arabella didn’t want to be nosy but she considered Lira as her family and she couldn't help but worry.

“We’re just friends.” Lira smiled but her expression was uneasy.

“Oh, come on! Your answer is for celebrities!” Arabella joked trying to make Lira feel comfortable with the topic.

Lira laughed a little. “Ms. J, James is actually courting me for a long time. Now, I’m thinking to accept him.” Lira said but his eyes had no joy.

“Oh…” Arabella was unable to speak immediately. “Then, what about Damien?” Arabella suddenly asked.

Lira almost dropped her utensils on the floor.

She didn’t expect Arabella would ask her about Damien.

All she knew was that her previous boss had no idea of her unlabeled relationship with Damien.

“Hmmm…” Lira was unable to find her words immediately. She blushed and was ashamed in front of her boss.

“Don’t be silly!” Arabella tried to pacified Lira. “I know how you looked at Damien. I am also a girl and I know you loved him a long time ago.” Arabella smiled at the shy Lira.

Lira heaved a sigh of relief and smiled.

“So, you tell me, don't you love Damien anymore?” Arabella wanted to confirm as she felt Lira was not happy with her decision.

She was like Lira’s big sister.

“I do. I can’t take him out of my heart but he never loves me.” Lira said in a gloomy tone. “His heart always belongs to you, Ms. J,” Lira added saddened.

Her tone was not angry with Arabella. Lira seemed hopeless and she just wanted to get rid of her feeling for Damien.

“Lira,” Arabella couldn’t help to pity her.

She held Lira’s hand to console her.

“Listen, your love for him will change everything in the future. Trust me.” Arabella uttered.

Damien was always good to her and she believed if only he could see Lira’s love, he would definitely change and accept Lira wholeheartedly.

Love could move mountains.

“I’m sorry I’m late.” James suddenly sounded.

Arabella looked at James secretly. Maybe she was just a little biased because she didn’t know James, unlike Damien.

James looked at Arabella and he smiled. He seemed to know Arabella was studying him.

Arabella quickly averted her gaze.

Silence due to awkwardness was floating in the air until someone came down and sat beside Arabella.

“Damien?” Lira sounded shocked.

Damien just smirked at Lira.

“Oh, sorry. I forgot to tell you that I also invited Damien to join us. If you guys don’t mind?” Arabella asked for their permission.

When she could sense something on the phone with Lira earlier, Arabella invited Damien.

As she was closed with the two, she wished that Damien and Lira would end up together.

“It’s fine. Hi bro! I’m James. Remember? Nice to see you again.” James was first to greet Damien reaching his hand.

Damien just nodded and shook Jame’s hand.

Lira could not look at Damien.

Damien’s eyes were at Arabella.

James was with Lira and Arabella was secretly observing James.

“Can I talk for you a minute?” After a moment of silence, Damien asked Arabella.

His tone was displeased.

Earlier, Damien was in a good mood receiving her call especially when Arabella was inviting him for a lunch.

To his surprise, other people were joining them.

He didn’t expect to see Lira and that guy James.

He never liked James for Lira.

Lira was too naïve and innocent while James was the straightforward type.

They were quite the opposite.

Arabella nodded and stood up.

She felt wrong this time so she had to grant Damien’s request.

They went to another table in a secluded area of the restaurant.

“What are you doing?” Damien asked with controlled annoyance.

He was not in the kitchen nor the other parts of the house.

When she passed by the pool area, she could see a silhouette of a man in the garden.

She quickly went there.

Her heart was racing fast as she was approaching Eric's direction.

Eric was sitting on a bench in the dark.

“Eric, I need to talk to you.” Without wasting any second, Arabella approached him.

Eric just nodded in the dark.

“Are you…” Arabella could not continue her sentence as beads of cold sweats started forming on her forehead while her heart was non-stop thumping so fast. “Are you…” She tried again but her words won’t come out. “Are you the boy who was kidnapped with me in the past?” She heaved a sigh after she successfully blurted out her words.

She didn’t know but she felt nervous and at the same time thrilled with Eric’s answer.

Arabella was sure that her bracelet was with the boy and she lost it when they both strived not to separate ways that time.

Eric didn’t say anything for a while. The silence felt awkward.

“If I were that boy, would you feel happy?” Finally, Eric spoke.

His question made her stunned.

She didn’t know what to answer like she was running of words in a moment.

“Of course. I would be very happy to know that you are alive.” Trying to put herself in a still manner, she answered what was inside her heart.

“I am very glad to find you too and know that you’re alive. I kept on thinking about that girl whom I promised to save and protect.” Eric’s sincerity was traced through his tone. “I kept finding you everywhere and It took me long years to finally find you. What a small Arabella.” He added with a deep tone.

Arabella was rooted on her spot. Now she knew why she felt light with Eric.

She did not doubt his presence in her life.

Eric opened the light.

The beautiful garden with a series of warm bulbs around appeared.

It was so romantic and cozy. Then he strode closer to her.

“Hi, I’m Eric Grant.” Eric reached his hand to her.

In the past, they hadn’t known each other’s names due to the circumstances.

“Arabella Jones.” Arabella took his hand. Then she hugged her long-lost friend. In that dark room, they shared fear. They were both scared but Eric made her brave.

He comforted her and protected her from the kidnappers. He put his life in danger for her and she would never forget that.

Eric hugged her tightly too.

“I’m really happy that you are alive.” Arabella was too emotional. She could not help thinking about that boy in her past. Seeing him again, her heart jumped for joy.

“Me too Arabella. Me too.” Eric replied tapping her back.

“My wife seemed to be so happy today. Care to share it with me?” Bill’s voice made Arabella snap back to her senses.

“Nothing.” She felt nervous by Bill’s interrogation but she could not tell him.

Bill would just make things complicated for Eric and her.

She knew how much Bill hated Eric’s character and presence. “I’m just happy seeing you in your sleep.” She had to make an alibi.

Bill smiled and grabbed her.

He kissed her like he was getting his energy back from her. “Now, I’m good!” Bill said with a sexy smile.

Arabella smiled at him too. “Are you ready for tomorrow’s bidding?” She asked.

Bill nodded and smiled.

His smile carried confidence.

He seemed to know the result of the bidding and he seemed to already know that his company would win the project.

Wearing her sweetest smile, Arabella hugged Bill. “Good luck for tomorrow.” She whispered.