Chapter 3

A short distance from the dance floor, a man sat watching Bella. He hadn't taken his eyes off her.

"Dude, what's up with you tonight?" Fabio leaned forward. "You don't want any of these girls? You've been staring at the dance floor for a while now. You actually want to dance?"

"Get off my back," Cesar said. "You know I don't go for these women throwing themselves around."

Cesar Pinheiro, twenty-seven years old. Businessman. Cold. Calculating. Everything had to go his way — he didn't accept "no" for an answer. CEO of a food industry empire, with some dealings in the shadows.

Second son of the Pinheiro family. Son of Hamilton Pinheiro and Rosilene Paula. He had an older brother, Vinicius — a doctor who owned his own hospital.

"From the look on your face," Fabio said, "you want to devour someone."

"That girl over there," Cesar said, his gaze locked on the dance floor. "She doesn't seem like she's from around here. The way she moves, the way she carries herself. A lot of men have their eyes on her."

"Which one? There are a bunch of them dancing."

"The one in the black dress. Tight. Red heels."

"Want me to go get her for you?"

"Are you insane? What do you think I am — some guy who can't get a girl on his own?"

"Relax. I was just trying to help."

Bella was dancing alone. Amanda had slipped away with Henrique to get more drinks.

Cesar approached Bella from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist.

Bella whipped around and slapped him across the face.

"Are you out of your mind?" she snapped. "Grabbing me like that!"

Cesar stood frozen. No reaction. He was drunk on her scent.

Bella bolted from the dance floor, heading straight for the parking lot, hoping to find Amanda. She couldn't. Afraid of the man inside, she flagged down the first car pulling out.

"Please — can you give me a ride to a taxi stand? I'm trying to call one, but no one's accepting."

"Get in," the couple in the car said. "There are no ride-shares to this area at this hour. What's your address? We'll take you home."

"You don't have to do that. I'll catch a ride."

"Are you Amanda's friend? We saw you two arrive together."

"I'm her cousin. I was dancing when some guy grabbed me from behind. I slapped him and ran. I didn't have time to tell Amanda."

"We know where she lives. We'll drop you off."

"Thank you. It's nice to know there are still good people out there."

"It's nothing — just the right thing to do."

Back inside, Fabio's blood was boiling. "I'm going to drag that crazy girl back here. Make her get on her knees and beg."

He sprinted out but couldn't find a trace of her.

"Boss, I'm sorry. I couldn't find her. I'll check the security cameras."

"Forget it," Cesar said.

"What the hell just happened?* Fabio thought. *Nobody touches Cesar or disrespects him. The last person who tried is six feet under."

"Let's go," Cesar said.

On the drive home, Cesar couldn't get the girl out of his head.

The next morning, Amanda found Bella at the kitchen table.

"What happened last night? You just left! I stepped away and when I came back you were gone. If it weren't for your text saying you were home safe, I would've thought you'd found yourself a guy."

"That place is full of creeps," Bella said. "Some man came up and grabbed me by the waist. I slapped him so he'd learn that you don't grab people without their permission."

"Cousin, it's a party. Men do that sort of thing."

"Not to me, they don't. I'm not an object to be used. Let's drop this — I'm not going to places like that again. I want to work and pay for my education in peace."

"I'm sorry, cousin. It won't happen again. Let's forget about it. It's Sunday — want to go to the mall, catch a movie?"

"Sure. I should get to know the city a little."

"I hope you didn't offend some rich guy in there,* Amanda thought, *or I'm going to be in serious trouble when they find out you're my cousin. Maybe it's for the best that you find a job and move out of my apartment."

Monday morning.

"Good morning, cousin. I'm heading out to look around — I need to find a job."

The city was enormous, but it seemed like everywhere she went, they wanted someone with experience. How was she supposed to get experience if nobody would hire her?

"Good afternoon. Here's my resume. I noticed the sign in the lobby — you're looking for a secretary."

"Good morning, dear," the woman behind the desk said. "Come in. Have a seat and fill out this form."

"Thank you."

"I'll review your resume. If anything comes up, I'll give you a call."

Bella delivered two more resumes, then headed home.

She was waiting at a crosswalk, the afternoon sun beating down on her shoulders.

From his car, stopped at the same red light, Cesar spotted her — standing with her arms crossed, squinting against the glare.

"It's her. The girl from the nightclub." His pulse spiked. I found you. You're not getting away this time.

The light turned green. Bella crossed the street and vanished from his line of sight.

Cesar threw open his door and took off after her — but she was already gone.

"What's gotten into the boss?" the driver muttered from behind the wheel. "Running off like that. Did he spot an enemy?"

Cesar came back, out of breath.

"Boss, what happened? You took off running. Anything I can help with?"

"Let's go to the office. I couldn't find them."

"Thank God,* Bella thought, back at Amanda's. *Two job offers. I hope I can start working as soon as possible. It's been a month" I need a paycheck.

"Boss, are you all right?" Fabio asked when Cesar got to the office.

"Pull the traffic camera footage from the intersection of those two streets and find the girl — jeans, baby-pink blouse. Figure out where she went."

"Yes, sir."

"Next time you won't escape,* Cesar thought. *I haven't slept properly in days. Your scent is still with me. You won't leave my head. No one has ever gotten under my skin the way you do."

"How dare you do this to me."

Bella got home exhausted, showered, and made lunch. She called her mother for news from the fazenda.

That evening, close to nightfall, a WhatsApp message came through — an invitation to report to the offices of Pinheiro Industries.

"I got the job!" Bella squealed. "Thank God. Now I can relax a little — I'll be working to support myself and keep up with my studies."

She ran to tell Amanda. "Cousin, I got a job! I start tomorrow."

"That's wonderful, Bella. I'm so happy you kept at it and found something."

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