The Contract Bride of Mr. Reid-Chapter 54: Meeting her idol

A jolt of exhilaration shot through Bella, her heart leaping to her mouth. This was it. The moment she had been waiting for finally arrived. Her excitement radiated from her, sparkling in her eyes like a thousand tiny diamonds. With a grateful smile thrown Amy’s way, she darted off, her steps light and carefree.

The second Bella vanished around the corner, Amy turned to Olivia with a scowl. "Why do I always find you around Bella?" she asked with a tinge of sarcasm in her voice. "Don’t you have work to do? Did you finish checking those errors?"

Olivia clasped the pen drive into her palm, nodding nervously. "It’ll be done soon."

"Then do it," Amy snapped. "That report needs to be on my desk by tomorrow."

With a defeated nod, Olivia scurried back to her own cubicle. The pen drive clicked into place, and she hastily began combing through the file. It wasn’t just any file; it contained the company’s tender list, a document brimming with sensitive information that required careful handling and utmost secrecy. What would happen if it got leaked?

A slow, malicious grin spread across Olivia’s face. "Enjoy your little victory, Bella," she hissed. "The real storm is about to hit."

Her mouth twisted into a malicious grin. "Bella, enjoy your small achievement. Soon, you will be in trouble."

Blissfully unaware of the venomous plot simmering behind her, Bella skipped towards the design department. The receptionist at the front desk directed her to Willow’s designated room.

With the file clutched tightly in her hands and a heart brimming with anticipation, Bella reached the door. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she rapped on the wood. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Come in." Willow’s sweet, thin voice came out of the room.

Pushing the door open, Bella stepped into the room. Willow, perched on a plush sofa, was engrossed in a stack of design sketches.

"Hello, Ma’am, I am Bella Dawn."

Willow lifted her head, her gaze meeting the figure in the doorway. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. Willow’s eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of utter disbelief washing over her face. Then, as recognition dawned, a radiant smile bloomed across her features.

"It’s you again," she exclaimed, brimming with a mix of astonishment and delight. She couldn’t believe the Bella Dawn she had urged to be her helper in this project would turn out to be the designer she had been looking for. It was as if fate itself had intervened, delivering the very person she had desperately sought.

A tide of memories washed over Willow, transporting her back to the time when she was new to the city. It was her first show in this bustling metropolis. She had booked a banquet hall in a hotel and was fervently preparing for the event. Amid the chaos, an unexpected visitor had barged into her room, pleading with her to review her design drafts and help her.

That was their first meeting.

Bella’s work had impressed her immensely. Willow had offered Bella an internship at her fashion house, recognizing her raw talent and potential. However, Bella had been in desperate need of money at the time and had chosen to sell her drafts instead.

After that show, Willow returned home and lost track of Bella, unable to look for her amid her own busy schedule. Then, Theodore approached her, proposing her involvement in this new project. Seeing it as a chance to perhaps reconnect with Bella, Willow had accepted. And fate, indeed, had brought Bella back to her.

Thrilled to see her again, Willow jumped to her feet and dashed towards Bella, pulling her into a warm embrace. The unexpected gesture left Bella dumbfounded, frozen in Willow’s arms. She had never expected this from her.

Willow’s voice was filled with joy and nostalgia. "It’s so good to see you again. I didn’t forget about you," she blurted, releasing her from her embrace. "I accepted to work on this project with the hope of seeing you again. And here you are, standing right in front of me."

Her gaze swept over Bella, a mix of admiration and relief shimmering in her eyes.

What she said was the most exhilarating thing for Bella. "You... you took this project because of me!" she echoed, disbelief warring with a blossoming sense of wonder.

It was Willow Taylor, not an ordinary woman—her role model. The thought that she had been looking for her was thrilling. Bella was giddy with excitement.

"Of course, I had to find you, and thank you," Willow said, brimming with delight. Grasping Bella’s hand, she tugged her gently towards the plush sofa. "Come, let me show you something."

Willow settled onto the sofa, her fingers flying across the keyboard. Bella leaned in, anticipation thrumming through her veins.

"Look at them." Some pictures of designer gowns popped up on the screen. "Do you find them familiar?" Willow turned to her, her eyes shining brightly.

Bella took a few moments to realize that those were the designs she had sold to Willow. Her breath hitched. "Wow! These look really good."

"The designs themselves were good, Bella. So the outcome would be obviously good." Willow clasped her hands. "You are so talented."

A blush crept up Bella’s neck as Willow showered her with praise. Unused to such lofty compliments, especially from her idol, Bella squirmed in her seat.

"You are flattering me," Bella murmured. "I’m nothing special. You brought those designs to life and transformed them into these exquisite gowns. It’s your talent that made them shine."

Willow shook her hand. "No, no... It’s not my doing. The credit belongs entirely to you. Bella, you have no idea how much people liked those dresses. We received an overwhelming amount of orders. Ever since then, I’ve dreamt of collaborating with you."

"Collaborate with you?" Bella echoed, her voice trembling with disbelief.

A wellspring of joy bubbled up within her. She had been looking for a chance to work alongside her idol, learning from the master herself However, Willow offered to work with her in collaboration – it was a dream come true, an opportunity beyond her wildest imagination. Emotions threatened to overwhelm her,

"Are you sure?" she asked, trembling with exhilaration.

Willow nodded. "Absolutely. After we wrap up this project, we’ll begin work on our next launch. And I want you by my side."

"Um..." Uncertainty flickered across Bella’s face. "But I don’t have the experience. I’m afraid I’ll make a mess of things."

"You won’t." Willow squeezed her hands, reassuring her. "I have faith in you."

Despite the overwhelming joy and the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented, a sliver of apprehension remained in Bella. Willow was a titan in the fashion industry, her name synonymous with exquisite design. One wrong move and Bella could tarnish that reputation, a burden she wasn’t sure she could bear.

"I prefer working under you and learning first," she said.

A tender smile touched Willow’s lips, her heart swelling with affection for Bella’s genuine humility. In her years in the industry, countless aspiring designers had clamored for such a partnership, their eyes filled with ambition rather than the sincere desire to learn that shone in Bella’s.

"Okay," Willow agreed readily. "After this project is finished, you can come to work at my fashion house as my assistant."

A radiant grin split Bella’s face, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. With a fervent nod, she sealed the deal.