Before I could ask myself about what am I supposed to even do with her, Nicole, perhaps feeling our stares, turned toward the two of us. It took her a single moment to recognize me, and, with a determination worthy of better use, the lady-in-red approached.

“So, you aren't dead yet.” Nicole greeted me, pointedly ignoring Bella.

“Yeah, give or take.” I responded, still unsure what I should do or say.

“And this must be that Alvarez woman you told me about,” she changed her focus. “I would've said it's a pleasure, but that would be a lie.”

“My exact sentiment, Roah,” Bella spat out the surname like something dirty. “How nice of you to visit your husband’s grave. What a nice widow you are, huh.”

“At least I’m not an unwanted leftover, Alvarez,” replied Nicole.

Both women had a pleasant smile on their beautiful faces that were nowhere near their eyes of course, coupled with the equally pleasant tones of their voices, not matching the content of their words. The air was thick with tension between the two, and I couldn’t help but see the two street cats, with their backs arched, about to fight over their territory.

“Ladies.” I decided to intervene before it was too late. “If you want to settle your difference, please, mind the time and place.”

I deliberately used a pleasant smile as well, even though the tone I used was that of my professional mask, cold and authoritative.

“Yes, dear,” Bella instantly fell in line.

“I will do as you ask,” Nicole reluctantly agreed. “Don’t you dare to miss our next meeting, Michael.”

Oh, right. What should I do with her?

“About that,” I decided to make myself clear right there and then. “I…”

“I will remind him about it,” Bella interrupted me.

“Fine.” Nicole nodded. “Farewell.”

With that said, the lady-in-red left, not bothering to look back. After she got out of my sight, I turned to Bella.

“What was that?” I asked.

“You were about to make a stupid and rash decision, dear,” my special woman chastised me. “So, as your advisor, I stopped you before it was too late.”

“It wasn’t rash…” I tried to explain.

“It was, and you know it, dear,” she refused to listen to my excuses. “It’s easy to see how her appearance threw you into a loop. You also failed to mention her even once in your stories. So, the only reasonable conclusion, something happened between the two of you in the future, and it affects your judgment right now.”

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I couldn’t refute her cold logic, and yet…

“Whatever it was, it hasn’t happened yet. You, once more, failed to notice the difference between the current state of affairs and your future knowledge,” Bella continued her speech. “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, dear. And you were about to do exactly that, with no explanation, to a woman who can and will do everything in her power to repay you in kind. Next week is absolutely crucial, and you don’t need extra distractions right now.”

I took a deep breath, trying to think her words through. Bella was right. Of course, she was, but still…

“I just bought you three weeks to think about this ordeal in full. Cool your head, dear, weigh all pros and cons. And, if your current decision will still be the final one, tell her everything face to face, without unnecessary distractions that would skew her perception to the negative side.” Another portion of my special woman’s wisdom. “Even if you don’t want her to be your friend, at the very least, you don’t need to make her your enemy, dear.”

Her words made too much sense to me to argue any longer.

“Thank you, my dear,” I voiced my appreciation and gratitude.

“You are always welcome, dear,” she replied. “Now, let’s finish our visit.”

***

After our cemetery visit ended, Bella, much to my displeasure, made me drive the car.

“I’m tired, and you need something to distract yourself, dear.” She violated me with logic once more.

Then, Bella asked me to drive us to her club, since she needed to hand over some tasks, and there would be no time for it tomorrow. I just nodded my head, and put the familiar address to the navigator. Surprisingly, traffic wasn’t all that bad for a Sunday evening. Small graces.

***

I was sitting in Bella’s armchair, watching outside through the panoramic window. The magnificent woman in question left to discuss something with her head of security and chief of staff. I had no clue what exactly it was, only that it was related to day-to-day club operations.

“Isabella.” I heard a vaguely familiar voice calling for my special woman.

I turned around, not leaving the comfort of my current seat. The owner of the voice was, just as I guessed, the current assistant/side-chick of Bella’s.

“Bella is away. Meeting about something or the other,” I decided to grace her with the directions.

I was about to turn back towards my previous pastime, but before I could do so, another question reached my ears.

“What are you doing here?” The girl, whose name I was almost certain started with L, asked

“Hm? Waiting for Bella, killing time, thinking about a myriad of things. The usual,” I gave her an answer. “Now, move along, you are distracting me.”

I felt irritation rising inside myself. For some strange reason, I really felt the need to antagonize this chick. Why, though?

“Stop calling her that, Isabella hates this name.” Another useless comment followed.

“Yeah, no,” I refused. “Bella is the name reserved to people she considers as a family. So take your useless advice, shove it up your cute bum, and go take a hike.”

I decided that ignoring this bitch, I slowly exhaled, would be the best course of action, so I turned the armchair to face the window again, signaling that the conversation was over.

Only to feel a hand land on my shoulder. The strength of her grip was pretty impressive. For someone of her size, that is. With the number of weight classes separating us, I didn’t feel much, though. Except still building up irritation. I clasped the offending appendage by the thin wrist and clasped it just enough so she would release my shoulder. I was trying my best not to crush her arm. Bella liked this girl and would’ve been pretty crass with me if I seriously broke her.

“I will let it slide once, on behalf of Bella’s high opinion about you.” I told her, while looking straight into her eyes. Of a rare violet color, I noted absentmindedly. “But it was a long day and my patience is running low right now.”