[Bella Hennings]

I keep running, knowing that those ten miles won't get done by magic. I have to stay in shape if I want to maintain control of my life. Since I was dismissed from Hames Hollister, two things live rent free in my mind. Or, better said, two people. Dale Leathers and Hunter Hyde.

It's like a table tennis match: once the point goes to Dale, another time it goes to Hunter. Even though they have their noticeable flaws and are shady individuals, they attract me like magnets. If I could, I'd have both, maybe in a snap of fingers, but that's not possible. I have to choose.

I'll get hurt after this painful decision. One of my potential suitors will, as well. But, after pain, there always comes relief. Hopefully, this run can help me clear ideas. I keep up the pace as a way to maintain my energy high and my stamina at a good level.

I focus on my goal, but something, or better someone, distracts me. I bump on them and only notice when I've run a whole minute longer. The other person catches up and grabs my elbow. At this point, I can't ignore them anymore.

I turn as I attempt to let go of the hold on my arm, only to find out the person who's been chasing after me is Dale. Unlike me, he doesn't have sportswear on. This means he must've made a great effort trying to catch up with me.

I pant in front of him, but he grabs me to make sure I make eye contact with him. "Bella, listen. We need to talk. It's urgent." I wonder what's so important to him that he has to interrupt my ten-mile run. It's not a big deal to me; yet, I have good reasons to be worried, starting from his undertone.

"How about we talk at my place?" I suggest. "After I get changed into something more... appropriate, of course." He agrees without objecting, much to my delight. Finally! He doesn't play hard to get or acts stubborn. This proves that my softer, more mellow approach to the plan is working.

He offers to take me back home, but I refuse, pointing out I need to take a shower, and I also planned a little surprise for him. He accepts that; then we take our separate paths. For now.

***

I check my text messages to see if Hunter has answered yet. To my annoyance, he hasn't. I don't know why he's leaving me hanging, but one thing is certain: by displaying this attitude, he'll only make things easier. Not in his favor, obviously.

I decide to wait a little more: if he doesn't answer and show up, I'll kiss him farewell directly on the phone, no more need to come here and waste my time. I'm done with tricks. They don't help my cause. They make my decision even harder than it already is.

In the meantime, I give my make-up and hairdo the finishing touches, and take a glimpse at my perfectly done nails, all in no more than twenty-five minutes. I'm usually much slower in doing such tasks, so I'm surprised that I managed to complete them in half the time.

The doorbell rings, and I wonder who it is. Whether it's Dale or Hunter, I don't care anymore. I'm ready to let it all out, to make it clear who I truly want, and part from the other in a firm but humane manner.

When I open the door, the biggest shock I've faced in the last couple of weeks awaits me. Both are at the threshold. This is going to be pure Hell.

***

We sit at the counter, enjoying the best drinks of my personal bar and forgetting this is supposed to be a much more serious instance. We just pretend we're here as drinking buddies, as it was before. Those times will never come again, or at least won't be back soon.

I cherish every sip I take, every glance I receive from the two men, and ignore the rest. There's still one burden, apart from that one, I want to get rid of, though. I'm sure both Dale and Hunter will understand. If not, it's their loss. I'm not a people pleaser. When I owe someone else a favor, I try to do it my way. Simple, isn't it?

That's what I believed until, like, last night. So, why are things changing so quickly? Am I so worried about other people's perception of me? Do I show my true self or hide behind a façade? A lot of questions resurface in my mind, making me go crazy the more I think of them.

I need answers, now. However, Dale and Hunter need them more than me. This consuming dilemma has to come to an end, or we'll be left with no certainties, but with a lot of regrets.

I drop the ball by bringing back the confession I made to Jenny and Beth not long ago. "You know what, Dale? Leaving Hames Hollister Corp. wasn't that great of a deal to me. And not always because of its head directors." He scratches his head as he hears these words. Usually, it means two things: he's pondering something really serious, or he's just annoyed. I hope it's not the latter.

"I mean, I accepted that job because I was in dire need of money, but didn't have the courage to admit it because I thought I'd never be hired." My insecurities emerge as I speak. Dale resists the impulse to hold me tight and take me to bed to shut me up. Hunter is impassible.

"I tried to tell my friends the full truth, but they didn't want to hear the most important part. To them, it's okay if I said what I said. But you deserve to know it all. So, yeah, I accepted the job as a part of a lost bet." Hunter's attention reaches his peak as I mention the bet.

He asks, "Who did you lose to?"

I close my eyes, fearing to ignite a negative reaction by pronouncing that name. I take deep breaths and count until three. Then, I drop it. "Kara Hollister."

Dale is petrified. Hunter is blazing furious. The latter indeed exclaims, "This has to be a joke, Bella! Are you really telling me Kara herself contributed to your hiring at her firm, only to fire you years later? What kind of bullshit is it?"

I dismiss his doubt. "No, Hunter, it's true. She has had a personal vendetta agenda since fucking college." I turn to Dale, to whom Kara has always tried to be buddy buddy. "And I think it's because of you, Dale. You're her most loyal collaborator, but at the same time you're the most disloyal. So, tell me, is there anything between you and her?"

This question enrages Dave to the point that his face turns bloody red, and, no, alcohol didn't help since he took only a few shots. He growls. "No, Bella, for God's fucking sake, no! She might've acted flirty with me, but, please, why would I be interested in her that way? I clearly put boundaries between her and me!"

I have good reasons to believe him. I shouldn't have let a wrong judgement cloud my vision of him. I shouldn't have fallen for Kara Hollister's trap. But, at this point, there's no more use in dwelling in the past. It'll cause more harm than good, and it shows clearly.

I'm ready to make my decision.