He swallowed the lump in his throat. “We might not have a choice, Bella. We both have commitments.”
“Yeah, but things change, Jake. We’ve both worked hard and deserve to have what we want. I don’t want anyone telling us what to do and what we can or can’t have.” She frowned and the corners of her lips turned down.
“Let’s make the most of what we have for now and see how things go. Your ideas may work out. I’m just saying we need to be prepared for what happens if they don’t go our way.”
Her cell phone rang and Bella tensed but didn’t get up.
“Hadn’t you better get that?”
“No.”
It rang out and she relaxed. Then it rang again. She groaned and rolled over, clamored up off the floor and reached for the phone vibrating on the table top. “Hello. Russell, what’s happening?”
Jake tried to ignore her as she argued with Russell but it was impossible. When she finally hung up Bella put her cell on the table and lifted her hands to her face. He got up and walked over to her, held out his arms.
Bella launched herself against his chest, her despair palpable. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
“I have to go back.” The sob in her voice tugged at his heart.
His heart plummeted. He hadn’t expected it to happen like this. “I don’t know what to say.”
“It’s not fair. He refuses to discuss my contract over the phone with me. They want me there in person or the discussion won’t go ahead.” A hiccup sob rose in her throat. “I don’t think they’re going to let me stay here, Jake. What are we going to do?”
The tears started and he was at a loss of what to do when hers wasn’t the only heart breaking.
Chapter Twenty-Two
“Hurry back. I’m going to miss you.” Jake kissed her one last time before she drove away, tears blurring her vision. She grabbed at a tissue and wiped her eyes. Bella couldn’t wait to get this meeting over and done with.
Russell refused to discuss the contract over the phone with her when she called him back begging for a reprieve, insisting that the studio wanted to talk to her face-to-face. She had no choice but to go back to Seattle even though she was more than a little tempted to remind him that he was the one that sent her away in the first place. It wouldn’t solve anything but it might have made her feel a little less frustrated. But if it meant she got to stay with Jake at the end of the discussions, it would be worth the trip and the messing around he put her through. Artistic temperament maybe? The guy was a control freak in sheep’s clothing.
It was the not knowing that was killing her. The drive to Polson Airport would at least give her time to plan her future and come up with more reasons why the studio should listen to her ideas. If they failed to agree, she’d have to do one more season before she could walk away. She had no choice because she was contracted. The hardest part would be telling Jake. She wasn’t sure how she was going to convince him to wait for her if that was the way it turned out.
When she arrived in Seattle, Bella grabbed a taxi at the airport and went straight to the studio. The taxi driver recognized her and chatted all the way in. “My wife is a huge fan of yours. Bought her your last cookbook for Christmas, I did.”
“Thank you. That’s lovely. I hope she enjoys it.” She glanced out the window thankful she hadn’t chosen to drive herself. She’d forgotten how bad the traffic was since she’d been away.
When she arrived at the studio, she had to pose for a selfie with the driver and after more greetings she was finally ushered into the boardroom.
“Bella.” Russell came over, kissed her on both cheeks, and led her to a chair. “So good of you to come and deal with this personally.” He leaned in. “I know the boss wanted to talk to you face-to-face and it wouldn’t have been a good look to send in your manager to deal with things.”
“Of course, I understand.” She took a seat, wondering where everyone else was.
“John will be in shortly. He needed to set up something that couldn’t wait.” Russell gave her a satisfied smile having the head of the studio coming to the meeting. “I have the final proof of the last show. We’ll play it shortly when everyone is here. In the meantime, can I get you a coffee?”
“Sure, that’d be great. Thanks.” Bella leaned her head back in the chair.
The long drive and flight had left her more than a little keyed up and tired. Last night, she’d tossed and turned after Jake had left, frustrated beyond belief. She saw the defeat in his eyes when he said good-night. This morning, when she stopped in to see him on the way to the airport, it was still lurking, leaving her with a dread of what was to come.
Once the plane had landed, she’d decided on her plan of attack. Instead of going to her apartment, she’d come straight here, keen to get everything on the table. If they didn’t want to give her what she wanted, she was prepared to fight.
Russell put a coffee in front of her as the door opened and John came in with his secretary and the company lawyer in hot pursuit.
“Bella. Good of you to come in.”
She stood as he approached, air-kissed both of his cheeks and sat again. “Not a problem, John. I thought it was a good opportunity to sort out my contract and tell you what I envisage for the new series I’ve proposed. That’s if you’re interested in taking it on board, of course.”
He pinned her with his hawklike stare while he sat down opposite, the expanse of the glossy
