The clatter of the dropped fork lingered in the air as Bambi processed Alex's unexpected revelation. She looked at him, a mix of concern and uncertainty in her eyes, "Alex... baby, I don't know what to say."Alex, reaching across the table to gently hold her hand, said earnestly, "Okay, listen, I know you don't want me to change your apartment or anything, but babe, I need you to help me with this. I really don't want her by herself."Bambi took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the situation, "Can you give me some time to think about it... maybe?" Alex, nodding understandingly, replied, "Take your time, babe."Back in the familiar confines of the company, Isabella found herself immersed in work when Jessica walked in, a curious look on her face. "So how did it go?" Jessica inquired.Isabella sighed, "Oh my God, Jess, I couldn't tell him about anything. He kept asking questions."Jessica winced, "Oh shit. But he's going to find out soon, right?"Isabella nodded, "Yeah, I'll tell hi

Kia leaned in, her eyes reflecting a mix of disbelief and concern. "Damn...this is some messed up situation. Men can be so wicked," she remarked, her voice laced with frustration.Danni, sipping her drink, nodded in agreement. "I hear you, Kia. I mean, who would have thought?" She glanced at Isabella, who sat across from them, fidgeting with her fingers.Andi chimed in, "All that aside, Isabella, what are you going to do about this?"Isabella sighed, her brow furrowed. "Are you kidding me? I have no idea what to do, and the worst part is that Ruben has absolutely no clue about any of this."Kia pressed further. "But why not? Doesn't he deserve to know?"Isabella hesitated, her gaze dropping to the tabletop. "Because, Kia, he's my ex. Bringing this up will stir up something I'm not ready for, so I'm going to keep it that way."Kia shook her head, her concern deepening. "But you know this can't stay hidden forever. At some point, he has to know."Isabella glanced at the clock on the wal

Ruben, attempting to downplay the situation, explained, "It's some work matters."Isabella eyed him skeptically. "That doesn't look like 'some work matters' to me, but I hope everything is okay?"Ruben reassured her with a nod. "Yes, it is. Just some demands, and I didn't want you to feel some type of way, that's why I took it quietly."Isabella smiled, appreciating his consideration. "Oh, okay, babe. But it's totally fine."Ruben gently kissed her hand, trying to shift the focus back to a more lighthearted mood, and they continued with their meal. After the satisfying dinner, Isabella freshened up and joined Ruben on the bed, and they had sex.As they shared a moment of intimacy, Isabella found herself unable to completely escape the thoughts about Alex. His unexpected appearance earlier in the day and the upcoming meeting cast a subtle shadow over the otherwise intimate and peaceful evening.Afterwards, as they lay in each other's arms, Isabella couldn't shake the lingering unease.

As Alex arrived at Bambi's apartment, his anticipation grew with each step up the stairs. He knocked on the door, and Bambi greeted him with a warm smile as she opened it. They embraced, sharing a tender kiss that spoke volumes of their longing for each other.As they stepped inside, Alex couldn't help but ask, "Is your roommate here?"Bambi shook her head, a playful glint in her eye. "Oh, she's at her boyfriend's. It's just us tonight."Their embrace deepened, but Alex couldn't ignore the nagging sense of responsibility. "I miss you," Bambi whispered, her fingers already tracing the buttons of his shirt."Whoa, whoa, what's going on?" Alex gently pulled back, his tone filled with concern. "It's late, and I have an early morning meeting."Bambi's expression faltered for a moment, a mixture of disappointment and longing in her eyes. "Okay, whatever," she replied, trying to mask her feelings.Alex reached out to her, his touch gentle yet firm. "Okay, baby. We'll do that, but let's have

Isabella took a deep breath, trying to steady her racing thoughts, before dialing her grandma's number. Mama Christina picked up after a few rings, her voice warm and familiar through the phone."Hey, I was about to call you, where are you?" Mama Christina asked, her tone tinged with concern."I'm on my way to their company," Isabella replied, her voice tight with tension.Mama Christina paused for a moment before suggesting, "I think we should all ride together, head over to ours.""Okay, grandma," Isabella agreed, feeling a sense of relief wash over her at the prospect of having her family by her side.With a sense of purpose renewed, Isabella ended the call and focused on the road ahead.As Isabella settled into her office at the company, she wasted no time diving into her research. Opening her laptop, she began scouring the internet for information on REED, determined to unravel the mystery surrounding Alex's true identity."Wow, he's a Fitzgerald?" Isabella muttered to herself in