The Rose He Killed novel Chapter 72

Chapter 65 H Bweness Deal

+25 Points

Chapter 65: The Business Deal

Bella POV

I woke up Monday morning to the reality that I’d been living in Caleb Black’s penthouse for days and I hadn’t killed him yet.

Tom was already awake, having been retrieved from his own room by Caleb at some point during the night after another nightmare. When I checked Tom’s room that morning, I found a note on his nightstand in Caleb’s handwriting: “He’s fine, came to my room instead. Didn’t want to wake you.”

The fact that Tom now went to Caleb when scared should have bothered me. Instead, I just felt tired.

I found them in the kitchen again, Caleb looking rumpled in sweat and Tom sitting on the counter “helping” make eggs by narrating every step.

“And then you stir it, Daddy, but not too fast or it goes everywhere!”

“Got it, boss.” Caleb grinned at him and my traitorous heart did something complicated.

“Morning,” I said, pouring coffee.

“Mommy!” Tom waved a spatula dangerously. “We’re making scrambled eggs! Watch!”

I watched Caleb guide Tom’s hand, patient and gentle, teaching him to fold the eggs instead of stirring them into mush. This was the same man who years ago couldn’t be bothered to eat breakfast with me, now making eggs with a three-year-old at seven in the morning.

“Bella, we need to talk about the Meridian deal,” Caleb said without looking up from the eggs.

“What about it?” I took my coffee to the counter, maintaining distance.

“The board wants a unified front. Press conference on Wednesday announcing the collaboration.” He plated the eggs and handed Tom down from the counter. “They think it’ll calm the media storm, show we’re professional and co-parenting successfully.”

“Absolutely not.” I took a bite of toast. “I’m not doing a press conference.”

“It’s not optional, the contracts require joint appearances for major announcements.” Caleb sat across from me while Tom dug into his eggs. “And this is major, combined our companies could dominate the East Asian market.”

I hated that he was right. The Meridian acquisition was brilliant, a tech startup with revolutionary applications that both our companies had been courting for months. Partnering made sense strategically, even if personally it was a nightmare.

“Fine, but I’m not answering questions about our relationship.”

“Agreed, we stick to business only.”

Tom looked between us, egg on his chin. “Are you fighting?”

“No, baby, just talking about work.” I wiped his face.

Chapter 65 The Business Deal

+25 Points

“Oh, that’s good. Daddy said fighting is okay sometimes but you have to use nice words.”

+ shot Caleb a look and he shrugged. “He asked why you seemed mad at me yesterday.”

“I’m not mad, just busy”

Tom nodded seriously. “That’s what Daddy said you’d say.”

Before I could respond, my phone rang. Maya’s name flashed-on the screen.”I have to take this.” I stood and walked to my room. “Hey.”

“Bella, have you seen the news?” Maya sounded stressed.

“I’ve been avoiding the news.” I closed my bedroom door. “Why?”

“Because Jade and your father just filed a lawsuit claiming you’ve been alienating Tom from his ‘family!’ They’re demanding visitation rights and claiming you’re an unfit mother for hiding a child from his father.”

I sat down hard on the bed. “What?”

“It gets worse, they’ve given interviews painting you as vengeful and manipulative, saying you’ve poisoned Tom against them.” Maya’s voice was tight with anger. “They’re trying to destroy your reputation and use it to get access to Tom.”

“They can’t actually get custody.” My voice sounded distant to my own ears.

“No, but they can make your life hell trying. Bella, this is all over the media, they’re calling you the ‘Billionaire’s Bitter Ex’ and suggesting you’re using Tom as a weapon.”

I thought about Tom’s happy face at breakfast, about how easily he’d accepted Caleb, about the lawsuit that would drag my son’s name through the press again.

“I need to call my attorney.”

“Already did, he’s expecting your call.” Maya paused. “Bella, Caleb’s legal team reached out too. They want to coordinate defense.”

“Of course they did.” I rubbed my temples. “Fine, set up a meeting for today.”

I spent the next two hours on the phone with lawyers, learning that Jade and Richard Had built a case on lies and half-truths. They claimed I’d kept Tom from “loving family members” who deserved relationships with him, conveniently forgetting they’d thrown me out while pregnant,

By the time I emerged from my room, I was furious and exhausted.

Caleb was in his office on a video call. Through the open door, I could see him in full CEO mode, commanding and cold, nothing like the man who’d made eggs with Tom this morning.

He saw me and held up one finger, wrapping up the call quickly.

“Bella, come in.” He gestured to the chair across from his desk. “We need to discuss the Hart situation.”

“Your lawyers already called mine.”

“Good, then you know we’re filing a counter-suit for harassment and defamation.” He pulled up documents

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Chapter 65 The Business Deal

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