Rivals of the heart

9. The Party's Hidden Dynamics: Strategic Maneuvers

Williams POV: 

The party was in full swing by the time I arrived, and I immediately noticed the way the crowd shifted as I entered. The room was a sea of glittering dresses and tailored suits, but it was clear that everyone's attention was waiting for someone—or something.

As I made my way through the throng of guests, I noticed her. Bella. She arrived late, fashionably so, but she made an entrance that could not be ignored. She looked absolutely stunning—elegant and captivating in a dress that accentuated every curve, her hair falling in waves that framed her face perfectly.

It was almost as if she had stepped out of a dream and into the spotlight. Every head turned, every eye was drawn to her. I felt a sharp pang of jealousy as I watched the men around her. They were all drawn to her, their gazes lingering with a mix of admiration and desire. The sight of them looking at her made my blood boil.

But something else catches my attention, and a knot forms in my stomach. She's standing with a woman I know all too well—Olivia. My ex-girlfriend. The one relationship I've tried to put firmly in the past. And here she is, laughing and chatting with Bella like they're old friends.

A surge of unease runs through me. Does Bella know who Olivia is? Probably not. There's no reason she would. But that doesn't make this situation any easier to swallow. Olivia is charming, smart, and manipulative. She knows how to get into people's heads, and the last thing I want is for her to influence Bella in any way.

I watch from a distance as they talk. Bella's laughing, her face lit up with that carefree smile she gets when she's genuinely enjoying herself. Olivia is probably feeding her some story, playing the part of the perfect party companion, but I know better. Olivia never does anything without a reason, and if she's chatting up Bella, there's a motive behind it.

My mind races with possibilities. What if she tells Bella things about me? Exaggerates or twists the truth? I can't afford to have Oliva plant any doubts in Bella's mind. Not when things between us are already so complicated.

For a moment, I consider intervening. Walking over and pulling Bella aside, away from Olivia's influence. But I know Bella—she's fiercely independent. She'd see it as me being possessive, or worse, controlling, and that's the last impression I want to give.

Still, I can't just stand by and do nothing. My hands clench into fists as I try to think of a way to handle this without making things worse. I can't let Olivia get to her. I can't let Bella fall for whatever lies or manipulations Olivia might be spinning.

I force myself to calm down, taking a deep breath. I'll wait. Watch from a distance. If it looks like Olivia is trying to turn Bella against me, I'll step in. But for now, I have to trust that Bella's smart enough to see through whatever game Olivia might be playing.

Still, the thought lingers in the back of my mind, gnawing at me. The idea that someone else might influence Bella—especially someone from my past—makes me uneasy. I've worked too hard to get to where I am with her, and I'm not about to let that slip away because of one conversation with the wrong person.

I stay close enough to keep an eye on them, ready to act if I need to. This party just got a lot more complicated than I expected. And now, more than ever, I have to make sure Bella stays out of Olivia's reach.

Thank God, Olivia finally left. It's a relief—she's always been a problem. But as soon as she was gone, another issue walked right into my life. I watched as the man approached Bella. My Bella. His eyes lingered on her longer than they should have, and I felt that familiar, infuriating burn inside me. Possessiveness, jealousy—call it what you will—but the urge to claim her, to remind everyone that she's mine, even if she doesn't know it yet, surged through me.

But I couldn't act on it. Not now. Not when Olivia, with her sharp eyes and venomous tongue, could turn this into a scandal that would make Bella's life hell. I can't let that happen, not to her. Bella doesn't deserve that.

So, I found another way out. Quietly, subtly, I've started closing off avenues, making sure the men in this office know better than to even look at her the wrong way. They'll think twice before approaching her, and if they don't, I'll make sure they regret it. But it's not jealousy. It can't be. I'm just protecting her from the vultures, that's all. It's logical, practical even. After all, someone has to look out for her.

Damn it, who am I kidding? The truth is, every time I see another man near her, I want to tear him apart. But I'll never admit that. Not even to myself. Because if I do, I'll have to face the fact that this feeling—it's more than just anger or possessiveness. It's something deeper, something I'm not ready to confront. Not yet.

For now, I'll just keep telling myself it's for her own good.

But before I can fully relax, I notice another man approaching Bella. He's tall, confident, and clearly interested. My jaw tightens as I watch him flash a charming smile in her direction. He says something that makes her laugh, and I feel a sharp stab. 

I can't stand seeing other men trying to get close to her. It's infuriating—this overwhelming need to keep her safe, to keep her mine, even though I haven't even admitted it to myself. But I have to keep my emotions in check, especially with Olivia still lurking somewhere in the crowd. If she catches wind of this, she could use it to make Bella's life a living hell.

I just can't let that happen.

But I also can't just stand here and do nothing while some random guy tries to charm her. My possessiveness is clawing at me, screaming to take action, to make it clear that Bella is off-limits. But I have to be smart about this. I can't make a scene; I can't risk drawing Olivia's attention back to her.

So, I decide to play it cool. I make my way closer, slipping through the crowd until I'm within earshot of their conversation. The guy is trying way too hard, and Bella seems polite but not overly interested. Still, I can't shake the irritation bubbling under my skin.

I need to find a way to keep this guy—and any other guy—from getting too close to her, without being obvious about it. An idea starts to form in my mind, and I act on it quickly.

I spot a couple of my business associates nearby, men who are well-respected and not likely to flirt with her. I walk over to them, casually steering the conversation towards Khushi.

"Do you see that woman in the red dress?" I say, nodding in her direction. "That's Bella, one of the brightest minds in our office. You should introduce yourselves. She's brilliant—could really give you some insights on those projects we discussed earlier."

They look over at her, intrigued. I know these men; they're more interested in networking than anything else, and that's exactly what I'm counting on. If they approach her with professional intentions, it'll keep other men at bay without raising any suspicions.

As they head over to her, I feel a twisted sense of satisfaction. It's not exactly the most honest way to protect her, but it's effective. And it keeps me from doing something reckless.

I watch as the guy who was flirting with her starts to back off, realizing that the conversation has shifted to something more serious. My associates engage Bella in a discussion about work, and I can see her relaxing, slipping into a topic she's comfortable with.

Good. She's safe for now.

But the possessiveness doesn't leave me. It's always there, simmering just below the surface, a constant reminder of how much I want her and how far I'm willing to go to keep her out of harm's way. Even if she doesn't know it—even if I can't admit it to myself yet—I'll do whatever it takes to protect her.