Saving Belle

Chapter 3

MATT

What was I going to do? I did forget to get Belle's number when I was there last night. Belle caught me off guard by answering the door all wet in a towel and skimpy night coat. A smile crept on my face. She claimed to have work tonight. Before I knew it, I was at Belle's work. I sat at one of the dining tables and waited for my dinner.

I watched the staff run about, busy little workers as they went from one end of the pub to the other. Why the rush? I thought to myself.

After my dinner was delivered and not by Belle, I ate up and waited for her. I wasn't going to socialize with her while Belle was working, I just wanted to make sure she was working so I could talk to her after her shift. But as seven rolled to eight then to nine, I was getting impatient. There was no sign of her here.

I walked up to the bar.

"Howdy mate," came a feminine voice from behind the bar. I noticed the male that was talking to Bella the other day was rushing in and out of the bar. "What would ya like?"

I turned my attention to the barmaid. "Um, is Belle in tonight?"

I noticed her raise her eyebrow into an arch. "Belle?" Then she shrugged. "Dunno. She never came in for her shift." When she noticed I wasn't buying a drink, she tsked in annoyance and went to the next customer. I quickly went to the male staff that seems to know Belle quite good.

"Excuse me." I pulled him to the side.

The staff turned in surprise then smiled. "Well hello handsome!"

I quickly let go about any previous frustrations towards him and Belles' relationship. He was no threat. "I'm looking for Belle."

The other male went in to defense mode. "Don't know any Belle." He went to walk off, but I grabbed his arm again.

"Look, I know you know her, I've seen you two flirt with each other."

The man laughed lightly. "Oh, that wasn't flirting. Hey, you are the man that was constantly checking her out the other day." I widened my eyes. "Oh yes I noticed. Are you by any chance..." I saw the hesitation on his face. " Are you Kaydan Bolt?"

I frowned. Bolt? Isn't that Belles' last name? "No." I put my lips into a thin line. "Matthew Geller."

The other man introduced himself. "Well in that case, I'm Lucas. I go on my break in a couple minutes. Meet me out the back door near the delivery section."

I made my way to where Lucas said. The side door banged and Lucas walked out with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. "Look, I'm only telling you this because despite everything happening, Bella Boo did tell me briefly about a Matt. Is it safe to assume its you?"

I nodded. I shoved my hands into my pockets. "What do you mean everything that has happened?"

Lucas took a drag before he spoke again. "Belle called me this morning all distressed. Something happened last night that frightened the panties off her - not literally." Lucas added as he saw my face. "She rang the big boss this morning and quit."

I frowned. "She what?"

"She quit." Lucas took another drag. "Look, I heard her voice over the phone, she was petrified, crying. And when she told me about you, her voice was different, softer, calmer, and if I didn't know her any better, she would have been smiling too."

"Where can I find her? "

Lucas shook his head. "You are too late. She ran. Belle did a runner. She will no longer be gracing that sweet face in here any time soon. She will be 12 hours away by now. She is going north. I know that much. The coast? Tweed? Brisbane? Not to sure, but she is going north. Belle won't be back in New South Wales again."