Chapter 318 Mira's Explanation
Bella's tone turned icy and resolute as she locked eyes with Mira, her gaze intense enough to cut through steel. Her words were sharp, each one like a dagger slicing through the previously calm air.
"The end between Sterling and me is tied to my dad's death. Trust me, you don't want to know about my dad, and you sure as hell don't deserve to."
Bella's voice was low and powerful, each word forced out through clenched teeth.
Mira's face went pale. She hadn't expected Bella to bring up such a sensitive topic. Seeing the anger and sadness in Bella's eyes, a wave of fear and unease washed over her.
Mira tried to explain, but her voice came out hoarse: "Bella, I don't know what you're talking about."
"Fine, I won't ask anymore." Mira's voice carried a hint of helplessness and compromise. She knew pushing further would only make things worse.
Bella didn't say anything more. She turned and walked away, her steps firm and strong. After a few steps, she suddenly stopped and looked back at Mira, her eyes filled with determination and coldness, "Even if you're here on business, don't let me see you again."
Those words cut deep, like a knife to Mira's heart. She watched Bella disappear into the elevator, feeling an indescribable bitterness and self-reproach. She knew that no matter what she did, she couldn't make up for past mistakes and could only silently endure the pain and torment.
Mira stood still for a moment, until Bella's figure completely vanished from sight. She then slowly withdrew her gaze and closed the door. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she buried her head in her hands, lost in thought. She understood that she was now paying for past mistakes, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't change what had already happened.
Back at the shop, Bella quickly composed herself, returning to her usual calm and focused demeanor. At that moment, Serafina Nightingale, the delivery girl, approached nervously, worried that she might have been too slow and delayed the shop's work.
"Bella, was I too slow?" Serafina's voice carried a hint of unease as she looked at Bella, afraid of receiving a negative response.
Bella paused, then understood what Serafina meant. She smiled and shook her head, reassuring her, "No, you just caught me with a bit of free time, so I helped with a delivery. It's all good, go ahead and get busy, I'll head to the kitchen."
Serafina's face lit up with a relieved smile. She looked at Bella gratefully, feeling a warm surge in her heart. She knew that Bella was not only an excellent boss but also a considerate and understanding person.
Serafina was a local girl from the city, with a modest background. Although she got into college, her family couldn't afford to keep her in school, so she started working early. She only had an elderly grandfather with a somewhat muddled mind, who had raised her in the countryside. Despite her simple upbringing, she was kind-hearted and resilient. Her skin was slightly tanned from years of working outdoors, but it didn't diminish her beauty and kindness; it only made her stronger and more independent.
Bella watched Serafina walk away, feeling a mix of emotions. She knew everyone had their own story and struggles.
In contrast to Serafina, Charlotte Rose, who handled customer service, seemed a bit restless. Charlotte had dropped out of high school and entered the workforce early. However, she hadn't learned how to gain experience and enrich her life; instead, she focused more on her appearance.
Every day before work, Charlotte would meticulously apply heavy makeup. Her clothes were cheap, but she managed to wear a different outfit almost every day of the month. Her nails were always painted bright red, making them stand out.
However, this excessive focus on her appearance didn't make Charlotte excel at her job. On the contrary, due to her lack of service experience and patience, Serafina often had to help with customer service when there were no deliveries. Serafina was not only responsible for deliveries but also had to handle service work in the shop, making her extremely busy.
Despite this, Serafina never complained, while Charlotte seemed unaware of her shortcomings. She remained immersed in her world, focusing on her looks and leisure, and being indifferent to her work. Bella saw this and felt anxious.
Bella knew that if things continued this way, Charlotte wouldn't last. Bella decided to have a serious talk with Charlotte. Anna had already discussed with Bella multiple times about whether to fire Charlotte.
However, the shop was short-staffed, and the wages were higher than other places, making each employee's attitude and efficiency crucial. Charlotte was the most negligent among the four employees, making her a significant liability for the shop.
Bella was easygoing and always tried to maintain team harmony. She had repeatedly spoken up for Charlotte, hoping she would improve her work attitude. However, Charlotte didn't seem to appreciate Bella's kindness and continued to slack off.
Seeing Bella return, Anna brought up the issue of firing Charlotte again. She angrily pointed at Charlotte, who was slacking off in the shop, "Bella, look at what Charlotte is doing. As long as Serafina is here, she bosses her around and finds a seat to play on her phone. She's not younger than us, right? Does she have any sense of responsibility? No matter what you say today, I want her gone!"
Bella sighed helplessly, understanding Anna's anger and frustration.
"Anna, I know you're upset, but firing her directly might not be the best solution. Let's give her one more chance. I'll talk to her and see if she can change her attitude." Bella said.
Anna, though still dissatisfied, knew Bella had a point. She nodded, agreeing to give Charlotte one more chance.
Bella found Charlotte, hoping she would cherish this opportunity and work on improving her skills and attitude. Only by doing so could she stay in the shop; otherwise, she would be let go.
Bella glanced around the shop and saw that eight out of twelve tables were already occupied. Serafina was busily attending to each customer, welcoming new ones at the door. She was always the first to respond to any customer needs.
In stark contrast, Charlotte was sitting leisurely at an empty table, completely absorbed in her phone.
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