Chapter 40: Dax’s Curiosity

After a few minutes, Bella left the restaurant. A man in a black hat looked around him worriedly before entering a black van parked behind the Star Hotel. He handed a black bag containing used cutlery and glasses from one of their restaurant guests to a man beside him.

"This is your fee," The man handed a thick brown envelope to the man in the black hat.

"Sir, I won't be in trouble, right?" asked the man in the black hat after putting the envelope in his jacket pocket.

"Man, everything will be fine. No need to worry!"

The man in the black hat breathed a sigh of relief. This was actually an easy task for him. However, if his superiors found out what he was doing, they would fire him. But he also couldn't refuse someone who offered him $10k. He needed money to pay his mother's hospital bills.

"Okay, sir. Then, I'll excuse myself now..." The man in the black hat bowed his head slightly before getting out of the van.

After the man in the black hat got out of the car, the man who received the bag was Dylan—Tristan Sinclair's assistant. He looked at Max, who was sitting next to the driver.

"Have you erased our tracks?" Dylan didn't want anyone to notice they were there.

"No worries," Max says calmly. Then, he looked at the driver. "You can move now—" 

****

At the same time, when Bella and the others arrived at the suite, her cell phone rang. Jack was the one who called. She asked Dax to play with Noora before she entered her bedroom to pick up the call.

"Hi, Jack…" Bella greeted him cheerfully, only to hear his cold response.

"I thought you forgot about me again, Bella." He said.

"Sorry, boss. "I was a bit busy here and forgot to contact you," Bella laughed lightly, ignoring his annoyance.

"Glad to know you guys landed safely," Jack's voice turned warm. That made Bella smile as she walked towards the large glass window, gazing at the busy street below while chatting with him.

"Thank you, Jack."

"Not a big deal..."

"You only want to ask me about this?" 

"Of course not. Your assistant has landed in the capital. He will take care of your matter in the office before you start work—" Jack explained.

"Oh, you send someone from the head office?" Bella was suprised. 

"Yes. And match perfectly to your requirements," Jack said in his not-so-fond tone.

"Who? I know him...her?" Bella was curious because her requirements for a personal assistant were quite tricky.

Bella only wanted to cause trouble for Jack because he forced her to return when she wanted to enjoy her life without work. She plans to take the dividend from their joint venture company, but her plan fails because of him.

"I'm not telling you!" He chuckled. "You can meet him when you visit the office. When will you start?" 

"In two weeks—"

"Why are you delaying again? Didn't you promise me that you would only need a week?" Jack flared up, frustrated by her words.

Bella shook her head while smiling, "Tsk… tsk… Boss, can you not interrupt me?"

"Ah, you have not yet finished your words? "

"Yes. 

"Alright, go on…" Jack said. 

"In two weeks… if you allowed me. So, my kind and handsome boss, what is your answer?"

"No!" Jack answers firmly.

"Tsk! Tsk! You're such a heartless boss," Bella said, annoyed. However, when she heard Jack repeat many excuses, she quickly cut him off by saying she was sleepy.

After the phone call ended, Bella opened her laptop and researched about Tristan Sinclair.

She needed to learn the latest news about Tristan before telling Dax about him.

****

Dax was wearing his pajamas. He leaned against the headboard while reading something on his iPad—a business interview with the CEO of Sinclair Corp.

A few minutes passed, but he remained fixated on the CEO of Sinclair Corp picture and the CEO's answers to the interviewer's questions. The interviewer was asking about the CEO's personal life.

Dax felt strange because this was the first time he was interested in a businessman's personal life. He usually only reads about their business success. 

Looking at Tristan Sinclair's blue eyes, Dax senses something interesting about the man. Curious about this man, he opens a browser to search for more details about him.

However, before Dax finished typing his name, his fingers stopped when he heard a knock on the door, followed by his mother's voice.

"Baby, are you in there?"

He put his iPad on the bed and answered her, "Yes, Mommy..." 

Dax saw her open the door, but after a few seconds passed, she said nothing and only stood by the door, staring at him with a weird expression. 

He calmly asked, "Are you okay, Mom? Why did you just stand on the door and look at me like that?"

Bella was stunned to hear his question. She tried to focus again on what she wanted to tell him about his father's family. She needed to do this now before they visited Lake Village tomorrow.

She's worried that Grandpa Sinclair will recognize Dax when they arrive there and will cause confusion for Dax.

"May I come in, Dax?" She asked. 

He nods.

"I need to talk to you about something," Bella said as she walked towards the bed and sat on the side. Her eyes looked at Dax, who looked confused at her. "Do you want to know about your father?"

Dax's eyes widened in surprise at his mother's words. He nodded.

He would be lying if he said no. He always wanted to ask his mother about it but couldn't bring himself to do it for unknown reasons.

His curiosity about his biological father arose a year ago. After he could read fluently, he came across a strange article: Reasons Why Single Mothers Raise Their Children Alone. 

In the article, he found several ridiculous reasons. But, two reasons might suit his mother. First, his father had died. Second, his mother got a sperm donor, so he doesn't have a father.

Dax felt excited, waiting for his mother to answer his curiosity.