Bella noticed Adela zoning out as she organized files at her desk. Her usually attentive new assistant seemed unusually distant.
“Adela, is everything alright?” Bella asked gently, setting down a stack of papers.
Adela snapped out of her thoughts, quickly mustering a polite smile. “Oh, yes. Sorry, Bella. I guess I’m just a little distracted.”
The truth was, Adela couldn’t shake the disbelief that she had landed a job at Walton Enterprises. She suspected it had everything to do with Liam Walton’s influence, a thought that made her both grateful and uneasy. While she appreciated the opportunity, she was determined to prove herself and not rely on charity.
That morning, she’d left Herbie at the hotel again, guilt gnawing at her. Her little sister had been remarkably patient and well-behav
