Dev's eyes widened; he could feel the tip of Bella's sharp nose brushing against his cheek and her soft lips pressing against his. Her long, curled eyelashes were incredibly close to his eyes.
Shocked to the core, Dev pushed Bella away a bit too hard, sending her crashing to the floor. He hadn't meant to do it with such force; he never expected his shove would leave Bella sprawling on the ground.
"Ouch!" Bella cried out, a sharp pain shooting through her backside.
"You are completely insane!" Dev muttered, trying to get his racing heart under control. He made no move to help her up. He never imagined that a woman he had only just met could be so reckless.
"You are so rough!" Bella protested fiercely, still sitting on the floor.
"It's your own fault! What the hell were you thinking, suddenly kissing me?!" Dev snapped, his face flushing crimson. The sensation of Bella's lips pressed against his was still vivid.
Bella pushed herself up from the floor and stared intently at Dev.
"I already told you. I like you. And I'm going to make you mine," Bella repeated.
Dev's dark eyes locked onto hers. He swallowed hard.
"You like me too, don't you?" Bella began to feel that Dev was already hypnotized by her beauty. His expression was exactly like the ones she always saw when other men looked at her for the very first time.
Then, Dev's expression shifted. His face turned icy as he looked at her.
"I don't like girls like you," Dev said coldly.
Turning on his heel, Dev walked away briskly, leaving Bella behind.
"But... DEV!" Bella shouted after him, but he kept walking, leaving her there all by herself.
A smirk played on her lips. "You really are different from any guy I've ever known. I will definitely find you again," Bella murmured, watching Dev's retreating back as he walked further and further away.
Bella arrived at her apartment and threw herself onto the living room sofa. She was exhausted after driving nonstop from Bandung to Jakarta. She closed her eyes, trying to relax her aching body.
The sound of someone accessing her apartment door chimed. A tall woman wearing a black blazer, sporting short hair and a stoic expression, walked up to Bella.
"Good morning, Miss," the woman said.
"What information did you get?" Bella asked, her eyes still closed.
"This is the report I've gathered regarding the man named Dev," Tere replied, placing a tablet on the coffee table in front of Bella.
"Read it to me," Bella commanded.
Tere picked the tablet back up and began reading the information she had gathered on Dev.
"Full name: Dev Bentlee, 23 years old. He lives in a low-cost apartment complex on Jl. Kelabu No. 151. He is an only child; his mother passed away when he was in the 8th grade, and his father passed away about a year ago. He has no close relatives. He hasn't held a steady job since he was discharged from the Air Force six months ago."
"He's ex-military?" Bella interrupted, cutting off Tere's explanation.
"Yes, Miss. Dev graduated from the Air Force Military Academy with the rank of second lieutenant just a year ago. He was a highly skilled fighter pilot. However, a certain issue led to his discharge from the military."
"What kind of issue?" Bella asked, her curiosity piqued.
"I am still trying to find out, Miss," Tere admitted.
"Are you seriously this incompetent at a simple task?! When I tell you to find information, make it thorough! Don't come reporting to me when you've only got this much!" Bella yelled, angered by her unfulfilled curiosity.
"I apologize, Miss. This is an internal military matter, so it is rather difficult to trace," Tere replied calmly, already accustomed to Bella's frequent outbursts.
"Continue," Bella ordered.
"Since leaving the military, Dev has taken on several odd jobs, such as part-time facade cleaning, and occasionally working as a freelance helicopter pilot. On regular days when there is no other work, he helps repair cars or motorcycles at a workshop owned by his best friend. He is also frequently seen with the Black Panther motorcycle gang. He isn't a member, but he is treated as a guest of honor by the gang and goes by the moniker 'Red Eagle'."
"Red Eagle?" Bella repeated.
"Correct. He is exceptionally skilled at racing; no one has been able to beat him yet. He is also known to be a formidable fighter. His reputation as a former fighter pilot, combined with his freelance gigs as a helicopter and test pilot, earned him the nickname Red Eagle. 'Red' also symbolizes his favorite motorcycle, which he frequently uses for racing."
"He has a tattoo on his back, right?"
"Yes, Miss. This is the tattoo." Tere showed the tablet screen to Bella.
Bella stared at Dev's back, which was covered by a large, fierce-looking eagle tattoo stretching across his shoulders.
"He decided to get the tattoo to cover up a scar, which he apparently got during his time as an Air Force cadet during his military education," Tere explained.
"Then why didn't he just become a gang member if he hangs around the Black Panthers so much?" Bella asked.
"Because Dev doesn't want to get involved in the trouble the gang often causes. He is only close friends with the gang's leader, but he has always refused to join officially. Aside from that, his love for racing naturally led him to befriending other Black Panther members. Lastly, regarding the women Dev has been involved with..." Tere hesitated.
Bella listened intently.
"Dev has never had a girlfriend. However, there are a few women Dev has slept with. He ended up with all of them after winning bets during motorcycle races against rival gangs. Even though Dev isn't a gang member, he always draws the attention of opposing gangs, so he is always called up whenever there's a race. The winner of the race is usually awarded cash, as well as hostesses."
"Who are these women who slept with Dev?!" Bella's anger began to flare up at Tere's explanation. Dev had rejected her when she kissed him, yet there were other women who had actually slept with him.
"There are three women..." Impatient, Bella snatched the tablet right out of Tere's hands.
She scrutinized the profiles and photos of the three women.
"What? Girls like this have slept with Dev?! Meanwhile, he turns me down? Dev has some nerve!" Bella cursed under her breath, staring intently at the images.
"I am not entirely sure if Dev actually did anything with those three women, Miss. Dev is very cold towards women. He never seeks them out intentionally," Tere noted.
"What do you mean?"
"Dev doesn't seem to have actually had sex with those three women. Dev has never had a girlfriend, and he never goes looking for one-night stands just for pleasure," Tere clarified her wording.
"Are you sure?"
"I cannot be completely certain. That is something you would have to ask Dev yourself, Miss," Tere said.
"Okay. You can go. Keep this a secret from Grandfather and everyone else in the Xander family. And don't forget to hide this from Kris either. You know how much of a blabbermouth he is," Bella commanded.
"Understood, Miss. I will be careful." Tere excused herself and walked out of Bella's apartment.
Bella gazed out of the glass wall, taking in the sweeping view of the Jakarta skyline from high above.
"I know exactly how to get you now, Dev," Bella said, a sinister smirk spreading across her face.