The winds rustled through her hair and Isabella swiped it out her face. She stepped into the arrival unit and that familiar scent of Norman, Chicago hit her in the face. It was surreal, how almost nothing had changed since she was last here seven years ago—
With her tickets by her knees, she looked up at the blinking signs before her eyes fell on her aunt.“You’re ready?” Majorie’s voice was gentle, holding her jacket with one hand and her suitcase in the other. Isa nodded with a smile, nudging her a bit.“I’m so happy you get to come with me.” She whispered and then she looked to her twins, walking towards her with ice-cream from the vending machine.“And they as well, maybe Norman can’t be as bad. It won’t” She added. “This was the first company that offered to take them along, i’d never leave them”“I could never” Isabella said and Majorie rubbed her shoulders.“You’re just like your mum, she would be so proud” She replied and just then Ryan slid, bumping into her knees. Isa leaned forward to wipe the cream smudge across his lips and he looked up at her with innocence in his eyes.“This means we could see daddy, right?” His voice was loud, but it were those words that rocked her chest. She gasped, pushing a lump down her throat.“Come on” Majorie called from behind, taking his hands.“I want to see daddy” Emily picked up, whining and Isabella drew her hair softly. “You will” She blurted out, although knowing it wasn’t even possible—she told them the same reply each time they asked of their father.“You’ll see him someday.” She added.Her eyes darted to Majorie who nodded with pressed lips.“Let’s go look for Aunt Joan” She whispered enthusiastically and Emily raised her hands in the air. “Aunt Joan!” She echoed, but her voice was suddenly overcome by some noise from behind.Isa stood up, navigating the crowds at the scene just before her.And she stepped defensively in front of her kids.There was an elderly man, surrounded by bounty broad-chested guards and the moment a slap was dashed across his face, Isabella charged forward obligingly.“No” She dropped her bags to defend her old man as Em gasped.“Isa—“ Majorie called but she was already a distance away, instead she just held both Ryan and Emily to her dress.“Hey!” Isabella called out.“What did he do to deserve that?” She dared to yell, for a second causing a few stares. By the time she was near the man, she realized how petite she was next to these guards. And from the center, they paved a way to the back, from where emerged a man in dark glasses.“What seems to the be problem? I said teach this man a lesson” He croaked, behind a newspaper gazette and a breath escaped Isabella’s lips.“It’s you” She muttered.She recognized the man as the one that had bumped into her at the hotel, crashing her cake. He took off his glasses, standing up.The narrow gaze he returned showed he recognized her too. And Isa took a step back. “Are you stalking me, woman?” He seemed to more angry than flattered and she let out a jeering laughter.“Don’t flatter yourself” Isa took the elderly man’s frail hands.“Is he your father?” He asked, inching closer to her and his guards gave way to him. “Will it stop you from assaulting him if he was?” She threw a question back at him and a coy smirk crept to his lips.“What are you even doing here in Norman?” She whispered.“Go” She let go of the man who scurried away in rag for clothes.The guards tried to go after him but the one before her halted them with a stern wave. “Let him” He gritted through his teeth, although not pleased with Isabella.“You just helped a thief run away” He placed his glasses across the bridge of his nose and she pushed a lump down her throat.Digging his hands into his pockets, she already knew what he was going to heft out—money. “I don’t need your charity” Isa said and he scoffed.“This isn’t charity” He waved it in her face.“It’s so you back the fuck off. I know your type” He sniffed.“You hear of Leonardo, the billionaire and you stalk him around, begging for his attention, you want in” His proud words stung her heart and Isabella was sure he hadn’t been this offended.Did he think she was some sort of low life hooker?“This is for you to drop it. Quit, it can never happen.”He let go of the cash in his hands and she was stunned. Even while he pulled away, she still froze.“Isabella!” A voice suddenly called from behind and it took her mind a second to recognize that it was Joan. It wasn’t until an arm wrapped around her shoulders gayly.“I’m so happy you’re back” Joan bathed Isabella in kisses before realizing her lost eyes.“What happened? I saw you talking to the Leonardo Carter” She looked to the money on the ground and attempted to pick it.“Don’t.” Isabella replied. “He’s an asshole.”“Why wouldn’t he be?” Joan scoffed.“He’s like the most powerful man in Norman, rose to wealth a couple years ago after you left. They say crypto but it’s something shady if you ask me” Joan’s words faded in her ears as she tilted her head.Something struck her, some sense of familiarity that wasn’t from the city. Not from Joan either.But from him.Like she knew him, as bad of a human that he was. She couldn’t help but shake off that feeling. “Come on” Joan got a handful of the cash, and she drifted Isabella’s attention back.“What is it?”It couldn’t be, she thought, looking to Ryan with the stinging resemblance in his hair.“Hey” Joan gripped her arms and she shook.“You okay?” Her best friend asked and she nodded. “It’s like you’re not even excited to see me” She pouted and Isabella dropped it—it couldn’t be possible. She embraced Joan, shaking it off her memory.“I am” She said in a convincing tone.And Joan smiled. “Then let’s go.”“I have a lot of things to show you and the twins” She squealed, taking them by their arms and they yelled. “Aunt Joan” As they walked out the airport, Isabella heaved a deep sigh, the only thing she looked forward to, was her first day of work here——Her first day as a contracted baker.The next day came faster than she could imagine, and she picked out her best dress, her lucky charm apron and charged through the doors of the newly constructed Marriott, here in Norman.She was excited, and that was an understatement. Thrilled, even.“Isabella Evans” A voice called from behind and she turned around to some middle-aged man with a clipboard in his hands. Attached to it was her photo. “I’m Daniel” He struck out his hands and she awkwardly took his gesture.“I’m your supervisor, come this way” He urged, leading her towards the stairs. “You should meet the new boss, couldn’t shut up about your cakes” He teased and Isa beamed with pride.“I’m sure he can’t wait to see the face behind such heavenly delicacies.”“He has a vision for this place, and we can’t wait to see what you do with it” Daniel continued but the moment they got to a silver door, they both halted and he struck his hands out again.“It’s an honor” Isabella smiled before opening the door.“Leonard would love you” Daniel whispered and that name caught her in her throat that she choked. “What?” She gasped, locking eyes with the ceo behind his glassed desk and he took off his glasses, slowly but steadily, before standing to his feet.It was the same man of yesterday, and the one from Riverdale.This wasn’t luck, this was really bad.“It’s you again” Leonard wasn’t thrilled, as a matter-of-fact.“You’ve got to be kidding me” And Isabella Evans wasn’t either."What are you doing here?" Leonardo arose from behind his desk, a finger pressed against the table and an arch coming between his brows. Isabella shivered, not knowing why in that moment, she did not move. He inched closer to her her, coming round the table."Are you stalking me, woman?"The scent of him piercing through her nose, that although it was just one night they were together, she could remember it, She could feel it—and could almost hear the exasperated moans from her lips. His shoulders were clothed in an expensive dior suit she was sure was worth a luxury but that night she'd seen them.Her nails had dug into them, whilst drawing him closer. A lot had changed since seven years, her whole life had. Now she never thought she'd meet the father of her kids, let alone have her as her boss, but somehow here she was. Leonardo Carter, a man feared by all, and the only man that she knew. Their eyes met and she almost choked on the lump that slid down her throat. She was like a mu
"I've signed it" After about half an hour, Isabella walked back to the front desk where Daniel was stood and handed him the papers. His gaze fell to her slender hands, muffling a smile. "It's about time" He stretched his hands and she reluctantly took it."You'll be around tomorrow, won't you?" Daniel asked, to the sheepish glare that was the audience of the receptionist and Isa darted her eyes across the room. "I'm not sure yet" She said and Daniel pulled away with a frown. "You work here now, Isabella""You wouldn't want to miss the grand opening."Isabella nodded as if giving it a thought. "I'll think about it, Daniel—" She caved in and he gave a coaxed stare. Isabella made her way towards the elevator, feeling Daniel's stare at the back of her head. She clicked the button to go down and she heard the shrill chuckles between the receptionist and him.A smile crept to the corner of her lips as she stepped in—maybe it was time to get back into dating, and it took Daniel for her to re
Joan’s shot glass rammed into the marble counter, making a clinch sound. The symphony of the orchestra set the mood in the large banqueting hall—themed with strident silver and turquoise. The latter matched with the dinner gown that Joan wore, out dressing even the staff at the event. And Isabella was right next to her with a simple high-slitted diamond gown. She’d only worn it back in high school and it only needed a few touches to resize. It comforted her that she hadn’t added that much weight over the past seven years. Her eyes fell on Joan, downing what was her nth drink that night. There was a sudden applause as Daniel mounted the stage with a woman a few inches taller than him. “We welcome you to the grand opening of Starlight’s very own, Marriott here in Norman, Chicago” The applause continued as his eyes wavered the expensive crowds for Isabella. She grabbed her phone from her purse. “I’m coming” Muttering to Joan, before taking her leave. She walked into the corridors, he
“I’ve never cummed like that before.”A needy moan escaped Joan’s lips as her back broke though the bathroom door. Placing her hands against the walls, she could feel the music reverberate through the concrete and into the pit of her stomach. Her eyes were closed, against his but she could feel herself being suddenly lifted up in the air.And her bottom met the hard edge of the sink. She was breathless, ravaging his jacket ferociously with her hands until it feel to the ground with a thud. “I want you to fuck me” She shut her eyes open, gritting through her teeth at the first man who’d shown interest in her that night. Isabella was right——if there was anyone that knew the lengths of Joan, it would be her best friend. But one particular length that shocked the woman in question was the size of his rock hard cock, the man before her. She gasped, clutching her lips with her violet painted fingers.She knew length did only half the job, but the way the man flipped her to her side showed
“So what made you move across town to Riverdale?”Daniel’s voice drew her attention and she zoned it back in. Perhaps it was his question that stomped her heart—she hadn’t told him of the twins of in fact anything that deep about her.Isabella made the conscious decision to take things slow, but sitting across him on that table in fine dining, she realized she was doing just the opposite of that. Her lips parted slightly before pursing again. “I wanted a change” She lied. Not exactly.That was merely half the truth, the rest involved her father telling her to never return to Norman as she walked out of her wedding chapel that day. Occasionally, she’d get sucked up in the memory of her flower petals dancing in the air between them—the look of shock on Colton and the rest of the congregation’s faces.Luckily, she never got to see them again, including her father and Samantha, her step mother who was nothing but evil. “Hey” Daniel tapped into the table and Isabella looked to him. “Whe
“He hasn’t picked my calls since yesterday”“I’m worried” Isabella paced around the corridors with the phone in her hands as she was sent to Daniel’s voicemail for the nth time since last night’s dinner that ended in shambles. Joan was by the mirror, applying mascara across her eyes and she turned back to Isa’s worrisome face before heaving a sigh.“So she just like blurted it out?“ She asked, referring to Patricia.“Who could blame her—“ Isabella’s shoulders fell. “She was really drunk and you needed to see the expressions on both their faces” She grunted. Joan pulled away from the glass. “Leonardo doesn’t really have a right to an opinion, i mean he moved halfway across the state, didn’t he ask any questions?” She said.“Besides all you owe him is that you do your work well.”Isa bit into her lips, surrendering her phone to the table. In that moment she might have thought it the best time to tell Joan that Leonard was in fact the father of her kids, but it was just never the right t
Pulling out a stack of documents from his drawer, Leonardo tossed to the table. The thud reverberated Isabella's heart as she brought the door to a clown behind her. Desperate to keep the distance from him, she just stood there, even as their eyes met.The CEO ran his hands into his greasy dark hair until a scoff escaped his lips. "Why am i here?" Isabella asked him. "I'm afraid there is no easy way to say this" He almost cut through her words as his hands fell to the documents on the table."Section 64" He heaved, looking pointedly to the handbook."Office relationships is something i highly discourage""Discourage?" Isabella echoed, stunned by his words. "Banned Isa, it's highly inappropriate that your supervisor gets embroiled in a romantic relationship with you" He cleared his throat, feeling the wrath of the awkwardness of this conversation as much as she did and he pushed a lump down his throat."Well that wasn't in the contract, Leo.""Well it is in the handbook" He replied. "A
"I like you a lot" Isabella reminisced Daniel's words as she walked back home after a long day. She couldn't shake off the feeling that she was being watched but each time she turned around, it was nothing—there was no one. So to take her mind of her paranoia, all she could think about was their moment in the closet."I like you too" She muttered, feeling like a child in love again.As she made her way up her apartment building, she hefted out her keys. But once the elevator opened, her eyes were met with a set of familiar ones. "Patricia?" She surprisingly called, seeing her hovering in front of the door. The woman who had a phone on her ears put away to look back at Isabella."You're back" An exasperated sigh escaped her lips, showing she had been waiting for long. "What are you doing here?" Isabella asked, pulling from the quick hug they shared. Patricia pulled off her glasses that was probably worth twice Isabella's rent. And she could see the remorse in her eyes. "I just wanted