Chapter Five.

"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 mute, words had failed her as she froze in that very moment, watching his patience grow thin. He was more than the most wealthy man in all of Chicago to her, more than the curly dark hair that fell upon his shoulders and his lusty green eyes that glinted like an always-working charm.

She flashed back to that night, him standing across from her.

And wandered how much her life would have changed if she had just kept to her seat—if she was never even at that bar. Isabella shook her head. She had to tell him. He was the father of Emily and Ryan and had the right to know.

Then why was it so hard then?

Why was it so hard to do the right thing? She fought back tears, standing there. This was a disaster, and all because she couldn't control herself. The door immediately barged open, air Daniel standing just in the middle of them.

She was grasped out of trance, turning her face to him. And so was Leonardo, who'd taken every second to assess her as well. Was it her hair—which was a lot shorter and darker. There was no way he'd recognize it from that night. She'd cut it during post-patum, wanting somewhat of a fresh start.

Could he know? He could not.

To her, she was the woman from the airport who'd let a beggar get away. And if anything, the woman he hated most in this world.

He retracted his hands in a fist, brushing past Daniel's shoulders. "You have uhm—" Her supervisor shuddered at the Ceo's frantic movements. "A meeting" He heaved a deep breath when he had gone out. And he wasn't just the only one, Isabella as well.

Her fingers ran through her lancid hair as she faced heavenward.

"You owe me one" Daniel held the door open for her and she turned to him, wit dry eyes now. "Come, let me show you around" He said, holding a clipboard in a firm clasp. Tossing the emerald apron to her, he slipped it over her head to tie a knot right above her waist. "Thank you" Isabella felt obliged to mutter.

"I'm more of a materialistic person" Daniel scoffed, and she darted her eyes away from his, repelling his sarcasm. "I'm joking" He said before they both came to a halt in front of a door. He pushed in a sliver key, sliding the lock out of place before opening it—it was the newly renovated kitchen, with a dedicated section for pastries, one whose aura roped Isabella in.

It was close to an orgasm for her, how shiny everything was, how new and how refreshing the scent as well. "I'm supposed to work here" Her burgundy converse creaked against the tiled floor as she stared around. "Wow" She exclaimed.

"It's a dream." Daniel croaked, his hands behind him. The moment her eyes met his, she caught a half-hearted smirk and wondered why he was so nice to her. Most supervisors weren't always this way, especially back in the city, she'd heard. "It's beautiful."

"Even for me" He scoffed.

"Well it's all yours" He stepped forward, dangling the key in her face and she heaved a deep breath. "That's if you want the job, Tony told me you were still in between and needed to see the place. I figured this would do the trick" He said, voice as deep as the pacific ocean and a scrutinizing gaze he ushered.

"I know i'd jump at this idea, and i know you want it" He placed it to the table, inching closer to Isabella. "Then what is holding you back?" He asked. He watched how swiftly her mood changed, almost like it wasn't intentional. And then her eyes darkened.

"If it's about Leonardo, i get he's a little controversial" He said.

"Controversial?" She echoed and he scoffed. "Maybe the most hated and coveted man in all of Chicago would be an understatement but he's calm, i mean. It hasn't opened yet but you'd barely ever see him. I heard he has a whole network of hotels like this around the country and the only reason he's here is just to get this place up and running" David narrated.

"When?" Was the only she said in reply and he pulled away.

"When does the tragedy come to an end?"

"Please don't tell him i ever said that" Isabella turned red as she faced him—something Daniel wasn't sure was attractive or hilarious or even both. "I'm cool" Daniel whispered and she let out a soft chuckle. "Yes, you are" Isabella agreed, for a moment catching herself lacking smiling at a man.

The truth was she'd never thought about anyone that way since that night—since Leonardo. There were guys that did hit on her, and guys she was sure wanted to ask her out but that could not happen. It was something she couldn't let herself think of.

There was always something in the way.

She probably thought she'd never date anyone one year at least after she has her babies, and one year turned to two. To three, to four until seven whole years passed. And she hadn't gotten her libido back, until that moment she was in the crystal perfect work station, standing right opposite Daniel. She smirked, imitating him.

"It does get better, i promise."

"You have me" He winked his eyes before drawing close the door and she filled her lungs with air, spreading her arms wide to turn three-sixty. She never thought she'd reached this level in her baking career—never thought she'd be here. And this was a moment she wanted to share with her best friend.

"It's perfect, Isabella" Joan yelled from across the phone, as Isa showed her around. "I'm so proud of you!" She exclaimed, voice overshadowing the beats that reverberated the club she worked.

"So does that mean you're going to take it?"

"Of course i am, i'm literally in Norman with an aunt and two kids" She blurted out, chuckling. But then her mind was poisoned with the thought of him like it did every two seconds.

And that smile vanished from her lips.

"There is one thing though" Isabella thought of breaking the news to Joan that very moment but the line went static just before it cut. "Hello" Her words were met with silence. "Fucking network" She cussed, tossing the phone to the table.

Isabella not only had to make a decision but she had to make the right one. And as sat in that motile chair, staring at the contract papers in front of her, she realized she already had an answer.

She already knew the right thing to do.