Chapter 137

Isabella’s POV.

Two weeks later…

Officially back in work mode, my plate was overflowing with responsibilities—juggling projects for Ares as per my contractual obligations, navigating the setup of my own company, and coordinating schedules with SinClair. On top of all that, there was Slade, our little man, who seemed to be experiencing profound loneliness, having missed his twin best friends tremendously. This week alone, he had indulged in three playdates, yet yearned for more time with them which of course the twins felt the same way about.

Currently, I found myself amidst a work lunch with SinClair. Despite having met her several times before, I couldn't quite shake off my inner fan-girl moment. This meeting was meant to be casual—a chance to get to know each other better.

“So, tell me a bit more about you,” Claire inquired, her straw twirling in her drink as she studied me. “I feel like the media is just the tip of the iceberg.”

“Well, you're spot on there,” I chuckled, appreciating the fact that the media only scratched the surface of my life. They attempted to find more information, but my past remained a hard task. There were, however, snippets found on my mother's Facebook. Fortunately, those few old photos were from a distant past, allowing me to excuse any awkward poses or questionable fashion choices.

“You mentioned you still have some projects?” Claire probed.

“Yes, I do have ongoing projects for the Gardenia,” I replied honestly.

“Isn't that owned by your husband?” Claire inquired, causing a sudden awkward pause at the mention of the term 'husband.' I met her gaze, contemplating how much of my personal life I was willing to reveal.

There had been a slew of articles speculating on the truth of Ares and my relationship, questioning whether we were officially married or merely engaged. The truth was, we were neither, and the stunning ring adorning my left hand, a gift from my mother, did little to clarify matters. We hadn't delved into discussions about it with the media or even between ourselves. Broaching that conversation now seemed awkward. It was too early for marriage talk, and I was quite aware of that fact.

"Boyfriend, yes. I signed the contract a while ago, so I'm still finishing it up," I cleared my throat and reached for my drink.

"Oh, right, sorry. You guys just give off husband and wife vibes," Claire chuckled, and I couldn't help but smile, finding it a flattering compliment, to be honest.

"It's okay," I reassured her.

"I have to say, Isabella, I admire you," Claire said with a soft smile on her lips, and my brows furrowed. My inner fangirl was practically bursting with excitement. She admired me?!

"Managing projects, your own business, our collaboration, your love life, and child all at once," she continued, her tone filled with sincerity and respect, making me feel a bit shy now. "You should be studied for those who want to be efficient in multitasking," she added with a touch of humor, eliciting a chuckle from me.

"The funny thing is that the hardest part of it all is looking after the child," I shook my head, acknowledging the challenges. Tending to Slade and ensuring he had everything he needed and deserved was undeniably the most demanding but also the most rewarding aspect of my life.

"Yeah, he's at the special stage," Claire smiled, and for a moment, I forgot that she herself was a married woman with kids. "My kids are the exact same way," she added, shaking her head playfully.

"He has a fully booked schedule. Three playdates and it's only Wednesday," I laughed.

"Oh god, how do you manage that?" Claire put her drink down immediately.

"My parents and Ares' parents are also around, so sometimes they help out—actually, they help out a lot," I replied honestly, acknowledging the invaluable support that made everything much more manageable for me personally.

"Ah yes, grandparents are heaven-sent," Claire said, a sentiment I couldn't agree with more. "Want to know the true trick?"

"I never refuse advice," I smirked, leaning in to listen closely.

"Give him a sibling. One more child to love and spoil, and you get to see your kids form a sibling bond, which is just so damn heartwarming," Claire began to explain, and there it was again—the thought of a second child filling my head.

"When I come home from work and I see those two knocked out together on the couch, it's just the best sight," Claire said with a smile. For a moment, I envisioned Slade with a little brother or sister, imagining how they'd chase each other around, reminiscent of my own childhood with Lionel.

"I do have to warn you, though. When they ask for snacks or anything, it will be much harder to say no when they both give you the prettiest eyes," Claire continued, pulling me out of my daydream.

"I'm struggling right now as it is," I laughed, realizing that the idea of adding another child to the mix would indeed present a new set of challenges.

***

After our lunch, we dove straight into aligning our schedules, meticulously planning out every detail. Working with Claire was a pleasure, mainly because of her profound understanding of the importance of work-life balance and her thorough approach to making plans. She was meticulous, ensuring that our collaboration would be seamless and beneficial for both of us, making the entire experience even more enjoyable.

As the workday concluded, Ares swung by to pick me up, and together we headed to pick up Slade. I placed my hand over his on my thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze, prompting him to glance toward me with a soft smile on his lips.

"So, during lunch with Claire, something crossed my mind," I cleared my throat, steering away from our previous conversation.

"What's up?" Ares asked.

"Slade not having anyone his age, he's literally the first and only one of his generation in our family," I carefully chose my words, feeling a nervous anticipation about broaching the topic of another child.

"I'm sure one of our brothers or cousins might make him a little friend," Ares suggested with a grin, and I immediately felt a twinge of awkwardness.

"Mhm, I'm putting my money on Lionel," I chirped.

"Seems more likely, yes," Ares agreed.

Well, that was a bust. This conversation didn't exactly go as I anticipated, so I decided to shift the topic.

Ares began our conversation with a hesitant tone, and I sensed immediately that something had been weighing on him for quite some time. "Listen, I know you and Emilio have a past," he started, stumbling slightly over his words, "I mean as both friends and boyfriend/girlfriend," he added, the awkwardness visible.

"Uhuh," I hummed, acknowledging that my past with Emilio wasn't exactly a secret, and I shouldn't be too surprised that Ares had found out.

"I don't want to be overbearing or make this uncomfortable, but I don't trust the guy around you too much," Ares continued, and a warning tone crept into my name as he spoke.

"Ares," I warned.

"What? He looks at you as if it's still the old days," Ares pointed out, and I sat still, absorbing his concerns.

"You didn't even know him then," I reminded him.

"The eyes tell different stories, and I'm sensing that he's not done with you just yet," Ares expressed, and though I understood his concern, I felt he had no reason to worry.

"Ares, I love that you worry about me, and I hear where you're coming from," I spoke softly, wrapping my hand around his. "But do you trust me? I swear he and Daniela are only back in my life as friends, nothing more. And if he crosses the line, which he hasn't yet, I shall put him back in his place," I assured him as he parked in front of my parents' house.

"Fine, yes, I do trust you," Ares sighed, leaning over to kiss my forehead, a gesture that brought a sense of reassurance to our conversation.