Leaping into the unknown
(Bella)
A month later….
Our plane touched down the city of New York. I inhaled deeply, letting the cool breeze touch my skin.
One would think I wouldn't show up here with all the memories it holds, right?
Well, here I am.
I'm not gonna lie, realizing Brenco is the company Calvin just signed with had me rattled.
It just leaves me feeling, maybe my past is back to haunt me.
Calvin said the deal has been signed and finalized. But there's no way Dean himself will take up on the project, not for an expansion.
Don't get me wrong, Clein's is a big name here in LA but trust me, is nothing compared to Brenco and it's billion-dollar subsidiary wings.
I bet he has piles of projects waiting on his desk.
But even so, if he does get involve. I'd be professional about it for Calvin's sake and mine.
I know I should've told Calvin first up about it being a company of my ex. But seeing Calvin being pumped about the partnership. I couldn't bring myself to tell him.
And I definitely do not want him bailing out of it because of me. I did tell Derrick not to breath a word of it to him, if he's ever going to find out, then it'd better be from me.
In all of this, I have an even more bigger fish to fry. My daughter had asked a question that left me puzzled for a while.
"Mommy, we'd see Daddy right? If he isn't here, he'd be there since he's been missing,"
That was the second time they've brought that up, the first was when they turned three, and that almost gave me a heart attack.
Javier came back after school and blurted out from nowhere. "Mommy does it mean Daddy's missing?"
"Huh?" That was the only thing my stunned self could muster at the time.
He tilts his head. "Teacher Becky said if we don't have what others do, then it's missing," then off he goes, his sister follows suit, leaving me to the wheels turning in my head.
At the time, I didn't let myself dwell in it. I thought they were kids, they'd eventually forget. But hearing Jasmine ask me again a day before had me rethinking.
I manage to leverage the situation but I don't know what else I'd do or say if they ever bring that up again.
And I'm definitely shielding them away from Dean and his rebellious Mom and Aunt.
There's no way I'm letting him know about them just yet, not when he still thinks the worse of me.
Some things are better left unsaid.
Straight out of my train of thoughts, I hold Jav and Jas's tiny hands firmly while Anne walks closely behind us, as we make our way to the parking lot.
Anne had been so good to the kids and I. She's been their nanny since they turned one and honestly I couldn't bring myself to leave her behind since she insisted on moving with us.
"Uncle Rick!!!" Javier and Jasmine squealed in unison as they spot Derrick leaning on his car, waiting out for us and most notably he's with Ebony, his girlfriend.
Jav and Jas ran up for a hug, breaking free from my hold.
A smile breaks through Derrick's face as he went down to their level, scooping them up excitedly.
Ebony isn't left out as she smiles down at them.
"Oh, my! They're so grown," Rick mutters as he breaks the moment, smiling from ear to ear.
"Weren't they just babies like yesterday?" Ebony chimes in, her eyes gleaming as she holds Jas's hand.
I wave her tease off with a smile. "Oh, come on. Babies grow overnight, don't they?"
They both laugh. Of, course I know they were joking, doesn't hurt to play along, does it?
Jav and Jas already turned three on their last vacay in LA.
"Welcome, home Bella." Rick says finally, pulling me into a warm hug.
I let myself relax into his embrace for a second. "Thank you, Rick, the both of you." I reply as we break off the hug.
"Welcome. We'd both help you guys settle into your new apartment before leaving, Calvin's order." Derrick says.
I laugh a little. "Sure he did."
"I'm still wondering why you insisted on flying solo. You could have returned with Calvin, you know." Derrick asks, his face is blank, like he doesn't get it.
I shrug. "I've decided to be here, why not do it on my own?" I retort. "Besides, Calvin has done more than enough for me, I'm not looking to taking anymore favors,"
"Little Miss Independent, huh?" Derrick says with that his usual bubbly energy while I nudge his shoulders and then he turns, noticing Anne struggling with a bag.
"I'll help you get that into the truck," he tells Anne before stepping away.
I take a deep breath, glad that Derrick and Ebony is here, it makes me feel a little bit at peace about getting back here.
For all I know, Judy might be out here, still lurking around. She does has eyes and ears everywhere.
But she doesn't scare this Bella, not anymore.
"Come on, pookies. Let's get you inside the car," Ebony says as she guides Jav and Jas away.
Hours later. We're well settled, and the twins are sleeping in their rooms respectively. They must be tired out.
I paid for a very big apartment, I mean, I can afford it, so why not?
I walk Derrick and Ebony to the door.
Once out, Derrick turns to face me, he has this serious look mixed with concern on his face. "Bella, are you sure you're really going to be okay?"
I know Derrick is worried about me and no matter how hard I try to act all tough, he could see right through me.
The thing is.
I'm not so sure how I feel about returning here but one thing I do know is that I can't keep running away from my past forever and most importantly, I've trained my mind for what's to come.
I give him a tiny smile. "I'm sure I can get by perfectly. Don't worry about me," I reassure him.
He drags in a sharp breath. "Alright then. Be good, I'll check in on you guys later," he says, giving me a quick kiss on the cheeks.
I turn to Ebony, who's all smiles the entire time. "Thanks for today, it means a lot." I tell her whilst giving her a quick hug.
As soon as I shut the door, my phone beeps in my pocket.
I pull it out, it's a text from Calvin, asking how we're settling in.
But that's not all.
There's an image attachment to the text.
I walk back to the living room before tapping on it.
An invite, not just any invite.
It has the Brennan's stamp on it.
And when I read closely, it just clicks.
It's the Elite's party, which is stated to be coming up this weekend, Brenco's hosting and Calvin's been invited as a guest.
I'm still puzzled, staring at the invite when Calvin's next text catches me off guard.
"Please come with me as my plus one?"