chapter 139
chapter 139
Isabella's POV.
Being in Florence just brought back old memories of mine. I had traveled across the ocean to stand in this city, yet I barely had the time to take it all in because success had chased me down here faster than I could even breathe or think of.
Valenti, my director kept on pacing back and forth in front of me. I had asked him so many times why he was so uneasy but he told me that he doesn't want to talk about it until he is sure about it and I let him be.
All I know is that his phone buzzed in his hands and as soon as he looked down at his phone he smiled to himself. He was once looking uneasy but now he was looking so happy as though he had uncovered a secret treasure out of nowhere.
“Isabella. You have no idea what has just landed on my desk. Another company wants to endorse you as their model but not just any company, their pay makes what we flew down here look like pocket change to me.” he said and my chest tightened at his revelation.
“Another company? But we only just arrived. Who even knows that I am here?” I asked and Valenti waved his phone in the air.
“The city of Florence speaks fast when a star rises and you Isabella are rising higher than anyone ever expected. Take a look at it, they sent me the pdf file of the contract.” he said, as he handed over the phone to me and I collected it only to look down at the words and the neat signatures. Alongside the promise of more zeros than I had ever seen.
I chuckled at this contract because this was very disbelieving for me to believe. It was like I had finally hit the biggest jackpot ever since I started modelling as a career.
“This is insane. Are you sure they want me?” I asked.
“They don't want you Isabella” he corrected. “They need you and you have to sign on it as soon as their physical contract paper is being delivered to us and you're going to thank me later.” he said.
And I didn't question him on anything anymore. I was too blinded by the relief that all my years of struggle had led me here.
I didn't even understand how I could just bag something like this. I knew my potential and my words and how famous I was but I did not expect any of this. I mean the money and being offered is so huge enough to make me afford anything I want to afford.
\~~~~~~~~~
Valenti left the hotel and I was also leaving my room just to get fresh air outside since I have been inside all day. The kids were playing in the kids section, my mind was thinking about the contract and then I heard a familiar voice call out my name.
“Isabella.”
That voice was a voice I did not want to hear ever again in my life. I thought that I might have heard wrong and just to confirm my doubts, I turned to see Declan and he was dressed in a suit that looked like it belonged to power itself.
I wouldn't say I was surprised to see him because I knew he was based here in this city. I knew that I would probably bump into him one of these days but I did not expect it to be this soon.
Our eyes were staring at each other and I couldn't move anymore from that spot as he moved closer to me. My heart slammed hard against my chest and in that moment I realized that I hadn't prepared myself for this. Not here and not now.
My mind had many reactions in mind and all I could do in that moment was to turn my back against him and walk away. But I was wrong for even attempting that, it seemed as the spending years away from Declan had made me forget that Declan knows well how to chase me and he wouldn't stop.
“Isabella.” He called out my name again as he rushed towards me and stood in front of me.
He was close to me and at that moment it felt as though I had stopped breathing. He was so close to me that I could feel the warmth radiating off him.
And before I could decide to move again. He pulled me closer to him and hugged me so tightly.
“Why did you leave me?.” I heard him ask as his voice cracked with something I hadn't heard in years and to me it sounded like vulnerability.
I felt anger course through me and I pushed him away from me. He stumbled backwards but he held onto his stamina before he could fall.
“Let me go.” I said as he held my arm again but this time around his grip was lost on me as he searched my eyes.
“Four years Isabella. Do you even have any fucking idea that I spent four years searching for you. I was wondering if you were even alive and do you know what that did to me?” he questioned and I swallowed hard.
“You don't have to act as though you cared. You had your family with you and also your choices. And even for once I was never a part of them.”
“No Isabella. You have got it all wrong. You have always been my choice even till today.” he said with a soft voice and my defenses trembled for a second before I masked it all up.
I couldn't let him see me as a weak person. At least not now, when everything was at stake.
“Mommy!” Adrian called out to me. His voice always sounded sharper than ever whenever he woke up from sleep. And everything was followed by Aria's giggle.
My kids are already used to the fact that once they are awake they will play a bit before looking for their mummy if she isn't around them.
They rushed towards me as they flung themselves into my arms and I bent down to hug them tightly. I noticed that Declan's starry was on me for so long and also my kids which scared me more than ever.
“Mommy, we found you.” Aria said as she planted a kiss on my cheek.
“Mommy, who is this uncle?” Adrian asked, looking up at Declan as his big eyes settled on him. Declan slowly lowered himself to their height.
“Hello children.” he said softly and he smiled at them, then he removed some money from his wallet and handed it over to the kids. “You kids must be very special to your mommy so here is some money to buy chocolates. The best kind is just down the street.”
“They are not going alone because they are children. I guess you won't know because you don't actually know anything about raising kids.” I said.
“I just know that you're saying that to hurt me. But be rest assured because I have somebody to follow them. Marcus!” he called out and Marcus ran towards him.
“Yes Boss.”
“I want you to go with the kids and buy them chocolates and also please keep them safe alongside with yourself.” Declan instructed as Aria and Adrian squealed in happiness, just because we are going to eat chocolate but kids will always be kids because they get impressed over even the little things.
The kids held Marcus' hands and they all walked away as I watched them.
“I have seen enough Isabella. Those kids are mine, aren't they?” Declan asked and I froze at the spot.
Every nerve in my body screamed at me to deny it. To run away and to protect my children but the truth weighed heavier than any lie I could create because the kids are his carbon copy.
“Yes they are yours. I was pregnant when I decided to leave your life and I hid the news of my pregnancy from you because you were too busy with your other family to even care about me. So you don't expect me to raise my children in that kind of environment.” I said and I stared at him with my burning eyes.
“Isabella you have built a life and a career and you have done it all alone. I just want to say that I am very proud of you, more than you know my wife.”
“Don't you dare call me your wife” I warned and my voice cracked, though I tried to act strong. “I am not yours anymore and I'm not denying the fact that the kids belong to you. You are their biological father but you don't just get to walk back into our lives and claim us as yours. I came back to this city for work and nothing more. Once I am done with my work then I'll be gone.”
“You can try to run again but you won't be able to run away from me because this time around you are tied to me Isabella. You are tied to me through the kids and through everything.”
“Stay away from me.” I said and I pointed a finger at him. He moved closer to me and leaned close enough that I could feel his breath on my ear.
“You can't stay away from either. Not really.” he whispered in that seductive voice of his and heat rushed through me.
The heat I felt was unwanted and traitorous. My body remembered what my heart wanted to forget. And I hated myself for it. I stepped back away from him as I wrapped my arms around myself.
“This changes nothing.” I said and he smiled at me as his eyes never left mine.