Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Isabella
PRESENT DAY
The distinctive essence of the second-best cafe in town overwhelms me as I sit by the window, with my laptop screen shining brightly. They have now painted the natural brick walls white, with various canvases. I can only guess they are from a certain someone based on the strokes and style. New faces are working here now, new bakeries are on display, and more chairs are available. Since when did this small and familial shop turn into something straight out of a catalog?
Though it would be best for me to stay at home, behind closed doors, I don’t want to go insane. So, I decided to shake things up and work here for a few hours. It’s already been two hours since my hands have been running around the keyboard, working on other artists’ works who have agreed to cooperate in the event.
Many interpretations of art flood my screen and remind me of why I got into this business. Sadly, I always forget it because of the pressures at work, but once I get to work, it all returns to me. The magic of exhibiting an idea from your mind fascinates me. It’s not an elementary thing to do, and honestly, I give my utmost respect to artists. This is why I want to return the favor and share their work internationally, with, of course, a vast sum of money for them.
Things Travis also deserves.
Objectively speaking, I think the first meeting with him went pretty well. I expected the fury, the questions, the bluntness. The basics. But what I didn’t think about was how those would make me feel. My heart throbbed at all of them, and in a way, no amount of preparation could’ve been enough to keep me steady. The night of the breakup, I didn’t give him seconds to counter back at me. I couldn’t live through the hurt I was causing him as well as mine, so I escaped. Two weeks later, I packed my bags, straight to France, keeping the mystery of what could have happened if I had let him express himself about the whole thing.
There was a reason I didn’t want to be there for his burst. It was the look in his eyes. The breaking of his voice. It was as if he orchestrated everything to force me to tell the truth. A truth that could not only hurt me again but also destroy him and his vision of things. This truth could’ve affected his entire life. The truth of why I told him I never loved him to begin with.
I can’t do this again.
Now, more than ever, I have to force things to happen between us. I need him to sign this fucking agreement, then I’m off for good this time. I hate being here and don’t want to stay any longer.
I allow the laptop to fall asleep as I pick up my phone to call Madison. The ambiance of the cafe only makes me feel lonely and shivered. Familiar groups of friends, couples, or family members occupy every seat. They all have someone to sit and talk with, and then there’s me with an empty chair ahead of me.
It can’t get any worse than this.
“Hey, girl,” I say as soon as the beeps stop ringing.
She heavily exhales. “Hi, I hope you’re doing better over there than I am over here?”
“I’m doing good. Everything alright?” I ask, slightly concerned.
“I’m surviving the wrath of a certain someone, but other than that, I can’t be better. How are you liking Road Haven and our mystery—no more mysterious—artist?”
I hesitate between moving past my concern or digging deeper into her worries, but then she clears her throat, and I decide on the first option.
“Things are moving, I guess.”
“I’ll need more than that, Isabella. I have to report back to Maxwell and “things are moving” won’t cut out for it.” She sounds serious.
I’ve been avoiding talking to Maxwell since my arrival and, hopefully, throughout the journey. Madison, the dear she is, proposed to be the line between us and give news to Maxwell about my progress and more. At first, I was incredibly grateful to her for taking that burden off my shoulders, but now I think it might’ve been too much on her.
“I spoke with him yesterday and he’s still not budging.” I try to give her as much information as I can without revealing what I’ve been trying to keep hidden. “He’s standing on his ground about the auction. He doesn’t want to sell at the moment.” All true.
“But you’ve got it, right? Because his canvases are the last ones we’re supposed to put on display, and you know we can’t choose someone else now that Maxwell is aware of him.”
“Madi.” For a quick second, her desperation gets to me, and it makes me want to tell her the truth. Maybe if I were to be honest with her, she’d get me out of this place and help me choose another artist. Sure, the boss wouldn’t be happy about it, but it isn’t something I couldn’t handle. “Never mind.” I chicken out. Again.
“I didn’t want to tell you this, but Maxwell’s extremely serious about sacking you if you don’t get this right. He doesn’t care,” she says, ignoring my flash of hesitation seconds ago. “I know I’m prying on you a little too much, but I just don’t want to see you go for something so stupid.”
“I’ve got this,” I reassure her.
It’s funny how it’s easy for me to say those words to ensure her, but with myself, it doesn’t work. It sounds fake from my lips.
“I don’t doubt it.” I smile for the first time today and it’s only because even though I recently got close to this French, blonde, and kind girl from Paris, she believes in me. More than I could ever do for myself, and that’s worth all the motivation in the world to make me get this right.
“You should come back here with me one day. To Road Haven. It’s like any other small town, encrusted in serenity and full of open ears. Everyone seems to know what goes on around here. I’m sure by now, they all know I’m here.”
“Then it’s good no one knows who you are, otherwise it wouldn’t be a peaceful getaway at all.” Her tone seems to soften up, and it reassures me.
It was supposed to be a peaceful getaway.
“Yeah,” I grit.
“Are you sure everything is okay over there? You sound down. Do you need me to exaggerate some sickness you might have and force Maxwell to let me come join and cater to you?”
“As if he has a heart big enough to let you. I’m fine though, thanks anyway.”
“Well, take care of yourself, okay? You still have a few more days. I’m sure you’ll get him on board by then.” I hear a door slam behind the call. It looks like she’s home from work. I twist my left wrist to check the time and indeed, it’s six p.m. over there. Six hours ahead of me.
Sometimes, the time difference hits me, especially on weekends when I tend to be awake at three in the morning and find Madison’s socials still active. The difference between Road Haven’s Eastern time and Paris makes me realize how much of a Parisian I am. I’m still living as if I’m still there.
“I’ll call you again later tonight. I might need a drinking buddy,” she says.
“Where are you going tonight?”
“Le Club Rouge. They’re having a Single’s Night and with my luck with the men here, I might be drinking alone.”
Le Club Rouge, also referred to as the Red Club, is our go-to entertainment hole. The club hosts various events such as Valentine’s Day, Halloween, and, of course, Single’s Night. Madison’s favorite one. She uses that night as Tinder and hooks up with men who could rock her world. Usually, by the end of the night, she’s on someone’s bed.
I’d attended one of those nights and met a nice, clean, and well-mannered fella, almost too perfect to be honest. He’d bought me a few drinks, we danced together, and after three songs, he made the first move and we hooked up. I didn’t stay overnight, though. He didn’t rock my world, but at least it wasn’t a sad pajama-at-ten kind of night.
“I’ll get the bottle ready,” I say, anticipating her call.
“Of course, if I don’t call…” she strains.
“Hmm, hmm.” I hum, knowing exactly what she means.
“I’m going to get ready now. Talk to you maybe later.”
I chuckle as I hang up the phone. Seconds later, a notification pops up on top and it’s Madison. A picture of a led-out outfit on her bed makes my fingers type so fast.
Me
Is that what you’re going to wear?
Madi
I think so. Does it look too slutty?
Me
No outfit is too slutty.
I zoom in on the photo and check everything out. Resting on the bed is a strapless silver top accompanied by an exceedingly short black skirt with a revealing cut on the left thigh. Her long, straight silver earrings and other jewelry accompany the look. She’s so ready for this. Not to mention the black stilettos under the skirt.
I’m about to type more before two girls arrive and sit at the table in front of me, distracting me. A girl with short hair sits with her back towards me, while the other with curly hair slightly faces me. I immediately dodge her eyes and hide behind the laptop. Not today. I’m done with everyone suddenly happy to see me again. We get it. I’m back.
“Travis rejected me.” The short-haired girl speaks his name. Instantly, my attention spans to it, and my heart skips a burning beat.
“No way!” Her friend gasps, and then she doubles down. “Well, it was pretty expected, wasn’t it? I mean, it was obvious he wasn’t ready yet.”
“It’s been what? Over a decade?”
“Six.”
“Whatever,” she says. I can feel an eye roll from here. Even if she didn’t do that, her throat rumble is enough to tell me she doesn’t care much. “It’s enough time, don’t you think? And do you know what he said to me?”
“What?”
“That he just wasn’t the one for me. In his words: ‘ I don’t think I’m the one for you. The one you’d like to spend most of your life with.’ Who said anything about me wanting to spend the rest of my life with him?” Her voice slightly raises.
“Don’t you want to?”
“Well,” she drags. “That’s not the point here, Raina. Even if I wanted to, he didn’t have to know or assume that. Maybe I only wanted to hook up with him.”
I can’t help but listen in on their conversation. They’re loud and clearly speaking about me as well. I don’t mind Travis having a love interest or even the slightest chance of him dating, so why is my heart burning and aching at the thought of him with another girl? Especially one that reminds me of eighteen-year-old Isabella, with not a care in the world. An Isabella Travis had an eye for.
“Liv,” the curly-haired girl says as she sighs. “Who tells a guy they want to only hook up with, that they like them?”
Like? Someone likes Travis.
“Ugh,” she grumbles.
I look down at my phone and see a bunch of texts sent by Madison, which I had left her on read.
Madi
I’ll send you a pic after I shower.
**Picture of her wearing the outfit.**
How do I look? Hot, I hope.
Are you busy?
I’ll text you when I get there. I’ll make sure to make you crave to be there too.
If I don’t, then I’m busy doing something else. Hopefully, with my mouth and hands.
I laugh out loud. Shit . Now, the place is almost dead silent, and the girls are no longer speaking. The curly-haired girl peaks around her friend and in my direction. I can’t hide any longer. She sees me.
“Isabella?” a voice I somewhat feel familiar with invades my space. I look up at the high-pitched, powerful voice and land on the curly one from the table in front of me. I know her. But I’d like to pretend I don’t.
“It is you! What brings you back in town?” she continues as she stands in front of me.
My laptop shields her lower body, but I get a glimpse of her short jean skirt and her white V-neck blouse. I do as I wish and act ignorant about her.
“Oh, right, we’ve never really spoken before. I’m Raina Lodge, the mayor’s daughter. And this is—” she begins. Her hands freely point at the girl sitting next to her, and it draws me in. The girl. The one who seems to have been crushing on Travis. And rejected by him.
“Olivia Hawksley, the Sheriff’s daughter. Since we’re now starting with our family credentials,” the short-haired girl, or as I’ll call her, Travis’ admirer, mocks as she gets up to stand next to her friend. And just like that, I have to fake a smile. Not because I want to or don’t find it funny, but because if her friend knows about me, then she does as well. Me , the ex-girlfriend of her crush.
“Nice to meet you. I’m—” I free my right hand from the phone.
“The Isabella Kirby,” she interrupts but still brings forward her hand to greet me. I internally take a deep breath, cursing myself for deciding to come out to work instead of staying peacefully at home.
“So, what are you doing here?” the one I know of asks.
“Working,” I bluntly say. The more unambiguous I am with them, the faster they might run off. I can’t stand this interaction one bit.
“Well, it is great to see you again after such a long time. If you need anything at all, you can reach me through Colin,” Raina says, her eyes illustrating her sincerity, but after accidentally eavesdropping on their conversation, I can’t seem to believe her. I don’t think I’d need anything from her, anyway. Nor do I question her mention of Colin and just show them a very sincere smile.
Raina sends another imposing look at Olivia , but this time, she gets no response. So, she bumps their shoulders together. “Same here. Through her,” Olivia quickly says, pointing at Raina.
My cheeks ache as I continue to smile. This is the most uncomfortable situation I’ve ever found myself in, and I saw Travis yesterday.
It’s no secret who Raina is to everyone. She’s the same age as me, she’s a girl like me, she’s as kind as me, but one thing we don’t have in common is our life. She’s always had that kind of luxurious life as a mayor’s daughter. Sure, the title in a town like this doesn’t mean much to outsiders, but for us, it is of great importance. The reason I had never really talked to her was because we never had the chance to. She was home-schooled and was always running off to events with her parents. Untouchable— for me . Not to this girl, though. They seem to be close enough to be talking about boys, so…
“Sure,” I say, physically hurting from the awkwardness.
I put my hands back on the keyboard, waiting for them to leave me alone.
“We won’t hold you much longer. I see you’re busy. Welcome back.” Raina beams as she stares down at the laptop.
Olivia, though, keeps her eyes on me. Not in a bad or judgmental way, but more like she’s trying to figure me out. Her eyes journey up and down my body, and it makes me feel bare. She knows how to make someone question their entire existence. I do the same and look up at her.
“Are you back for good?” Olivia asks.
Why do they all keep asking this forbidden question?
“Why?” I avoid answering.
“I’d like to get to know you. One of these days, when you’re free, could we—” Raina bumps their shoulders together again, this time even harsher. It’s a sign.
“We’re leaving now. Good to see you again, Isabella.” Raina picks up as she drags her friend in a rush and they disappear out of the cafe.
I didn’t like Raina much before, but I love her right now. She just got me out of a potential play date with my ex’s admirer. I owe her my life.
Me
Be a good girl and don’t call tonight. Have fun. ;)
I finally reply to Madison. At least one of us should have fun tonight.