Chapter 5

             

      Meet Again

The morning air was crisp as Isabella parked her car in front of the large glass building that housed her fashion company, Ella’s Fashion House. 

The sight of the company logo on the door made her feel a sense of accomplishment. 

This place was hers now, and no one could take it away.

She adjusted her blazer, grabbed her purse, and stepped out of the car. 

The sound of her heels echoed on the pavement as she made her way to the entrance. 

Her mind was focused on the day ahead—the new designs that needed approval, the upcoming meetings with suppliers, and the growing list of tasks.

But just as she reached the front door, a figure suddenly crossed her path.

Isabella stopped in her tracks. 

She blinked and stared, not sure if her eyes were deceiving her. But no. It was him.

Xavier Carter.

Her ex-fiancé’s cousin. The man she had shared one night with. The man who was also the father of her son, Liam.

He looked different.

 He was still tall and imposing, but now there was something about him that seemed sharper, more refined. 

He was wearing a perfectly tailored suit, his hair combed neatly, but his eyes—they hadn’t changed. 

They were still as intense as ever

Isabella’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly schooled her expression, adopting a neutral, professional demeanor.

“Xavier,” she said, keeping her voice even. “What are you doing here?”

Xavier looked equally stunned. 

He stood there, his usual confident posture faltering for a moment. 

His eyes roamed over her, as if he couldn’t believe she was really standing in front of him after all these years.

“I… I didn’t believe I’d see you again,” he said, still in disbelief. 

His eyes narrowed slightly, a frown forming on his face. “How did you… Why did you suddenly return?”

Isabella crossed her arms, trying to keep her distance.

 “I could ask you the same question,” she said coolly. “How did you find me?”

Xavier’s lips parted, as if considering how to answer.

 He took a step closer, but Isabella didn’t back down.

“I’ve been searching for you,” he said quietly. 

“After you left, I couldn’t stop thinking about what happened. I couldn’t just let it go. I hired private investigators, asked around… I never gave up.”

Isabella’s heart fluttered unexpectedly at his words, but she forced herself to ignore the reaction. 

She couldn’t let him get close again, couldn’t let him stir up feelings she had buried long ago. Not when so much was at stake.

“I don’t know why you’re here,” Isabella said, her tone stern. 

“But whatever happened between us that night was a mistake. I’ve moved on, and you should too. There’s no need for you to keep searching for me.”

Xavier’s brow furrowed. “I’m not here to cause trouble, Isabella. I just—”

“Stop,” she cut him off, her voice sharp. 

“I’m fine. You’ve found me, so now you can leave. I don’t want any more of this.”

She felt the pressure building in her chest, as if the walls were closing in on her. 

The thought of him finding her, of him getting close to her life again, made her stomach turn.

“I’ve moved on,” she repeated, her words steady.

 “And I don’t want you looking for me anymore. Please.”

Xavier stood there, stunned by her response.

 He seemed to be struggling with what to say next, but Isabella didn’t give him the chance to speak.

She felt the cold, hard wall she had built around her heart tremble. 

But she couldn’t let it fall. Not now. Not when she had everything to lose— her son!

“Goodbye, Xavier,” she said, her voice calm but distant as she turned around. 

She pushed the door open and stepped inside, leaving him standing in the parking lot, staring after her with a mixture of frustration and longing.

  Inside, Isabella leaned against the door, her breath shaky as she closed her eyes for a moment.

 She felt a heavy weight in her chest, and a part of her hated herself for walking away like that. 

But she knew it was the right thing to do.

“Ms Paterson?”

She opened her eyes to see her assistant Lara, standing a few feet away, her eyebrows raised in curiosity. 

“Are you okay, ma’am? You look… a little pale.”

Isabella straightened up quickly, wiping the stray tear that had escaped. 

“I’m fine Lara. Just… a little tired. Let’s get to work, okay?”

Lara gave her a skeptical look but didn’t press further. 

She simply nodded and started walking toward Isabella’s office.

 Isabella followed, her mind still racing from the encounter. But she pushed it aside. 

She had a business to run, and she wouldn’t let Xavier Carter, or any of her past, mess it up.

    Outside, Xavier stood in the parking lot, his hand running through his hair as he stared after her. 

He had come so close to reaching her, but Isabella had made it clear she wanted nothing to do with him.

“Mr. Carter,” his personal assistant, Daniel, said as he walked over, breaking Xavier’s train of thought.

 “We need to head to the office. We have a meeting in thirty minutes.”

Xavier nodded absently, still staring at the door Isabella had disappeared through. “Yeah, let’s go.”

He turned and started walking away, but his mind was still on Isabella. 

He had found her after all these years, but she had shut him out.

 She hadn’t wanted to hear anything he had to say.

“Did you get the latest update on her?” Xavier asked, glancing at Daniel as they walked toward the car.

Daniel nodded. 

“Yes, she’s doing well. Her fashion company is growing fast. She’s a force to be reckoned with.”

Xavier’s lips pressed into a thin line. 

He knew she was strong, but he hadn’t expected her to shut him out so completely.

“Keep an eye on her,” Xavier muttered. 

“I’m not giving up on her. Not now. Not ever.”

Daniel didn’t say anything, but he knew better than to argue. 

Xavier had always been relentless when it ca

me to getting what he wanted.

And Xavier Carter wasn’t about to stop now.