Chapter Four.

The winds rustled through her hair and Isabella swiped it out her face. She stepped into the arrival unit and that familiar scent of Norman, Chicago hit her in the face. It was surreal, how almost nothing had changed since she was last here seven years ago—

With her tickets by her knees, she looked up at the blinking signs before her eyes fell on her aunt.

“You’re ready?” Majorie’s voice was gentle, holding her jacket with one hand and her suitcase in the other. Isa nodded with a smile, nudging her a bit.

“I’m so happy you get to come with me.” She whispered and then she looked to her twins, walking towards her with ice-cream from the vending machine.

“And they as well, maybe Norman can’t be as bad. It won’t” She added. “This was the first company that offered to take them along, i’d never leave them”

“I could never” Isabella said and Majorie rubbed her shoulders.

“You’re just like your mum, she would be so proud” She replied and just then Ryan slid, bumping into her knees. Isa leaned forward to wipe the cream smudge across his lips and he looked up at her with innocence in his eyes.

“This means we could see daddy, right?” His voice was loud, but it were those words that rocked her chest. She gasped, pushing a lump down her throat.

“Come on” Majorie called from behind, taking his hands.

“I want to see daddy” Emily picked up, whining and Isabella drew her hair softly. “You will” She blurted out, although knowing it wasn’t even possible—she told them the same reply each time they asked of their father.

“You’ll see him someday.” She added.

Her eyes darted to Majorie who nodded with pressed lips.

“Let’s go look for Aunt Joan” She whispered enthusiastically and Emily raised her hands in the air. “Aunt Joan!” She echoed, but her voice was suddenly overcome by some noise from behind.

Isa stood up, navigating the crowds at the scene just before her.

And she stepped defensively in front of her kids.

There was an elderly man, surrounded by bounty broad-chested guards and the moment a slap was dashed across his face, Isabella charged forward obligingly.

“No” She dropped her bags to defend her old man as Em gasped.

“Isa—“ Majorie called but she was already a distance away, instead she just held both Ryan and Emily to her dress.

“Hey!” Isabella called out.

“What did he do to deserve that?” She dared to yell, for a second causing a few stares. By the time she was near the man, she realized how petite she was next to these guards. And from the center, they paved a way to the back, from where emerged a man in dark glasses.

“What seems to the be problem? I said teach this man a lesson” He croaked, behind a newspaper gazette and a breath escaped Isabella’s lips.

“It’s you” She muttered.

She recognized the man as the one that had bumped into her at the hotel, crashing her cake. He took off his glasses, standing up.

The narrow gaze he returned showed he recognized her too. And Isa took a step back. “Are you stalking me, woman?” He seemed to more angry than flattered and she let out a jeering laughter.

“Don’t flatter yourself” Isa took the elderly man’s frail hands.

“Is he your father?” He asked, inching closer to her and his guards gave way to him. “Will it stop you from assaulting him if he was?” She threw a question back at him and a coy smirk crept to his lips.

“What are you even doing here in Norman?” She whispered.

“Go” She let go of the man who scurried away in rag for clothes.

The guards tried to go after him but the one before her halted them with a stern wave. “Let him” He gritted through his teeth, although not pleased with Isabella.

“You just helped a thief run away” He placed his glasses across the bridge of his nose and she pushed a lump down her throat.

Digging his hands into his pockets, she already knew what he was going to heft out—money. “I don’t need your charity” Isa said and he scoffed.

“This isn’t charity” He waved it in her face.

“It’s so you back the fuck off. I know your type” He sniffed.

“You hear of Leonardo, the billionaire and you stalk him around, begging for his attention, you want in” His proud words stung her heart and Isabella was sure he hadn’t been this offended.

Did he think she was some sort of low life hooker?

“This is for you to drop it. Quit, it can never happen.”

He let go of the cash in his hands and she was stunned. Even while he pulled away, she still froze.

“Isabella!” A voice suddenly called from behind and it took her mind a second to recognize that it was Joan. It wasn’t until an arm wrapped around her shoulders gayly.

“I’m so happy you’re back” Joan bathed Isabella in kisses before realizing her lost eyes.

“What happened? I saw you talking to the Leonardo Carter” She looked to the money on the ground and attempted to pick it.

“Don’t.” Isabella replied. “He’s an asshole.”

“Why wouldn’t he be?” Joan scoffed.

“He’s like the most powerful man in Norman, rose to wealth a couple years ago after you left. They say crypto but it’s something shady if you ask me” Joan’s words faded in her ears as she tilted her head.

Something struck her, some sense of familiarity that wasn’t from the city. Not from Joan either.

But from him.

Like she knew him, as bad of a human that he was. She couldn’t help but shake off that feeling. “Come on” Joan got a handful of the cash, and she drifted Isabella’s attention back.

“What is it?”

It couldn’t be, she thought, looking to Ryan with the stinging resemblance in his hair.

“Hey” Joan gripped her arms and she shook.

“You okay?” Her best friend asked and she nodded. “It’s like you’re not even excited to see me” She pouted and Isabella dropped it—it couldn’t be possible. She embraced Joan, shaking it off her memory.

“I am” She said in a convincing tone.

And Joan smiled. “Then let’s go.”

“I have a lot of things to show you and the twins” She squealed, taking them by their arms and they yelled. “Aunt Joan” As they walked out the airport, Isabella heaved a deep sigh, the only thing she looked forward to, was her first day of work here—

—Her first day as a contracted baker.

The next day came faster than she could imagine, and she picked out her best dress, her lucky charm apron and charged through the doors of the newly constructed Marriott, here in Norman.

She was excited, and that was an understatement. Thrilled, even.

“Isabella Evans” A voice called from behind and she turned around to some middle-aged man with a clipboard in his hands. Attached to it was her photo. “I’m Daniel” He struck out his hands and she awkwardly took his gesture.

“I’m your supervisor, come this way” He urged, leading her towards the stairs. “You should meet the new boss, couldn’t shut up about your cakes” He teased and Isa beamed with pride.

“I’m sure he can’t wait to see the face behind such heavenly delicacies.”

“He has a vision for this place, and we can’t wait to see what you do with it” Daniel continued but the moment they got to a silver door, they both halted and he struck his hands out again.

“It’s an honor” Isabella smiled before opening the door.

“Leonard would love you” Daniel whispered and that name caught her in her throat that she choked. “What?” She gasped, locking eyes with the ceo behind his glassed desk and he took off his glasses, slowly but steadily, before standing to his feet.

It was the same man of yesterday, and the one from Riverdale.

This wasn’t luck, this was really bad.

“It’s you again” Leonard wasn’t thrilled, as a matter-of-fact.

“You’ve got to be kidding me” And Isabella Evans wasn’t either.