The CEO’s Quadruplets

Still, it did not stop Isabella from finding Starla St. Clair to be very much obnoxious.

Someone in the distance called for the actress, and she waved goodbye for heading to the porch of a house at the end of the street.

“It’s been a thrill,” Starla cooed before scurrying away to pose for the camera.

“They’re doing stills today to map out the shoots, and getting some dress rehearsal in,” Amory explained. “The town has lost most of their men due to an accident in the mines, so this town is supposed to be run by a madam. Starla is her most coveted worker and her niece.”

“Does she like whoring herself out?” Isabella asked.

“Yes and no.”

Amory did not realize that Isabella was not actually asking about the character. It was cold for Isabella, but something about the air of this girl made Isabella feel like a viper. Following Amory silently around the set there afterward, Isabella let her sunglasses hide how uncomfortable she now felt here. She wished her experience had stopped with Tucker, but time could not be changed. She found herself watching Starla pretend to throw herself around the arms of other men and women. Playing the tease, she did her best to seduce an unwavering Tucker Morrison.

The young cowboy seemed to be having none of it, but his primal desires meant he could only resist so much. His female companion was intended to be his true love interest, but Starla’s role was vital to uncovering the mystery of the narrative and a catalyst for the romance. Isabella looked on as Starla and Tucker shared a kiss in the desolate saloon. Sharing the stage, Tucker looked at the half-naked girl with a horrible realization written on his face before taking off up the stairs to theoretically pack his bags. Of course, Isabella and everyone else knew that the stairs led to nothing any audience would ever see, and the bedroom was in another house on the lot.

Still, the scene had to play out in the artificial reality, and the scene focused back onto the character played by Starla St. Clair. Lying there alone and illuminated by lamplight, Starla clung to her loosened corset with an exaggerated sadness as she reached out for the boy. The scene was called, and finally Amory was satisfied enough to go. Isabella felt somewhat overwhelmed, but she also did not have much idea of the context of the situation and how it would look on the big screen. Hopefully, it would be much more appealing in the moment, but she trusted Amory when he said it looked good.

Even though Amory did buy her the ice cream he promised as they strolled along the boardwalk that night, Isabella’s day had been tainted by that one girl. Something about her put Isabella off, but she had no clue how to bring it up with Amory. With sandy feet and Amory a bit sunburnt on his face, Isabella returned home with her mind still not relaxed. Not even holding Romeo could fix it. The only solution was swimming laps.

A technique she learned in medical school, Isabella got into her pink swimsuit and coordinating swim cap to swim backstrokes up and down the length of the pool. Slowly gliding on top of the water, Isabella watched as the evening sky turned to night. Amory brought dinner out to the dog watching Isabella swim from his spot on the grass, and then stood at the lip of the pool to get his wife’s attention.

“Is everything okay?” Amory asked as she pulled herself to the edge of the pool. He sat next to her, letting his feet dip into the water before continuing his questioning. “You only do this when you’re anxious.”

“There’s just a lot on my mind,” Isabella lied, but finally decided to ask Amory. “What do you think of Starla St. Clair?”

Amory was confused, but knew not to scoff at her question. “She’s fairly talented. She’s a bit of a flirt, but it’s all kind of childish. Her branding is to be like a millennial Marilyn Monroe.”

“But Marilyn was not really like that.”

Amory shrugged. “She also is a bit of a character actor. She’s just a girl. She’s naive and pretty. I don’t have much an opinion of her really. I hate to judge an actor on anything other than their work at such a young age. If you ask me again how I like her, I will have formed my opinion when I finally get to see her finished product.”

Isabella nodded, knowing she had nothing to fear from her husband. He was going to remain ignorant based on his devotion alone, and Isabella could sense it in the way he touched her cheek. They both looked out at the lavender sky slowly fading into a violet and blue hue. It was serene to look up, and Isabella could finally feel her body relax as she sighed heavily.

“I got some salmon at the market yesterday that needs to be eaten,” Amory told her. “If you like, I could grill it for a late dinner while you finish your laps.”

“What if I am done now?”

Amory grinned impishly as he asked in response, “Could you keep doing laps so I could watch you? I won’t lie: it is pretty attractive.”

Bella thought about it for a moment, and finally replied, “Only if you’ll thank me after we are done with dinner.”

“How would like this… gratitude?” Amory said slowly, drawing closer to her face as his eyes began to close.

“I have some ideas,” she whispered back before their lips finally met.

The kiss tasted like chlorine from the pool, but still had a hint of sweet from the coffee ice cream cone she had consumed at the beach. Isabella could feel Amory’s strength in his kiss and his grip as he placed his hand against the small of her neck. Locked into the moment, Isabella felt young and vibrant. She could forget classes and real estate. She could forget pretty girls who made her jealous.

If anything, Isabella felt a bit flattered and empathetic as the waves of dopamine and oxytocin rushed through her mind. Anger washed away with the tide of good feeling, leaving only the memory of what everyone else was missing. Isabella knew how wonderful this kiss was. She could see what a prize she had in her marriage to the one and only Amory Blake. For a youthful doll like that to see what Isabella saw each morning and evening, it was clear that Starla had good taste at the very least.

There was no guarantee Isabella’s forgiveness would last, but for the evening her anxiety had been forgotten as her gaze remained set upon the love of her life. All thoughts of the girl even vanished from her memory as the kiss deepened. She felt Amory running his right hand against the cool wet skin of her thigh. As her fantasies of their near future began to run wild, Isabella knew that her hero would not leave her wanting on a stage. He was to have her body and soul, and Isabella could not wait.