The CEO’s Quadruplets

Chapter 9

            Isabella found him some clean clothes and a steaming cup of tea to warm him from within. They sat down in the kitchen, and Amory clutched the mug in his hands that he had once used nearly every morning before work. The television was still glowing where Isabella had left it paused in the next room. The house felt quiet, and there was a stillness between them as Amory sipped his tea. Rain created a gentle white noise as they sat in silence at the counter, but it did not change that neither of them knew where to begin. It was Isabella who finally broke the silence.

            “So who called you? Anne? Lizzie?” Isabella asked while she tried to keep her tone light and happier. “Who do have I to thank for doing the thing neither of us did?”

            “It was my mother actually,” Amory admitted. “She told me… some weird stuff, but she also insisted I come visit you.”

            Isabella nodded. “She told me an interesting story today as well. I don’t think I ever had such an intimate conversation with her.”

            “She can be funny that way.”

            “I always thought she was just someone who cared so much about the wrong things, but she doesn’t.”

            Isabella had never considered why Valentina acted the way she did, but the shocking behavior and the denial of her aging suddenly made more sense.

            “Me too.”

            “She cares a lot about you, Amory. She was worried our problem might be a bit her fault.”

            “I know,” he sighed. “I think she was right.”

            Isabella raised her eyebrows. “Really?”

            “I fired Starla St. Clair last week.”

            Isabella could have fallen from her seat with the sound of those words. After so long, she thought that she would never hear that phrase. In truth, she had forgotten the girl’s name because she just kept thinking of her as “the brat” or “the tart.” Hearing her full name felt foreign to Isabella’s ears.

            Realizing neither of them were speaking, Isabella finally countered with, “Would you mind telling me why?”

            “I had to threaten her career to get her to stop flirting with me, but nothing ever happened. It took a lot though. I had to take legal action just to get her to listen. Afterward, she just let the rumors fuel her star status, but the actual nail in her coffin happened when she arrived in New Mexico two weeks ago. Isabella, she threw tantrums about everything. The other actors nearly quit. My director was on edge. I think I am finally starting to get gray hairs because of her outbursts. Her trailer was too small. Her costumes were not the right color. Her scene partners were not acting well enough. Cameras were not close enough. Cameras were too close. If she did not have control, she fussed like a toddler. I finally had to throw in the towel with her, and rip up her contract. Her failure to perform means she’ll only get union wages for her time spent, but I’m back in Los Angeles doing a quick recast before we run out of time in New Mexico.”

            “So, you’re going to be leaving again?” Isabella asked, feeling a bit sad.

            Amory shook his head. “Oh no, there is too much damage control to do here. Her agent is threatening to sue us, and the romantic involvement rumors make it all the more murky in litigation. I have to stay here and set things right. Isabella, I wished I had listened to you sooner. I was a complete idiot about everything, and I missed you so much. That was the worst part! You weren’t there to say the right thing or take me down a peg. You balance me, Isabella. I need you in my life.”

            Amory slumped forward on the counter, looking like a broken shell of himself. Life had given him a good beating around his ears and seemingly every other part of him. Pity overlook Isabella. She slid off her kitchen counter stool, and wrapped her arms around him. The feeling felt familiar and good. Nobody really touched her anymore. The little kids in South Africa used to hug her all the time and the old ladies gave her kisses on the cheeks, but since she sent Amory away all the human contact she lacked warm. Even Anne’s and Lizzie’s hugs felt a bit distant, neither quite as warm as Isabella’s husband.

            Leaning into the touch, Amory pulled himself off the stool to hold her closer. Isabella pressed her face against his chest, and would have drawn closer to him if not for the barrel she had swallowed six months ago keeping them at a certain distance. It made Amory laugh.

            “I hadn’t really thought about how big you were going to get.”

            “What did you expect?!”

            He shook his head. “I dunno. The only person I have ever seen pregnant was Anne, and she never even got this big.”

            “I’m not even that fat.”

            “Who said anything about fat? You still look beautiful to me, Bella.”

            “Who said fat was ugly?” she teased him, making him unsure of himself.

            Running his fingers through his hair, he said, “Gosh, Isabella, I only meant… It’s just you said it with such a negative…” He trailed off.

            Isabella rolled her eyes, while laughing at his flustered state. Pulling away from their embrace but still holding his hands in hers, she looked him in the eyes with the most earnest expression she could have mustered.

“I’m sorry for sending you away, Amory. I hate that it took this long.”

“I probably would have been back sooner if the company had not decided to start imploding.”

“Still, I cannot help but feel like I should have reached out sooner. I was too stubborn about it, and it was wrong of me to punish you like I did.”

            He smiled. “I’m just glad to be back in this house, and I got to miss all the tedious decorating! Maybe it was a good idea for me to go after all!”