The CEO’s Quadruplets

Leaning forward, Amory kissed her without reservation. Traces of syrup still lingered on both of their lips, and made the moment taste like maple. She pulled him closer to her, missing these kinds of nights. Isabella wanted to make this moment count as she deepened the kiss, while at the same time letting her fingers run through Amory’s dark wavy hair. He reciprocated by letting his hands secure themselves against the small of her back. Leaning against the bar for support, Isabella forgot where they were until she pulled away to breathe and saw the time on the shiny new watch on Amory’s wrist as he caught his own breath and ran his fingers through his hair.

“If we do not leave soon, honey, we won’t make it on time to the movie.”

He groaned, looking at his watch. “You’re right. It is a shame though, I almost felt like a teenager for a moment there.”

Isabella kissed him last time as she hopped off the barstool and checked her dress. “I know, me too.”

Taking his head, they hurried out to the parking lot and hopped into his little read sports car that Isabella had not sat inside in several weeks. She and the nanny took the babies out in her massive old station wagon now filled with four car seats and too much baby stuff. It felt exciting to speed down the populated streets of Downtown Los Angeles as they headed to the historic theater that Blake Studios had reserved for the event. Once owned by one of the original Hollywood studios for their own premieres, the theater looked like a cathedral for cinema. The ornate design of the lobby and domed ceilings made this place feel to Isabella like she needed to put a dollar in a offering box and say a prayer for the spirits of the movie industry.

Isabella stopped to buy sour gummy candies and a cola at the concession stand with Amory, who ordered chocolate-covered raisins for himself. Cast and crew were talking animatedly around them, sipping drinks in the lobby before slowly filtering to their reserved seats. The cacophony of sound filled the grand space, rising upward and around them as Isabella and Amory decided they also needed popcorn. Eager to be seated, Amory led her through the crowd holding their tray of snacks. He handed her off to an usher who took her arm as Amory whispered in her ear.

“I have to open the movie with a speech, but I’ll be back before the film starts. I’ll be looking for you in the crowd, Bella Donna.”

The usher took her to the front row of the balcony where Anne and her husband Frank already were. More people were starting to filter in as it was five minutes before start time. Isabella could see the young Tucker Morrison being seated down the aisle from her, holding the hands of a charming young girl about his age. They way he made her laugh and the way she smiled told Isabella that these two young people were in love. She smiled as Anne finally noticed she was sitting next to her as Anne finally stopped talking on the phone with their sitter.

“Okay, Jen, thank, bye. Bella, babe, I feel like I haven’t seen you out in ages! You look stunning! Doesn’t she just like her best self in this ensemble, sweetheart?”

“Hey, Isabella, you look great. Are you sure you had four kids?”

Isabella laughed. “If I did not have four kids, then there are a handful of little nuts in my house who do not belong to me! I have to say though, I really think our backyard yoga has helped me lose that baby weight. My physical therapist says I had one of the best recovery times of all his patients. Even Lizzie is insanely please with my internal healing, but I don’t know if that has as much to do with the yoga.”

“Meditation and low-stress activity can solve all problems, Bella! If I start hating the non-profit life, I will use that compliment to open my own yoga studio!” Anne said as she brimmed with pride over her small success. “By the way, how are the squirts? I feel so silly for not asking that first!”

“Oh, you know: sleeping, eating, crying, laughing, pooping, and then starting that whole cycle over again. They are all starting to move more though. I am getting nervous about them all walking soon. How will I keep up?”

“You are going to have to hire a small army of babysitters.” Anne laughed. “You can build a dormitory for them all out behind your house.”

Anne and Isabella laughed as the lights dimmed, and the few spotlights drew their focus down onto the large stage lavishly decorated by hand carved detailing that reminded Isabella of a regal picture frame. After being announced by a disembodied voice filtering through the speakers, Isabella could see Amory down below charging up the stage as the audience applauded. Among his staff, it was easy to see that Amory Blake was a beloved and dedicated owner. He stood on a mark in the center of the screen, making him like a little boy surrounded by a field of white. Holding the microphone close, he clasped it in both his hands as he looked around the room and across the length of the balcony.

“Good evening, everyone. Thank you so much for coming to one of the most historic theaters tonight for an equally historic moment for Blake Studios. I wanted everyone to be in the same theater, so when I got word that every intern had somehow managed to use up then ten-guest limit I knew I needed to rent the biggest place I could find. From the way you guys look from here, it seems that my event team was pushing it even with this place!” Amory paused for the crowd to laugh, inviting them in with his smile as he continued with his speech. “In all seriousness, this project has been special to me from its conception, and to have each one of the cast and crew to be so dedicated to it as well makes me just feel so wonderfully happy. I don’t know what our future has in store, but I know by the look of this film alone that the future will be brilliant and wild thanks to the passion from everyone who calls Blake Studios their work home. I would thank you all personally, but we would never get to show the movie.”

Amory paused again, looking magical under the pink-tinted lights. His personality was fitting to the grand ornamentation around them. He laughed himself, looking around the room as it became quiet again.

“Instead, I hope you all come to the after-party I have thrown personally, which is me showing my love in the only way I really know how to: just spending money.” Amory smiled, and across the room he found his eyes trained on Isabella across the expanse. To be so singled out by him felt embarrassing and thrilling as he finally concluded his speech, “Lastly, I would like to dedicate this night to the love of my life, my darling wife Dr. Isabella Torres. She is the one I know will love me through my triumphs and colossal failures. Like this film, our marriage is a passion project that I never want to see end. Thank you, everyone. Please, enjoy the film!”

Everyone cheered as Amory hurried down the stage. Isabella felt Anne pat her on the arm, and Bella glanced over to see her sister-in-law tearing up. The gesture had made Anne cry, but it filled Isabella with joy. Finally, Amory made it back to his seat a bit breathless from the hustling.

“How did I do?” Amory asked with his face alight with adrenaline as he took his candy and popcorn from her.

“Perfectly, dear,” Isabella whispered back as the theater lights began to fade into black.

However, Isabella did not need light to find his lips. Instead of thanking him, she let her mouth find his in the dark. She let her hand caress the stubble of his cheek as she quietly let her kiss reflect his own sentiment. Isabella knew she was loved, no matter what came next for them or their family. There would be drama sure, but all she needed was simple moments like this kiss to prove to Isabella that it was all worth it.

His strong palm held her hand there as the opening credits illuminated them both. The dawn broke over the bare and beautiful desert landscape in a dulcet evening, lighting the theater with warm rose tones. The long-awaited next chapter finally began to unfold.

 The end.