Chapter 10: I want us back
1572 Words
Marcus pulled the car into the underground parking lot of Adrian’s building, glancing at his boss through the rearview mirror. The silence in the car had been thick since they left the meeting, but Marcus had known Adrian long enough to recognize when something was weighing on his mind. He cleared his throat, deciding to break the silence.
“She’s back for good,” Marcus said, his voice even.
Adrian’s gaze flicked up from his phone. “Who?”
Marcus met his eyes in the mirror. “Miss Isabelle.”
Adrian didn’t react immediately, but his grip on the phone tightened ever so slightly. “Where did you hear that?”
“Word spreads,” Marcus said.
Adrian exhaled sharply and ran a hand down his face. He should’ve known. Isabelle wasn’t the kind of woman who just showed up without a reason. If she was back, it meant she had a plan, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to find out what it was.
He pushed open the car door and stepped out. “Keep an eye on her, Marcus.”
Marcus nodded. “Already on it.”
Later that evening, Adrian found himself staring out at the city skyline. His mind replayed the day’s events—Isabelle’s sudden return, Elena’s reaction, and the way she had so carefully masked her emotions. He wasn’t sure why that bothered him so much. Maybe because he had wanted a reaction out of her.
His thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of his phone. He glanced at the screen—James.
With a sigh, he answered. “What?”
“Wow, no hello?” James chuckled. “Bad day?”
Adrian rubbed his temple. “What do you want?”
“Well, for starters, I want to know why Isabelle Laurent is back in town.”
Adrian stiffened. “You heard too?”
“Of course I did,” James said. “She’s already been spotted at a few high-profile places. And rumor has it, she’s not just back for a visit.”
Adrian sighed. “Yeah, I figured.”
“So? What are you going to do about it?” James asked.
Adrian didn’t answer right away. He wasn’t sure what he was going to do. He had closed that chapter of his life a long time ago, and he wasn’t keen on reopening it. But with Isabelle, nothing was ever that simple.
Meanwhile, Elena sat on her couch, staring at her phone. Sarah’s words from earlier kept replaying in her mind. She’s trouble. Not just for Adrian—but for you too.
Elena didn’t want to think about it. Didn’t want to care. But the truth was, something about Isabelle unsettled her. And she hated that. She heard her phone peep and saw it was Sarah that sent her a message,
Elena hesitated for a moment before finally clicking on Sarah’s message.
"I've got gist for you"
Her fingers hovered over the screen as she typed back. About what?
"Isabelle. I found out something really interesting you might want to know.
Elena’s heart skipped a beat. She didn’t like the way that sounded. Pushing aside her unease, she quickly replied. I don't think I wanna know.
Sarah quickly wrote back "are you sure about that"
Elena saw the response but doesn't even know what to say cause deep down she really want to know.
Without a second thought, Elena grabbed her bag and rushed out of her apartment.
Meanwhile, Adrian sat in his living room, a glass of whiskey in hand as he stared out the large window overlooking the city. His mind was anything but settled. Isabelle’s sudden return had shaken him more than he cared to admit. He hated unfinished business, and she was the one loose thread he never thought he’d have to deal with again.
A knock at the front door pulled him from his thoughts. Marcus stepped inside, his expression unreadable.
“She’s making moves,” Marcus said.
Adrian frowned. “Who?”
“Isabelle.”
Adrian exhaled sharply, swirling the whiskey in his glass. “What kind of moves?”
“She’s been seen in places she never used to frequent. High-profile events, casual business meetings—she’s inserting herself back into your world,” Marcus explained. “She knows exactly what she’s doing.”
Adrian clenched his jaw. He wasn’t naive. Isabelle never did anything without a reason. “Keep watching her. I need to know her next step before she makes it.”
Marcus nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Elena arrived at Sarah’s apartment, her mind racing with possibilities. As soon as she stepped inside, Sarah wasted no time.
“I did some digging,” Sarah said, her expression grim. “Isabelle isn’t here just to reconnect with Adrian. She’s got an agenda.”
Elena folded her arms. “What do you mean?”
“She’s been asking about you.”
Elena froze. “Me?”
Sarah nodded. “And not in a friendly way.”
A chill ran down Elena’s spine. “What does she want?”
Sarah sighed. “That’s what I’m trying to figure out. But trust me, she’s not as innocent as she acts.”
Elena didn’t need Sarah to tell her that. She had seen the way Isabelle carried herself—too perfect, too controlled. Something about her didn’t sit right. And now, knowing that Isabelle was looking into her? It only confirmed her suspicions.
Later that evening, Isabelle stood outside Adrian’s mansion, adjusting her expression in the reflection of the polished glass doors. With a deep breath, she knocked and waited.
Moments later, the door swung open, and Adrian’s driver and right-hand man, Marcus, regarded her with a neutral expression. “Miss Laurent.”
“I need to see Adrian,” Isabelle said softly.
Marcus didn’t move. “He’s busy.”
“Please, Marcus,” she pleaded, her voice trembling just enough to seem genuine. “I just need a moment.”
After a beat of hesitation, Marcus stepped aside. “He’s in the living room.”
Isabelle walked through the grand hallway, her heels clicking against the marble floor. She found Adrian seated on the couch, his expression unreadable as he took another sip of whiskey.
“Adrian,” she murmured softly. “Can we talk?”
His gaze flicked up to her, his face impassive. “What do you want, Isabelle?”
She bit her lip, hesitating. “I just… I wanted to see you. It’s been a long time.”
Adrian studied her carefully. The Isabelle he remembered was fragile, delicate—someone he had always felt the need to protect. And now, looking at her, she still carried that same air of gentleness.
“I don’t think there’s much to say,” Adrian said evenly.
Isabelle lowered her gaze, her fingers twisting together as if she was struggling to hold herself together. “I know I hurt you,” she whispered. “And I regret it every single day.”
Adrian remained silent, watching her.
“I’m not here to make excuses,” she continued, her voice trembling. “I just… I want to fix things.”
Adrian let out a slow breath. “Fix what, Isabelle?”
She finally met his eyes, her expression heartbreakingly sincere. “Us.”
Adrian watched Isabelle carefully, his expression unreadable. He had spent years trying to forget her, burying every memory beneath work, success, and a hardened exterior. And yet, here she was, trying to reopen old wounds with a carefully rehearsed performance of regret.
“You want to fix ‘us’?” he repeated, his tone devoid of emotion.
Isabelle nodded, taking a tentative step closer. “I know I hurt you, Adrian. I was young, foolish… but I never stopped caring about you.”
Adrian leaned back in his chair, swirling the whiskey in his glass before taking a slow sip. “That’s interesting,” he said coolly. “Because you didn’t seem to care when you left without a word.”
Isabelle looked down, biting her lip as if holding back tears. “I was scared. I didn’t know how to handle what we had. I made a mistake.”
Marcus, who had been standing near the doorway, observed quietly. His sharp eyes took in every detail—the slight quiver in her voice, the carefully chosen words. He wasn’t buying any of it.
“You made your choice,” Adrian said flatly. “And I made mine. There’s nothing left to fix.”
Isabelle inhaled shakily. “Adrian, please…”
His gaze hardened. “We’re done here.”
A moment of silence passed before Isabelle forced a small, sad smile. “Alright,” she whispered. “But I’m not giving up on us.”
Elena sat at her desk, tapping her pen against a stack of reports. Her mind was elsewhere, replaying Sarah’s words over and over again. Isabelle isn’t here just to reconnect with Adrian. She’s got an agenda. She’s been asking about you.
A chill ran down her spine. What could Isabelle possibly want from her?
Her phone vibrated. Expecting a message from Sarah, she reached for it—but her fingers froze when she saw the number was unknown. Hesitantly, she opened the message.
A picture of her and Adrian at the gala filled the screen, followed by a single question:
Do you really think you belong in his world?
- Writer
