Chapter Four
1442 Words
Five years ago…
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, mingling with the sweet scent of vanilla and cinnamon. Izzy loved this time of day—the lull between the morning rush and the midday crowd. It gave her a moment to breathe, to steal a few seconds for herself in the café she had come to consider a second home. She wiped her flour-dusted hands on her apron and carried a tray of pastries toward the counter, balancing it with a practiced ease that took years to perfect.
That was, until she didn’t.
The moment happened too fast for her to stop it. Her elbow bumped against a full coffee cup, sending the steaming liquid flying in a perfect arc—straight onto the chest of the man standing at the counter.
“Oh my God!” Izzy gasped, eyes widening in horror.
The man jolted back, hissing as the hot liquid seeped into his crisp white dress shirt. He looked down at himself, then at her, and for the briefest moment, Izzy swore she saw a flicker of amusement in his eyes before it was replaced with something unreadable.
“I am so, so sorry!” She grabbed a napkin and reached for his shirt, then froze, realizing too late that dabbing at a stranger’s chest was probably inappropriate. “I—uh—oh no, this is bad.”
The man exhaled a soft chuckle, shaking his head. “It’s fine. I needed an excuse to take this tie off anyway.” His voice was smooth, rich, with the kind of deep timbre that made Izzy’s stomach flutter.
She finally looked up at him, really looked. Tall, broad shoulders, dark hair slightly tousled as if he’d run his fingers through it a dozen times that morning. But it was his eyes that caught her attention—piercing blue, the kind that seemed to see right through her.
“I’ll pay for dry cleaning,” she blurted out, mortified. “Or—wait—I think we have club soda in the back. That’s supposed to help, right?”
His lips quirked at the corners. “You know, most people would just apologize and leave it at that.”
Izzy swallowed, her face heating. “I—I’m not most people.”
The man studied her for a beat, then extended his hand. “Alexander Callahan.”
It took her a second to process before she reached out, her flour-dusted fingers brushing against his palm. “Isabella Hayes.”
“Nice to meet you, Isabella,” Alex said, his voice carrying the hint of a smile. “Even if our meeting was a little… heated.”
She groaned. “Oh God, you’re one of those guys who makes dad jokes, aren’t you?”
His grin widened. “Guilty.”
Izzy should have been embarrassed—hell, she was embarrassed—but there was something about the way he was looking at her, like he found her more amusing than annoying, that made her heart stumble in her chest.
A throat cleared from behind them. “Uh, Izzy? Customers?”
She startled, turning to see her coworker, Lisa giving her a knowing look. Right. She was still on the clock.
“I, um, I should—”
Alex nodded, tucking his tie into his pocket. “Yeah. And I should probably find a new shirt.”
Izzy bit her lip. “There’s a clothing boutique next door. They might have something.”
He arched a brow. “Are you suggesting I shop at a women’s boutique?”
She smirked. “They have men’s dress shirts, too. And I figure it’s the least I can do, considering I just ruined your morning.”
Alex glanced at his watch, then back at her. “Tell you what—if you help me pick one out, I’ll consider us even.”
The words took her by surprise, and for a second, she hesitated. This wasn’t normal. She didn’t just walk off mid-shift to help attractive strangers buy shirts. But something about Alex intrigued her. Maybe it was the way he didn’t seem mad, or the easy way he joked despite the fact that she’d basically assaulted him with scalding coffee. Or maybe it was the way he was still looking at her, like he actually wanted her company.
“Well?” he prompted, a teasing lilt in his voice.
Izzy glanced at the clock. She had a break coming up anyway. And if her manager asked, well… she’d think of something.
“Fine,” she said, untangling her apron from around her waist. “But if you end up looking ridiculous, that’s on you.”
Alex laughed, a warm, genuine sound that made something in Izzy’s chest tighten. “I’ll take my chances.”
As they stepped out into the bustling Chicago street, Izzy couldn’t shake the feeling that she had just walked into something she wasn’t sure she was ready for. But for the first time in a long time, that didn’t scare her at all.
Present day…
(Alex's POV)
I couldn't get her out of my head.
It's been days since the charity gala, and the face of the blonde lady at the gala still lingered in my thoughts like a song on repeat. And then there was the little girl.
Sophia.
Her laughter echoed in my ears long after the gala ended. That bright, innocent giggle as she ran into me—those eyes. Her eyes. There was something about them that made my chest ache. Something familiar. But why?
I stared out the window of my penthouse office, the New York skyline glittering like a sea of diamonds beneath the setting sun. It was supposed to be just another Monday. Instead, I’d spent most of the day half-absent in meetings, distracted, unnerved.
"You’re zoning out again," Vanessa’s voice cut through my thoughts like a blade.
I turned from the window to face her. She stood there with that impeccable posture, that tailored navy suit, her expression sharp and expectant. Vanessa doubles as my doctor and private investigator when I need one. She was a detective for five years before going to medical school, she's efficient, loyal and very observant.
"Sorry," I muttered, rubbing a hand down my face. "Did you find anything?"
She arched a perfectly manicured brow. "About the woman from the gala?" She didn’t try to hide the disapproval in her voice. "You’re really going down this rabbit hole, huh?"
I ignored her tone. "Yes. Did you find anything?"
Vanessa exhaled like a teacher indulging a distracted student. "Her name is Isabella Hayes, goes by Izzy. She recently moved to Brooklyn with her daughter, Sophia. Opened a bakery—Sweet Haven."
Isabella.
The name triggered a rush of emotions I couldn’t place.
Sweet Haven.
“Isn't that the new bakery that's now Callahan Grand Hotel’s official dessert supplier?” I asked, remembering my speech at the grand opening.
“That's the one.” Vanessa replied.
“Interesting.” I muttered.
"She's not married," Vanessa continued, as if to answer the question I hadn't asked. "No mention of a father. She's kept a pretty low profile since she moved to New York."
My jaw tightened. "And the bakery?"
"Cute place," Vanessa said, scrolling on her tablet. "Small, local. Probably won’t stay afloat long without good press. It's a good thing Callahan Grand Hotel is partnering with them.”
“Their grand opening is tomorrow.” Vanessa said, looking up from her tablet.
"Great. Tell Claire to clear up my schedule for that day. I'll be attending.”
Vanessa blinked. "Excuse me?"
"It's the opening of the bakery my company is partners with, I need to be there to see things for myself.”
Vanessa stared at me, and for the first time in a long time, I saw real confusion on her face. "You’re serious."
"Dead serious."
She crossed her arms, skepticism written all over her face. "Alex, you can ask your assistant to represent you there. You don't need to be physically present.”
“On the contrary, I think I do need to be there. It demands my presence.”
She shook her head. “I can't believe you're clearing up your schedule for this.”
I smiled. “Relax Vanessa, it's for a good cause.”
Silence stretched between us for a while. When she finally spoke, her voice was flat. "Fine. I’ll tell Claire.
She left my office without another word, heels clicking sharply against the marble floors.
I dropped into my leather chair, mind spinning.
Isabella Hayes.
I'll see her again tomorrow.
- Writer
