I'M BACK
1202 Words
CHAPTER 10: I'M BACK
ARIA'S POV
FOUR YEARS LATER
PRESENT
The crisp air outside John F. Kennedy International Airport hits me the moment I step out. Suddenly, a familiar loud screech cuts through the noise.
"Aria! Oh my god, look at you!"
Daisy throws her arms around me. She squeezes the breath right out of my lungs.
Four years have changed her from a starting model into an international superstar. But she is still the same Daisy.
A confident, blunt blonde bombshell who lives life exactly on her own terms.
Today, she is a total vision in a white tank top and ripped jeans, putting her famous sexy curves on display.
She looks down at my baby. "My little treasure! You look even more handsome than the last time I saw you."
"Cool Godmother!" three-year-old Jeremiah pipes up from his stroller. He flashes her a bright, gap-toothed grin. "Wait till my hair grows back. I will be even more handsome."
Daisy leans right down which is impressive with how high her heels are. She pinches his cheeks with a dramatic gasp. "Look at this little charmer! Remy, I wish you were thirty years older, honey. I wouldn't even mind twenty!"
He giggles loudly, clapping his tiny hands together. Even with his bald head from the chemo, he is the cutest little boy in the world.
"And look at you, Mama," Daisy says. She stands up and checks me out from head to toe. "How do you have a three-year-old and still look like a runway model? I’m still so jealous of your hips."
I roll my eyes at her. I tune out most of her rambling. She has always been like this.
We load our heavy bags into her cream-coloured Range Rover.
"How is your grumpy bear of an uncle doing?" she asks, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"He looked like he wanted to murder me when I took you to that strip club back in Paris years ago. But god, Mike is insanely attractive when he’s angry."
I groan, though a small smile touches my lips.
Daisy is cool with Cole, my married second uncle. But she absolutely loves getting under Mike’s skin.
"He's fine, Daisy. He's busy at work," I reply.
My uncles are a little too much sometimes, especially Uncle Mike since we reunited four years ago.
He was absolutely furious about me traveling back here alone. He wanted to come with us too. Honestly, I am secretly relieved he got held up at work back in Paris.
He means well, but his overbearing nature would have made things worse. I don't need Mike hovering over me today.
He hates my ex-boyfriend, Jamie, with a passion which also includes everyone associated with him. And I need to speak to Noah alone.
Daisy hits the gas and glances at me. "Have you seen their little podcasts lately? I haven't heard from them in almost three months. I bet their perfect little relationship is crumbling."
"Who are they?" I ask, looking up from my phone screen.
My personal assistant, Sandra, is messaging me about work. My fashion design brand, Aureline, has been doing so well in the last two years since I started it. The brand has grown so popular.
We have a mountain of orders and new contracts almost every day.
I trust my team to handle things, but I promise them that I will check in as much as I can.
"Is that Sandra?" Daisy asks, taking a sharp turn. "You haven't been back in the country for a single day and they are messaging you already, Boss."
“We have a very big client coming in next month," I explain. "He refuses to let anyone attend to him except me. Sandra is just updating me on the appointment."
"I am so proud of you, girl," Daisy says, beaming."
She glances in the rearview mirror at Jeremiah. He has fallen into a light sleep, his head resting against the car window.
Her playful voice becomes soft and serious. "How is he doing? Really."
I look back at my sweet baby. My chest tightens with ache. "Some days are better than others. He gets tired so easily now. But he was really excited this morning, so..."
"Everything will be fine, okay?" she said gently. She skillfully navigates through the heavy traffic. "Do you want me to come inside with you?"
"No."
"I know we only talk bits and pieces about you and Noah..." Daisy starts.
"Wait, what?" I blink, caught off guard.
"Noah was so into you back then," Daisy says simply. "I don't know how you or Jamie didn't see it."
"Yeah, right," I reply half-heartedly.
My relationship with Noah is... complicated. But saying he was into me? That is just Daisy being Daisy, seeing things that are not there.
"Look, Aria, Noah has changed a lot," Daisy warns, her voice serious. "I don't know if it is the power or the business, but he is different. I really don't think you should go in there alone."
"I can handle it, seriously. If you come with me, he will think I am scared of him."
"And you are not?"
Noah doesn't scare me. He never has. I always treated him as…frenemy kind of, until...
"Yes," I reply firmly. "I just do not want to make this more complicated than it already is."
Daisy makes a small clicking sound with her tongue. "Fine. I will take Remy home with me. You go do what you need to do. Come back to us the second you are done."
I nod and turn around in my seat to look at him. He is still sleeping peacefully. His small chest rising and falling.
His little beanie is slightly crooked on his head. I reach back and gently straighten the fabric.
He stirs, blinking his large eyes up at me.
"Baby," I say softly. "Remy."
"I have to go take care of some business. You are going home to your godmother Daisy's house, okay? I will come get join you when I am done."
He looks at me, his beautiful blue eyes still watery from sleep. "Okay, Mummy."
"Be good for your cool godmother, okay?"
"I am always good," he replies automatically. Then he smiles. "You be good too, Mummy."
Daisy snorts loudly from the front seat.
"Yes, my love," I whisper to him, my heart aching. "I will be back before night falls, okay?"
Uncle Mike has already gotten a place for us here. But we will be staying the night at Daisy’s tonight.
Daisy drives me straight to my appointment.
As the Range Rover cruises through the bustling streets, my heart beats faster and faster.
The dashboard clock reads 1:45 PM.
My appointment is at two o'clock sharp. Daisy pulls up right in front of the gigantic building. She gives me one last reassuring look, squeezes my hand, and drives away with Jeremiah.
I’m back in the place that once marked the darkest chapter of my life.
Four years ago, I swore I would never return not to this country, not to them.
But for my son… I would walk straight into hell.
And this? This is nothing compared to that.
- Writer
