Covert Ties (Hello Mr Arrogant)

Chapter Three

Buying A New Place

The next morning dawned bright, holding the promise of a crisp, autumnal day. Sunlight filtered through the see-through curtains, casting soft rays across the suite. Ariana lay awake in bed, her mind drifting from the past to present.

Today marked the official beginning of her re-entry into the world she had left behind, and to say precisely, she did not know if she was ready yet.

She heard Lily's soft murmurs as she stirred in the other room and got up to start the day. As she walked into the kitchen area, she found Lily already sitting at the breakfast bar, swinging her legs as she munched on a piece of toast, probably bought by the hotel Service.

"Good morning, sweetheart," Ariana said lightly, leaning over to ruffle Lily's hair. "Did you sleep well?"

Lily nodded, her eyes shining. "Yes! Grandpa said he'd bring me a present next time he visited. You think it's a toy?”

Ariana giggled. "Knowing Grandpa, it probably will be. He does like to spoil you already." She reached for the coffee pot, pouring herself a much-needed cup of caffeine. "We have a busy day today, you know. Mommy has a meeting, and then we're going to look at some new places to live."

"Are we going to live in a big house?" Lily asked wide-eyed with curiosity.

"I'm not sure yet, but it will be somewhere nice," Ariana reassured her. "And somewhere we can make our own."

By the time they had finished breakfast, Ariana's phone popped in with a message from Julianne: a reminder of her meeting with her old agency later. Other than just checking up, this meeting would be a strategic move along the lines of reinstating her presence within the fashion world. Ariana had left at the height of her career and was now ready to reclaim her place-on her own terms.

She got Lily dressed in comfortable clothes and tucked her daughter's favorite stuffed bunny up under her arm, then turned her attention to dressing herself in a sleek but understated outfit, the colors muted enough that she could easily fade into the background. The last thing she wanted was to make a spectacle of her first day back.

They reached the agency's office around mid-morning, located in one of those modern glass buildings somewhere in the heart of Manhattan. As Ariana entered the lobby, memories of how many hours she had spent attending meetings and shoots, fittings, and all the rest suddenly came flooding in. It was another life, one that defined her for such a long period of time. Today, though, she was here to be someone else altogether, a mother with a completely different set of priorities.

Julianne met them in the lobby, pulling Ariana up in a warm hug and smiling reassuringly. "Are you ready for this?" she asked, eyes shining with just that special kind of excitement only one truly of the lover and fanatic of the fashion world would have.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Ariana said, hugging her coat closer while she peered around. "Just get through this and see where we stand.

They climbed the stairs to where the agency director Claudia Sterling was waiting for them, Claudia being a very attractive woman in her mid-fifty years with grey-streaked hair, and that air of command about her which seemed to fill the room. She had been Ariana's mentor when she first started modeling, and their relationship had always been a mix of business and mutual respect.

"Ariana, sweetie, isn't it divinely great to finally meet you?" Claudia cooed, her arms opening wide to envelop her in a friendly embrace. "I can already tell you are going to be quite the stirrer of excitement."

"I don't doubt it," Ariana said with a faint smile. "Just hope I can handle it this time around, better."

Claudia's eyes flickered to Lily, who stood quiet and clutching her stuffed bunny beside Ariana. "And who is this little girl? The daughter everyone is talking about?”

“This is my daughter, Lily,” Ariana introduced, her tone filled with quiet pride. “Lily, this is Claudia. She used to help Mommy with her work.”

Lily tilted her head up to look at Claudia, her blue eyes sparkling. “Hello,” she said shyly.

Claudia’s expression softened as she crouched down to Lily’s level. “It’s lovely to meet you, Lily. You’re just as beautiful as your mother.”

Lily giggled a bit, ran behind Ariana's leg, and hid, as Claudia straightened up with a smile on her face. "Well, let's get down to business, shall we?" she said, pointing toward the conference room.

Inside the meeting, it was a whirlwind of updates and proposals.

Claudia had a few options for Ariana, including photo shoots, brand collaborations, as well as a runway return-even if it was for an exclusive event. All the offers were very tempting and really fueled Ariana's passion for the industry when discussing her options.

She couldn't help but reveal that Lily’s topic in the media was an event that wasn't going to disappear overnight. Claudia was always sharp and didn't beat around the bush as she said, "You know as well as I do that the media won't let the questions about your daughter go, Ariana. If you want to reclaim your career, you may have to find a way to manage the narrative.".

"I have considered it," Ariana said steadily. "I'm not yet prepared to have facts about Lily's father come out, and I'd as soon avoid her having to contend with the limelight, if at all possible."

Claudia nodded. Her face showed that she understood. "I respect that. We can work towards having the attention on your professional life, but it is going to be a tough fight. The tabloids have already started speculating."

"I guessed that," she said. "I'll handle it if and when it becomes inevitable."

The meeting ended with a resolution to start moving forward gradually. As Ariana and Julianne were about to leave the building, she felt much accomplishment done. It was small enough, but still a step.

"Mommy, are you done now?" Lily tugged on Ariana's hand as they came out from the agency.

"Yes, dear," Ariana said as she hoisted her daughter on her hip. "Now let's go see some new houses."

Priced out of the city center, as they drove away from it, Ariana allowed herself a little hope. She laid the groundwork for a fresh start, one that would be stable for Lily and allow her to reclaim her career in earnest. But the optimism was there, deep, deep down, and buried beneath all this hope was the realization she wasn't in control. The past still existed, and there were questions she couldn't ignore forever.