Chapter 13
The Chanel executive extended the contract toward Isabella.
Sophia Kensington stepped forward abruptly. "Mr. Chamberlain, are you certain about this? She has no professional runway experience whatsoever!"
"Absolutely. Her little firefly stunt was just a cheap parlor trick. Anyone could pull that off with enough preparation. It won't impress anyone at tomorrow's actual event."
The manager's expression turned icy. "If you're all such experts, perhaps you should demonstrate your superior skills? From what I observed, most of you move like mannequins with frozen expressions." He turned back to Isabella with a respectful smile. "Miss Montgomery, your signature right here will suffice. We trust your capabilities completely."
Isabella signed the document with a flourish.
She then faced Sophia with a challenging gaze. "You might want to step up your game tomorrow. It would be embarrassing for an established model like yourself to be outperformed by someone you consider inexperienced." A subtle smirk played on her lips as she turned to exit.
Sophia's cheeks flushed crimson with humiliation. Though not as renowned as Victoria, she commanded significant recognition as both model and actress. Her bold, unfiltered persona had earned her a dedicated following. Never had she been so openly mocked—especially not by an adopted daughter like Isabella! Losing this opportunity to her was absolutely intolerable.
...
Isabella emerged from the hotel into the cool evening air. The parking lot glittered with luxury vehicles, a stark contrast to her modest motorcycle parked discreetly in the corner.
As she reached for her helmet, a small figure darted toward her.
"Mommy! Mommy!" Oliver's sweet voice carried through the night as he wrapped himself around her leg, clinging like a determined koala.
Isabella instinctively moved to push him away, but his cherubic face and pleading eyes disarmed her. She sighed and ruffled his hair. "Sweetheart, where's your father? Did he leave you alone again?"
"I ran away. I missed you... Will you come home with me?" He buried his face deeper into her coat.
"Oliver, I'm not your mother. I have my own home to return to." Her voice softened despite her words.
"But you are! Daddy promised you'd be my mommy! He thinks about you all the time. He even sleeps with your photo!" The words tumbled out in an eager rush. "Today he canceled a billion-dollar meeting just to watch you. He wanted to protect you."
Isabella fell silent. Could this be true? Did Nathaniel actually keep her picture by his bedside?
She gently stroked his hair. "Sweet boy, you're too young to understand. Love isn't something that happens instantly. What people call love at first sight is usually just attraction. It's superficial. Like when a homeless person admires someone beautiful from afar. It's not real, and it's not right."
Nathaniel emerged from the shadows just in time to hear her last words. His handsome features darkened immediately, like storm clouds gathering before a tempest.
Homeless? She compared him to a homeless person?