Chapter 2 Elation and Despair

Five Years Later

Isabella Moretti had always been captivated by the charm of Paris. It was her favorite city, a place where the old world met high fashion. She enjoyed strutting through the streets wearing her designs and drawing inspiration from the way Parisians effortlessly turned runway looks into everyday wear.

So, it was an achievement for her that she had been contacted by the organizers of Paris Fashion Week to showcase her collections.

The week had been a huge success for her and her team as they had earned a nod from discerning critics all over the world. It was not just a huge achievement, but a dream come through, because she knew that earning recognition from renown fashion critics could launch her career as a designer and also open doors to international success.

It was the last day of the Fashion Week, and she had planned to extend her stay till the weekend to network with the renowned designers she had met. However, her heart was pulling her back to Italy. It was her one-year anniversary with Nico, her boyfriend, and she wanted to surprise him.

The night before their anniversary, Nico had called earlier, asking if she would be back in time for their anniversary dinner. Not wanting to ruin the surprise, Isabella had told him she wasn't sure and promised to make it up to him if she couldn't do it. Nico, upset by her uncertainty and with a voice laced with disappointment, had abruptly ended the call. She smiled and continued packing her suitcase, then rescheduled her flight back to Italy.

Practically sprinting off the plane, Isabella's heart raced with a blend of excitement and nerves, dressed in one of her pants - a navy blue palazzo pants and a matching top, a pair of Nike white sneakers and her hair was tied up in a bun. She walked fast as her designer carry-on bumped against her leg. Apart from the excitement of spending the day with Nico, she could not wait to tell him all about the show and how her team had scaled the runway in a single, dazzling show.

As Isabella stood waiting for her personal assistant, Ava, to pick her up, she felt excitement bubbling up inside her and hoped to God that Nico would not be home, as she planned on heading straight to his apartment. She felt bad that she had not always been there for him because of her busy schedule.

On the anniversary of his birthday, she had come home late from work because of a mix- up with a celebrity's outfit. Her assistant had messed up the client's order, and she had to stay back to sort it out. This time, she had vowed not to disappoint him, even though he thought otherwise.

Her plan was to make dinner, watch movies and chill and then make love to him all night. It was a perfect plan, she thought, as she smiled at herself. She dialed her best friend, Lucia, to let her know she was back, but her call went to voicemail, making her sigh. She was about dialing Ava again when a suitcase caught the edge of her own. Reflexively, she reached out to steady it, but she lost her balance and stumbled forward, her phone clattering to the floor. Before she could hit the ground, a strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back up with a force that left her breathless.

Isabella looked up, her eyes locking with those of her rescuer. For a split second, everything around them seemed to move in slow motion. The most beautiful ocean blue eyes she had ever seen bore into hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. She studied his sharp features that made him look almost dangerous, and his eyes seemed to draw her in. she couldn't take her eyes off him, and if he was not holding her, her knees would have given way.

"Be careful next time," he whispered, his grip on her waist lingering just a moment longer than necessary before he released her. "Airports can be unpredictable." he said, before bending down to pick up her phone from the floor.

Getting her composure back, she snatched her phone from his grasp. "You bumped into me, and you're telling me to be careful next time"? She asked, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment and also anger.

His eyes slowly scanned her, his eyes turning a shade darker as he trailed his gaze down her body, and then up again to meet her eyes.

"Feisty" he breathed, before raising his two plans up in the air as if in surrender, an amused smile playing in his lips.

She shook her head in disgust as she walked away, but she could feel his eyes on her back, and a blush creeping up her cheeks even with her back turned to his. Alessandro watched her disappear into the crowd, a small smile playing on his lips. It was a fleeting moment, but one that he knew he wouldn't forget.

"Get intel on her" he said, turning to his second in command, Harry.

Isabella was almost at the parking lot when she heard a shriek behind her. She turned to see her assistant sprinting towards her, her short red hair bouncing as she skidded with excitement and a big smile plastered on her face.

Ava was a petite twenty-two-year old college student from London. When she got closer, Isabella took off her sunglasses, her hazel eyes crinkled as she gave a wide smile when she saw the look of surprise on Ava's face.

"You were not supposed to be back until the weekend" she stated, her brown eyes scanning Isabella's face as if searching for answers.

"Hello to you too" I replied, rolling my eyes. Ava clasped her hand to her mouth and engulfed Isabella in a tight hug.

"Congratulations boss, we made the news'' she screeched, making Isabella wince.

"Thank you, Ava, we all made it happen. I wouldn't have done it without you and the rest of the team," she replied with a broad smile on her face.

The anticipation of Nico's reaction filled Isabella with a warm glow as she made her way through the familiar streets, imagining the look of surprise and joy on his face when he saw her.

The cab skidded to a halt in front of Italy's upscale urban neighborhood. Nico's apartment was a perfect bachelor's pad as it was nestled within a picturesque street lined with elegant townhouses and modern apartments. It was a quiet and safe neighborhood free from the hustle and bustle of the city life where Isabella stayed.

"This is Nico's apartment," Isabella said, pointing to a white-painted house with wrought iron balconies and large, shuttered windows. The entrance of the house was adorned with potted plants and a sleek, modern intercom system. She loved going to Nico's during the weekends because it was a stark contrast to the town house where she lived.

What if he is not home" Ava asked, concern written in her feature.

"Well, that's the plan. It's our anniversary" Isabella replied, smiling.

Ava opened her mouth widely in a dramatic manner. "It all makes sense now", she nodded.

"Well, I'll leave you to enjoy your very beautiful boyfriend," she said.

"Don't ever tell him that, he will not let me live it down" Isabella replied.

After their little banter, Isabella stepped out onto the porch and watched as they drove off.

She scanned the area for Nico's car, but it wasn't there. Her heart leaped with joy as she strode to the house. She opened the door with her spare key and went into the living room.

The living room was tastefully furnished with a comfortable leather sofa, a glass coffee table, and a state-of-the-art entertainment system, and everywhere was sparkling clean. Isabella breathed in the clean air, then pushed back a purple throw pillow that was out of place, before heading into the room.

She opened the bedroom door and smiled. The bed was laid neatly with white linens and a plush duvet. A black polo, her favorite one, laid on the bed. She smiled as she plopped down on the bed, closed her eyes, and inhaled. The polo had a fruity familiar scent mingled with Nico's strong scent. Nico was a creature of habit and so it was unusual for him to go out of character, "Maybe it's the detergent from the laundry service". She shrugged and began undressing. After she had taken off every piece of clothing she had on, she padded to the bathroom.

***

The shrill sound of an alarm woke Isabella up from her fitful sleep. She jolted awake and scrambled out of bed. She checked her phone for missed calls but got none, before dragging herself out of bed to the kitchen, a smile plastered on her face. She plugged her ear phones in her ears and got to work preparing dinner and dancing to the music booming in her ears.

As the hours ticked by with no sign of Nico, her excitement began to wane, replaced by a creeping sense of unease. She had prepared his favorite meal, the aroma filling the air as she lit candles around the room. She sent him a text to know where he was, but she was left to read.

She had begun to doze off on the couch when the sound of the door opening jolted her awake. "Finally", she thought, and rushed to prepare her camera to record his reaction. Then she hid behind the curtain, bubbling with excitement, but it was short-lived.

Nico stumbled into the living room, clearly intoxicated. His arms were wrapped around another woman, and they were kissing passionately and giggling. The soft glow of the scented candles she used for the dining table decor cast a soft glow on their faces, and she squinted to see well. She gulped as her heart twisted with pain. It was not any woman, it was Lucia, her best friend. She froze on the spot and the phone in her hand clattered to the floor, jolting them both as they turned in her direction. She shook her head and blinked, then pinched her hand. It was not a dream.