“I suppose you’re right,” she sighed relaxing into his hug. “Paul Bryson…”
“Who’s Paul Bryson?” he asked confused.
“The person who should replace me. He may not be as pretty to look at, but he’ll get the job done, and I’ll always be available to help,” she promised him, suddenly looking forward to the upcoming holiday season.
“When are you going to tell Mandy you’re in?”
“I’ll tell her tomorrow and maybe have lunch with her and the Angels reps on Wednesday, unless you need me at the office.”
“I’m sure we can manage for a day or two without you,” he assured her. “How do I get in touch with this Paul Bryson?”
“I’ll set up a meeting for you for Tuesday. Your schedule was clear last time I checked.”
“I don’t know how you can keep track of mine as well as yours, but you really are a magician, it’s the only explanation to how you can organize things as well as you do,” he teased kissing her forehead. “Now shall we rejoin the party? I can’t guarantee that Dad hasn’t spilt the beans on what you’re currently doing.”
“I suppose we should,” she agreed letting him lead her back into the party.
They mingled for a bit and as the crowd began to depart, they had no more excuses to avoid her parents and sisters who were hanging onto Steven like leeches.
“Bella, I was wondering where you disappeared to,” Steven said detangling himself from Dorianna’s grasp.
“She had to take a call from Mandy,” Tyler explained.
“I’m surprised she still represents you Bella,” Izzie stated snootily. “After all you don’t get much coverage anymore.”
“That’s because she’s been…” Vivien began to answer but Tyler cut her off.
“Under an exclusive contract with Angels, they’ve paid her richly so she wouldn’t land another campaign and leave them,” he inserted.
“You would stick up for her, wouldn’t you,” Jordanna laughed.
“Enough,” Steven said as her parents snickered along with their attorney daughter.
“Tyler, I hope you can join us next weekend, we’re celebrating Izzie’s homecoming and her birthday,” her mother, Maria, stated.
“I’m afraid I’ll have to miss it,” he informed her. “I’m taking Bella to Paris next weekend; I have a meeting with some clients, and it’s been a bit since Bella’s been. We already have reservations at Philippe’s and he’s looking forward to seeing Bella again.”
“You didn’t tell us that,” Vivien said with a warm smile at the two. “This wouldn’t be a precursor to something more would it?”
“I have no clue what you’re talking about Mother,” he stated. “Welcome home Izzie; Dori, Jordan, Maria, Jonathan—it’s always refreshing to see some things never change. Mom, Dad, happy anniversary, I’m going to take Bella home now. Your final anniversary present is the suite upstairs where you changed Mom, here are the keys.”
“You’re leaving?” Steven inquired sympathetically towards Bella.
“Lots to do with the upcoming holidays…the new ad will come out on Black Friday, so I need to check that it’s ready, and I have to get back with Mandy, let her know that I’m in for the fashion show for Angels’ new line. Plus, Tyler needs to find a new PR president since I’m going to try my hand at modeling fulltime again,” she told him quietly as they walked towards the door. “I miss it and Angels wants me to headline the show and make my grand entrance, I guess they feel that since this is my twelfth year being their Angel it’s time I stop hiding.”
“You seemed so determined to leave that behind, what’s changed?”
“Me—I’ve decided to do my best to let go of the past which means letting go of the anger I feel towards them,” she said motioning to her family with a nod, “accepting what happened wasn’t my fault, and letting go of the insecurity…I know, how on earth could I feel insecure when I look like I do?”
“I would never wonder about the how’s, thank you for everything Bella. I’m guessing but I’d say the Paris trip is a surprise to you?”
“Completely,” she laughed. “Though I’m not going to argue, I do love Paris and it means I can check on my place there.”
“Make sure my son behaves himself.”
“Always do, at least when Bella’s around,” Tyler said cutting between them and helping her into her coat. “Enjoy the rest of your night Dad…”
“I will, you should think about marriage Tyler, you’d be surprised at the joy it can bring.”