Chapter 14

This woman was done. It had only been a day since I hired her and not only had she screwed up one of the instructions that mattered the most, but she had also managed to upset Aurora. My daughter wanted to be alone and while I knew it was best not to force her to talk, it gnawed at my heart that there was nothing I could do to alleviate her hurt.

I had seen the flash of betrayal when she heard the words she had heard from most people coming right out of her new friend. They might have only known each other for a short while and met thrice but I knew it when Aurora was attached to anyone. Bella meant much more to her than she knew.

So, at the risk of having to screw up my schedule for the next following days, I had to fire her. It would hurt, that was obvious. Hell, It was hurting just thinking about it and I wasn't the one who was attached to her. It would take a while for my daughter to get over it but I needed to nip this shit in the bud before it became too much to handle. I would take momentary heartbreak over having to hear hurtful things from her when she got too attached.

I sighed with the check I had signed in my hand. I had signed off thrice the amount we had agreed on. Part of me felt bad for laying her off without prior notice, but that part was temped down by memories of one nanny after another throwing resignation letters at me as soon as I set foot through the front door in the evening.

Before my rational part could turn cowardly and feel guilty for doing this, I went in search for her. I didn't need to go down to her room, I heard her voice coming from Aurora's room.

It was a pleasant surprise. Had Aurora agreed to talk to her already?

I was nervous and relieved in equal parts. Relieved that my daughter was opening up to her, but nervous she might get hurt again. I stopped when I heard Bella's soft voice.

"Rory, I'm sorry for what I said earlier. We are supposed to be friends so I understand how hurtful it must have been to hear me say what I said. I also understand if you are mad at me."

I crept closer and finally caught sight of them. They were both on the floor, looking like they had been playing some barbie doll game, but Aurora now had her head on Bella's lap. If it weren't for the current predicament, it would be heartwarming.

Aurora raised her head and hugged Bella. "I'm not mad at you. I know you were just angry."

I couldn't see Bella's face but she let out a hiss that let me know she felt what I felt. Hurt.

"About that." Bella tousled her hair gently. "Do you want to talk about why you threw your food at me?"

"I didn't want chicken wings." Her little voice broke as though she would cry if Bella yelled at her. My first instinct was to want to stop her before she did, but part of me wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt.

"I understand that now, but that's not the message I got from your actions." She hesitated as though choosing her words. "Do you know what people think when you throw things at them? They think you hate them."

"But I don't hate you." She sniffled."

"I know, baby. But actions always speak louder than words. That may be a bit complicated to understand right now but relationships are based on actions." Bella smiled as she swiped a hair off my daughter's little face. "If anyone gives you something you don't want, you can simply tell them you do not want it."

She then proceeded to show her what I was certain were the burns on her chest from earlier, which I found comical.

I wanted to laugh out loud. If it was that easy to teach Aurora how to interact with people, she would have a million friends. I wasn't trying to be pessimistic but if Bella didn't bundle herself up in heat-proof clothes when she served Aurora her next meal, she would end up with worse burns.

Still, my daughter surprised me by clinging onto Bella's neck. "I'm sorry. Please don't leave."

"I won't, baby." Bella hugged her tightly. "If it's up to me, I would like to be your friend forever."

There goes my plan to fire her. I was so caught up watching the out-of-this-world phenomenon unfold before my eyes that I didn't realize how close I was to the door. It creaked open, and I luckily managed to slither away before I got caught snooping in on what I was certain was meant to be a private conversation.

…..

I had been avoiding Bella for most of the afternoon. I didn't want to face her, especially when I knew it would inevitably end in an argument. I was still mad at her for implying that Aurora was a spoiled brat. I normally didn't care what anyone thought of my daughter but somehow her friend saying the same thing rubbed me the wrong way.

I tried my best to focus on my work and forget about her but that was nearly impossible. My mind kept going back to the scene I had witnessed, Bella rubbing my daughter's head and soothing her like they had known each other for ages. If she didn't know I was there watching them, then what she felt for my daughter was more than just friendship. She adored her.

So, I was shocked witless when Rina gave me the most dreaded call.

"Did you find out anything else?" I asked as soon as the call connected. I wanted to be done with this background check once and for all. But the feeling gnawing at my stomach told me once I heard what Rina had to say, I would have a lot more to discuss with Bella.

"The PI specifically did his research on Isabella Cartier as you requested." She started.

"And?" I impatiently probed.

"There are many similarities between Isabella Cartier and Bella Clair, and the icing of the cake is the fact that Isabella disappeared after her wedding. No one knows where she is."

I frowned. If Isabella's husband was the deadbeat that Bella's husband was, that would make them the same person. But that was not all.

"Is there anything else?"

"Rhys found out about the background check we are running on his sister. He would like to have a word with you."

"Rhys Cartier?" I clenched my fists harder than I intended to, the name rolling off my tongue like a hex. "Tell Rhys Cartier I will put a bullet in his head if he so much a comes anywhere near me."