The Ceo I Couldn't Escape

Chapter One

Bella’s POV

“Mummy, is New York always this noisy?” Noah whispers, his tiny fingers squeezing mine tightly as the doors to the airports spring open for us, welcoming us back into the city.

Or rather, welcoming me back.

I laugh, ignoring the tight feeling in my chest. “It’s how it moves, honey,” I tell him, even though a huge part of me wants to be back on the plane, running away, just like I did years ago. 

“Bella!”

My head whips around to the line of families waiting at the other end, their cardboards held high in the air, their grins wide. A smile melts my face when I see him.

Daniel.

He is taller than I remember, with his coat open and his tie slightly wrinkled. I walk over to him, feeling Noah’s curiosity through his fingers. He has never met Daniel before, and that is because he wasn’t even born when I left. 

“You made it!” Daniel says excitedly when I reach him. He opens his arms, and I walk into them, the sharp notes of oud hitting me. “Oh my God! I can’t believe it has been four good years since I last saw you.”

The cheers of the other people around us do not drown out Daniel’s tone. His eyes meet Noah’s, who is partially hiding behind my skirt. His smile dampens. Turns a little sad. 

“He has his eyes,” Daniel whispers, coming eye-level with my son. “Hey, little man.”

“Hi,” Noah says shyly, his grey eyes regarding me. “Mummy…”

“This is Dr. Daniel, honey,” I murmur, ruffling his dark curls. “He has been the one checking up on Mummy and you when we were in Madrid.”

“Dr. Daniel reporting for duty,” Daniel chirps. He still has that sad, wistful smile on his face. “High-five?”

Noah slaps his palm, finally moving out from behind my skirt. His toothy grin appears, and once again, it strikes me how much they look alike. 

“We are going to be such great friends,” Daniel grins, getting on his feet. “And I will take you to all the nice ice-cream spots around. You love ice-cream, don’t you?”

“Mummy says it isn’t healthy for me,” my son responds, eyeing me again. I notice he is still glued to me, even though he now has a grin for Daniel. Noah has always been that way. He finds it hard to socialize with strangers and prefers to stay away. 

“Are we going to the hospital right now?” 

“Almost.” Daniel glances at me. “The checkup is not until tomorrow, but for tonight….”

The rest of his drowns in his throat. He lifts his hands in the air in surrender. 

“What is it?”

“Don’t hate me, Bella, but I need to be seen at a charity gala. It is an Oncology fund for the Knight Foundation.”

“I…”

“I know,” he calmly cuts in. “The Knight family isn’t exactly the way to welcome you back, but the top paediatric specialist in the state will be there. If we can get through to her between speeches, I can fast-track Noah’s consult.”

A gala. A dress. All that crowd. My stomach does a little flip, and I swallow. “Daniel….”

“It’s not a party,” his voice softens as he takes a step closer. “You don’t have to do any of that stuff, and we will be gone before you know it. We just have to talk to her. You can wear whatever you want to, and I’ll keep you close to me.”

He pauses, then looks into my eyes. “And he’s not going to be there. I promise.”

Noah tugs my sleeve, his pretty gaze digging into mine. “Mummy, if the doctor lady will do something about my tummy, we should go.”

I look back at Daniel.  He regards me patiently. I know he is doing so much already for us. He didn’t have to be here to pick us up, and most definitely, he has no reason to give his all towards finding a treatment for Noah. 

This is the least I can do. For him and my son. 

“Fine,” I breathe. “But we leave the minute we see her.”

“Deal.” Daniel nods gravely, then reaches for our suitcase. “It is so great to have you back in New York, Bella.”

I don’t answer because I don’t think the city wants me back. 

The ballroom at the Waldorf is the hall of money. Everything glitters and smells of wealth, from the crystals dripping from the ceilings to the guests around, dressed elegantly. I feel awkward and so self-conscious in my thrift-store black dress.

I smooth it down and count to ten in my head, each time taking a deep breath. We keep to the wall, with Noah’s hand tucked in mine and Daniel staying true to his promise, keeping himself by my side.

“Breathe,” he whispers. “You are doing great.”

“I am,” I nod, even though I don’t believe it. 

My eyes scan the crowd a dozen times for his features. Those startling grey eyes Noah has, that imposing presence, and the scowl always plastered on his face. 

Daniel notices. 

“He’s not coming,” he reminds me. “You have nothing to be worried about.”

With Daniel holding on to me, we move past a group of women laughing, armed with champagne and diamonds. I press closer to him, conscious of my son’s wide eyes as he takes in the room.

He is so quiet.

He has never been in a place like this.

“Wine?” a server offers, stopping next to us. 

“Water,” I say quickly, interrupting Daniel. 

“Two waters,” Daniel says, nodding. 

“Mummy,” Noah whispers, leaning into me. “Everyone’s shiny.”

“They are pretending,” I whisper back. “You don’t have to believe it.”

A hush suddenly spread across the room as my glass of water is handed over to me. The lights in the room dim, and the voice of the host booms in the room. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Knight Foundation Health Gala. It is so great to have you all here. Now, without further ado, please welcome our host and keynote speaker, Mr. Xander Knight.”

A gasp escapes my lips just as my heart plummets through the marble on the floor. 

It is him.