Chapter One
Let's Make a Deal
A/AN: Thank you for the reviews last chapter! This chapter will deal with more of our characters emotional states. Please review!
Isabelle Gold wiped the mascara from underneath her eyes, trying her best to conceal the redness, remnants of the tears she'd shed the night before. She swallowed hard, trying to do her makeup the best she could. Today she was Isabelle French, the intern who'd been fortunate enough to be chosen for an internship at Gold Enterprises. She had been a struggling college student at the time, barely paying the rent for her New York studio apartment every month.
She pulled on a faded pair of jeans and blue flannel shirt. She threw her hair up in a messy ponytail, calling herself presentable. Today she looked like a typical overstressed mom contrasted to her typical dolled up apparel. She continued filling her suitcase with the essentials, she would need for an extended leave.
In just a few hours, Rosalie and Bailey would be awake. She planned to tell them that they were all going to stay with "Aunt" Ruby for a little while. She knew the kids would just think of it as an extended sleepover while she sorted things out.
She was surprised when she heard someone clear their throat uncomfortably. She looked up, startled to see her soon to be "ex husband" standing in the doorway. She blinked at his frazzled appearance. He looked like he hadn't slept a wink and that brought her a little satisfaction.
"Where are you going?" he inquired to the beauty, his arms crossed under his chest.
"I'm going to stay with Ruby and Victor a few days until I can find an apartment." she supplied, not missing a beat.
Isabelle noticed his jaw clench at the mention of Victor, the flirtatious doctor who was married to Belle's best friend. The couple both seemed to have the same bad habits.
"You can't be serious Belle! Why are you staying with them? You know how I feel about him!" Raymond growled, causing her to raise a brow at his complacent behavior.
"Well I'm not staying here, and I don't see why it matters anymore! You're barely home to care what's going on with my life! Why are you so worried about me all of a sudden? Shouldn't you be headed to the office by now?" Belle remarked bitterly, referring to the clock.
Raymond swore under his breath when he noticed the time. He had a business meeting with Cora Mills, the company executive of Mill's Products in just an hour. It would take him forty minutes to fight the busy morning traffic to work.
"This isn't over Belle! We will continue this conversation later!" he huffed sauntering off. She motioned with her hand for him to go on because she had nothing left to say to him.
~X~
Raymond Gold barely made it to work after being stuck in a traffic jam for nearly forty-five minutes. He pulled into Gold Enterprises at exactly a quarter after nine. He parked his brown Cadillac in reserved parking and marched into the front doors. The jubilant first floor office staff stopped talking when Mr. Gold, notoriously known as the dark one in the business world entered the premises.
All that mattered to Raymond Gold was climbing to the top of the corporate ladder and monopolizing every company in the process. Gold Enterprises was infamous for swallowing up the small business and spitting its carcass to the curb after mercilessly devouring it.
"Good morning Mr. Gold." greeted Archie Hopper, the financial system's analyst that worked on the seventh floor. Most people called him Mr. Sunshine because of his bubbly personality. He was one of those people who's office was decorated in motivational posters that said "Smile it's Contagious".
"Good morning Mr. Hopper." Raymond replied in a clipped tone, refusing to make eye contact. He made his way onto the elevator, making his way to the thirteenth floor where his solitary office resided.
After he descended from the elevator, he was greeted by his faithful secretary Tink Bell. She stood up coming around to meet him, clipboard in hand.
"Mr. Gold, Mrs. Mills is waiting for you in your office. She's been here fifteen minutes, and I can tell she's getting antsy. You better go on in." Tink instructed, and Mr. Gold nodded, straightening his tie before entering the confines of his office.
"Ahh Mrs. Mills I apologize for my lateness, but I had a few issues I had to deal with at home. I hope you'll forgive my blunder." he apologized taking the seat behind his desk.
"It's all right Mr. Gold. I suppose I can forgive your tardiness just this once." a woman with long auburn hair pulled into a sophisticated bun supplied. She wore a wrinkle free Channel black business suit and appeared to be in her mid-fifties.
"So let's get down to business shall we?" he inquired, itching to make a deal that would combine Gold Enterprises and Mill's Products making them the largest corporation in the nation. Gold Enterprises was ready to buy up to seventy-five percent of the company which specialized in a line of electronics that capitalized the market.
"I see your very adamant about being business partners Mr. Gold. I hope you're ready to hear my price." she smirked with snakelike eyes, like she was daring him to pick up the pen. He felt uneasy by her serpent eyes, but he wouldn't pass this deal up. "Name your price Mrs. Mills" he said with an edge to his voice.
"I think 2.3 billion should cover the cost." she said, tossing out the amount like it was pocket change. Raymond swallowed hard, realizing that forking out such a large amount of cash could be detrimental to his company but the deal was just too good to pass up, especially with how well it was thriving in such a weak economy.
"Deal." he said not giving it a second thought as he sprawled his signature across their contract that he'd read over and over again in the last few days.
"It's a pleasure doing business with you Mr. Gold." Cora smiled her serpent smile, sending a shiver down his spine. He'd made the right choice, he told himself over and over again in his head as he watched her leave the office.
~X~
"So how long are we going to be staying with Aunt Ruby?" inquired Bailey, their eight year old son while she waited for the light to change.
"I'm not sure sweetie, but I promise it'll be fun." Isabelle assured him, while four year old Rosalie sang every word to a One Direction song, she refused to allow her mother to put off repeat. She swore to herself that she would literally burn that CD someday.
"I'm ecited to see ant Wed." Rosalie said in her childish jabber between songs.
"She'll be excited to see you too I'm sure Rose." Isabelle smiled, turning around to pat her daughter's thigh.
"What about dad? Is he coming to?" inquired Bailey breaking her soothing mood.
"No sweetie your father isn't coming. He's going to be really busy at the office." she imparted hoping he didn't further press the issue.
"Daddy is never home anymore…He promised he would take me to the park and play baseball with me a few weeks ago, but we never go to go because he had an important meeting or something. He bought me an Xbox instead." Bailey said, causing her heart to clench in the process.
"I don't even like playing Xbox." he returned, wrinkling his nose.
Hearing her son's remark reminded Belle of how little her husband truly knew about their children's interests. Bailey enjoyed playing piano and baseball. Rosalie liked to take ballet and gymnastics.
"I know Bailey but your father means well." Belle sighed waiting for another light to turn.
"Mommy I have to go potty!" Rosalie exclaimed, squirming in her car seat.
"Rose you went to the potty before we left the house. We will be aunt Ruby's in just a few minutes." she assured her four year old.
"But I have to go now!" Rose whined squirming in her seat.
"I'm sorry Rose but there's no where to pull over." she told her daughter, feeling her frustrations rise as she continued to cry in the backseat.
"But mommy I can't hold it." Rose cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry sweetheart but you're just going to have to." she said as patiently as she could to her younger child.
"Too late mom." Bailey supplied. She turned around sighing when she seen pee running down her daughter's leg.
"I'm sowwy mommy! I tried!" Rose cried feeling embarrassed.
"It's okay sweetheart. Mommy's not mad at you. We'll get you all cleaned up when we get to Aunt Ruby's." she reassured her, feeling her frustrations rise, visualizing Raymond's face in her mind. He was never here to experience any of her typical mommy moments. He never had to deal with kissing boo boos and staying up all hours of the night when one of them got sick. She grit her teeth when she noticed she was still wearing her three karat wedding band. She plucked it off her finger, shoving it in the glove box after parking near Ruby's apartment complex. It used to signify the promise of their eternal love but now it was just a reminder of all the empty promises he'd made her.
A/AN: Well there's that chapter! More Belle/Raymond confrontation in the next chapter! Do you think Raymond make the right decision by merging companies with Cora or was it just a huge mistake? Please review and tell me what you think!
