"Mommy!"
As soon as Aria read the message on Caroline's phone that her mom had arrived she busted out of the apartment and ran to her mother's side.
Adriana grinned.
All her dark mood from before and stress with Noah disappeared in an instant.
"Come here, baby." She opened her arms and picked her up. She twirled her in the air and landed kisses all over her face.
After the kisses, Aria wrapped her arms around Adriana's neck and smiled. "I missed you, mommy!"
"I missed you too! Did you have fun? And did you behave?" She asked raising an eyebrow.
Aria gasped. "Mommy of course I behaved. Auntie Caroline is the best baby sitter!" Adriana shook her head and looked back at Caroline to confirm her words. Caroline nodded with a smile.
"How was your first day at work?" Aria asked when they walked inside the apartment. "It went well. I met new people and my office is awesome!"
"Ooo, I want to look at your new office mommy."
"When I get the time I'll bring you." Adriana nodded her head. Obviously, she would make sure Briana is not there.
After staying about an hour with Caroline Adriana and Aria went home.
…..
"Mom, can we video chat brother and watch a movie together? I have the perfect one in mind." Aria excitedly told Adriana about the movie she wanted them to watch and how both she and James are looking forward to it.
"We will do that then, but we have to set up everything early so that your brother doesn't have to stay up late." Adriana agreed.
"Mhmm." Aria then started playing on her iPad.
"Ma'am there is a….problem," Ralf spoke. Adriana lifted her head waiting for him to tell her what the problem is. "The room with the kitchen...it's umm...well apparently the last room with a kitchen has been taken and there is no way we can get another until 4 weeks from now." He explained.
"Who bought the last room?"
''Noah Preston," Ralf answered.
"Find another hotel, simple."
"Yes, I tried that. There are plenty but they all said the same. It seems no one in the state wants to rent you or even allow you to enter their premises." Ralf swallowed his saliva nervously.
"Huh….and why exactly?"
"They don't want to offend…."
"Grandma….." Adriana sighed.
'And Mr.Noah Preston but I'll just keep that to myself.' Ralf thought.
"How the hell did she find out we are room neighbors?"
"I'm not sure, but my guess is that she got it from Mr.Preston."
Adriana took a deep breath.
'Grandma you need to stop your useless matchmaking. It worked before but now it's different…' She wanted to beg the woman to just leave it and let it be but she didn't want to make her feel bad either.
Just thinking about earlier annoyed her. "I'm not going to spend my time in New York next to that man. Ralf, you are smart, figure something out."
Aria pursed her lips. 'Did you upset mommy?'
Adriana looked out the window and saw they arrived. She opened the door and brought Aria out who was silent.
"Say, hi to your brother for me." She told Ralf and walked inside the hotel.
Ralf sighed and he drove away.
"Mommy….."
Adriana froze when she heard Aria's voice. She turned to look at her, her face was pale and she had a terrified expression on her face.
"What's wrong?" She asked.
Aria hid her face in her leg and pointed to the outside of their room.
Reporters were crowding outside their door waiting to ask all kinds of questions.
Adriana gritted her teeth when she remembered what Aria had said before outside the restaurant.
Her daughter's identity…..
No.
She had been too careless this is her fault.
She walked out of the elevator and carried Aria in her arms hiding her from the crowd and she walked in a different direction.
Ralf was already gone and anyone she might call is too far away.
She walked into the stairs planning to walk all the way down and call security so that they handle the situation.
She then thought about Noah, will he continue to stay in the room next door? If so he can help right?
"Mommy I'm scared…"
She took a deep breath and made Aria look at her. She wiped her daughter's tears away and guided her to take deep breaths.
"It's going to be okay. I'm here and they will leave soon I promise. Princess, It's okay. They won't harm you. They aren't like the other reporters I promise."
Aria tried to be strong but this was one of her greatest fears. "Are you sure?" She asked. "They won't do what they did last time right?" She asked her lips trembling in fear and her face still pale.
The last incident had completely traumatized her. She and James were supposed to wait until their mommy finished signing autographs but Aria wanted to take a small peak and got stuck in the crowd of crazy reporters. They surrounded her like crazy, squeezing her between all of them and not leaving enough room for her to even breathe. She was so small and the reporters were so anxious to meet her mother that they didn't realize what was happening.
If it weren't for James Adriana would have not noticed either.
"They won't. I promise they won't harm you. They won't even be able to get near you I-"
Adriana took Aria and picked her up quickly. She rushed down the stairs and hid from the people opening the doors.
"They said she would be here? Why hasn't she arrived?"
"Did we get the wrong intel?"
"Let's wait outside her door until she arrives."
After a minute or two they finally left.
Aria hugged her even tighter and remained as quiet as she could.
"Mo-" As soon as Aria heard the steps nearing again she forced herself to be quiet.
"You can come out now. They are gone." Noah pursed his lips.
Adriana closed her eyes and she kissed Aria's forehead. "See, I told you it's fine. What happened last time won't ever happen again."
"Mhmm, I trust you, mommy." Aria bravely pushed back her tears.
Adriana walked up the stairs to meet up with Noah. "Thank you."
"It's fine, I suggest you stay in my room for a while. They will find ways to come back." He wanted to ask what happened to Aria but he held back.
….
Adriana took the glass of water from Noah's hand and she handed it to Aria. Her baby took a sip of it and insisted that she was okay but she knew otherwise.
In the end, Adriana hugged Aria to sleep in Noah's bed.
When she was finally in deep sleep, Adriana came outside. She found Noah sitting on the sofa waiting patiently.
"Who's trying to frame you?" He asked making her frown.