Chapter Seven

Ariana

After stuffing my stomach with overly expensive food, I wipe my lips with a napkin and sip on the wine that Liam ordered. He ordered wine dispite the fact that he had said liquor was not going to be involved tonight. I bet he did so only because he trusted me not to drink beyond my lips. I have no intentions of getting myself drink anyway. I prefer to stay sane and conscious of my actions while in this fancy place. 

I breath out in satisfaction. The food was good and the entire service is excellent. Way better than Taste's Home, but there is no way the two are comparable. A waiter comes and starts clearing the table. He offers to refill my glass, which I immediately turn down. Liam watches me with an intense gaze as the waiter refills his glass. 

His lips curve into something like a smirk. He finds this amusing? When the waiter leaves the table, Liam leans forward and places his glass back on the table.

"How was the food?" he asks me.

"Great. I loved it," I respond sincerely.

"So you would love to come back?" he inquires from me with a raised eyebrow. Another time? I would love to, but I am not sure. 

"Yes, if I got a chance," I respond with a small nod.

"Good. I will start thinking about it now," he says, looking thoughtful for a moment.

"Think about what?" I curiously inquire, I hope I am not butting.

"Think about buying the place. It is on market," he responds.

"It is?" I wonder and then look around, ad if searching for the evidence. It doesn't look to be in any kind of situation to be sold. Why would anyone want to sell off such a nice place?

"I thought you deal in ships and all the related. Why would you want to buy a hotel?" I ask him.

"Because I can and I want to. There is no limitation to what I can do. If I wanted to set up a an academic institution, then I would because I can. It's just a way of expanding my company.

I nod to his words, not sure if what to say. His gaze on me is unrevealing, I wonder what he is thinking about. Probably some company stuff, maybe what he is going to do next about buying the hotel. He had billions and billions of money but I wonder why he needs to buy this place. Anyway, whatever his reasons are, why should I be concerned?

Liam lifts his hand and checks on his wristwatch. 

"What would you like to do next? It's okay if you would like to go home. I can drop you. There is a club attached to this hotel. We still have some time to kill," he says, sarcasm clear in his words.

"No, thank you, Mr. Carter. I prefer to go home," I tell him.

"Don't take my word for it. I will make sure nothing goes wrong. You could spend the night at my hotel room, and I will make sure this time I give you what to remember," he says. I gasp and his lips lift into something like a coy smile. I know last Friday night was a waste. It could have ended up better if I wasn't so drunk. I wish I wasn't drunk.

"Miss. Manroe, don't you want to go back to that suite? We could get another one," he says, looking serious. I don't think he is joking at all. I don't know about this. Liam is a very attractive guy and he seems nice enough, but I don't know what to say.

"Your hotel suite is fine. I don't hold anything against it," I tell him and sip on the win in my glass. 

"I know this might be a bit uncomfortable for you, Aria but you don't have to hide it from me. I am going to take you home. Maybe we can try that next time," he says, and my heart suddenly sinks. 

Damn! I didn't mean it like that. It's just that I am a but nervous. Okay, a lot nervous but I don't want to go home. It is super boring there. It has been ever since Liza moved out. At least I used to make myself busy with school work, which I nolonger have. I tend to doze while reading novels but now that I have got a chance to have an actually interesting night, I just blow it!

I just nod at him and look down at my purse. I am aware of my shy nature. I have been like this for a long time. My first boyfriend, Jake, broke up with me in my second year of college. I met him after highschool and we went on through college. 

He wasn't demanding at first, but people really change. He was two years older than me, and he was caring at that time, but when he became sexually demanding, he turned into someone else. He cheated on me. I will never forgive him for that. He told me that I was denying him sexually yet I had my own insecurities. I wanted him to give me the confidence not to demand from me. I was shy and nervous, that's why but he didn't seem to care at all.

On our way out of the hotel, I keep cursing myself for my decisions, but it is not too late to change my mind yet I don't have the audacity to tell him. Maybe next time I will be more confident, and ready. When will that next time be? I could as well be lying to myself. I don't think Me. Carter would go running after some silly girl who just takes from him and doesn't give anything in return. What would he even want in return? He has everything he could ever need!

The car ride is quite. I don't even know where to begin a conversation from. I don't think the conversation is necessary anyway. I just want to go home and run into my bed so that I can scream out loud in my pillows. Yes, that's how pathetic I am. 

Liam opens for me the car door and I scramble out. He escorts me up to my apartment even though I insisted that it is not necessary for him to do so. I don't have the nerve to argue with him. I know it would be a losing battle.

I open the apartment and walk in. I invite him in and and he doesn't turn me down. I hope he doesn't run into some messy things lying on the floor. I don't think there is anything to run into. I have managed to keep my apartment in order since I spend a lot of time in here with nothing to do. 

"Nice place you've got here," he says. 

"Thank you," I respond with a small smile. I can feel the pull between us, or maybe it is just my silly imagination. I just feel hotter when I am around him. I think I need some fresh air.

"Would you like something? Water maybe?" I ask him, trying to look for an excuse to go and collect my thoughts. It's been only a few hours with him but I don't want him to go yet. I don't know whether I want him to stick around either because I am nervous around him. I am so confused with my mind, that's why I need space. 

"No, it's fine. I will go now and give let you rest. I ambushed you tonight and made you go out to dinner with me but next time I will inform you in advance," he says. 

" Okay. Thank you for tonight. I had a great time," I tell him.

"It was my pleasure," he responds. "Good night, Aria."

"Good night, Liam," I say. 

He turns to leave and I follow after to close the door. Oh, crap! I brought this on myself. Why is the apartment suddenly cold? It's him that has been making me feel hot and now he has gone. There is nothing I can do about it. I hope I get a next time which I won't ruin. I reluctantly walk upstairs to my bedroom. I need to have a long warm bath after such an interesting day.