SINI walk into my office to find the senator sitting down waiting patiently for me with his bodyguard standing on his side. He has been trying to reach me for a while, but I intentionally kept him on hold. A strategy I use quite well to build up desperation and looking at him now I can see it written all over his face."Good morning Senator," I greet extending my hand for a handshake. He stands up from his seat taking my hand. "Sin Hayes," he nods. "Was wondering if I will be kept on hold yet again today?" I smile as I gesture for him to take a seat in front of my desk. "I apologize for the delay, Senator. I've been quite busy with some urgent matters."He nods, taking a seat and motioning for his bodyguard to stand back. "I understand, it's no news that your father was arrested this morning for a rape charge I believe.""Yes," I nod taking my seat. "I assume that's not the reason why you are here this morning.""As much as I would love to find out what happened, that's the least
MAE"He really said that?" I chuckle out loud sinking back into my chair and struggling to stop myself from laughing.After Ryder dropped us back home, me and Lily decided to catch up on things we hadn't been able to do due to her illness and always being at the hospital. After Lunch, Lily began to tell me all about the hilarious moments she had encountered in the hospital. I am not certain I have laughed this hard in a while. It feels good to just be normal again, even if it's just for a little while."Yeah, it was the craziest thing," Lily says with a grin. "I couldn't believe it either.""Feels like you had fun than I imagined, here I was thinking you spent most of the day in your bed," I chuckle. "Well, I did spend a lot of time in bed, but I also made sure to have some fun whenever I could," Lily replies, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "You know I am thinking of creating a to-do list, things I want to do before you know."I pause, my lips curling into a flat line. I know Ethan
MAEWhen I get to the ground floor, I find him waiting by the car for me. He smiles as I approach him, "that was quick," he says."Quick?" "You women tend to spend a lot of time in the bathroom, heard it has something to do with the shower head?" I stifle a laugh, "Oh right, and you men never spend time in the bathroom?""Of course not, in and out, no fuss," he says, opening the car door for me.As I climb into the passenger seat, I take a moment to smooth down my gown. Anxiety slowly kicking in at the idea of having to distract my Aunt.I haven't done anything like this, I have never been good at keeping secrets but I will have to give it my all tonight. He gets into the driver's seat and starts the car engine, "Seatbelt.""Right," I nod, reaching for the seatbelt and strapping it in place."So, what's the plan?" I ask as he makes a turn into the street with Ryder following behind in his other car. I know I have to distract her but what else, how do I know they have gotten the pro
SINI look in the rearview mirror waiting patiently for Mae in the car, it was barely one hour when I got her message to come get her and abort the mission to get the prototype. I stare at my phone again wondering what's taking her so long and if I need to go in there and get her out myself. Taking a deep breath, I reach for the doorknob but I stop mid-way as I spot her coming out of the house with her aunt. I don't miss the anxious look on her face even though she tries hard to hide it, her aunt pulls her in for a hug before waving her goodbye as she approaches the car.Sliding into the passenger seat, She buckles her seatbelt in place and turns to me, her eyes with a mixture of relief and worry, "I'm so sorry I took so long," she whispers, her voice barely audible."It's okay," I reply softly. Starting the car engine and making a turn out of the street. "Are you alright?" I ask noticing the worried look on her face.She nods slightly, but her eyes tell a different story. "She... Sh
MAE"How did it go? Were you able to get the prototype?" Lily questions as we step into the elevator door opens. I and Sin had spent some time in the car going over the file, making sure they were connected to Winchester's family. We even found some connections to the Hayes family but Sin reassured me he would look into it."Yes, we were able to get it," I smile raising the flash drive in the air for Lily to see as I stare at Sin proud of his findings. I knew I wasn't making a mistake when I trusted him to help us, maybe now Lily will see that he means well to us. I know it will take a while for her to begin to trust him, but I hope this will at least open up her heart to him a bit. "Oh my," she gasps covering her mouth with her hand in surprise. "Wow, I can't believe it. I was starting to wonder what was taking so long and if Aunt Margaret had gotten to it before you guys.""She found the secret workshop but what we have here is far greater than whatever she eventually finds in th
MAE"Yeah," I nod stepping into the room. The light is toned down but I don't miss the pile of books on the table and a pen. Has he been working on some paperwork? I know handling a club business comes with a lot of paperwork but not to the extent of working at night."Do you rest? I mean why don't you rest? It's late," I suggest, nodding towards the pile of books and a pen on the table."I just have some files to go through.""The club? Or Hayes Tech?" I question going to take a seat on the edge of the bed. "You don't have to answer that," I mutter realizing I might be prying into his private life.A chuckle escapes his lips as he joins me on the bed, sitting next to me. "It's fine, these are just normal procedures for me. Going through every paperwork to make sure nothing out of the ordinary has happened during the day.""Shouldn't this be like your Personal assistant job?" "It is but I prefer to go through it.""I see.""What do you see?" He questions raising an eyebrow at me. "T
MAEI tilt my head slowly to the side feeling a weight on my body as I open my eyes slowly to find Sin sleeping on my bare chest. His breathing is steady and calm, his arm wrapped protectively around me. I run my fingers through his hair, feeling the soft strands against my skin.I can't help but smile at the sight of him so peaceful and vulnerable in sleep. I have never seen him like this before, I extend my hand slowly not wanting to wake him up from his sleep. He must be exhausted from working last night on all those paperwork and the events of last night the passion, the desire, the connection we shared. I never expected things to escalate so quickly, but I have no regrets.I lean down brushing his hair to the side and press a soft kiss to the top of his head, why do I feel so peaceful wrapped up in his embrace? I watch him for a few more moments before gently slipping out from under him, careful not to disturb his slumber. I pull on my robe over my naked body and tiptoe out of
MAEMrs. Hayes scoffs, "Of course, she's gone. She's probably off to seduce another man for her gain. That girl is nothing but trouble. Didn't I tell you not to trust them? Not to believe their lies. We are all over the news, they are making a mockery of not only your father but Hayes Tech."Sin looks at me, his eyes filled with disbelief and hurt. "Did she tell you about this? Did she tell you what she did?"I shake my head, the tears starting to blur my vision. Lily would never do something like this, even though the video was clear, I still can't bring myself to believe that Lily would do something like this. "She didn't tell me anything. I don't understand, Sin. I don't know what to believe."He takes a deep breath, his jaw clenched in anger. "Where the hell is she?" He yells.Mrs. Hayes watches us with a look of triumph on her face, satisfied by the current shift of behavior from Sin towards me. "I-I don't know, last night we were...." I trail off knowing it will be awkward to
NOAH"Noah, I know what happened. I remember everything. And I know you saved my life. But that doesn't give you the right to leave me without a word. To break our engagement and walk away. You need to understand, I thought we had something real. Something worth fighting for," she says, her voice cracking with emotion.I nod, feeling a pang of regret. Of course, what we had was real, I sent her 500 million without batting an eye, all I wanted at that moment was her and it still is, but I..."Aria, I know I made a mistake. I owe you an explanation. I just... I don't want you to get hurt because of me, I don't want your parents to..." Aria closes the distance between us placing her hand on my cheeks, I feel the warmth of her hand zapping away the frustration and anger building up inside of me from what had happened that day and how things could have turned out worse."So, what? You are going to be a coward by allowing Melissa to get into your head.""She killed two women I was involved
NOAHI thought falling in love was complicated, no, it's loving them from a distance that is quite complicated, seeing them and being unable to hold them, touch them, or even talk to them.I've been away for two weeks, trying to clear my head and make sense of everything. The investigation, Melissa's arrest, Aria's coma... it's all been too much. I know I shouldn't have left without talking to Aria, but I couldn't bear the thought of hurting her more than I already have. I've been watching her from afar, making sure she's safe and recovering well. But now, as I'm back in town, I know I will need to face her soon. As I step towards my car at the airport, I'm bombarded by reporters. "Noah, how does it feel to be back?" "Noah, what's your response to the allegations?" "Noah, are you dating anyone new?" I ignore them and rush to my car, but one of their questions strikes a nerve in me, "Do you think Melissa will have the new person in your life killed?"I turn to stare at the reporter
ARIA"Where is Noah? Is this a joke because I do not find it funny," it's been one month, one fucking month, and the first thing he decides to do instead of being right here with me, holding my hands and comforting me is to run away and give them some stupid rule over what? "What did I do? If anyone should be keeping any distance, it should be me, his psycho friend tried to kill me," I yell."A lot of Noah's flings have all suffered their fair share, Melissa has been secretly fucking up their life. The moment she finds out they are involved with Noah," Arthur explains. "The investigation found out that two of the girls died, they were able to trace it back to Melissa," he adds.I feel a chill run down my spine as I process this information. Noah's flings? How many girls has he been involved with? Two of them are dead? And all this happened while I was in a coma.My mind is racing with questions, but before I can ask any of them, Arthur drops another bombshell."Melissa had the inten
ARIAThey say a near-death experience is different for everyone, I have read that some people wake up not remembering anything leading to their accident. The last thing I remember is seeing Noah's face before blacking out, but the memories are still sharp in my head.I wake up to the beeping of machines and the antiseptic smell of a hospital, which I hate. I try to sit up, but a sharp pain in my stomach makes me wince. I look down to see my stomach is bandaged, I look around, disoriented, and see my mother sitting in a chair beside my bed, her eyes red and puffy from lack of sleep.She gasps as she sees me awake and trying to sit up, "Aria, my child, you are awake, you are awake" she yells standing on her feet, relief washing over her face.I try to speak, but my voice is hoarse and barely audible. My mother rushes out of the room and I can hear her screaming at the top of her lungs for the doctors to come, she soon comes back in with not only the doctor but my dad and Arthur. "Ari,
NOAH"Can you make a reservation at the Haute Cuisine?" I ask, making a turn into the road leading to the cabin."Is it a business meeting, Sir?" Brian questions. "I can have it set for -""It's a date Brian, not a business meeting," I interrupt him, parking the car right in front of the cabin. For a second the phone goes silent on the other end, Brian probably wondering why I am having a date in an expensive restaurant downtown and canceling my schedule for the day."A d-date?" Brian finally says stuttering. "I mean yes Sir," he says and I am sure he is already scribbling away on his note. He has always had a thing with jotting every single word I say, well it has always been useful for him especially since I love my things done almost to perfection. "A date at Haute Cuisine tonight, what menu are we looking at?" "Do not place an order?" I am not sure what Aria would like, it will be best if she makes the order instead. Anything she orders is fine by me as long as I get to look at h
ARIAMelissa stands in the doorway, a stern expression on her face. "Well, what do we have here?" she says, her voice firm but polite. What the hell is she doing here and how did she get in? Did Noah not close the door? I am sure he wouldn't have made that mistake, to keep the door open."What the hell are you doing here and how did you get in?" I ask, my voice getting loud with each word.Melissa chuckles and walks into the room, her eyes scanning the space as if searching for something. "I have a spare key, what? Did you think you are the only one Noah has brought to this cabin?"Rolling my eyes, I kiss my teeth not answering her question, it doesn't matter who has been here before. Although, I am jealous of the idea of him sharing this space with another woman, but he has made it clear that I am all he needs in his life and that is enough for me. "Anyways," she continues. "I wanted to see Noah, I have been trying to reach him since last night but he wasn't picking up my calls."O
ARIA"This should fit just fine," Noah says handing me one of his T-shirts from the wardrobe, I don't know how he convinced me to spend the night in the cabin, if anything I should be heading home to be alone, and think about the proposal but I want to be here with him. Whenever I am with him, every other thing seems meaningless. Noah had suggested spending the night at his house first, but I was against it, at least for now. His mother would just have us married at sight, if anyone wants us paired together other than Noah, it's her.I put the towel on the hanger and wear the T-shirt over my head, the T-shirt fits like a dress, big and just above my knee. I check my face in the mirror, packing my hair into a ponytail before leaving the bathroom. I am not surprised when I find Noah in his pajamas standing by the door waiting patiently for me to come out. His eyes light up the moment I step out, his eyes falling from my face to his T-shirt on my body. "Noah, you're staring," I say, t
NOAHDammit!I have placed her in a spot, look at her eyes, I can see the desire to say yes, but also the confusion at how soon this is all happening. I knew I should have waited a bit, but I don't think I can.The thought of someone else and not me being her life is going to completely wreck me. I always have this ring, it has been in the family for ages, all I had to do was ask my mother for it. She was stunned when I asked, "Are you sure Noah? I mean I am happy you are finally asking for the ring, but are you sure you want it?" She asked."Aria, you don't have to say anything right now," I say, not wanting to get rejected. Her rejection will hurt more than her silence. "How about you think about it? I don't want to pressure you into anything okay?" I say holding her hand and placing the ring in her hand. "Y-You want me to think about it, while I hold on to the ring?" She stutters. "That's a lot of pressure Noah, and... And this ring looks like a family heirloom."Of course, she d
ARIA"So, what's it with you and this cabin?" I ask as he offers me a glass of wine before joining me on the couch. "Do you bring all your girlfriends here?" "Girlfriend?" He chuckles taking a sip from his wine glass. "I don't do girlfriends Aria, you are the first."First? I don't know if I should believe that or not. "The cabin is just a safe space for me, away from everyone," he continues."Well, the reason I wanted us to meet was because of my parents," I begin, taking a sip from my drink. He raises an eyebrow, " Your parents? Are they fine?""Yeah, they are but my dad suspects foul play, he thinks someone might be on to him and my mum. He said the accident was caused by the brake failure," I explain. "He wants his recovery with that of my mother hidden for now, he hopes this will hopefully lure out whoever is behind it."Noah takes a sip of his drink, nodding his head, "You want me to hide seeing him and your mother?""Yeah, for now of course," I say."You know, you could have