MAE6:30 AMThe sharp trill of the alarm slices through my dreams, dragging me back to reality with a jolt. Just as Ryder had said last night to set the alarm, I was too drowsy, I should have told him not to.I hate mornings! I groan stretching my hand blindly at the nightstand, my fingers clumsy and uncoordinated, fumbling to silence the darn alarm. I press the button as hard as I can silencing it as the room falls quiet again, I lie back, hoping to get just a little bit of sleep. Even if it's just for ten minutes, I feel so drained but my desire is cut short when my room door opens."Good morning Ma'am," Victoria greets standing by the door. "Victoria," I groan my voice heavy with sleep, "what time is it?""It's 6:32 AM, Ma'am," she replies. Her voice is gentle, but there's an underlying firmness that suggests it's time for me to get my ass out of the bed. I rub my eyes, trying to get the sleep off my eyes. I know there's no going back to sleep now. I turn on the bed to glance a
MAE"Mr. Saviano, I assure you that the change in leadership was a strategic decision," I begin trying to explain the situation, my voice clear and composed. "Sin had to step aside due to personal reasons that required his immediate attention. I have been closely involved in all phases of this project and am fully equipped to-""Equipped?" Mr. Saviano interrupts me. "Equipped? Did you just say equipped? I made it clear to Sin yesterday and he dared to pull this ridiculous stunt on me. Does he perhaps see me as a joke to him?""No. No. No. He doesn't see you as a joke Sir," I reply. "None of yours here doesn't see you as a joke. We value you Mr. Saviano and -""They value me not you," Mr. Saviano says pointing a finger at me. "Not after what your sister has done to this company, I am fully aware that you are no different from her. I still wonder how you got your spot here," Mr. Saviano adds putting his hands into his pocket with a glare plastered on his face. "Hayes Tech holds a high
MAEMia's approach is cautious, yet there is a hint of admiration in her eyes, something I didn't expect to see. She stops just short of where I stand, hesitating for a moment before speaking."Hi, Mae.""Hi," I mutter arranging the files in front of me. My mind went back to what she said yesterday, she seemed so intent on ruining my image to her colleagues."I'll admit, I didn't expect you to handle Mr. Saviano so well," she begins, her tone softer than before. "You've clearly done your homework and it shows. A lot of us here have tried to get on that man's good side but it never ends well."I nod, acknowledging her words with a small smile. "Thank you. It's important to me that everyone here sees that I'm serious about this project and capable of leading it, despite the unexpected way I came into this position."She looks around, ensuring no one else is within earshot, and then leans in slightly. "Between you and me. I know you must have pulled an arm to impress Sin to get him to giv
MAE"Sin! Sin!!" I call out stepping into the living room. I find Victoria as usual arranging the table, she looks surprised that I am back home quite early but she bows her head slightly to greet me. "Welcome Ma'am," she greets."Where is Sin?" I ask urgency laced in my voice. "He is inside Ma'am, Is everything alright?" Victoria asks me but I am too anxious to give her an answer, I walk quickly inside to meet Sin. I open his room door without knocking and find him just stepping out of the bathroom fully clothed but with a towel on his hand cleaning his hair."You are back home early?" He questions, also surprised to see me. "What happened last night? I want you to tell me right now," I demand. He stares at me with a puzzled look, walks past me, and sits on the edge of the bed cleaning his hair before speaking, "You came all the way home to find out what happened last night?" "I would have to if my sister didn't just call me some minutes back to tell me that she is getting arre
MAE"I need to see Lily," I finally declared, stopping abruptly. "I need to hear her side of the story. Make sure she is okay."Sin nods, reaching for his phone again. "Ryder will take you to the police station, I need to make some calls and speak to Evelyn."Evelyn? He needs to speak to Evelyn? Did I hear him correctly? Why does he need to speak to her?"You need to speak to Evelyn?" I asked to be certain I heard him correctly. "I need to find out her version of what happened last night, I have given my statement to the police and -" "Why can't she just go to the police and make her statement? Why do you need to go to meet up with her? I know you just said Lily is caught up in all of this but that doesn't rule Evelyn out of it," I interrupt him. I am not familiar with Evelyn or Sin's past relationship with Evelyn, but when we met yesterday at the company she was trying hard to make it clear to me that she and Sin used to be an item. Which could only mean she had a motive."It does
MAE"Evelyn? But why would she try to harm Sin?" I press, trying to wrap my head around this new twist. I know she probably planned something up but killing Sin, why would she want to kill him?Lily shrugs, her eyes narrowing as if recalling every detail is a strain. "Look, Mae, I don’t have all the answers. But I know Evelyn hasn't gotten over Sin. Maybe she thought hurting him would bring him back to her somehow, or maybe she was just out to ruin him.""But how can you be so sure about Evelyn? It’s a big accusation to make," I question, skeptical yet eager to follow the thread she's pulling.Lily leans forward, her voice dropping to a whisper as if the walls themselves could hear. "I was there, I saw everything. Evelyn drugging his drink and all."I sit back, processing her words. This new information conflicts with what Sin believes—that Lily might have something to do with his attack. Could Evelyn really be framing Lily? And if so, how do I convince Sin to reconsider the evidence?
MAEMy heart pounds harder, every beat echoing my rising panic as I step closer, ignoring Mrs. Hayes' icy glare."I need to speak with Evelyn," I state firmly, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. "It's important."Mrs. Hayes scoffs, her eyes narrowing into slits. "This is a family matter, You're not family. You shouldn't be here."Sin turns, his eyes locking with mine. The confusion in his gaze morphs into concern. "Mae, what's going on? Why are you here? I thought we agreed that you would go to speak to Lily and get her own side of the story."I take a deep breath, "Lily mentioned Evelyn's involvement in what happened to you. I just need to talk to her, and there's a lot we need to discuss."Ethan, steps in. "Sin was about to speak to her.""Then I also need to be there," I say. "I need to know what is going on and why Lily is involved in this."Mrs. Hayes chuckles shaking her head, "Your sister is involved in this because she is just pure evil," she says approaching me bu
MAE"Well I am sorry to break it to you but I am not leaving this room," I interject. "I need to know what happened and why my sister is caught up in all of this.""Just tell us what you remember Evelyn that's all," Sin adds."I am the victim here, I am the one who almost got killed, why am I getting yelled at?" Evelyn questions her eyes filled with tears as she burst out crying. "Oh my dear child," Mrs. Hayes frowns pulling Evelyn into her embrace. "I told you, let's leave her alone with Sin," Mrs. Hayes says looking at me with a disdainful look."Yeah, Mae. I understand you want answers but we could just wait outside for her," Ethan suggests. Is he serious right now? Can't they all see she is just pretending? At this stage, she should be an actress.Sin runs his hand through his hair, frustrated. He turns to face me, holding my hand in his, "Just give us a minute.""I don't think -""Please Mae, let's just get this over and done with," Sin pleads.Reluctantly, I nod and step out o
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