ARIAIt's been two days since the incident with Noah Wright, I have been so occupied with work that I barely had time to think about him or the nonsense stunt he tried to pull in my office the other day.I don't know who told me that handling a lot of projects at the same time was a good idea to stay relevant, I mean it is, but why haven't I gotten any sleep in two days...Ahhh!I go through the file in front of me for the second time, making sure I have not made any mistakes with the budget placement and the color theme. The door of my office suddenly opens wide, and from the heavy scent of the vanilla perfume I already know who it is and all I can do is frown even more as I watch Ryan step into the office with his hands in the air and a big smile on his face. "Hello love," he says rushing to my side and kissing me on my cheek. "I have been calling you for two days now, not even a single call back or a message. Like hey, sorry Ryan but I am busy with work."I sigh, dropping my pen
NOAHWhat the hell is she doing here? Or maybe it is I who needs to answer that question, Melissa had dragged me out for a lunch break and I had reluctantly agreed, hoping to get some fresh air and clear my head. But now, I'm faced with the last person I expected to see - Aria Hayes. And to make matters worse, she's sitting with that ugly-looking dude, laughing, chatting, and being all touchy. Who is he? I am familiar with her brother Arthur Hayes, I had been opportune to meet him during my meeting with Hayes Tech, so, I know that's not him. Perhaps her boyfriend? She didn't exactly strike me as the type who would have time for a boyfriend, maybe a fuck buddy, but not a boyfriend. Why am I even bothered by this piece of information and why am I getting pissed off at the sight of that guy touching her?What do I even care who she hangs out with? I'm here with Melissa, anyway. But my eyes keep drifting back to her, and I can't help but notice the way she's smiling, the way her eyes
NOAH"Go to hell," she kisses her teeth making her way for the door, this time I not only grab her by the arm, I shove her back against the wall until she has nowhere else to go. Our gaze locks together and for a moment we just stare at each other, her eyes blazing with anger as she grinds the back of her teeth and mine filled with a sinister plan that involves her. She tries to move to the side in hopes of escaping me, but I place my hands on the wall caging her. "Let me go, what the hell do you think you are doing?" "I'm not letting you go until you agree," I say, my voice low and menacing."Agree to what?" she spits, her eyes flashing with defiance."To the bet, to the fake marriage. To the chance to win 100 million dollars," I say, my eyes locked on hers."You're crazy if you think I'd ever agree to that," she says, her voice firm."But you will," I say, my smile growing wider. I have always gotten whatever I wanted, even her father's company which I failed to acquire still lin
ARIAAs I step out of the restroom, I walk to my table immediately. My eyes fall on Noah's date and her eyes lock with mine for a moment, I can't tell if she saw Noah entering the female restroom with me. I avoid her gaze and join Ryan at my table. "Girl, why did you take so long in the damn bathroom? Were you giving birth or what?""I am sorry, I was em..." I didn't exactly think of an excuse on my way here."Locked up with Noah Wright?" Ryan raises an eyebrow. "What?""I saw him, his eyes were fixed on you like a hawk, and from the way he left his seat. I suspect he wanted to speak to you," Ryan says. "So, did he?" "What? No. I mean we did say Hello because you know his cousin used my services recently at his wedding," I lie. Well, technically it's not a lie, George Wright did use my services but I am not about to tell Ryan I just made a bet in that bathroom.A ridiculous one at that, one that I am starting to regret as I see Noah heading towards his seat and talking to his date
ARIAWhen I get back to the office, Stephanie is already halfway done with the paperwork. In a way, I am grateful for the lunch break, because all I end up doing is signing and stamping documents. As I'm signing the last document, I press the intercom, "Stephanie, I will be taking a break tomorrow to take care of some personal errands. Please make sure to hold all my calls and don't schedule any meetings for me until I get back."Stephanie's voice comes through the intercom, "Yes, Aria. I've got it. Have a good break."I nod, even though she can't see me. I'm glad I have a competent assistant like Stephanie who can handle things while I'm away. After the call, I tidy up my table, pack up all my things, and head home feeling exhausted.As soon as I get home, I drop my bag and head straight to the bathroom to freshen up. I wash my face, brush my hair, and change into something comfortable.I decide to check my emails before going to bed, sitting on the bed, I grab my laptop from the b
ARIAHe laughs, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well, that's part of the reason, Miss Hayes.""....""I am waiting, Miss Hayes," he smiles staring at me. "Noah," I mutter, why am I getting nervous calling him by his actual name? So, awkward. "Thank you Aria, I will take it that you have forgiven me.""I didn't say that," I correct him, trying to sound firm but my voice comes out a little shaky.He chuckles, his eyes never leaving mine. "Oh, I think you did, Aria. You're a very forgiving person, I can tell just by looking at your pretty face."Did he just call me pretty? He is definitely drunk and will probably regret this conversation tomorrow. I roll my eyes, trying to hide my smile. Focus Aria, it's not like he is the first person to call you pretty, but why does it sound so genuine coming from him? He grins, his teeth flashing on the screen. "We should see tomorrow regarding the bet, the sooner, the better.""You really meant what you said?" I ask, even though I know he wasn
NOAH"Sir, Miss Hayes has arrived," Brian announces stepping into the office and bowing his head slightly. I close the file in front of me and adjust my tie properly, pulling it up before leaning back into my seat. "Let her in," I order. Brian nods and leaves the office immediately to get her, minutes later he steps into the office with her by his side and all I can do is stand on my feet, my lips parting slowly, stunned by her outfit and appearance.Her hair is packed up in a ponytail, her makeup bold today, and the gown she has on. My eyes fall from her face to her body, the gown is so tight and short that I can already picture her naked. All it would take is to have her bent over on my table and claim her. I wonder if she is even wearing anything underneath this gown. "Mr. Wright," she calls out my name pulling me out of my thoughts, and I realize I have been staring at her so long that I didn't notice she was now opposite me with her hand stretched out for a handshake. "My apo
NOAH"Ah, I see someone did their research," I say impressed that she decided to do some background checks. Funny enough, I am not surprised I am aware her father has a way of getting people's information, my only worry is how much she dug into me. "I also have my way of getting the information that I need.""No more lies then, but I have to warn you that a fake relationship won't stop me from wanting you," I inform her, I stand up from the chair and close the distance between us. I place my hand on the couch above her head and lean in. She swallows slowly, her eyes locked on mine, "I know you didn't come here only to sign the contract. You came here on a mission."Her lips curl up into a mischievous smile that takes me by surprise. Isn't she nervous? Doesn't she want me to back off from her? Instead, she touches my tie, twirls it around her hand, and pulls me closer to her until our faces are inches apart."What mission is that Mr. Wright?" She asks, her voice low and sultry. My e
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