Chapter 0002

Aria

Now the VIP was staring at me, a questioning glare in his eyes, and I was floundering like some kind of drunk sleaze.

“I… I’m so sorry!” I stammered out, taking a staggering step back. “I… I just… I thought you were someone else! It’s dark in here, and I-I didn’t realize—”

“Enough.” The VIP rolled his mismatched eyes and turned to the blond, who I was just now realizing was the owner of this bar. “Do you normally allow this kind of behavior in your establishment?”

The bar owner’s face visibly blanched. “No! Of course not, Mr. Avarise,” he replied, dipping his head. “This is completely unacceptable.”

The VIP—Mr. Avarise—scoffed and turned on his heel without so much as looking at me. “Then I suggest you take care of this… problem.”

With that, he was gone. I couldn’t help but stare at his retreating form as he made his way up the stairs to the VIP section, suit jacket taut around his muscular back. He carried himself with such an air of authority that even other VIPs coming down the stairs moved aside for him, women gawking at his chiseled jaw and men ogling his lush, long hair.

And to think that I had just kissed that man, who was not only a VIP but totally and utterly out of my league…

A dick move on my part, if I was being honest.

“Here.” The sound of the bar owner’s gruff voice and something being shoved into my hand snapped me out of my reverie. “I can’t exactly kick you out over something like that, but I’d appreciate it if you’d close your tab and see yourself out.”

Frowning, I looked down at what he’d just handed me; two free drink vouchers.

A more diplomatic way to say ‘Get the fuck out and don’t leave a bad review on Yelp.’

By now, my face was beet red, which was made even worse by the fact that other people around us were staring and whispering amongst themselves. I could feel their glares on my skin—no doubt judging the drunk little hussy who had practically assaulted a VIP.

So I didn’t need more convincing.

Bella—after a bit of whining about our night being cut short—finally agreed to close our tab and leave with me. The night air was cool and refreshing against my hot skin as we stumbled out onto the busy city street, and only then did I let out the breath I hadn’t even realized I’d been holding.

As soon as the door was shut behind us, my friend began to laugh.

“Wow, Aria!” Bella crooned, draping her arm around my waist. “I didn’t know you had it in you! Kissing a stranger VIP like that!”

A few passersby glanced at us, and I resisted the urge to bury my face in my hands. “Bella, not so loud—”

“That’s probably the boldest thing you’ve ever done!” Clearly, my friend had no volume control when she was drunk. She wiped away invisible tears, stumbling against me as she said, “They grow up so fast!”

I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself. “Yeah, well, I’m never doing anything like that again.”

Bella grinned impishly as she twirled a strand of jet black hair around her finger. “I don’t know, Aria… Never say never, right?”

“I’m saying it now: never.”

My friend rolled her eyes and giggled again. “You just had some bad luck, that’s all. If he wasn’t such a curmudgeon about it, maybe you could have even gotten his number.”

“Bella…”

“I mean it!” Bella slurred, nudging me with her elbow. “That kiss was passionate as hell, and the guy practically reeked of Armani.”

She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk then, spreading her hands in front of us as if reading the words in neon lights.

“I can see it now… Aria, the rich CEO’s doting wife!”

…

I woke to the sensation of warm sun hitting my cheek… and a piercing headache.

“Ooh,” I groaned, wiping the drool off the side of my face. My alarm hadn’t even gone off yet, and I was already awake with a blistering hangover. I really should have had more water before bed last night, I thought as I sat up and chugged the glass that Drunk Aria had been smart enough to set on the bedside table.

It was then, water dribbling down my chin, that it hit me.

I nearly choked.

“Oh, Christ,” I groaned, palming my forehead as the events of last night finally came rushing back.

Kissing a rich VIP like that… I’d made an utter fool out of myself. What was I even thinking? That was it; I was never drinking again.

He probably doesn’t even remember your face, I thought to myself as I threw the covers back and climbed out of bed. I kept telling myself that, a weak attempt at self-soothing, as I stumbled to the bathroom and popped a couple of Advil to combat the nasty headache that was radiating throughout my skull.

I turned on the hot water, steam slowly filling the bathroom. My entire body ached, especially—

“What the…?”

Leaning forward, I wiped some of the mist away from the mirror and gingerly touched my collarbone. I winced and pulled my hair aside to reveal a swollen mark on my skin. The flesh was raised and angry, as if burned, in the shape of a crescent.

Weird. I didn’t recall getting injured last night, but to be fair, I had gotten hammered; Bella had convinced me to hit up another bar with her after leaving the first one, and the rest was history after that.

But damn, did it hurt.

After my shower, I tenderly put some ointment on the mark and dressed casually—an oversized sweater, leggings, and a puffy winter coat and cozy scarf—then pulled my hair into its usual braid and headed out.

Despite everything that happened last night, I was excited for my day. It was Monday; and every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I would walk dogs.

Dog walking was just a side gig for me, something to make a bit of extra cash for a couple of hours in the mornings, but it was honestly the highlight of my week. I loved all animals, but especially dogs, and since I wasn’t able to own a dog myself, hanging out with other people’s dogs filled that furry void. The exercise was nice, too.

The winter morning air was chilly but invigorating as I made my way out of my brownstone apartment and began my usual route. It was February, but it hadn’t snowed in some time, so that the cold air and barren trees were the only indications of winter.

My first pickup was just a few doors down—an adorable little dachshund named Morty who was always excited to see me.

“Good morning, little guy!” I cooed as I walked in the front door. Morty yipped excitedly, practically leaping into my arms as I crouched down. “Are you excited for our walk?”

“Morning, Aria!” Morty’s owner, an elderly woman named Anna who couldn’t walk him in the mornings anymore due to her arthritis, waved from around the corner and held up a mug. “Coffee?”

Coffee sounded nice, but I was running a little late after spending too much time wallowing in the shower. “Erm… I don’t suppose you could make it to go?”

Anna beamed and shuffled away, cabinets banging as she prepared the coffee. A moment later, she emerged with a thermos and one of her famous oatmeal cookies in a little baggie. “You can bring the thermos back later,” she said, glancing at my dark circles. “Late night?”

I flushed at the reminder of what had happened. “Something like that,” I said, thanking her for the coffee and heading out with Morty in tow.

Munching on my cookie, I continued on my route, picking up my other dogs as I went—an elderly labrador named Goldie, a lazy pit bull named Cooper, a feisty pomeranian ironically named Bella.

After I picked everyone up, I headed to our usual haunt: a dog park downtown. The dogs were particularly excited today, practically pulling me along as we went. Once they saw the dog park, it was all I could do not to let them drag me down the sidewalk.

“Alright, alright,” I laughed, swinging open the gate and heading inside. “Don’t worry, we’ll have lots of play time today.” The cool air was soothing against my hangover, and I wouldn’t mind spending some extra time outside.

But as I went to unhook Goldie’s leash first, the usually-serene older dog suddenly went on high alert. Her ears pricked up, tail straightening, and I could even hear a low growl rumble in her throat.

In fact, all of the dogs went stiff.

Frowning, I followed their piercing gazes across the lawn, and that was when I saw it: an absurdly large—I’m talking enormous—brown and white husky bounding toward us, tongue lolling out of its mouth.

“He just wants to play,” I assured my dogs. But all four dogs, who were normally quite friendly, seemed… stiff. Nervous. Even Bella yipped and hid behind my legs as the husky ran up to me and nuzzled my hand with his comically large snout.

“Hey there, buddy,” I said, scratching behind the husky’s chocolate-colored ears. As if in response, he whined up at me with mismatched eyes—one blue and one brown.

I looked around, but didn’t see an owner heading my way, which was strange. The park didn’t enforce leashes, but dogs weren’t allowed to go completely unattended. “Where’s your owner?”

“Sorry. That would be me.”

The sound of a deep, rich male voice that was oddly familiar caused me to startle. I whirled around, and there he was—dressed differently than last night, in a casual jacket and jeans, a few strands of his long, raven black hair falling loose from its bun, but…

It was him. The wealthy VIP from the bar.

The one who I’d kissed.

I just stood there, mouth slack. Don’t let him recognize me, I thought desperately, tucking my chin into my scarf to hide my face.

But he recognized me.

Those mismatched eyes narrowed dangerously, and I felt my stomach drop as his next words were anything but friendly.

“You? Again?”