Chapter 4
Chapter
Four
Aria
I shouldn't have asked her to spend the day with me. This is probably really awkward for her. Before I have the chance to text her not to come, there’s a knock on the door as it slowly opens. Of course, she has a key.
“Aria? It’s Mia.”
“Hey, come on in, I’m almost ready,” I shout from the bedroom. Trying to calm my nerves, I take a deep breath and stand up off the bed. “Just grabbing my shoes.”
“Take your time. Have you eaten yet?” she asks as I hear her keys hit the counter. I walk out into the living room and feel like I’ve walked into a wall.
Mia is not what I was expecting. I guess it is kind of a cliché—rich CEO with a hot assistant. Part of me wants to get jealous, ask if they ever had a thing, but the other part knows I’m temporary, and I’m probably just another girl he’s brought home.
How many other girls has he had Mia help with? How many times has she gone shopping with Theo’s flavor of the week?
“Oh, you’re cute.” She smiles before she says, “Shit, sorry that was inappropriate.” She blushes, but I smile back. I like her. She’s probably not much older than me, with long, dark hair curled to perfection. She looks like she belongs in the city.
“I take it Theo doesn’t usually have the best taste in women?” The second the sentence is out of my mouth, I regret it. I don’t want to know.
“Wouldn’t know. He’s never brought anyone home before.” That gets my attention. What does that even mean?
“Never?”
“Not to my knowledge. I know he’s been in what he considers relationships before, but he’s never brought anyone home.
He’s really protective of his space.” Yet here I am, alone in his penthouse, waiting on a furniture delivery to create my own space.
My gaze looks up toward the loft, wondering what it all means.
“What do you mean by ‘what he considers relationships’ ?” Does she know that he likes a certain dynamic? Was she ever in that kind of relationship with him?
“What we would consider a situationship, he views as a type of relationship. But he never brings them here. They never go out on dates just because. I don’t try to pry into his personal life.
But being around him so often, I get the sense they are just hook ups, but he feels bad for calling them just hook ups.
” Her phone buzzes and it pulls her attention away.
Her demeanor turns serious for a brief moment, but relaxes before returning her gaze to mine.
Remind me to play poker with her, she is such an easy read.
“Everything ok?”
“Yup, just some work stuff.”
“If you’re busy today, you don’t have to come out with me.” Day one in Theo’s life and I’m already inconveniencing those around me.
“Nope, I told them I was out of office on a project for Mr. Reeves. You really think I would give up a day of shopping to sit in an office and listen to old men talk? No thanks.”
I can’t help but laugh. If this situation wasn’t so weird, I could see us being close friends. Maybe we still can be, I mean she doesn’t work for me.
“Where are we going?”
“Well, I have an interview on Monday and need some office attire, and I need a new laptop. And then we can really go and do anything we want.” I flash Theo’s Amex, and I can see the wheels turning behind Mia’s eyes. This is going to be so fun.
My phone buzzes, and I look down to see Theo’s name flash across the screen.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Baby, everything ok?”
“Yeah, why? What’s up?”
“I saw Mia had come over. Wanted to make sure nothing was wrong.”
“Watching the cameras?” I laugh. I’m not even surprised.
“I got a notification that someone had entered the house, wanted to make sure you were safe,” he explains.
“Thank you for being concerned. But no, nothing is wrong. I asked her to take me shopping today to get the things I need for my interview. I hope that’s ok.”
“Sounds good. Be safe, and hourly updates.”
“Will do. Now that I’m going shopping and spending your money, do you want to give me a budget?”
“I’ve told you before, no budget. Buy what you need, get whatever you want. The card won’t decline.” I can’t help but roll my eyes, but if he says to spend, I’ll spend.
“We’re about to take off. I expect proof of purchases and location updates when I land.”
“Yes, Daddy,” I say before remembering Mia is standing in the room, but I can hear his smile when he responds.
“Good girl. I’ll see you soon.”
The call ends, and I look over towards Mia, who is not hiding the fact that she really wants to address the Daddy comment.
“Ready?” is the only word she utters, even though I can see the gears turning behind her eyes.
“Yup, let’s go.”
Eight hours later, over half a million spent, I now have an entire closet full of office-appropriate clothing, four new pairs of red-bottomed heels, a new MacBook, iPad, Apple Watch, a snake skin Birkin bag, and several things I bought with the intent of getting a reaction from Theo.
But even when I sent him the receipt for Prada paperclips, he just said something about needing good-quality office supplies.
On our way to the restaurant Mia had gotten us reservations for, I sent a selfie with a location update and decided to tally up how much we spent today.
$648,732.
I’m looking down at the calculator on my phone when Theo’s name takes over the screen.
“Hi,” I say nervously.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
“Uhmm. I wish you had given me a limit.”
“Why?” His voice is somehow both concerned and amused.
I understand the concern. I just spent more than most people make in a decade in eight hours.
I know he told me to find the limit, and he would have stopped me if I was going too far, but what if he was busy and wasn’t seeing the updates, and now I’ve crossed the line?
“We spent $648,700 today.” I brace myself for him to get upset.
“$650,000? That’s it?” That’s it. That’s it?
What does he mean, that's it? That’s life-changing money, and he is acting like it’s spare change.
I look at Mia, who is definitely enjoying watching this conversation.
She would have told me if I was spending too much, wouldn’t she?
Or was she hoping I’d spend way too much and Theo would get mad and end things?
No, she wouldn’t. She has been nothing but friendly and supportive all day; she knows more about Theo’s finances than I do.
She would have stepped in if I were putting her boss in a bad spot financially; her job depends on it.
“So that’s ok?”
“Do you like the things you got?”
“Yes.”
“Then yes, you’re absolutely fine. Go spend more if you want. Have fun. Do not worry about the finances, baby, that’s my job.” My body relaxes into the seat. Moments after hanging up, the car stops in front of the restaurant, and Mia looks over to me.
“How you got one of the most emotionally unavailable, yet seriously powerful men in the city to become obsessed in less than a week needs to be studied. Over dinner, you need to tell me your secrets. Working for Mr. Reeves is great and all, but I’d love for a man to hand me his Amex and say Go wild .
Girl, you are living my dream.” We laugh as we exit the car.
Over dinner, I find out that Mia is twenty-six and has a degree in business from Acadia.
We bonded over college anecdotes, and it was fun getting to reminisce even though we weren’t there at the same time.
She has a pet cat named Daphne and has a small circle of friends in the city.
Apparently, even being one degree away from power is close enough for people to try and abuse your position. Noted.
I look down at my phone and note that it’s 7:30. If I want to make it home in time for Theo’s check-in, we need to be leaving soon.
“Let’s get the check and then I need to head home.” Mia checks her phone, noting the time.
“Sounds good, let’s not get you in any trouble.” She smiles. Does she know? It doesn’t matter either way; all that matters is that I’ve made a friend, and I don’t want to piss off Theo on night one.