Chapter 8
Chapter
Eight
Aria
Ms. Davidson had texted Mia when Mr. Castin escorted me to HR, so Mia immediately made reservations for us to celebrate. Of course, dinner was phenomenal. It was really nice to have someone to celebrate with. I wish Theo were home to celebrate with, but Mia was a great stand-in.
I look at the time, 8:45 p.m.
“Thank you so much for dinner. I need to head upstairs, but we need to do this again soon.” I hug her before she leaves.
I head upstairs and sit in the living room, knowing any minute now I'll be getting a call or text from Theo.
Like clockwork, the clock strikes nine, and my phone rings.
“Hey, Daddy.”
“How did it go today?” he asks immediately. I would have thought he would already know. He's close friends with the CEO who interviewed me today, and apparently, everyone’s assistants know each other and gossip.
“I didn't get the receptionist job,” I say, trying to hide the excitement in my voice.
“No?” he asks, somehow knowing.
“No, but I did get an internship position.” The excitement is barely contained.
“Congratulations, baby girl, I knew you could do it.”
“So you knew I graduated with honors and had my degree?”
“Salutatorian. You graduated salutatorian, don’t downplay that.”
“You did your homework on me!” What else does this man know?
“Yes, I did, the night we met,” he says so matter-of-factly.
“Why?” What about me made him run home and background check on me?
“It started as curiosity, you were Alana's daughter, and I wanted to know more about the girl with the most vibrant green eyes, who let me watch the mascara run from her eyes while she was on her knees for me.”
“So you wanted to look into your ex and know who you fucked.” Not really the response I wanted.
“I also wanted to know more about the girl I couldn't get out of my mind. I thought you were off limits. I thought once you found out who I was, you would want nothing to do with me.”
“But you still came to the bar that night.”
“I did. There is just something about you, something I don't want to lose.”
“So when I told you about Dodd, did you already know?”
“No, I only did a criminal background check and had your social media looked over.”
“My social media? I don't post much.”
“You don't, but you did post your graduation, holding your diploma.” I did. That must be how he found out about my degree and my class rank.
“And a background check and look at my pictures was enough for you to feel like you could trust me?” If he really is as protective and secretive as everyone has told me he is, why did he trust me?
“That and the fact that when I asked you questions, you told me the truth. You didn't hide things or brush things off. You trusted me, too.”
I did, and I still do. He has been in my life for days, and I already trust him more than the woman who raised me.
“So if you knew about my degree, why didn't you tell Mr. Castin?”
“If I had set up an interview for the internship position and you had gotten it, would you believe you deserved it?” I sit quietly for a minute before answering.
I want to say yes, I would have, but is that true?
I knew I was getting an interview as a favor to Theo; if I was told I was getting an interview for the internship as a favor to Theo, I would have thought that the job was also a favor.
“No,” I finally respond.
“I gave you the opportunity to bring it up and brag about yourself. You earned that position, and that's why you have it. Not because of my friendship with Kai.”
“But doesn't that look weird that you didn't tell your friend relevant information about your girlfriend?” The word slips out before I can stop it.
“Girlfriend? Is that what you said you were to me?” he taunts.
“No. I just—I just assumed that is how it looks. Is that ok? I mean, I can make it known that I'm not.” Fuck. Theo doesn't let people in easily, and now I’m making assumptions and portraying us as something we are not. Theo's laugh pulls me back to the conversation.
“Baby, I didn't give him details about who you are to me. Honestly, it's none of his business. As you've figured out, I don't share much about myself with anybody.”
“What about Eddie?” He is always receiving messages from him. Either they work really closely together, or they are friends.
“Unfortunately, yes. I do share things with Eddie, but he weaseled his way into my life.
I'm choosing you, and choosing to share things with you.” I let out a small sigh.
Hearing his reassurance of wanting me here with him brings a sense of calm over my body.
“Even though I am fairly private, I won't stop you from telling people about it and what we are.
Whatever you're comfortable telling people.”
“What are we?” I mean, I know we have entered a dynamic, but going around saying he's my dom is kind of weird. And just because we’re fucking doesn’t mean we’re dating, but I do live with him.
“I am not sure. I haven't really done the relationship thing in a while. I don't want to rush anything, but also know we're more than friends.”
“Roommates?”
“Baby, we're more than just roommates.” We both laugh. I love how we’re in a kind of important conversation, but still are comfortable enough to mess around a little bit.
“I mean, roommates are good.”
“I don't have phone sex with my roommates.”
“I mean, if I don't cum, is it still considered sex?” I tease. I still can't believe that's how he chose to punish me for missing proof of life, even though it was super hot.
“Aria.” His voice is stern.
“Daddy.” I mimic.
“You’re asking for trouble.”
“I don't think I'm asking.” I laugh. This is one of my favorite parts of this dynamic. He acts like he doesn't like it, but he really does.
“You’re going to regret this attitude when I come home.”
“If you come home." At this point, I don't think he will be home anytime soon.
“When. When I come home. I have someone very special waiting for me.”
“Eddie?”
“Definitely, not Eddie.” He laughs. “Have you decided what we are yet?”
“Wait, it’s my decision? I thought you were in control.”
“This is one thing we decide together. Especially since I am not the one who will be having to tell people what we are to each other. “
“I guess we're dating, but I'm not going to broadcast that. I mean, you're absolutely right, it's no one's business but ours.”
“Sounds good. I am very excited to come home to my girlfriend soon.” The way he says it sends lightning to my core. He has almost exclusively called my baby or baby girl, but hearing him lay claim to me has me wishing he were here, or at least there wasn't a no orgasm rule.
“When will you be coming home?”
“Soon, we’re about to handle a large part of the project. So I do have to go.”
“Ok.” My voice deflates. I miss him. I want him here. At minimum, I want to know why he is away for so long, but he only gives vague details. I can't even tell what his job is. Maybe I can get some information from Mr. Castin at work.
“Good night, baby. I'll talk to you tomorrow." The sound of a car door and shouting drowns out my response before the call ends.
I don't know what he's doing, but it did sound like a lot of secrets. Maybe I should figure out where I could go if this ends badly. He may have ruined other men for me, but that doesn't mean I will stay somewhere where I am consistently lied to, even if it is just lies of omission.
I open up my laptop, but instead of jumping into my client folder, I start searching for apartments near work that I qualify for with my new salary.