4. CHAPTER 4
SEBASTIAN
I reluctantly returned to the living room to wait for Aria to get dressed. I didn’t think she needed me hovering over her, despite not wanting to let her out of my sight. She managed to make me feel the same way I did for her when she was eighteen.
My eyes drifted to a photo frame on the cabinet, and I found myself drawing closer. It was a picture of Aria with her mum in Margate. She must have only been around seventeen here. They looked happy—something I didn’t see often growing up.
I ran my thumb over the photo thoughtfully before placing it back on its shelf.
My eyes flickered to the different coloured glass butterflies that sat covered by a bell jar on the windowsill. She’d always loved butterflies. Her bedroom was covered in them when we were younger.
“I’m ready,” Aria said softly from behind me.
I turned to face her and paused, my heart racing.
The dress hugged her in all the right places, like I knew it would.
Her blonde hair sat perfectly around her face; her eyes were dressed in soft, smoky shades of taupe and plum, accentuating them.
She was beautiful—she had always been beautiful, but especially now she was grown up.
Her grey eyes twinkled like the moon. That’s why I called her Nyx— after the Greek goddess of the night. A light in the darkness I didn’t deserve but couldn’t look away from.
“Did you want a picture?” she asked, her brows raised. Had I been staring too long?
“Why would I need a picture when I’m stuck with you every day?”
I studied her face, expecting her to come back with something smart like she used to, but instead, her eyes lost that twinkle, the light I treasured so much extinguished with a single word.
What had happened to her?
“I mean, us working together and everything.” I tried to smooth it over, but she only gave me a tight smile in return. I cleared my throat. “Shall we get going?”
The music from the stereo broke the awkward silence in the car. I glanced over at Aria; she was looking out the window. I opened my mouth to speak, but she beat me to it.
“Sebastian.”
“Nyx.”
Our eyes met for a split second as her warm smile returned.
“I didn’t mean it the way it came out,” I explained.
“Honestly, it’s fine. Let’s just have a good night.” She placed her hand on mine, which was resting on my thigh.
I squeezed it, smiling back before turning my gaze to the road. Her hand was as warm and soft as I remembered. I probably held it a little longer than I should have, but I missed everything about her. She’d always managed to make me feel seen in a world that had only ever shown me pain.
It didn’t take us long to arrive, and I pulled up in my usual spot outside the club, my silver Lexus flush to the curb. I looked over at Aria again; she was playing with the sleeve of her dress. Was the fearless girl I’d known nervous?
“We don’t have to go in if you don’t want to,” I said softly.
“I want to.” She let go of her sleeve and smiled at me.
I took her word for it and reached for the door, stepping out of the car.
You could hear the music trying to burst out of the club doors.
I straightened out the cuffs on my black shirt and shook my wrist, releasing my bracelet from my Rolex.
I walked around the car, opening the door for Aria.
I took her hand, helping her out and keeping hold of it.
The queue was long, but I made my way straight to the front.
“Mr. Knight,” the bouncer greeted me, nodding.
I acknowledged him as he removed the barrier to let us through.
I kept a firm grip on Aria’s hand as I guided her through the entrance to the main club area, looking back now and then to check she was ok.
The music vibrated through me as I stopped to look back at her one last time.
Our eyes met and she smiled at me again, reassuring me enough that I finally released her hand.
I scanned the room for Hayden and Serfina—they were by the bar, drinks in hand.
I greeted Hayden with our usual bro handshake. He raised his eyebrows and glanced at Aria as we pulled apart. I rolled my eyes at him.
Hayden cleared his throat, his eyes meeting Aria’s as she politely smiled.
“Good to see you again, Aria,” Hayden said.
Serfina, on the other hand, was her usual excited self and pulled me straight in, squeezing tight.
“Sebastian, where have you been hiding?” she asked cheerfully.
“My usual spot. The office.”
“Such an important businessman now.”
“Something like that.”
She turned to look at Aria. “Look how beautiful you are,” she said, taking hold of her hands and admiring her.
A beauty she was, but I didn’t want to let them know I thought that.
“Hey, Serfina. I’m really glad to see you again.” Aria smiled at her.
“You must be the only one.” I chuckled, gently placing my hand on the small of her back.
“Oh, hush you,” Serfina said, playfully nudging me, then wasted no time pulling Aria into her orbit.
“Get this down you, girl,” Serfina said, handing Aria a drink from their collection on the bar.
Aria stared at the drink for a few seconds before downing it, causing her face to screw up with the aftertaste. Hayden and Serfina cheered for her. I, on the other hand, felt something else. Something I didn’t want to put a name to.
“She’s a keeper,” Serfina whispered in my ear.
I smiled politely back at her, dismissing her comment, and she pouted at me in response, taking hold of Aria’s hand. “Let’s leave the boys to their grouchiness and go party.”
Hayden tapped my chest, bringing my attention back to him, and I grabbed my drink from the bar.
“She seems … different,” Hayden mused.
“She is. She’s quieter.” My eyes drifted back to Aria, who was downing another shot with Serfina.
“It’s been four years. People change.” Hayden shrugged, taking a sip of his drink.
I looked back at him. “We both know this girl used to love a party.”
“Maybe she’s all partied out and manages to keep her shoes together now.”
I laughed. The number of times Aria had called me drunk at some random house party, complaining she had lost a shoe. It was like Cinderella had met Groundhog Day .
“Imagine starting a job and finding out your previous stepbrother, who you haven’t seen in four years, is now your boss. Of course you’d be adjusting to it all.”
“Yeah, but she knows me.”
“Correction. She knew you. Well, what you wanted her to see, anyway. I know you two had some weird ‘connection’ shit going on”—he smirked at me before he continued—“but just give her time.”
I frowned at him. I’d never met anyone like Aria in my life.
The second I saw her, I knew there was something special about her.
I’d felt a need to protect her and keep her safe from the darkness of the world.
She meant everything to me back then, this bright little spark who’d challenge me when I was being a dick and put me in my place.
“I’m going to check on her.”
Hayden grabbed my arm before I could move. “She’s fine with Serfina. Besides …” Hayden raised his brows in the opposite direction of Aria, and I soon followed. “Looks like you’ve got an admirer.”
My eyes were greeted by a smiling brunette in the corner. She was the typical woman I would go for—someone who wouldn’t expect more than one night. Someone like all the rest.
It was probably better that I left Aria. She didn’t need me swarming her. She was my PA now, someone I shouldn’t want. Completely off limits.
But forbidden fruits always tasted sweeter.
And I always got what I wanted, no matter the cost.
And right now, something was telling me I wanted Aria.