14. CHAPTER 14
ARIA - PRESENT
I had settled into my new role the last few weeks and was surprised at how well I was doing.
I knew I was capable; I just had this bad habit of not believing in myself these days.
I’d given up uni because I’d had to and was forced into a life I wouldn’t have chosen for myself.
Behind the lavish parties and wealthy lifestyles hid a world of shadows and broken promises.
It had left me fragile, but I’d got through it, and I was free of those chains now, after leaving Leeds behind.
Sometimes I just had to remind myself of that.
I tugged at my sleeve, shaking the past from my body as I went back to typing the minutes from an earlier meeting.
My phone started buzzing rapidly on my desk. I glanced down at it: Unknown caller . I frowned.
“Hello?”
Silence.
“Hello?” I tried again.
The silence turned into a few muffled noises before the line went dead.
A faint uneasiness crept into the back of my mind, but I shrugged it off, focusing back on my work until a low whisper in my ear broke through my thoughts.
“What are you doing?”
My heart skipped a beat as I jumped back in my chair, turning my head to meet the voice. Sebastian stood there with his hands in his pockets, leaning towards me.
“Don’t do that. You scared me,” I said, my voice a little shaky.
He let out a soft chuckle by my ear, which sent vibrations through me. This guy smelt like heaven and hell all mixed into one. It was probably something like Roja Dove, knowing him. He liked his designer brands; I supposed that was a perk of being a rich kid—you had the money for things like that.
His scent lingered as he straightened himself, allowing me to move my chair around to face him. I looked up at his eyes, which were a brighter blue today, reminding me of a crystal sea. They were hypnotising.
“Coffee?” he asked.
“Sorry, what?” I questioned, removing myself from my trance.
“Do you want to get coffee?” he asked again.
“Oh, erm, sure,” I accepted, standing.
“Good, because I don’t think it would be socially acceptable to drink at this time of day,” he joked.
“That kind of morning?” I probed.
“Something like that, Nyx.” He pulled his sleeves down and straightened his suit. “Shall we?”
We walked through, making our way to the staff room, and Sebastian brought coffee over to the table I sat down at.
I sat forward on the armchair, hugging my cappuccino with my hands, watching the steam rise from it.
Sebastian leaned back on the other armchair, his arm casually draped over it as he sipped his espresso.
He looked like he had a lot on his mind, and I didn’t want to push.
He soon broke the silence. “I need you to attend a business function tonight.”
I slowly placed my cup down. “A business function? No, Sebastian, you don’t need me for that.”
“It’s something I haven’t attended in a while. This year, I’m needed.”
“But—”
He cut me off. “Aria, as the CEO’s PA, you are expected to attend, no arguments. Now, it’s not the type of people I would normally associate with, but it's an important networking opportunity for their businesses,” he explained.
I didn’t quite understand what he meant by “their businesses . ” I know his company was one of the elites and had pristine clientele, but who were “they?”
He pulled a credit card from inside his suit pocket. “Take this,” he said, handing it to me. “Get yourself a dress for tonight.”
“I don’t need your money,” I insisted, pushing it away.
“It’s the company credit card. It’s a business transaction.”
I sheepishly took the card. Was I just a business transaction to him now? He quickly stood up, buttoning his suit jacket.
“Take the rest of the afternoon off. Make sure your dress is midnight blue. I’ll pick you up at 7 p.m.”
“Why midnight blue?”
“Nyx, just be a good girl and listen for once.”
I looked up at the five-star hotel as Sebastian handed the valet his car keys.
He leaned into my ear. “You look beautiful. The colour brings out your eyes.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stood at the feel of his breath on my skin.
He placed his hand on my lower back, smiling. His touch felt warm. Safe. Something I wasn’t used to.
As we walked through the lobby, there were a few people scattered around, drinks in hand, talking quietly to each other.
Sebastian guided me, his hand still on my back as we entered the main hall.
The place was beautiful, from the crystal chandelier sparkling like a star in the room, to the elegance of everyone in their business formal attire.
I felt Sebastian’s hand leave my back, but its warmth lingered.
“I’ll get us something to drink.”
I nodded as he made his way over to the bar.
I stood there awkwardly, feeling out of place.
This was something I wasn’t used to. Even when our parents had been married, I’d avoided these types of social settings as much as possible.
Sebastian soon came back with a glass of champagne, handing it to me. “Duty calls,” he said.
With that, he left me for a bunch of suits in the corner.
Great. Was this how this evening was going to go?
Me standing awkwardly by myself all night?
I slowly made my way to the bar, awkwardly smiling at people as I walked past, before leaning my back against it, watching everyone mingling.
I spotted Sebastian over the other side of the room.
He looked like he was in deep conversation.
“They're like wolves in sheep's clothing out there,” a man next to me said quietly.
I turned to him as he casually took a sip of his drink. His olive skin was the first thing I noticed against his burgundy suit.
He turned his head slowly, making eye contact.
His smile had a charm about it. His jet-black hair sat perfectly slicked back, and his eyes …
well, you could get lost in the darkness of his soul.
He was a lot taller than me, and slim, but his tailored suit showed he was well-sculpted underneath. It was like looking at a masterpiece.
“I’m Nicholas Rossi.” He held his hand out, bringing me back to the room.
“Aria,” I said, shaking his hand.
He arched a brow, his eyes wandering over my body, “What brings you here, Aria? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you before.”
“Oh, my boss.” I pointed to Sebastian, who had his back turned.
Nicholas followed my finger.
“Sebastian Knight,” he said flatly.
Confusion ran across my face. “You know each other?”
He leaned into me. “Oh yeah. We go way back.”