Feeling satisfied, I put on my make-up and tied my hair back in a loose bun, letting strands fall evenly on the contours of my face. This caused the back of the halter to be open, adding to the seductive look I was going for. I finished it off with a pair of Stacey’s red stilettos that was to match what was underneath the dress when it came off, and that made me feel tall and slender. A little bit of sexy perfume and a cute red purse later, I was ready to go.
Ned arrived ten minutes later and instead of buzzing up, Zayden called me.
“You ride is waiting for you downstairs,” he said on the phone.
“Did you have to deliver the message remotely? We have a buzzer, you know?”
“Oh yeah, Ned wanted to utilize the, uh, ‘buzzing’ service, but I thought it best to not pass up on an opportunity to make this phone call.”
“Well, I hope that you feel satisfied,” I said, amused.
“Not yet, Aria. You know what I sound like when I am satisfied,” he chuckled. “This is obviously not it. Now tell me, what are you wearing?”
“I have to go. Ned is waiting for me downstairs.” I couldn’t suppress a smile, so I felt glad that he couldn’t see me.
“I pay him to wait for you,” he said, unconcerned. “Tell me, so I can prepare.”
“Prepare for what?” I asked playfully.
“What do you think?” He was starting to sound frustrated.
“I don’t know. To discuss the contract I suppose.” I tried hard not to burst out laughing.
“Maybe. But that’s not what I am talking about and you know it. It has been a difficult few weeks, Aria. I have been dreaming about it every single night.”
“About what?” I asked innocently.
“Come here and I will show you.” His tone had an abrupt change. “Ned is downstairs, it’s rude to make him wait.”
“What the hell? You just said–”
But he cut off before I could finish my sentence. More excited and nervous than I had felt all day, I walked downstairs to find a black BMW waiting for me.
Chapter 8
Zayden
I kept checking the time at an alarming frequency. Tonight was going to be exciting. I had sent my entire staff home so it would be just me and Aria in this big house with so many rooms. And so many beds.
She didn’t know it yet, but I had already made the payment to her mother’s hospital bill earlier today. I wasn’t planning on telling her until later either. She needed to see the error in her ways and learn to never cross me like that again. The fear that I would maybe not make the payment at all should be an excellent way for me to regain the upper hand in this dynamic.
To my great disappointment, I realized that during the past month she had completely stolen that position from me. Asking to break the contract! Even though it had all turned out pretty well in the end, she had unintentionally manipulated me into making some big changes in my life. I didn’t remember the last time in my life somebody had had such a profound impact, and not necessarily in a positive way.
But it was all okay, because she would be here any minute, and I missed Aria far too much to waste the time pondering over my own mind games. Tonight was about reconciliation.
When the doorbell finally rang, I got up instantly to get it for her, and when I saw her I forgot almost everything, even my name.
“Your mouth is hanging open,” she said with a radiant smile, walking inside comfortably.
What? I couldn’t quite process anything that was happening or anything she was saying. All I knew was that Aria had somehow managed to get even hotter than I had ever seen her before – I didn’t even think that was possible – and all the blood in my body rushed away from my brain and everywhere else and deposited itself into my groin.
“Say something. You’re making me nervous,” Aria said, now sitting cross-legged on my couch. With those deep red stilettos, her legs looked like they were out of a fashion magazine catalogue. I just wanted to grab them, pull up her skirt, and take her right there.
“You look… exquisite,” I said, unable to find the perfect word to describe exactly how good she looked.
“You’re talking to my boobs?” she said following my gaze.
“No.” I was still glaring at them. “But sure, those too. Did they get bigger somehow?”