Rock Star Billionaire
I raised my eyebrows quizzically. “Really? I never quite got that from you, based on the fact that you were trying to break the contract only a month ago, so that you could get as far away from me as physically possible.”
“It wasn’t like that,” she said, the joy from before beginning to wane from her face. “You know what it was about. I have never answered to anyone in my life before, Zayden, not even my parents. So I just don’t have a way to deal with somebody trying to control me other than cut them off.”
“Did it ever occur to you–” I cut myself off mid-sentence, realizing what a waste it would be to get into this right now. “Never mind, let’s not dwell on this now. Let’s go outside.”
I offered her my hand – and she struggled before deciding to take it – and escorted her towards the balcony. “Close your eyes,” I said on the way there. “And no cheating, Aria. I’ll know if you cheat and if you do your mother’s bill might not get paid.”
She stopped walking and looked at me with a slight hint of annoyance mixed with amusement. “Is that what it is going to be from now on? ‘Oh Aria, breathe at rhythmic intervals of .05 seconds, or your mother’s bill might not get paid!’”
“Just close your eyes. Trust me, you will like this!”
After a brief moment she finally did and I reached for her hand again. When we were at the balcony, I said, “Now open.”
She gasped loudly; I was sure all the neighbors in a five-mile radius could hear. “What – what did you – why?” Her eyes were starting to tear up.
I had the whole balcony decorated with heart-shaped red balloons and scented candles, and in the middle was a table with her favorite bottle of champagne and two chairs underneath a crystal chandelier. It was like Valentine’s Day had thrown up all over the balcony. We were facing the view of the mountain with a beautiful lake on its foothills. The scene was as romantic as it could get, and Aria’s tears and inability to form a complete coherent sentence was what convinced me that I had done it. I had won.
“You did all of this for me? By yourself?” she asked when she could finally speak properly again.
“Do you see anyone else here?” I lied and shrugged. I had thought of it, so I did have some say.
“Oh Zayden!” she said and threw herself at me, almost knocking out the steaks I was holding in my left hand. I tried to carefully place them by the grill, but it was difficult to move because Aria was holding on to me tightly. After I finally managed to place them away, I drew her closer for a proper embrace and stroked her hair. “Do you really like it that much?” I said grinning, very pleased with myself.
“You just want to hear me say it, don’t you?” she mumbled against my chest. “Yes, Zayden. I like it that much. This is hands down the most romantic thing anyone has ever done for me. Or anyone I know. Not even Nick for Stacey.”
“Great, I have outdone a nerdy little kid, I should be proud of myself.”
“Shut up, I am in the middle of a very special hug with a very special guy, let me enjoy this,” she mumbled.
We stood there holding each other for a long time.
---
“This is delicious!” Aria closed her eyes, devouring the steak. It was satisfying to watch her enjoy something I created. “I don’t know why people haven’t been putting curry on their steaks since the beginning of time.”
“I think we can use this moment to firmly establish the fact that I am a genius.” I smiled.
She giggled. “You’re running a multi-billion dollar corporation at such a young age, and running it so well at that, and of all things, a steak recipe is what makes you declare you’re genius?”
“Priorities.” I shrugged. “And I am not all that. I was handed everything, I didn’t earn it really. Born with a silver spoon and all.”
“But you had the skills to handle what was given to you. Oh god, Zayden, is this modesty? You are capable of such a thing?” She made an expression of complete shock.
“Very funny. In any case, you will be way ahead of me by the time you’re my age. You are really bright, Aria. I don’t know if anyone has ever told you this.”
“Nope, never heard it before.” She winked.
“Have you thought about what you want to do after you finish college?” I found myself asking.
She shrugged. “I am studying to be a loan officer so that is what I plan on doing I guess.”
r /> “Would you want to come work for me instead?”
“Newsflash, I already do,” she chuckled.
“No, not something trivial like that.” I waved my hand dismissively, but upon seeing the change in her expression, I added, “I mean… not like there is anything wrong with working as a teller while you are getting your degree. Again, it’s more than I did when I was your age. But I am thinking more like finding a suitable long-term position for you in my bank.”
“There is a lot of time left between now and in the long-term,” she said slowly, as though weighing every single word before speaking it out loud. “You may not even want to, you know.” She shrugged.