CHAPTER THREE
Aria’s POV
The night's air was crisp, almost conspiratorial, like the stars had come out to witness the moment I gave out everything my parents worked hard for to some insolent stranger.
But as my fingers tightened around the car keys, Tiana’s words echoed through the fragment of my being.
“Tonight is the day everything changes for the company, Aria. You better not mess it up.”
Like I would mess up my parents' hard work.
From the corner of my eyes, I caught the gleam of headlights. A limousine rolled to a stop across the road. Two suited men stepped out and walked up to me. I couldn’t make out their eyes because of the shade they had on.
My first instinct was to take a step back.
“Miss Vale,” the first one said, nodding politely. “We have been asked to escort you to the dinner.”
I took a second look at the limousine, grateful that Ethan had to work late at the office tonight.
“Great! Your boss probably has a degree in theatre.” I muttered, rolling my eyes. “I have a car. I’m taking it.”
“Mr….”
“I don’t care what he wants,” I snapped, heat coursing through me. “I’m not some toy he can drag around like he pleases. I’ll meet him there. Or not. Your choice.”
A chime from my phone.
I gave the men a cursory glance as I fished it out of my purse, my heart skipping a beat as I took in the mail icon.
It was him again. I could feel it.
“If you don’t want this deal off the table, take the limo. I don’t make second requests.”
I swallowed. Whoever this man was, I knew he wasn’t bluffing.
My heels clacked on the terrace as I crossed the road, not caring if the suited men were following or not. Before I reached the limousine, the second one jumped in front of me and pulled the door open.
I stopped, another defiant speech about to find its way out of my lips. But there was something about the man’s posture that had me stopping. He wasn’t scary.
Quite the opposite.
It felt like it would only be to my own gain if I just followed them without another word.
I found my anger dissipating as I took in the interior of the limo, with the scent of new leather and the glossy look, almost mocking.
There was a paper waiting on the seat next to me, and I reached for it.
“Be five minutes early. I don’t wait.”
I pressed down the windows, and tossed out the paper, allowing the wind to embrace it. And then, I called Tiana. Her number was unavailable.
Great!
Now, I couldn’t even ask about the identity of the man I was going to dine with. I doubted the men taking me there right now would be obliged to answer my questions.
The car pulled up in front of a rooftop restaurant in the heart of the city. The building was so imposing that I immediately felt out of place. I was out in a minute, flanked by both men as I made my way inside.
My fingers tightened around my clutch as I approached the desk. The men had vanished from my side.
“Aria Vale,” I whispered, earning a cocked brow from the hostess.
I thought her lipstick was too bright and her eyes too judgmental. “You are expected,” she said in a clipped tone. “That way.”
Nodding, I made my way to the private rooftop, the cursive inscription on the wall giving it away. A classical piece floated over to me, kneading through my nerves. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before pushing forward.
The air was different here. A single table stood at the centre of the space, surrounded by nothing but the dark skies.
But nothing on earth could have prepared me for the person staring back at me. Sitting at the head of the table with one hand curled around a glass was the man who bought my company.
Kael Knox. CEO of the Knox Conglomerate. Sixty companies, zero scandalous or tantalizing press appearances, a reputation colder than Antarctica, and a face sculpted by Adonis himself.
Every single woman in New York had a crush on him. Everyone wanted to know who he really was.
I already did.
He was the man I’d humiliated two years ago.
It was one of the reasons my steps faltered as I took in him, why my pulse raced and my eyes twitched. If I turned back right now, I could make it out of here before his men got to me.
But deep down, I knew that nowhere on earth was too far for Kael to find me.
He didn’t stand.
Didn’t smile.
Didn’t speak.
He just looked at me with a muscle working in his jaw.
And I felt it in my stomach.
“Hi,” I breathed, feeling my heart thud against my chest.
“Sit.”
“I thought this was a party.”
“It is.”
“Where are the guests then?”
“I’m certain you don’t want to have a party with strangers when you haven’t met the person buying your company.”
I dropped into the seat in front of him, holding on to my clutch. I needed to keep my hands busy.
His eyes caressed every inch of my body. If he was displeased by the fact that I wasn’t in the red dress, he didn’t give it away. Instead, he slid a brown file over to me.
“Those are the terms of the new contract. You still head the Vale Firm, only this time, you do it as the Executive Director. A company can only have one CEO.”
“This isn’t what I want,” I said at once, shaking my head. “It is my family’s company. You already have 60 others in your name. Why do you need this one?”
“I don’t need your company, Vale.” His tone was dangerously low as he leaned towards me. “I am doing you a favour.”
“I don’t need your favour, Mr. Knox. I only came here to tell you that.” I got up to leave, then halted abruptly, looking back at him. “Thank you for the offer.”
“You walk out now, Aria, but I’ll still get what I came for.” A lazy smirk played on his lips as he looked straight into my eyes. “But stay, and you might get to watch me ruin you…slowly.”