Pretending To Be His

Ten : Next big step

That next morning, Aria called Marcus and asked for emergency leave which he thankfully approved. Sara had also agreed to let Aria stay with her and though Mr Connors had given her five days to move, Aria was determined to leave as soon as possible. She spent the day planning, scheduling movers to haul her furniture into storage and packing her clothes into bags. It was a dizzying process left her barely pausing to catch her breath as she filled box after box. When everything was packed up, she loaded what she could into her car, bracing herself for the inevitable scrutiny she’d face from the reporters who had camped outside her building.

As she stepped out of the building, they were on her immediately.

“Are you moving in with Mr. Stone?”

“Is there a reason he hasn’t sent his driver to pick you up?”

Aria gritted her teeth and didn’t stop to answer any of them. She tossed her bags into the back seat of her car and slammed the door shut with a loud thud, hoping it would signal that she wasn’t in the mood. Without a second glance, she started the engine and drove away, leaving behind the building, the reporters and the mess her life had become. As she navigated through the afternoon traffic on her way to Sara’s, her mind drifted between exhaustion and frustration and she tapped her fingers on the steering wheel, trying to focus on anything other than the move.

Her phone buzzed on the passenger seat, drawing her attention to an incoming call from an unfamiliar number. Frowning, she ignored it, letting it ring out. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with spam or anyone else for that matter. But then the it buzzed again, showing the same number. She groaned as it rang for a third time and was tempted to simply turn the thing off altogether. Her finger was hovered over the power button when a notification popped up— a text from the same number. Boredom from being stuck in unmoving traffic had her opening it.

This is Grayson. Stop ignoring my calls.

Her breath caught in her throat. Grayson? She stared at the message for a long moment, wondering whether this was some kind of trick when the number called again, the insistent ringing filling the car. Swallowing her unease, she hesitantly picked up the call.

“… Hello?”

There was a brief pause on the other end before a familiar voice replied, low and unimpressed. “Took you long enough, Ms. Hart.”

“Grayson?”

"Who else?" Came his smooth, unamused reply. “When were you going to tell me we’re moving in together?”

She almost choked, gripping the steering wheel tighter. “Excuse me?” She sputtered, her voice an octave higher than she intended.

“I’m reading the latest article about us right now and according to this, you were spotted loading your car and moving vans were seen outside your building, collecting your furniture. They claim we are making the next big step and moving in together.”

Aria rolled her eyes. Of course, the vultures outside her building would twist her getting evicted into some ridiculous, romantic story about her and Grayson.

“Well that’s obviously not true.”

“Of course it’s not. But I am curious about why you’re moving so suddenly.”

“My landlord kicked me out because of the press swarming the place. Apparently I’m causing too much trouble for the other tenants.” She explained.

“Why didn’t you tell me about this?”

Aria blinked, surprised by the sudden edge in his voice. “I didn’t think I had to. It’s my problem, not yours.” She shot back.

“What happens to you does affect me, whether you like it or not.”

“I’m staying with my friend, so you don’t have to worry that your fake girlfriend will be pictured sleeping on the streets.”

There was a pause on the other end and Aria could almost imagine him pinching the bridge of his nose, exasperated. “That’s not what I’m worried about.”

“Then what’s the big deal?”

“The ‘big deal’, Ms Hart, is that the media will start questioning why I’m allowing my girlfriend to stay with her friends instead of with me. It’ll raise more questions—questions I don’t need right now.”

Allowing? Aria scowled, her grip tightening on the steering wheel. “I’m not moving in with you.”

“I wasn’t offering.” Grayson assured dryly, the hint of amusement in his voice only making her bristle more. “But we need to come up with a solution that doesn’t leave us wide open for speculation.”

“I can’t afford to stay in a hotel.”

“I have an apartment that I barely use that’s close enough to your work. You can stay there for the time being.”

“Right, because that’s any better. We both know I can’t afford the rent on any apartment you own.” She scoffed, her frustration bubbling over.

His sigh crackled down the line. “I’m not expecting rent from you, Ms. Hart. I’m offering for you to stay there, for free, until the end of our arrangement.”

Aria bit her lip, her mind racing. Staying at his unused apartment wasn’t exactly ideal, but it was a far better option than dealing with the paparazzi questioning her every move, or worse, running out of options and being stuck in an even more impossible situation.

“And in return?” She asked cautiously. “What do you get out of this?”

There was a brief pause on the other end and when Grayson spoke again, his tone was edged with something she couldn’t quite place. “I get peace and quiet from any ridiculous notion that I would allow a woman I’m dating to sofa surf.”

Woman I’m dating. Aria tried not to focus too much on that phrase, knowing full well they weren’t actually dating, but couldn’t help the small flutter in her stomach. There was something about the way he said it so casually, so naturally, that made it harder to ignore.

“Fine.” She agreed reluctantly, voice softening. “But just until the end of the arrangement.”

“Very well. I’ll text you the address now. My assistant will meet you in the lobby.”

“Thank yo—”

Before she could even finish her sentence, the line went dead. Aria glanced at her phone, mildly irritated by his abruptness before tossing it onto the passenger seat. Sighing, she stared at the bumper of the car ahead of her, mulling over what she had just agreed to. Yet another arrangement with Grayson Stone. The man was nothing but trouble, and here she was, walking right into his orbit—again.

She sat through another thirty minutes of bumper-to-bumper traffic before finally managing to get off the freeway to turn back around, plugging the address Grayson had texted into her GPS. It guided her through the more upscale part of the city, where high-rise apartment buildings and boutique shops lined the streets. As she pulled up outside the address he had sent, her eyes widened. The apartment was at least ten stories high, towering over her like some beacon of wealth and privilege.

Parking along the curb, she stepped out, feeling a little out of place as she approached the entrance. The doorman, a tall man in a crisp black suit, eyed her warily as she walked closer.

“Can I help you, miss?” He asked, tone slightly stiff as he blocked her way in.

Aria opened her mouth, unsure of how to answer. “Uh, I’m here to—”

Before she could finish, a voice called her name. “Ms. Hart!”

She turned, startled, to see a middle-aged woman in a long black coat approaching with a purposeful stride from the lobby.

“I’m Rebecca, Grayson Stone’s assistant.” The woman introduced briskly, extending a hand with a firm but polite grip. “I’m here to show you around the apartment.”

Aria shook her hand awkwardly. “Thank you.”

“Do you need help with your luggage?”

Before Aria could respond, the doorman snapped to attention, straightening up. “I can have your things brought up, miss.”

“Thank you.” She mumbled as she handed her keys over.

Rebecca gestured toward the entrance. “Shall we?”

Aria nodded, taking a deep breath before following Rebecca into the lobby, which was nothing short of breathtaking. Polished marble floors gleamed under soft, ambient lighting, the walls lined with modern art pieces that looked like they belonged in a museum. A large crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting a soft glow over the room whilst plush seating areas were arranged in elegant clusters, giving the space a sense of both luxury and comfort. She felt a little out of place as she walked across the pristine floor, her worn-out converse making a faint squeak with each step.

As they stepped into the elevator, Rebecca pulled out a sleek card and tapped it against the control panel for the button to light up.

"The access cards control which floors can be selected." Rebecca explained, seeing Aria’s confused look.

The rest of the ride was silent, save for the faint hum of the elevator and when the doors finally slid open, her breath caught in her throat. It opened directly into the apartment. She stood frozen for a moment, staring wide-eyed at the expansive, luxurious space before her. It was nothing like she had imagined—far more impressive than even her most imaginative mind could conjure.

“This is… All his?” She asked, still trying to process the fact that the elevator had just opened directly into his home.

Rebecca nodded, looking unphased. “Yes, it’s just one of Mr. Stone’s private residences and occupies the entire tenth floor. Feel free to make yourself comfortable.”

Aria stepped out of the elevator, still in a daze, her eyes slowly absorbing the sheer grandeur of the apartment. Every inch of the place screamed wealth but not in an overly opulent or gaudy way she would have expected of Grayson. The modern, minimalist design made it feel refined, as though the space itself was aware of its own luxury and didn’t need to flaunt it. The neutral tones of the furniture blended seamlessly with the large, sweeping windows that overlooked the city skyline making it feel like the apartment was floating above everything below.

The open-plan layout of the living room and kitchen created an airy, expansive feel. Sleek, black leather couches were arranged around a glass coffee table and in the distance, Aria could see a state-of-the-art kitchen with marble countertops, polished appliances and bar stools that lined a marble breakfast bar. It was a far cry from her little place. This is where I’m going to be staying? She couldn’t even fathom it. Rebecca gave her a quick tour, motioning toward a hallway that led off to the right.

“The master bedroom is down here, though I’ve made sure one of the guest rooms is ready for you. It’s down the hall to the left. Down that other hall is Mr Stone’s private study, the gym with an adjoining sauna room and the library.”

Aria could only nod, still feeling slightly numb from everything.

Rebecca smiled politely as she handed over the access card and a business card. “If you need anything, just call. The maid comes once a day and will keep the fridge stocked—if you require anything specific make sure to leave her a note. The doorman should have your things brought up shortly so in the meantime, take your time getting settled.”

“Thank you.” Aria muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.

She stood there for a moment longer, her fingers gripping the cool plastic, still trying to process the surreal turn her life had taken.