Several days passed after the incident at Marcus’s penthouse. The mark on Aria’s cheek faded to a faint shadow, then disappeared completely.
No more flowers arrived at the office. No more notes appeared in her bag. Life settled back into its usual rhythm—work, evenings with Dominic, quiet nights at his penthouse.
Aria began to relax. She told herself the roses and the strange note had been a one-time prank, maybe even a mistaken delivery. The tension in her shoulders eased. She laughed more easily at Sophia’s jokes and stopped glancing over her shoulder every time she left the building.
Dominic noticed the change and said nothing, but his hand lingered a little longer on the small of her back whenever they walked together.
On Thursday afternoon he kissed her forehead before heading o
