Chapter 3
1451 Words
Aria’s POV
I stood in front of the mirror adjusting my shirt.
“What does he want with me?” I whispered to my reflection. The question had been echoing in my head since last night.
I slipped on my sneakers, grabbed my bag, and stepped into the street.
By exactly 10:00 a.m., I stood outside his company’s building. I took a deep breath and pushed through the heavy revolving doors.
Inside, everything smelled expensive.
I walked up to the front desk, my palms sweating. The receptionist gave me a long, assessing look from head to toe.
“I… I’m here to see Mr. Ryenes,” I managed to say.
After giving me a long accessing look, she said, "How many times will I say Mr. Ryenes doesn’t entertain desperate girls?.”
I clenched my bag tighter. "He… he asked me to come.”
The receptionist gave a mocking smile. “They all say that.”
My chest rose and fell. I pulled out my phone and dialed the number I had saved.
The line clicked.
“Yes?” His voice was sharp.
“It’s Aria. They… they won’t let me in.”
Then his voice again, colder than before. “Let her through.”
I wanted her to hear it. And she did. She straightened quickly, her voice suddenly polite. “Right this way, miss.”
I followed her silently to the private elevator, but inside, I felt relief, and maybe the smallest bit of pride.
The elevator doors opened into a space lavish beyond imagination: tall windows, sleek furniture and a massive desk that gleamed like it had been carved for kings.
And then I saw him.
Adrian Ryenes.
He stood by the window, his suit fit perfectly, sharp lines tracing his broad shoulders. When he turned, a cold smile touched his lips.
“Sit,” he said simply.
I lowered myself into the chair across from him, my hands tightening around my purse. His presence was heavy.
I swallowed, my voice timid. “Why… why did you want to see me?"
He walked toward me, each step measured, reached out, brushing a strand of hair from my face.
My whole body tensed. His touch was soft, but it made my thoughts spiral. Of course. This was it.
What else could a man like him want?
“I’m not talking about that,” he said calmly, almost as if he had read my mind. “Don’t look so alarmed. I have no such intentions.”
My lips parted, but no words came.
He studied me for a long moment, then said, “ Aria. I want you to be mine.”
My thoughts scattered. It had to be a dream. A billionaire, telling me that.
“You don’t believe me.” His tone was quiet, amused. “But I mean every word. I can change your life completely.”
I shook my head slightly, my heart racing. “This doesn’t make sense.”
“It will,” he said. “I know you’ve been wanting a job here. That won’t be a problem. You won’t just get a job — you’ll have a major role in this empire.”
I stared at him, my throat dry. Could this be real?
“I… I need to think about it,” I whispered.
He smiled, “I’ll pick you up tonight".
Shock froze me. “You don’t even know where I live.”
He let out a short laugh “Be ready. 8 pm!.”
When he finally pulled back, I rose on shaky legs. He watched me the entire time, his gaze steady.
I stepped out of his office, my heart pounding. As I walked through the corridor, workers turned their heads, their eyes following me.
I kept my eyes forward and hurried toward the elevator. I didn’t slow down until I was outside.
My mind was a storm. His words, his touch, his promises. Was this reality?
I rushed home, but the thoughts wouldn’t leave me. I should’ve been furious. Or maybe flattered. Instead, I was both.
I finally got home pushed open the door to our house.
But then— “Aria!”
That voice. I blinked and there she was, standing in the sitting room—Evelyn. My best friend.
She had been gone for weeks on a work trip, and now here she was, grinning ear to ear like the sun itself. The heaviness in my chest fell away in an instant. I screamed her name, and the next second, we were wrapped in each other’s arms.
“Evelyn! You didn’t even tell me you were coming back today!”
She laughed into my shoulder. “I wanted to surprise you. Oh, I missed you so much!”
Tears stung my eyes, and for a moment, I forgot everything—Adrian, the company, the suffocating stares. It was just me and my best friend again, whole and laughing.
We sat down, chattering and catching up, though I left out what had happened earlier. I wasn’t ready to share—not yet. Evelyn had always been my light, and right now, I just wanted to bask in her presence.
Just then, my mom walked in, her sharp eyes landing right on me. She didn’t even glance at Evelyn first. “Aria,” she said, her tone firm. “What happened today at Adrian Ryenes’ company?.”
Evelyn’s laughter stopped. She whipped her head toward me, eyes wide, mouth falling open. “Wait—Adrian who?”
I felt my stomach drop. “Mom…”
“Don’t ‘mom’ me,” she said.
Evelyn clutched my arm, her grip tight. “Aria, what is she talking about? Adrian Ryenes? As in the Adrian Ryenes? Billionaire, empire-owner, every-girl’s-fantasy Adrian Ryenes?”
I rubbed my temples, but I knew there was no escaping this now. With both their eyes pinned on me, I sighed and told them everything—from the call, to the company, to his cold aura, and finally the shocking words he’d thrown at me in that office. Evelyn gasped in all the right places, her hand flying to her mouth when I told her about the way he touched my hair.
When I finished, the room was silent—until a knock came at the door.
We exchanged confused looks before Mom opened it. A delivery man stood there, surrounded by boxes—large, expensive-looking boxes.
“For Miss Aria,” he said simply, then left.
My heart nearly stopped. Evelyn squealed and rushed forward, tearing at the packages before I could even move. Out spilled dresses, heels, jewelry that glittered like starlight, makeup sets I’d only ever seen in glossy magazines. Each piece screamed of wealth, of money I couldn’t even begin to imagine.
At the very bottom was a card. My fingers shook as I opened it.
-"I didn’t know which one to get you, so I bought them all".
No signature, but I didn’t need one. His presence bled through the words—cute, but cold, arrogant even in generosity.
Evelyn grabbed my shoulders, shaking me. “Aria! Do you realize what this means? He’s serious about you! This is a dream come true!”
I stared at the pile of riches, my mind spinning. A dream come true? Or a nightmare in disguise?
Still, when she pulled out a deep red dinner gown and pressed it against me, I didn’t resist. “This is the one,” she declared, her eyes sparkling.
By the time 8 p.m. crept near, I stood in front of the mirror, barely recognizing myself. The gown hugged my figure, paired with gold heels and a few gold accessories Evelyn insisted on. I left my face bare, only glossing my lips.
The honk outside made my heart leap.
I'm on a date with Adrian Ryenes. How?
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