Chapter Three
1611 Words
" what do you think about this one.? " Margaret Templeton, her other friend asked as she held up a pink satin dress. " is it pretty? "
Lucy looked at the gown and nodded in approval.
" c'mon Aria, say something!. " Margaret whined.
" it's nice. " Aria replied plainly.
" C'mon, Aria. don't be like that. " Margaret said with a sigh. she was a short blonde, with blue eyes and a killer shape, endowed with an attractive front and a graceful behind.
Aria frowned and picked up a black leather jacket. Her friends dragged her off work, so she could take her mind off things.
" says the girl who refused to eat until Luca talked to you " Lucy said rolling her eyes.
" I already told you guys that I'm fine. I just didn't expect to see him or - " Aria tryed to convince them but it felt like she was trying to convince herself.
" it's okay. we get you. don't push yourself so hard Aria, just tell him you'll tell him the truth but at your own pace. " Lucy suggested.
" I agree too. now, please put a smile on your face and shop with me. " Margaret spoke winking at Aria.
" not like I have a choice not to. " Aria replied.
" seen anything you like yet?. " Lucy asked.
" I never planned to shop. " Aria replied with a shrug.
" you should give yourself a break. " Margaret said.
" I already have more than enough clothes, these are just a waste of money and time. " Aria replied.
" practical Aria " Lucy said rolling her eyes.
" well you both know shopping is not my thing. " Aria defended.
" whatever. anyways, dinner at my place okay. Luca says I should invite you two. " Margaret said.
" can I call a rain check?. " Aria asked.
" No!! " Lucy and Margaret said at the same time.
" jeez, fine. I'll be there. "
" you better. " Lucy said.
" and wear a dress too. " Margaret said.
" okay "
----
Lucien stroked the styled wings of the two massive marble condors that guarded the lobby staircase.
" it looks like something that fell of the top of a charity building. " He said.
A pained expression appeared on Jonathan Lemore's eyes, who was in charge of the Art Deco pieces. it vanished as quickly as it came replaced with arrogance of authority.
" it's considered a perfect example for Aztec and Mayan Influence on Deco sculptural style. "
" how much did I pay for them?. "
Jonathan was unable to conceal another wince " I'd have to check. but I believe we purchased it around the neighborhood of twenty thousand. "
It was Lucien's turn to wince " That's alot for neighborhood, the heck, twenty grand, for two stupid birds?. "
" we're lucky to have them. they were previously in the hands of a private collector, if it hadn't been for my contacts in the Deco market, I wouldn't have gotten them. "
" Then I guess I should thank your contact for getting these than a pair of pink flamingos. " Lucien said dryly.
" The sculptures make a brilliant frame for the outstanding staircase. " Jonathan replied ignoring his statement.
Lucien took a step back and studied the exotic look of the cascading staircase. It was the focal point of the ornate lobby, the sort of staircase that women clad in satin evening gowns and descended with languid grace in old firms.
He reminded himself he knows a good fantasy when he sees one.
" you're right. the birds suit the staircase. "
" I'm glad you're pleased. " Jonathan replied with a sigh of relief, after all Lucien Montagna is a hard man to please.
" well my PR said this also going to be the center of attraction, so I hope I won't be disappointed. "
" you won't. they're all excellent pieces, they will bring an excellent result on the charity gala. "
" well it's nice doing business with you. I'll see next time. "
" will do, Mr Montagna. " Jonathan replied and watched him leave.
---
Aria stood outside Luca’s apartment, hugging her bag tightly.
Margaret had invited her.
Lucy, her ride-or-die friend had insisted.
What Aria didn’t know… was that Lucien would also be there.
Lucy nudged her.
“Relax. It’s just dinner.”
Aria gave her a look. “Lucy, last time I saw him, I almost cried in the cafe.”
Lucy grinned. “Then today you’ll cry in a dining room. Growth!”
Before Aria could complain, Lucy knocked loudly.
The door opened and Luca beamed.
“Finally! Come in.”
They stepped inside.
Aria froze.
Lucien was there.
Standing near the counter.
Helping Margaret arrange salads.
He looked up the second she entered.
His expression flickered surprise, then something softer, deeper.
Aria swallowed hard.
Lucy whispered beside her,
“That’s your cue to breathe, babe.”
Aria forced her lungs to start working again.
Margaret rushed forward.
“You made it! I thought you might cancel.”
Aria smiled weakly. “I… didn’t want to disappoint you.”
Lucien looked down at the plates he was holding, trying to hide the small smile tugging at his lips.
Lucy leaned in to Aria, whispering,
“It’s giving dramatic romance tension and I’m living for it.”
Lucien’s eyes flicked to Lucy with amusement.
“Still narrating other people’s lives?”
“Only when they’re interesting,” Lucy shot back.
Everyone eventually settled at the table.
Aria ended up sitting between Lucy and Margaret, across from Lucien. Dangerous positioning.
Luca proudly announced,
“I made dinner myself.”
Lucy snorted softly, “We know. We saw the grocery bags on the floor.”
" he actually had to watch three YouTube tutorial videos" Margaret whispered to them loudly.
" hey, don't expose me!. " Luca defended himself causing everyone to laugh.
Dinner began with small talk, easy jokes, little bursts of laughter.
But underneath it all, Aria kept feeling Lucien’s gaze.
Not intense. Not pushy.
Just… watching her like he was trying to understand her again.
Halfway through the meal, Lucy cleared her throat loudly.
“So.”
She looked between Aria and Lucien like a referee.
“How’s the post-reunion emotional rollercoaster going for you two?”
Aria nearly choked on her pasta.
“Lucy—”
Lucien shook his head with a small laugh. “You haven’t changed.”
“Oh, I have.” Lucy tapped her fork proudly. “I’ve upgraded. Now I meddle professionally.”
Margaret groaned, “Lucy, let them eat.”
Lucy smirked. “Fine. But someone had to address the… air.”
Aria buried her face in her glass of water.
Lucien’s lips twitched like he was struggling not to smile.
After dinner, Luca and Margaret went to the kitchen to get dessert, leaving just Aria, Lucy, and Lucien in the dining room.
Lucy’s eyes widened dramatically.
“Oh look. I left my phone in the living room.”
She did not.
She also walked out unnecessarily slow, making sure they were left alone.
Silence settled.
Lucien leaned back in his seat, voice gentle.
“You look well.”
Aria stared at the tablecloth. “You too.”
“You’ve been avoiding me,” he said quietly.
She swallowed.
“Not avoiding… just overwhelmed.”
Lucien nodded once, slowly.
“I don’t want you to feel pressured.”
“I don’t,” she whispered.
Their eyes met.
And for a moment, the room felt smaller… warmer… familiar.
Lucy peeked her head around the corner, whisper-yelling,
“AM I INTERRUPTING ANYTHING?”
Lucien closed his eyes in frustration.
Aria nearly died on the spot.
Lucy walked back in, shrugging.
“Just checking.”
Luca and Margaret returned with dessert, though Margaret kept giving Aria a soft, “we’ll talk later” look.
As they all ate, Lucy bumped Aria under the table.
Aria glared at her.
Lucy whispered,
“He looked at you like you hung the moon. Don’t waste that.”
Aria didn’t reply.
But she glanced at Lucien.
And he was already looking at her.
Small. Quiet. Hopeful.
Something in her chest tightened, not painfully this time.
Just… alive.
Lucy dragged Aria into the hallway as soon as they stepped out of Luca’s apartment.
Not gently.
The door closed behind them and Lucy immediately crossed her arms.
“Start talking.”
Aria blinked. “About what?”
Lucy gave her a look.
“A-ria. Don’t play with me. I saw the staring.
The soft staring.
The ‘I still have feelings’ staring.”
Aria covered her face with both hands.
“It wasn’t like that.”
Lucy snorted.
“He looked at you like you invented oxygen.”
Aria groaned.
Lucy softened a little.
“All jokes aside… how do you feel?”
Aria hesitated.
She looked at the elevator lights flickering down the hall.
“I don’t know,” she said honestly.
“He hurts me. And he doesn’t even know why.”
Lucy’s expression gentled.
“Then tell him.”
“I can’t,” Aria whispered.
“If he knew the truth about why I dated him… he’d hate me.”
Lucy nodded slowly.
“But you can’t keep running.
He already sees you. Even when you’re trying to disappear.”
Aria’s chest tightened.
Lucy squeezed her shoulder.
“Whatever happens… you’re not alone. I’m here.”
Aria gave a soft smile.
“I know.”
- Writer
