Chapter 13—Too Close
1344 Words
Selena didn't breathe until Aria was safely asleep.
Even then, she couldn't relax.
The photograph sat open on her phone.
Aria outside school.
Smiling.
Completely unaware someone had been watching her.
The image made Selena sick.
She had spent five years protecting her daughter.
Five years looking over her shoulder.
Five years making sure nobody could hurt the little girl who meant everything to her.
Now danger had found them anyway.
A knock sounded at her apartment door.
Her entire body stiffened.
Immediately.
Fear had become instinct.
She glanced at the security monitor.
Relief and irritation crashed into her simultaneously.
Adrian.
Of course.
Who else would show up uninvited?
She considered ignoring him.
Then remembered the photograph.
After a moment, she opened the door.
Adrian stood there looking just as exhausted as she felt.
"You shouldn't be here."
His eyes swept past her.
Checking the apartment.
Checking the locks.
Checking everything.
The action irritated her immediately.
"What are you doing?"
"Making sure you're safe."
The answer came too quickly.
Too naturally.
As if he had every right.
Selena folded her arms.
"We're fine."
"No."
His voice was calm.
Dangerously calm.
"You're not."
Neither looked away.
The tension stretched.
Familiar.
Painful.
Then Adrian stepped inside.
Uninvited.
Again.
Selena almost threw him out.
Almost.
Instead she shut the door.
"Five minutes."
Adrian nodded.
"Five minutes."
Twenty minutes later they were still arguing.
"The security team stays."
"No."
"Selena"
"No."
Adrian exhaled sharply.
The sound carried frustration.
And worry.
Mostly worry.
"You received a threat."
"I know."
"Someone is following Aria."
"I know."
His jaw tightened.
"Then stop fighting me."
The words hit harder than they should have.
Because Selena knew he wasn't entirely wrong.
The problem wasn't logic.
It was trust.
Trusting Adrian had nearly destroyed her once.
The scars hadn't disappeared simply because new information surfaced.
She pointed toward the door.
"I have my own security."
"It's not enough."
"You don't know that."
"I do."
His voice rose slightly.
For the first time all evening.
The c***k in his composure surprised both of them.
Adrian immediately looked away.
Running a hand through his hair.
Trying to regain control.
"I'm sorry."
The apology came quickly.
Selena stared.
He seemed to apologize often lately.
A far cry from the proud billionaire she'd known years ago.
The realization unsettled her.
Because every time she saw this version of him, hating him became a little harder.
Not impossible.
Just harder.
"I've already increased security."
Her voice softened slightly.
"Aria isn't alone."
Adrian nodded.
But his expression didn't improve.
Because neither of them believed that was enough anymore.
The next morning, Selena woke to find two new security vehicles parked outside the apartment.
Her mood instantly darkened.
She knew exactly who was responsible.
Twenty minutes later she stormed into Adrian's office.
Without an appointment.
Without warning.
Without knocking.
The receptionist barely had time to react before Selena pushed open the door.
Adrian looked up from his desk.
Immediately recognizing the expression on her face.
"You."
She pointed toward him.
"Move your people."
Adrian remained infuriatingly calm.
"No."
The answer stunned her.
"What?"
"No."
He stood slowly.
"They stay."
Selena couldn't remember the last time someone had openly challenged her authority.
Especially not Adrian.
The old Adrian would have ordered people around.
The new Adrian simply stood his ground.
And somehow that was worse.
"You don't get to make decisions for my daughter."
His eyes hardened.
"Our daughter."
The room instantly fell silent.
The words hung between them.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
Unavoidable.
Selena looked away first.
Because hearing him say it felt too intimate.
Too real.
Too complicated.
Adrian immediately regretted it.
She could see it.
The flash of uncertainty.
The hesitation.
But neither addressed it.
Neither was brave enough.
By lunchtime, Aria was thoroughly enjoying the extra attention.
Something Selena found deeply unfair.
Because while she spent the entire morning worrying, Aria treated the situation like an adventure.
Especially after discovering one of the security guards knew magic tricks.
The betrayal felt personal.
"Mommy!"
Aria ran into the living room.
Excited.
Energetic.
Happy.
Selena looked up from her laptop.
"What happened?"
Aria grinned.
"Watch this."
One of the guards stood nearby looking embarrassed.
A coin appeared behind Aria's ear.
The little girl gasped dramatically.
Then burst into laughter.
Selena couldn't help smiling.
Even through her anxiety.
Aria was impossible not to love.
The realization immediately hurt.
Because someone out there had threatened her.
Threatened this bright, wonderful little girl.
The thought made Selena's chest tighten.
She would destroy anyone who tried hurting her daughter.
Without hesitation.
Without mercy.
That afternoon Adrian arrived unexpectedly.
Again.
At this point Selena wasn't even surprised.
She was simply annoyed.
"Do you live here now?"
Adrian ignored the comment.
His attention immediately found Aria.
The little girl sat on the floor surrounded by coloring books.
Focused.
Determined.
Tongue peeking out slightly as she concentrated.
The sight hit Adrian harder than it should have.
Because she looked so much like Selena.
Yet every now and then she'd glance up.
And Adrian would see himself.
His eyes.
His expressions.
His mannerisms.
Tiny pieces of himself scattered throughout her.
Five years stolen.
Five years missed.
Five years gone forever.
The loss sat heavy in his chest.
Aria noticed him first.
Her face lit up immediately.
"You're back!"
Adrian froze.
The excitement in her voice felt dangerous.
Because he liked hearing it.
Far too much.
"Looks like it."
Aria grinned.
Then held up a drawing.
"Do you like it?"
Adrian walked closer.
Carefully.
Like approaching a frightened animal.
Only Aria wasn't frightened.
Not even slightly.
She simply handed him the paper.
A castle.
A dog.
A princess.
And what appeared to be a dinosaur.
"That's amazing."
The praise was genuine.
Aria beamed.
The smile nearly killed him.
Because he should have known these moments.
Should have been there for them.
Instead he was learning everything five years too late.
From across the room, Selena watched.
And hated the ache forming in her chest.
Not because Adrian was doing anything wrong.
The opposite.
That was the problem.
He wasn't forcing anything.
Wasn't manipulating Aria.
Wasn't trying to buy her affection.
He was simply being present.
Listening.
Laughing.
Asking questions.
And Aria responded to it.
Naturally.
Easily.
Like she'd known him forever.
The bond forming between them frightened Selena.
Not because it was bad.
Because it wasn't.
Because someday Aria would want answers.
And Selena wasn't ready for that conversation.
Not yet.
Maybe not ever.
"Mommy, look!"
Aria waved another drawing.
Selena forced a smile.
"Beautiful."
The little girl giggled.
Then turned back toward Adrian.
And once again the two became absorbed in conversation.
Selena suddenly felt like an outsider in her own living room.
The realization hurt more than she'd expected.
Later that evening, Adrian prepared to leave.
The day had been strangely normal.
Something neither adult had expected.
No threats.
No arguments.
No disasters.
Just a little girl coloring.
Laughing.
Talking.
For a few hours they had almost looked like a family.
The thought unsettled everyone involved.
Especially Selena.
Adrian stopped near the door.
"I'll see you tomorrow."
Selena nodded.
Professional.
Distant.
Safe.
Then Aria spoke.
"Wait."
Both adults looked at her.
The little girl climbed off the couch.
Slowly.
Thoughtfully.
Like she was trying to solve a puzzle.
A puzzle she'd been considering for a while.
She stopped in front of Adrian.
Studying him.
Really studying him.
Adrian smiled.
"What is it?"
Aria tilted her head.
Then looked at Selena.
Then back at Adrian.
Then Selena again.
The silence stretched.
Long enough to make both adults uncomfortable.
Very uncomfortable.
Finally Aria spoke.
The question was innocent.
Simple.
The kind only a child could ask.
Yet it hit like an explosion.
"Mommy..."
Selena's stomach dropped.
Something about the look in Aria's eyes terrified her.
The little girl pointed at Adrian.
Completely unaware she was about to shatter the fragile peace in the room.
"Is he my daddy?"
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Adrian stopped breathing.
Selena froze.
And Aria waited patiently for an answer that neither of them was prepared to give.
- Writer
