Aria's POV
I woke up to the shrill of my phone. I ignored it and tried to go back to sleep again. It rang again and I stood up with a groan.
As I reached for the phone, I got a splitting headache. “Oh, f**k!” I groaned as I held my head between my hands.
I reached for the phone again. Slower this time.
As I opened it I saw ninety nine plus notifications.
“What the hell.” I muttered to myself. I clicked one of them and what I saw left me horrified.
“No, no no.” and it started coming back to me.
I kissed Lucian last night. I was tipsy and recklesss and it didn't just stop there. He pulled away. “Aria, what are you doing?” He asked softly. “You can't go about kissing people like that.”
I giggled and kissed him again and surprisingly, he didn't pull away this time. I deepened the kiss, and an idea suddenly struck me.
I pulled out my phone. “What are you doing?” He asked. I started to make a video.
“Hey guys, here with me today is my fiance.” I turned to Lucian. “Say Hi, Wolfie.” He looked at me with mirth in his eyes but responded and said Hi to the camera and I pulled him into a kiss. Then, I ended the video and before I could stop myself, I uploaded it.
“Wolfie, huh?” I smiled.
“What? You don't like it?” He smirked and we kissed again.
I turned and screamed into the pillow at the flashback. I'm so stupid. What would I do that?
I opened my phone again, and went to watch the video and surprisingly, Lucian's full face didn't show. It was just his nose downward. “That's weird.” I said softly.
But, I was still cringing at myself, when I decided to scroll through the comments and there are a lot.
One said, “who is that man? He looks kinda familiar.” I was still reading through when I heard a knock.
I don't know why, but I sinked back into the bed and closed my eyes pretending to sleep.
I heard the door open and a chuckle after.
“I know you're awake, Aria.” I involuntarily sat back up and smiled.
“Good morning, Lucian.” I greeted.
He placed a glass of water and some kind of medicine beside me on the side table and responded. “Good morning. I hope you slept well. These are for your headache.”
“Thank you.”
And then, he brought up the topic I dreaded.
“About last night, I th—”
“I am so sorry.” I cried, cutting him off. “I don't know what came over me, I was drunk and stupid and I shouldn't have kissed you not to talk of making a video calling you my fiance. I'm going to take it down “
“Aria, calm down.” He said, chuckling in that low deep voice that I find hot.
“As I was saying, I think it's good. You must have posted the video for a reason, right?” I nodded slowly
“Good.” He then took a deep breath. “I have a preposition. Would you marry me?”
“What? How…what… I don't get it” I stuttered in shock.
“Relax. We'll only be married on paper. It's a contract marriage. I need it to get my father off my back.”
“And what's in it for me?” I asked.
“I'd pay you and what else do you want?” He asked.
I looked at him and thought about it. How ironic. I was in a relationship—well, I thought I was in a relationship with Damon less than twenty hours ago. If I marry Lucian, I would be able to leave that house and I can finally have my own person. Even if it's just on paper.
I looked back at Lucian and answered. “Ok. But you don't need to pay me.”
“He nodded and gave me a boyish smile. I'd have my lawyer draft up a contract today, and we get married tomorrow. What do you think?” He looked at me expectantly.
“Alright.” I answered.
“Do you have any conditions for the marriage?” He asked. “I don't know yet. I'm not sure I have any.” I answered.
“Well, mine are: we'll just be married for five years and we divorce after, if there are any children born in the duration of the marriage, we co-parent. If—”
“Wait! We are going to be having s*x?” I interrupted him.
“You don't want to?” He asked with a smirk.
“Uh..I…I…do—”
“I won't touch you unless you want me to, Aria. Even though I'm very sure you'd want me to.” he said with a straight face.
“What…what do you mean by that?” I spluttered. But, he just smiled and continued. “Those are my conditions. We can add more along the way. Are you fine with the ones I have mentioned so far?” I nodded.
“Alright then. I leave you to it. That is the bathroom, and when you're done, come down for breakfast.” He said, already walking towards the door.
“Thank you.” I muttered and he nodded and left.
As the door closed, I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. I drank out of the water he left.
I stood up and went to the bathroom. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and I let out a cry. He saw me like this.
My hair is in all directions and I had raccoon eyes. My mascara already smeared. I covered my face with my hands and rushed into the shower.
As I left the room, the smell of fried bacon hit me. It smelled heavenly.
“There you are.” He said looking up from his plate
I smiled and took the seat opposite him, where a plate was already waiting.
“There is a driver waiting to take you home when you're ready.” He said as I started eating.
“Thank you very much. For everything”
He nodded and we ate in silence.
When I was done, I grabbed my purse and coat from the couch where I think I dropped them.
“Thank you and see you tomorrow.” He nodded and passed his phone to me.
“Your number?”
“Oh, right” I took his phone and typed in my number.
“Bye” I said once again and left.