đź“– CHAPTER 6: Someone Is Watching
921 Words
Aria’s POV
The moment you realize you’re not in control anymore…
Is the moment everything becomes dangerous.
“You should be careful, Aria.”
The voice still echoed in my head.
Low. Calm. Certain.
“They’re starting to notice.”
Notice me. I didn’t like that.
I sat still for a long moment, staring at my phone.
The silence in my apartment felt heavier than usual.
Who was that? How did they get my number?
And more importantly— What exactly did they know? I didn’t panic. I never panicked. But I paid attention.
Because this…
This wasn’t part of the plan.
The next morning— Everything felt normal. Too normal.
“Good morning, Miss Aria.”
I returned the greetings with a small smile as I walked into the office.
Calm. Composed. Untouchable.
But inside— I was watching everything. Every movement. Every glance. Every whisper.
Because someone… Was watching me.
“Aria.”
His voice.
I didn’t need to turn to know it was him.
Ethan.
“Good morning,” I said, facing him.
His gaze lingered slightly longer than necessary.
“You look tired.”
“I’m fine.” A pause.
“You didn’t sleep.”
Not a question. A statement.
I held his gaze. “You’re observant.”
“And you’re avoiding the answer.”
There it was again. That pull. That quiet tension that had nothing to do with business anymore.
“I had things to think about,” I said.
His eyes didn’t leave mine.
“About me?”
Dangerous question. I gave a small, controlled smile.
“About everything.”
Something in his expression shifted.
Not fully satisfied. But not pushing either.
“Walk with me,” he said.
I hesitated for a second.
Then nodded.
We moved through the office together.
Side by side. Too natural. Too easy.
That was the problem.
“You handled Lawson well,” he said.
“Of course.”
“I didn’t even have to step in.”
“That’s the point.”
A faint smirk touched his lips.
“I’m starting to think I should just let you run everything.”
I glanced at him.
“You wouldn’t like that.”
“Why?”
“Because you like control.”
He stopped walking.
So did I. For a brief moment— We just stood there.
“You think you know me?” he asked.
“I think I understand you,” I replied.
A dangerous difference.
His gaze deepened.
“And what do you understand?”
I held his eyes.
“That you don’t trust easily… but when you do, you don’t question it."
Silence. That hit. I saw it. Felt it.
“You’re right,” he said quietly.
And that…
That was dangerous.
Because he was admitting it. To me.
Later that day— I felt it again. That feeling.
Like someone was watching. I turned suddenly. Nothing. Just employees working. Typing. Talking. Normal. Too normal.
My phone buzzed. Unknown number. Again.
I didn’t answer this time.
Instead—
I walked straight to Ethan’s office.
“You look like something’s wrong,” he said the moment I entered.
Observant. Always observant.
“I need you to check something,” I said.
His expression shifted instantly.
Serious. Focused.
“What is it?”
“I think someone is watching me.”
The words came out calm.
But they changed everything.
His eyes darkened.
“What do you mean?”
“I got a call last night,” I said.
“Unknown number. They knew my name.”
Silence.
Then— Anger. Real anger.
“Why didn’t you tell me immediately?” he asked.
I tilted my head slightly.
“Would it have changed anything?”
“Yes.”
The answer came too quickly. Too sharp.
And something about that…
Caught my attention. He stepped closer.
“From now on, you don’t keep things like that to yourself,” he said.
His tone wasn’t just serious. It was protective.
And that— That wasn’t part of the plan.
“I can handle myself,” I replied.
“I know you can,” he said.
A pause.
“But you don’t have to.”
Silence.
That silence again. Heavy. Uncomfortable.
Because for a second— I didn’t know what to say.
“I’ll handle it,” he continued.
Of course he would. Control. Protection.
Power.
That was who he was.
But now— It was directed at me.
And I wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
That night— I left the office later than usual.
The parking lot was quiet. Too quiet.
My heels echoed softly as I walked.
Then— A sound. Footsteps. Behind me.
I stopped. So did they.
Slowly— I turned. Nothing. Empty.
But I knew, someone was there. Watching. Waiting.
My phone buzzed again. Same number.
This time— I answered.
“Who are you?”
A pause.
Then—
“You’re getting careless.”
My grip tightened.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
A soft chuckle.
“You’re getting close to him.”
Silence.
Then—
“And that’s not part of your plan… is it?”
My breath stilled.
Because that— That wasn’t a guess.
That was knowledge.
“Stay away from him,” the voice continued.
Low. Cold.
“Or I’ll expose everything.”
The line went dead.
And this time— I didn’t move.
Because now— It wasn’t just a threat.
It was real.
And someone out there… Knew exactly who I was.
- Writer
