Chapter Three The Billionaire’s Offer
1473 Words
The lobby of the building was so luxurious that Aria instinctively slowed her steps as she walked inside. The marble floors gleamed beneath the soft golden lights hanging from the high ceiling, and the entire space smelled faintly of polished wood and expensive perfume. Everything about the place whispered wealth and power.
Aria suddenly became very aware of how she looked.
Her wedding dress was soaked and slightly wrinkled, her hair messy from the rain, and her makeup had almost completely washed away. She looked less like a bride and more like someone who had escaped a disaster.
The security guard by the entrance nodded respectfully as Alexander walked past.
“Good evening, Mr. Hale.”
Alexander acknowledged him with a small nod and continued walking without slowing down. Aria followed quietly behind him, feeling slightly overwhelmed by everything around her.
They stopped in front of a private elevator.
Alexander pressed a button, and the doors opened almost immediately.
Aria stepped inside, clutching the coat around her shoulders.
The elevator doors closed with a soft sound, and the quiet hum of the machine filled the silence as it began moving upward.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Aria finally broke the silence.
“You live at the top floor, don’t you?” she asked.
Alexander glanced at her.
“Yes.”
“That figures.”
“What does that mean?”
She shrugged lightly.
“You just seem like the type.”
“The type of person who lives at the top?”
“The type of person who owns the building.”
Alexander didn’t deny it.
Aria let out a quiet sigh and leaned slightly against the wall of the elevator.
“This night keeps getting stranger.”
“You ran away from your wedding,” Alexander said calmly. “Strange events tend to follow that kind of decision.”
She gave him a tired look.
“Thank you for reminding me.”
The elevator continued rising smoothly.
Aria studied the illuminated numbers as they climbed higher and higher.
“Your brother must hate you,” she said suddenly.
Alexander’s eyes shifted toward her.
“That’s an interesting assumption.”
“Well,” she continued, “if my fiancé’s brother helped me run away from our wedding, I’d imagine there would be some family tension.”
Alexander’s expression remained unreadable.
“My brother and I are not particularly close.”
“That sounds like a polite way of saying you don’t like him.”
He didn’t respond.
The elevator finally stopped with a soft chime.
The doors opened directly into a massive penthouse.
Aria’s eyes widened slightly.
The space was stunning.
Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a breathtaking view of the city lights below. The furniture was modern and elegant, and the entire room felt calm and perfectly organized.
Alexander walked inside and placed his keys on a nearby table.
“You can sit,” he said.
Aria stepped inside cautiously.
She carefully lowered herself onto the large sofa, trying not to drip rainwater onto the pristine furniture.
Alexander noticed immediately.
“Wait here.”
He disappeared down a hallway and returned a moment later holding a clean towel.
Aria accepted it gratefully.
“Thank you.”
“You should change out of those clothes.”
She blinked.
“I don’t exactly have another wedding dress with me.”
Alexander opened a nearby closet and pulled out a simple grey shirt and a pair of sweatpants.
“These should work for now.”
Aria hesitated before taking them.
“They’re yours?”
“Yes.”
“They’ll probably be huge on me.”
“That’s not my concern.”
She almost smiled.
“Fair enough.”
He gestured toward a hallway.
“The bathroom is the second door on the left.”
Aria stood and walked toward the hallway, pausing briefly before turning back.
“Thank you… Alexander.”
He gave a small nod.
“You’re welcome.”
A few minutes later, Aria emerged from the bathroom wearing the oversized clothes. The sleeves of the shirt hung past her wrists, and the sweatpants were slightly too long, but she felt far more comfortable than she had in the heavy wedding dress.
Alexander had placed two cups of tea on the table.
She sat down again and wrapped her hands around the warm mug.
The warmth helped calm her racing thoughts.
Alexander sat across from her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Aria broke the silence.
“Why did you help me?”
Alexander leaned back slightly.
“You asked.”
“That’s not a real answer.”
“It’s the only one you need.”
She shook her head.
“No, it isn’t.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“You ran away from my brother,” he said calmly. “That alone made the situation interesting.”
Aria frowned slightly.
“Interesting?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a strange way to describe my life falling apart.”
Alexander studied her face carefully.
“Is it falling apart?”
She stared at him.
“I just canceled my own wedding.”
“Correction,” he said calmly. “You avoided marrying a man who was cheating on you.”
She opened her mouth to argue but stopped.
He wasn’t wrong.
Still, the pain remained.
Aria sighed.
“I don’t even know what happens next.”
Alexander took a sip of his tea before answering.
“That depends on you.”
“On me?”
“Yes.”
She leaned forward slightly.
“My phone hasn’t stopped vibrating,” she admitted. “My parents are probably furious. Daniel is probably trying to explain himself.”
“Are you planning to listen?”
She shook her head immediately.
“No.”
Alexander nodded once.
“Then you have two choices.”
Aria looked at him curiously.
“And those are?”
“You can go back tomorrow and deal with the consequences of tonight…”
He paused slightly.
“Or?”
“Or you can disappear for a while.”
Her eyes widened slightly.
“Disappear?”
“Yes.”
“That sounds… dramatic.”
“Not necessarily.”
She studied him carefully.
“You’re serious.”
“Yes.”
Aria placed her cup down slowly.
“And how exactly would someone like me disappear?”
Alexander’s expression remained calm.
“With the right resources, it’s not difficult.”
“Resources like yours?”
“Yes.”
She laughed softly.
“You’re offering to help me vanish?”
“For a short time.”
“Why?”
Alexander leaned forward slightly.
“Because it may benefit both of us.”
Aria’s curiosity deepened.
“How?”
Alexander’s grey eyes met hers.
“My family is about to experience a public scandal,” he said calmly. “A runaway bride tends to attract attention.”
“That wasn’t exactly my plan.”
“I’m aware.”
He continued speaking.
“If you disappear for a while, the media attention will decrease. My brother will deal with the consequences privately.”
Aria crossed her arms.
“And what do I get out of this arrangement?”
Alexander’s gaze remained steady.
“Freedom.”
She tilted her head slightly.
“Freedom?”
“Yes.”
He spoke calmly, almost like a businessman presenting a deal.
“You get time away from the situation. No reporters. No angry relatives. No uncomfortable explanations.”
Aria considered his words carefully.
He wasn’t wrong.
Facing everyone tomorrow sounded exhausting.
“What’s the catch?” she asked.
Alexander didn’t hesitate.
“There’s always a catch.”
“I knew it.”
He stood up and walked toward the window overlooking the city.
“For now,” he said, “you simply stay here.”
Aria blinked.
“That’s it?”
“For tonight.”
She narrowed her eyes slightly.
“You’re being suspiciously generous.”
Alexander turned back toward her.
“This arrangement may become more… complicated later.”
Aria raised an eyebrow.
“Complicated how?”
Alexander’s expression remained calm.
“That depends on how events unfold tomorrow.”
She leaned back against the sofa.
“Your answers are very mysterious.”
“I prefer to explain things when necessary.”
Aria studied him for a long moment.
Finally, she sighed.
“Alright.”
Alexander waited.
“For tonight,” she said, “I’ll accept your offer.”
A faint, almost satisfied expression crossed his face.
“A wise decision.”
Aria glanced toward the massive windows showing the city lights.
Her wedding had ended before it even began.
Her fiancé had betrayed her.
And now she was living temporarily in the penthouse of his billionaire brother.
She shook her head slowly.
“Tomorrow is going to be insane.”
Alexander’s voice was calm.
“You have no idea.”
- Writer
