New light
1312 Words
Mira broke the hug a while after, rushing upstairs to her room saying she needed to call and thank Daniel for his aid.
Aria watched her leave before sauntering into the kitchen, almost forgetting there was someone else in their home.
The whole situation had her burnt out. She needed a coffee and was going to make herself some.
Aria grabbed the electric kettle and filled it. Waiting for the kettle to finish boiling, her fingertips traced the edge of her favorite mug that she'd grabbed on her way in.
She stared in a daze at the window covered by a white transparent curtain the fluttered in the soft-blowing wind, A subtle, persistent tension buzzed in her chest like something left unfinished, like a wrong puzzle piece forced into place.
" I meant to ask..."
The sudden voice startled her and Aria almost jumped out of her skin. She quickly turned, and behind her stood Kain.
His thick eyebrows furrowed in concern mirrored in his dark green iris, and angular face.
She couldn't sense him. He didn't make a single noise.
Kain had that kind of presence-- silent, watching, testing.
“So,” his voice drawled from the archway, seeing that he'd spooked his supposed wife. “Am I supposed to call you ‘wife’ now or would you prefer ‘warden’?” he jested.
Aria frowned at him, clearly not entertaining any of what he was trying to do.
"Okay, I just wanted to know if I could make a meal in here or anything? Or do I have to find you everytime I need to eat like the slave I am?" He asked, his tone serious despite the frown on Aria's face.
“ A guest, that’s what you are in this house. We have chefs who come in to make our meals in the morning, the rest of the day is on you. I'm sure you've been eating quite well all these while without me.” Aria retorted coldly, turning away from Kain.
He chuckled and moved to lean against the opposite counter, arms folded. “Not how I imagined my married life would start.”
Aria turned the kettle off, grabbed it along with the coffee canister and moved to the espresso machine on the left counter top with her mug in hand. “I’m not interested in your imagination.” She sighed.
“Pity,” he said with a mock sigh. “It’s quite vivid.”
She finally looked at him. Kain was still wearing the same jeans and faded T-shirt from earlier when he'd walked into the study. Not unlike a college-boy casual.
He didn’t look like a groom, nor someone Aria would look twice on a normal day. He didn’t look like anything permanent. Just a guy passing through.
Which is exactly what she intended him to be.
“ Look, we already talked about this. Don't think you could try to play your fantasies with me. There's no ceremony to this marriage,” she said. “No honeymoon, no room sharing. This is not a marriage. It’s a transaction.”
He smiled lazily. “ I know you say that, but your lawyer made me sign prenups like I was some gold-digging sidepiece.”
“That’s because you are.” Aria paused from mentioning his father. She didn't want to come off as rude.
He tilted his head. “Feisty.”
Having made her espresso with as much cream as she liked, she grabbed her mug and started toward the staircase. “ The guest room is at the end of the hall. Try not to snoop. And stay away from Mira.” She told him all that's needed to be known, before he would come knocking on her door to ask anything.
Kain’s brow rose slightly. “Why? Afraid she’ll fall for my poor boy charm?”
Aria paused halfway up the stairs and gave him a look so cold, it could’ve frozen the creamy espresso.
“No. I’m afraid she’ll find out the kind of boy you actually are.” She stressed the word boy.
He smirked again, but it didn’t reach his eyes this time. He didn't respond either, he just watched Aria leave.
Later that night, Aria lay in bed staring at the ceiling. Mira had gone back to campus for the night for something about an early seminar the next day. She’d texted a string of hearts, thanking Aria again for “saving everything.”
But Aria still didn’t feel like a savior. She felt like a fool.
A tired, overburdened fool who’d protected her sister, only to betray her trust.
And… Kain.
The boy now had access to her home and her life.
She rolled over her huge, lenient bed and grabbed her phone, scrolling through it.
Daniel had texted.
Daniel: Got confirmation. No files or leaks were spread. Everything’s been scrubbed. You’re in the clear.
Daniel: I don’t like this guy, Ari. You sure you want to go through with the marriage?
Daniel: You know I’d help. If you just say the word.
She stared at the screen a long moment, thumbs hovering over the keys to text.
But she didn’t reply. She didn't know what to reply. She'd told him about the marriage earlier.
Daniel had always meant well. And once, a long time ago, she thought maybe there could have been something between them. But time and Mira had taken care of that.
And now, Daniel's concern only fanned her guilt. She wished he would rebuke her, that kind of love...
Aria let the phone drop on the bed and closed her eyes, exhaustion finally washing over her.
The Next Morning.
Sunlight poured through the tall windows of the glamorous dining room that was filled with an egregious aroma.
Aria sat at the head of the long table, skimming through her inbox on her tablet as the housekeeper laid out breakfast.
Kain strolled in barefoot, yawning. “Smells fancy.” He looked even younger in the morning light.
“Help yourself,” Aria said without looking up.
Kain didn't dawdle. He plopped into the seat across from her and poured himself a glass of orange juice. “So more questions. What’s the plan when the family’s around, or are we hiding this from them too?”
“There is no family. This is only between us.” she replied curtly.
“Just me, you, and Mira.”
“Right,” he said, chewing toast. “The little sister.”
Aria glanced up sharply. “Don’t.”
He shrugged. “I’m just saying. But hey, why did she seem so confused last night? I expected a bit of an outroar from her.”
“She probably thought you were someone else.” Aria squirmed in her seat.
“I’m sure she did,” Kain said under his breath. " You didn't tell her right?" He said as a matter of fact.
Aria narrowed her eyes but said nothing.
The silence was enough an answer for Kain anyway. However, he couldn't help but look at Aria differently, a tiny bit of respect in the reflection of this bossy lady in his eyes.
- Writer
