Ch 5 - Long time no see
1075 Words
~Aria's POV~
I sat in the car, my eyes laced with glaciers.
Staring out the window, I saw the familiar view of Downtown Seattle.
It felt like yesterday that I was in this city, striving to survive, yet I was back.
Just then, the sound of my phone pierced through my ears and I picked it up, taking it to my ear.
“Miss Aria is back in the country, can she come over to start designing the dress?” The familiar voice of Mrs Pierre pierced through my ears.
I had met the woman back at France two years ago and we immediately hitted off.
She returned to Seattle to be with her husband and daughter, and wanted me to design a dress for her daughter's birthday.
I had almost forgotten that I had become quite a successful designer over the two years that I had left Seattle.
“Yes, I will come to take Miss Avery's measurements later today. Since the birthday is in a week, I will have time to make the dress to her taste.”
“Work?” Damien asked beside me and I hummed, my eyes shining.
“Don't stress too much. We just got back.” He said, pulling me closer to him and planting a wet kiss on my forehead.
My heart involuntarily fluttered.
“How will I give you a good life if I don't work?” I asked, my brows raising, and a raspy chuckle erupted from his throat, making my breath hitch.
“Indeed. You should work and provide for us. Otherwise how can I look handsome?” He joked, and I couldn't help but smile.
I dropped by at Mrs Pierre’s place, taking her daughter's measurements before returning to the hotel where Damien had already booked.
The elevator door was almost closing when a hand stopped it.
A beautiful woman walked in, her hand holding her phone to her ear as she made a call. I felt my body stiffen, emotions swirling inside me.
This woman…was Sofia.
She had her back to me and did not seem to notice me, but I had seen her face clearly. I prayed she wouldn't turn back, and as if God answered my prayers, the elevator arrived at the third floor with a “ding” and she stepped out.
I heaved a sigh of relief, and I could feel the countless beads of sweat that had gathered on my forehead.
I slept after I returned to the hotel room, and my evening Damien returned.
He told me he has some work to take care of, so I did not ask any questions before, but perhaps now I was curious about it.
I did not want to probe and just kept quiet about it.
And like a flash of light, the days passed.
…
Today, making it a week since I arrived in Seattle…
Evening came, and I got dressed in a simple, yet elegant silver gown, tying my hair into a messy bun and dabbing some makeup onto my face.
I clad my feet in the shoes Damien had bought me before walking out of the hotel.
A black Bentley was parked outside at the entrance, and my eyes widened a bit before returning to normal.
I pulled the door open, settling inside only to see the man who was staring at me intently as though waiting for some sort of reaction from me.
“Did… you rent this?” I asked hesitantly, and I could see the amusement in the man's eyes.
When we had been in France, he told me he was a small contractor, so of course, buying a car as expensive as a Bentley felt surreal. Rentage was the only thing I could think of, and the man did not refute me.
“Perhaps.” he said, shrugging.
The car started, and we arrived at the Pierre family mansion.
I walked into the hall with Damien, my eyes immediately locking onto the woman who looked my age, clad in my design. I had never felt this proud in my life.
Just then, Mrs Pierre got on stage, smiling as she held the mic.
“Thank you all for coming. Today is my daughter's 24th birthday as you all know, and I appreciate everyone for coming. But most especially, I appreciate Miss Aria Jenn for making my daughter's dress so beautiful. I hope you all enjoy the banquet.” She said, and the whole room was quiet before erupting in an applause.
“Aria Jenn? Isn't she the famous designer from France?” I heard someone ask, and my heart skipped a beat.
“Of course, that's the same one. I heard that she is friends with Mrs Pierre.”
I heard them say, unfathomable emotions swirling in my heart.
As if sensing my thoughts, Damien squeezed my hand, and I turned to see him smiling at me.
“You have achieved a lot in these two years, Aria. I'm proud of you.” He whispered against my ear, stunning me.
He was proud of me!
Kaius was never proud of me. He had never been proud of me. Instead, he hid me from the world and treated me like his toy.
Just then, there was a gentle tap on my back, and I turned, stunned to see Sofia standing in front of me.
“If miss Aria doesn't mind, can she design a dress for my birthday in the next six…” She trailed as though suddenly realizing something.
I could see the surprise on her face, followed by a mocking gaze…
“You're back after running away?” She asked, and I could only shrug.
Just as I was about to say something, I paused, my voice stuck in my throat.
Kaius seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, taking steady steps towards us.
His gaze locked onto me for a while, and I felt a series of emotions swirl in my heart.
Surprise? Hate? Fear? I could not describe it.
All I could think of was the operating table, and the dead child- my dead child.
The storm on that night...and how he never came to check up on my condition.
The last memory I had of this man was the one where he murdered my unborn child.
My heart clenched painfully beneath my chest as I tried to catch my breath.
“Long time no see, Miss Aria,”
- Writer
