Brewed For You

Chapter 13

Mila stood in the doorway, wide-eyed, her hand still on the knob. “What is going on here?”

Aria opened her mouth, but no words came out. Her throat felt tight, her chest heaving.

Mila took careful steps towards Aria. “They left a note right? What does it say?”

“I…” Aria swallowed hard. She couldn't bring herself to form any words, still in shock from the whole situation.

Mila’s eyes widened as she read through the note. It was short, just four words. Scribbled on a roughly torn piece of paper with the most beautiful cursive writing she had ever seen. But nothing was beautiful about this. “Is someone threatening you? Aria, that’s insane! You should call the police!”

Aria hesitated, her fingers trembling. She knew Mila didn't know everything...about the first rock, the note, the constant dread that had been eating away at her, even the threats from years ago and how the police didn't really take her serious back then. But the words lodged in her throat. Mila didn’t know. She’d lied the first time, told her it was an accident. It was that look of worry on Mila's face right now that made her lie in the first place. She didn't want to drag people into her mess.

“I’ll call Damian,” she whispered instead.

Mila blinked. “Damian? Your lawyer friend?”

Aria nodded faintly. “He’ll know what to do.”

“Then call him now,” Mila said, her voice firm. “Hurry up.”

Aria’s hands shook as she fumbled for her phone. Her contacts blurred on the screen before she found his name.

He picked up almost immediately.

“Aria?” Damian’s voice was alert, tense. A bit of his surprise leaking into his voice.

Her voice came out in a rush. “It happened again. Someone... threw a rock through my window....there's glass everywhere.” her voice shook as she spoke. The tears had started to fall now.

“Where are you right now?”

“At home.”

“I’m on my way,” he said, his voice low and steady. “Lock the door. Don’t go near the window. Call the police. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

Then he hung up the phone

Damian grabbed his keys and jacket, not even bothering to put on proper shoes. Moving towards his door in his indoor flipflops.

Cole, who had fallen asleep on Damian’s couch after a chess game sat up instantly. “What’s wrong?”

“Aria,” Damian said shortly, heading for the door. “Someone attacked her place again.”

“Again?”

“I’ll explain in the car.”

Cole didn’t ask further. He just grabbed his own jacket and followed.

By the time they reached Aria’s building, the street was bathed in the red and blue flash of police lights. Damian parked hastily and jumped out, his pulse hammering. Didn't even wait for Cole to get out of the car.

Inside, Aria sat on the bed with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, her eyes glassy and distant. Mila stood nearby, hovering protectively while an officer examined the shattered window.

Damian’s jaw clenched at the sight of her. She looked so defeated. “Aria.”

Her head snapped up. The moment she saw him, something in her expression crumbled.

He crossed the room in two strides and crouched in front of her. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine,” she said automatically, her voice a little shaky. “Just that… it scared me at first.”

Mila turned to him. “I’m so glad you came. The police said it might’ve just been some random vandalism, but...”

Damian cut her a sharp look. “No. This isn’t random.”

Mila frowned, confusion flickering across her face. “What do you mean?”

Before he could answer, the officer turned around. “We’ll need you to come by the station in the morning, Miss Aria, to finalize your report. We’ll have someone come patch up that window temporarily tonight.”

“Thank you,” Damian said, his tone clipped.

The officer gave a curt nod before leaving.

When the door clicked shut, the silence stretched. The room seeming a little crowded now with the four of them just staring at each other.

Mila was the first to break it. “Someone needs to tell me what’s going on.”

Aria swallowed, her throat bobbing up and down. She didn’t want to say it, didn’t want to see the look on Mila’s face when she realized she’d loed to her before.

“Aria?” Mila’s voice softened. “You’re acting strange and it's scaring me. Please don’t tell me this isn’t the first time.”

Aria looked down, shame burning behind her eyes. There's no point in lying anymore. “It’s not.”

"Was it that night you said it was a glass cup that fell when I heard a crash in your room?"

Aria could only nod, she couldn't bring her eyes to meet Mila's.

Mila’s breath caught. “You lied to me?”

“I didn’t want you to worry,” Aria whispered. “I thought it was not something serious at first. A one time thing.... But it happened again.” Her voice cracked. “

Mila sat down beside her, the anger fading to something sadder. “You should’ve told me, Aria. You don’t have to deal with this alone. Besides, we live together. I could be at risk too.”

“I know,” Aria murmured. “I know.”

Damian, who’d been quiet, finally spoke. “You’re not staying here tonight.”

Aria blinked up at him. “What?”

“It’s not safe. You and Mila are coming with me.”

Mila straightened. “To your place?”

“Yes.” His tone left no room for argument. “Just for a few days, until we get better security here.”

Aria shook her head. “Damian, that’s too much. You don’t have to...”

“Aria.” His gaze locked on hers. “You don't always need to argue with me. You need to feel safe. That’s not going to happen here.”

For a long second, she didn’t move. Feeling a little embarrassed that he called her out with in front of an audience like a stubborn child. Then her shoulders slumped. “Okay.”

Cole stayed behind to talk to the officers and supervise the emergency repair. Damian helped the girls pack a few essentials; clothes, chargers, a few things for the café.

Mila moved briskly, but Aria could see the worry written all over her face. “I swear,” she muttered, zipping up her suitcase, “if I ever find the creep doing this, I’ll make him regret existing.”

Despite everything, Aria managed a small laugh. “That’s oddly comforting. Glad to know your humor is still intact”

“Heyyy, someone’s got to lighten the mood,” Mila said, giving her a quick, reassuring smile.

By the time they stepped outside, it was past midnight. The air was cold, sharp against Aria’s skin. She didn’t look back as they got into Damian’s car, wishing everything could go her way for once.

When the elevator doors opened into Damian’s penthouse, Mila let out a low whistle. “Oh. Wow.”

Aria blinked. The space was huge; modern but warm, with dark wood floors and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.

“Okay, seriously,” Mila said, turning to Damian. “How do you even afford this? Do you own the whole building?”

Damian gave a small tired smile, scratching the back of his head. “Just a few floors.”

“Of course,” Mila muttered, shaking her head. “Of course you do. You caught yourself a good one there, Aria.”

Aria elbowed her gently. “Stop.”

“I’m just saying,” Mila whispered. “We’ve officially entered billionaire territory.”

Aria hid a laugh behind her hand, the tension in her chest easing just slightly.

Damian cleared his throat, gesturing down the hallway. “There are two guest rooms down this hallway. You’ll both find clean towels in the bathroom and new toothbrushes in the cupboards. Make yourselves at home.”

“Thank you,” Aria said quietly.

He nodded. “You’re safe here. Don't hesitate to ask me for anything you need. My room is the first door by your left when go up the stairs.”

After a while, Mila disappeared into her room. She was obviously excited to explore her room, the rock incident forgotten. Aria lingered in the living room, pacing aimlessly. The quiet felt too big, too heavy.

Through the glass doors, she saw Damian standing on the balcony, the city lights casting a soft glow over him.

She hesitated for a moment before stepping out.

The night air was cool, brushing against her skin.

“You should try to sleep,” he said without turning.

“I could say the same to you,” she replied softly.

He glanced over his shoulder, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “Touché.”

She joined him at the railing, her eyes tracing the endless flashing lights below. “It’s beautiful up here.”

“It helps me think,” he said quietly.

“Don't you think this is a pretty fancy way to think?”

He let out a laugh. “Not so fancy when you can afford it.”

Her lips curved slightly. “You’re not wrong. You seem pretty loaded.”

He let out another laugh at that. He was clearly amused at her surprise at how rich he was. She didn't even know half of what he's worth.

They stood there for a while, the silence between them not uncomfortable, just… full.

Finally, she turned to him. “Thank you. For coming tonight. For… everything.”

He shrugged lightly. “You don’t have to thank me.”

“I do,” she said. “You didn’t have to get involved.”

“I already was.”

Their eyes met and for a moment, neither of them looked away.

“I’m sorry you have to always see me like this,” she whispered. “Falling apart.”

“You’re not falling apart,” he said gently. “You’re surviving. There’s a difference.”

Her chest tightened. No one had ever said it like that before.

Without really thinking, she leaned in circling his waist with her delicate arms in a hug. He didn’t move away. Instead, he reached out, rciprocating the gesture. A steady, grounding hug.

“You’ve got people now, Aria,” he said softly into her hair. “You don’t have to fight this alone anymore.”

Her eyes shimmered. “You make it sound so easy.”

“It’s not,” he admitted. “But it’s easier when someone’s got your back.”

She smiled faintly although she knew he couldn't see her, her voice barely above a whisper. “Then I guess I’m lucky.”

He smiled at that. Lightly squeezing her in reassurance.

She yawned softly, covering her mouth.

“That’s your cue,” he said with a small chuckle. “Go rest. I’ll just stay here a bit longerand be off to bed too.”

“You sure?”

He nodded. “Go on. You have a business to run in a few hours time”

She hesitated, then leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. “Goodnight, Damian.”

He froze, but she was already walking away, her footsteps light against the floor.

“Goodnight, Aria,” he replied, more to himself because she’d already disappeared inside.

The apartment grew quiet.

Damian remained at the balcony, his hands resting on the cold railing. The city stretched endlessly beneath him, but his eyes weren’t on the skyline.

They were on the street below.

A black car sat parked across the road, engine off, headlights dim.

He narrowed his eyes. It hadn’t been there just a while ago.

For a full minute, it didn’t move. The tinted windows gave nothing away.

Then, as if realizing it had been seen, the headlights flickered to life.

The car pulled away slowly, tires rolling soundlessly against the pavement.

Damian watched it disappear into the night, his jaw tightening.

It could have been random. Might have not been someone watching them, but his intuition said otherwise.

And his intuition was never wrong.