CHAPTER THREE
1054 Words
ARIA
“Where are the flowers?” he asked, voice sharp.
Flowers?
My mind stumbled for a second. “Uh… I thought this was a professional meeting,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
He tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing. “Professional? This isn’t a business meeting. Next time, be proactive.”
Proactive.
On my first day.
I forced a small, nervous smile. “I’ll get the flowers as soon as we arrive.”
He didn’t respond, but the slight movement in his expression told me he’d caught my hesitation. I didn’t like the way he spoke to me, but I needed this job more than anything.
The car stopped. The driver opened Damian’s door, then mine. I stepped out, trying to calm my breathing.
The restaurant ahead was simple and elegant. Soft lights, glass entrance, a quiet fountain near the door. Nothing loud or complicated, just expensive and calm.
“Aria,” Damian called.
I straightened my coat and walked to him.
People turned their heads as we entered. Not because of me, but because of him. Still, I felt their eyes on us, and for a moment it felt like I was part of something important.
Inside, the room glowed warmly. Light music. Gentle voices. And then I saw her.
Katherine.
Beautiful enough to make the world pause. Wide, dark eyes. Perfect hair. Soft, full lips. Grace in every movement. She smelled like roses and silk.
Damian walked to her and hugged her. “Oh, Katherine. You’re still stunning.”
She smiled. “You look better,” she said softly, kissing his cheek. “But no flowers today? Not very thoughtful.”
Damian looked at me. “Oh, I brought flowers. My secretary must have left them in the car.”
Katherine’s gaze slid to me, slow, sharp, assessing.
I felt small instantly.
“I’ll go get them,” I whispered.
My heels clicked loudly as I walked away. I could feel her watching me, judging me.
I grabbed the bouquet and returned quickly, pulse racing. Katherine’s smile sharpened when she saw them.
“Oh, there they are.”
I handed them to her gently, but the moment her fingers brushed the petals, she froze.
Lilies.
White lilies.
She coughed, short and sharp.
“Katherine?” Damian asked, instantly alert.
She coughed again, harder. Her skin flushed, then paled. She gasped, pressing a hand to her chest.
“Damian… lilies… you know I’m…” Her voice broke.
She staggered back. The bouquet slipped from her hand and hit the table.
“I… can’t… breathe…”
The room shifted. Chairs moved. People whispered.
Damian’s eyes snapped to me. “Aria, WHAT DID YOU BRING?”
My throat closed. “I… I didn’t know… I’m sor—”
“You didn’t THINK?” he shouted, catching Katherine as she swayed. “She’s allergic. Badly.”
Cold panic ran through me.
“Call an ambulance!” someone yelled.
But Damian didn’t wait. He lifted Katherine and headed for the door.
I followed, shaking.
Outside, the air felt colder. Katherine clung to him, fighting for breath.
“Damian…” she gasped. “It… hurts…”
“I know. Stay with me,” he said, voice tight.
I tried to open the car door, but my hands trembled. Damian yanked it open himself and placed her inside.
Then he turned to me. His eyes were full of fury.
“You could have killed her.”
“I… I didn’t know… I’m sorry, sir…”
“SORRY doesn’t fix this,” he snapped. “You’re careless, emotional. And now you’re crying.”
I wiped my face hopelessly.
“If you’re going to cry, leave,” he said. “I don’t need someone who breaks when things go wrong.”
The words hit deep.
Behind him, Katherine gasped again. “Damian… hurry…”
He got into the car. The door slammed. They drove away, leaving me standing in front of the restaurant, shaking, makeup ruined, feeling like I had destroyed everything.
I wiped my face and turned away. I didn’t know where I was going, home, anywhere far from this humiliation.
Then I heard tires screech.
The same black car stopped in front of me. The back door opened.
The driver looked at me. “Get in.”
My heart jumped. “I… I thought I wasn’t needed.”
He didn’t answer.
I hesitated, then stepped forward and slid inside.
Damian was there. He didn’t look at me at first. His anger filled the car like heat.
Katherine lay weakly across the seat, an oxygen mask now helping her breathe.
“Sir… I didn’t mean—”
“Seatbelt,” he said sharply.
I fumbled with it, fingers shaking.
Silence filled the car. Heavy.
Finally he spoke. “Why were you still outside, crying alone? What were you waiting for?”
I stared at my hands. “I thought you didn’t want me near you.”
He scoffed quietly. “And you just accepted that?”
“I thought I lost the job,” I whispered.
He turned his head. His eyes met mine, cold, frustrated, but something else too, something I couldn’t place.
“Aria,” he said, “when I tell you to get in the car, you get in.”
“I wasn’t told to get in,” I said softly.
His jaw flexed. “I shouldn’t have to tell you twice.”
The car turned sharply, making me stiffen.
“We’re almost there,” the driver said.
“Good,” Damian muttered. “The sooner she gets treated, the sooner I deal with this disaster.”
Heat filled my eyes again.
He noticed instantly. “Do not cry.”
“I’m not,” I whispered, even though I was.
“Aria.”
“Yes, sir?”
“You’re not fired.”
My breath caught.
“But,” he said, voice low, “one more mistake like today, and you leave on your own.”
I nodded quickly. “Yes, sir.”
The car pulled up to the hospital. Nurses rushed to help Katherine.
Damian stepped out first.
Then he looked back at me.
“Stay close. I don’t trust you to be on your own right now.”
My chest tightened. I followed him.
Even though I didn't know what that meant.
- Writer
