BROKEN PROMISES (1)
1131 Words
SIX YEARS AGO
FLASH BACK
BROKEN PROMISES (1)
Aria hated this place but she had come anyway. For Jamie.
The pulsing bass, the thick smell of alcohol and sweat, the way some men stared like she was something to devour.
Jamie had been distant for days now. His modeling gigs kept pulling him away, and she hadn’t seen him properly in nearly a week.
Their four to five times daily communication has also reduced significantly to barely twice in a week. She tried his number again. Straight to voicemail. As usual
Dejected, she turned to leave. The stares were getting too bold.
She collided hard with a solid chest.
A hand shot out, steadying her before she could stumble.
“Careful, princess.” the voice drawled, low and amused.
Aria doesn't even need to think twice. It is unmistakably, Noah. That was his annoying voice and only him called her princess. For some reasons.
Before she could reply, the voice continued. “I'm going to start thinking you are running into me on purpose.”
Aria stepped back immediately, irritation flaring. “In your dreams.”
He chuckled softly. “Oh, just wait until you see what I have planned for you in real life."
Self- absorbed asshole.
She rolled her eyes and tried to step around him, but his hand caught the back of her collar, pulling her back.
“Where do you think you’re going after spilling my drink?” he murmured close to her ear.
Only then did she notice the dark red stain spreading across his crisp white shirt. “I’m sorry,” she muttered, cheeks burning as she tried to pull away.
“Oh, sorry?” Noah peered down at her, one brow raised. “What’s your sorry going to fix, princess?”
“What do you want me to do? Cry about it?” she snapped, crossing her arms.
His eyes traced the way the purple dress hugged her body lingering deliberately on her chest. “Tempting. But no.”
“What if no girls approach me tonight because of this?” He drawled, his voice low and dripping with arrogance. “Who’s going to keep little Noah happy then?”
.
Heat rushed to her face. Stupid senseless womanizer.
“Then you’ll have to put your little Noah happy yourself,” she shot back, trying to keep her voice steady. “More better, if you cut it off.”
Thats my feisty princess. Noah thought.
His lips curved into a smirk, wanting to tell her she should take care of it herself but his eyes caught the weariness in her expression.
He didn’t want to push her away. She just started talking to him again.
Those two weeks of silence had been hell.
“I don’t want an apology.” He said instead. “I want a replacement.”
“Fine. I’ll get you another shirt.”
“No.” The word was sharp. He leaned in closer, the scent of his cologne wrapping around her.
“I don’t wear just anything. I’ve seen the ones you make for Jamie. Those are worth replacing this with.”
Aria stilled. “You’re unbelievable. You want me to design you a shirt because I spilled wine on you?”
Noah shrugged, unbothered. “Seems fair.”
“It’s not happening.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t design for arrogant—”
“For him, you do.” His eyes held hers, intense. “Or is he the only one who gets that deserve it from you?”
The words landed heavily. Aria swallowed, annoyance and something else twisting in her chest.
Noah had helped her out many times than she could count. She thought
Seeing her somber expression, he stepped back, his fingers brushing her arm. “Relax. It’s just a shirt… for now.”
She looked up at him. His smirk returned, but his gaze remained sharp. “You owe me. Promise you’ll make it.”
She huffed. “You're impossible.”
“And you’re stalling.”
She exhaled, a mix of frustration and warmth twisting in her chest. He likes my design, she thought. “Fine. I’ll make you one. Happy now?”
“Ecstatic.” He replies dryly.
He finally made way for her to pass through. “By the way, Jamie left a few hours ago. You should leave. You look too good to be here alone, princess. Too good for him.” He murmured the last word.
Aria’s heart gave a traitorous stutter. She told herself he was nothing more than an arrogant womanizer who enjoyed tormenting her. Nothing more.
But as she walked out, she could still feel the heat of his stare on her back the entire way.
Noah watched her leave, jaw tight. He didn’t mention the blonde on Jamie’s arm. Or that the woman looked a lot like Aria’s sister.
His mind drifted back two weeks.
That night at the campus party, some guy had cornered Aria, handsy and laughing too loud at whatever she said.
Noah had seen red.
By the time Jamie showed up, Noah already had the stranger on the ground, fist slamming into his jaw.
“Touch her again and I’ll break more than your face,” he had growled.
Aria had yanked him off, furious. “What the hell is wrong with you? He was just talking!”
“Talking?” Noah had wiped blood from his knuckles, eyes locked on her. “He had his hands where they didn’t belong.”
She hadn’t spoken to him for two full weeks after that. Complete silence. It had driven him crazy.
Now here she was again, promising him something. A shirt. A piece of her attention.
Noah’s lips curved. He would take it. For now.
☆~☆
Noah King had always gotten what he wanted. Born with every advantage, he rarely needed to ask twice.
Women threw themselves at him, models, socialites, the kind who knew the game.
He took what they offered, sophisticated ones only, usually for one night, then moved on. No strings.
Until Aria.
He wish he had known her before Jamie. Maybe she would have set her sight on him. After all, he knew his worth. He is not lacking in any aspect.
Noah, who never chased anyone, had made an exception. Befriending Jamie was the easiest way in.
Best friends with her boyfriend meant proximity to her. It meant watching her, teasing her, brushing against the edges of her life.
He still didn’t understand what she saw in Jamie. The guy was mediocre at best.
One day she would see it. One day she would understand exactly who she belonged to.
He hope that he will be able to control himself till then.
- Writer
