Chapter 6 I'm just following the contract
783 Words
Aria’s POV
Once it was eight o'clock, the clock rang out. A sharp, loud sound cut through , very accurately. It made me so sad cos I was going to face Liam again. I stood in front of my dressing mirror, gently fixing my dress. It was plain but lovely. It was polished and self-contained. Exactly how I always liked to be.
The air was filled with the smell of rich food. The food served was way too big for two people to finish. There was butter-basted lobster, creamy truffle pasta, grilled prawns, and tender lamb, filling the air with mouthwatering aromas. Liam already arrived before me. He looked relaxed, his fingers tapping lightly on the arm of his wheelchair. He looked so handsome I wouldn't lie, but despite his handsome face , he still looked overbearing. Like he controls everything around him.
“Sit,” he said. It sounded more like a command.
I chose a seat three chairs away from him, I did it deliberately. All I wanted was a little distance from him, that was my own way of consoling myself that I wasn't completely under his control. He noticed. I knew he would. The corners of his mouth lifted up a little.
“Keeping a distance from your husband already?” he asked.
I picked up the glass of red wine beside me and took a small sip. “I’m just following the contract ,” I said calmly. “You said boundaries matter.” There was a short pause. Then he let out a quiet laugh. It was low and unexpected.
“Interesting,” he mumbled. My focus stayed on him. He kept looking at me. Watching closely. Thinking. Like I was something he needed to understand… or something he wanted to break.
“Eat,” he said. I picked up my fork.
“Tell me,” he said, “ your family must have told you about me, what did they tell you?” I slowly lifted my eyes to meet him. So this was a test.
“Enough,” I replied. “They said you’re a CEO. A good man.” I lied just to suit his ego. He bowed his head slightly. “And?” he asked. “Handsome,” I added. There was silence between us for a few seconds. “Good,” he said.
Just one word. But it carried weight.
We continued eating, “Nicole,” he said suddenly. My hand froze in the air. There it was.
My heart skipped, just once. But I concealed it on my face. “Yes?” I asked carefully. Liam leaned back slightly, his gaze focusing on me. “How long have you known her?” he asked.
“Years,” I answered. “Why?” There was a short pause. “She seems loyal,” he said. “She is,” I replied. “Loyalty,” he said slowly, “is often just another form of obsession.” Softly said but they cut deep.
My expression hardened. “Not everyone is like that,” I said. “No,” he agreed. “Not everyone.”
“But be mindful of the people you trust, Aria.”
That was the first time he called me by my name. I felt strange inside me. “I'm not in need of any advice,” I replied. “Everyone does,” Liam calmly replied. “particularly the people under my roof. Especially around me.”
I stood up and was ready to head back to my room immediately I was full. “Tomorrow,” he said. I stopped and turned slightly. “There will be guests,” he continued. “Guests?” I asked.
“Yes. Business associates. You will be there.”
It wasn’t a question. It was an order. I frowned slightly. “For what?” I asked. His eyes darkened just a little. “To play your role.” Wife. Property. A symbol. My jaw tightened. “I’m not something to be shown off,” I said. “No,” he said calmly. “You’re leveraged.”
We stared at each other for a moment longer.
“Goodnight,” I said, breaking the silence.
I returned to my room and quietly closed the door. The butler walked up to him. “Sir… should we continue the preparations for tomorrow?” the servant asked. There was a pause. “Yes,” Liam said. His eyes shifted toward my room. Cold. Thoughtful. “And keep watching her communication,” he added.
The servant hesitated. “Sir… you mean” “Everything,” Liam said firmly. There was a short silence. Then he added quietly, “Especially Nicole.”
- Writer
