Chapter6:Dangerous Curiosity
1211 Words
Nobody inside Verrano Group had seen Kael Verrano smile in months.
Maybe longer.
Which explained why the entire executive floor currently looked emotionally traumatized.
Aria noticed it immediately.
The frozen assistants.
The shocked interns.
The receptionist pretending not to stare.
Even Celeste looked disturbed.
Honestly?
Fair reaction.
Because Kael’s smile was not warm.
It was brief.
Sharp.
Unexpected.
The kind of smile that happened right before people made terrible decisions.
Aria crossed her arms slowly.
“What?”
Kael’s expression returned to calm indifference almost instantly.
“Nothing.”
“Then why are people looking at me like I started World War Three?”
Damien wheezed into his coffee.
Celeste, meanwhile, looked ready to commit homicide elegantly.
Kael reached for the umbrella in Aria’s hands.
Their fingers brushed briefly.
A tiny spark shot painfully through Aria’s chest.
Not emotional.
Physical.
Sharp enough to make her inhale suddenly.
Kael froze too.
For one strange second, both of them stared at each other.
Something invisible shifted again.
There and gone too quickly to understand.
Aria pulled her hand back immediately.
Okay.
That was weird.
Very weird.
Kael’s eyes lowered briefly toward the silver locket beneath her hoodie again.
That unreadable expression returned instantly.
Like he was remembering something he could not explain.
Celeste noticed.
And hated it immediately.
“Kael,” she interrupted sharply, stepping closer to him. “We’re already late for the investor luncheon.”
His gaze never left Aria.
“Reschedule it.”
Dead silence.
Adrian blinked so hard Aria worried for his vision.
“Sir,” the assistant said carefully, “the investors flew in from Tokyo.”
“Then they can enjoy Manhattan longer.”
Okay wow.
Even Aria felt bad for the investors.
Celeste’s jaw tightened visibly.
“You’re canceling an international meeting for her?”
Kael finally looked away from Aria.
His expression cooled several degrees.
“I don’t explain my decisions twice.”
The room immediately went silent again.
Aria stared at him.
God.
He really did speak like an emotionally unavailable mafia prince.
Damien leaned closer toward her quietly.
“See? Terrifying.”
“I noticed.”
Kael handed the umbrella toward Adrian without looking.
“Take that.”
Adrian accepted it carefully like the object itself might affect stock markets.
Then Kael turned back toward Aria again.
“You skipped breakfast.”
Aria blinked.
“How do you know that?”
“You look hungry.”
“That’s mildly insulting.”
“It’s observant.”
“No,” she corrected immediately. “This is observant.”
She pointed toward his untouched coffee near the desk.
“You haven’t slept properly either.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Interesting.
Got him.
“You keep clenching your jaw every thirty seconds,” Aria continued calmly. “Your left eye twitches when you’re stressed, and your coffee is cold, meaning you forgot to drink it.”
Damien slowly lowered his cup.
“Oh my God.”
Even Adrian looked impressed.
Meanwhile Kael simply stared at her.
Not offended.
Studying.
Like she had become even more interesting somehow.
“You analyze people quickly,” he said quietly.
“I’m a medical student.”
“No,” Kael replied softly. “That’s not what this is.”
Something about his tone made heat creep unexpectedly into Aria’s chest.
Dangerous.
This conversation was becoming dangerous.
Celeste stepped forward sharply before the silence deepened further.
“Kael, enough.”
The irritation in her voice was impossible to hide now.
And honestly?
Aria was getting irritated too.
Not because of jealousy.
Absolutely not.
But because the woman kept looking at her like she was gum stuck beneath expensive shoes.
Aria hated people like that.
Rich enough to confuse arrogance with personality.
“I should leave,” Aria said suddenly.
Kael looked at her immediately.
“You just arrived.”
“And somehow I already need therapy.”
Damien burst out laughing again.
Kael exhaled quietly through his nose.
Almost amusement.
Almost.
God.
Why did it feel weirdly satisfying making him react?
Aria adjusted her backpack against her shoulder.
“I returned your umbrella. Mission accomplished.”
“You’re injured.”
“It’s a scratch.”
“You’re exhausted.”
“That part is unfortunately permanent.”
Kael’s gaze darkened slightly.
“Miss Taylor—”
“My grandmother’s waiting for me.”
The words escaped before Aria realized it.
Immediately, something shifted in his expression.
Not curiosity this time.
Recognition.
Again.
Like every mention of her life connected to memories she did not have access to.
“You live with her,” he said quietly.
Aria frowned.
“…Yes?”
Kael went silent.
Too silent.
Then abruptly—
“Adrian.”
The assistant straightened instantly.
“Yes, sir?”
“Clear my afternoon schedule.”
Celeste stared at him in disbelief.
“You cannot be serious.”
“I am.”
“You’re choosing her over your company?”
Kael’s face became ice.
“No,” he said calmly.
“I’m choosing my priorities.”
The words hit the room like broken glass.
Even Damien stopped joking.
Because everyone understood what Kael Verrano was indirectly saying.
And apparently…
Aria Betty Taylor had somehow become one of them.
Absolutely not.
Aria pointed between them immediately.
“Nope.”
Kael looked at her.
“Nope?” he repeated flatly.
“You are not rearranging billionaire activities because I returned an umbrella.”
“You tackled a chandelier for me.”
“You make it sound romantic when it was actually attempted manslaughter.”
Damien physically turned away to hide his laughter.
Kael stepped closer again.
Close enough for Aria to catch the faint scent of cedarwood and expensive cologne.
Close enough to feel overwhelmed by his presence.
“Have lunch with me.”
The entire floor froze.
Aria blinked once.
“…What?”
Celeste looked ready to faint from rage.
Kael remained calm.
“Lunch.”
“You’re asking me out?”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
Rude.
“Then absolutely not.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Why?”
“Because rich men like you are dangerous.”
Something flickered briefly behind his expression.
Not anger.
Something darker.
More personal.
“And what kind of men are safe?” he asked quietly.
The question caught her off guard.
Aria looked at him carefully for a second.
Then shrugged softly.
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve been too busy surviving to date.”
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Kael stared at her like the words physically affected him.
And somehow…
They did.
Because for the first time since entering Verrano Group—
Aria saw something crack beneath the Ice King exterior.
Loneliness.
Just for a second.
Then it vanished again.
Kael stepped back slowly.
“Lunch,” he repeated calmly. “One hour.”
Aria opened her mouth to reject him again.
Then her stomach betrayed her spectacularly.
The loud growl echoed across the executive floor.
Dead.
Silence.
Damien folded in half laughing.
Celeste looked disgusted.
Adrian suddenly became fascinated with the ceiling.
Meanwhile Aria slowly closed her eyes.
“Oh my God.”
Kael stared at her for two seconds.
Then unexpectedly—
He laughed.
A real laugh this time.
Low.
Brief.
Dangerously attractive.
And somehow…
That was significantly worse than the smile.
- Writer
