Covert Ties (Hello Mr Arrogant)

Chapter One

The Return

Ariana Lincolns put on her sunglasses to let them serve as a shield against the inquisitive stares buzzing around her as she moved through the arrival gate at Kennedy International Airport. Beneath the glamor of her designer coat, her heart thudded, but she held her head high showing poise that had become her signature over these years. Her career had taken off since she'd left the country, but today wasn't about flashing lights or adoring fans; today was about the secret she'd kept for five years.

Standing beside her, clinging tightly to her hand, was a little girl with a cascade of dark curls and eyes as bright as bright blue that shone bright with wonder, Lily, her daughter. Ariana looked down at her, a smile arching her lips despite the anxiety twisting in her stomach. She was too young to understand the chaos that swirled around her mother's life or the whispers that had started the moment word of Ariana's return had leaked to the press.

“Mommy, are we going to see Grandpa today?" Lily asked, her small voice barely rising above the hum of the crowd.

"Soon, darling," Ariana replied with a gentle voice and soothing rubs on Lily's hand. "We need to head to the hotel first.”

Until that point, there were few media at the airport, but Ariana knew it was only a question of time before her arrival could be emblazoned on every front page. She'd been discreet, instructing her publicist to keep her return under wraps, but she knew that she could never keep her homecoming entirely under wraps. Not after the years of speculation, not after dodging the questions of her personal life time and again.

The camera flashes finally pierced the serenity of the airport as they neared the exit. Ariana's face firmed up; they had been found by the paparazzi.

"Ariana! Welcome back! Are you home for good?"

"Who's the little girl, Ariana? Is she your daughter?"

"Any plans to get back on the runway?”

The mad rush of questions cascaded over one another, each more invasive than the last. Ariana knew this day would come along-it was the price of fame. But she had not thought that the day would come so fast, and she certainly did not want Lily tangled up in the middle of it.

She tightened her grip on Lily’s hand, moving at a brisk pace as she kept her gaze forward. “No comment,” she murmured under her breath, barely audible over the clamor. But one of the reporters caught her eye and dared to step closer.

“Ariana, does this mean you’ll finally reveal who Lily’s father is?”

That question felt like a kick to the gut. Ariana's pause lasted no longer than a heartbeat before she whirled into overdrive, whisking Lily behind her as she hustled toward the black SUV waiting curbside with its motor running. Julianne was already holding the back door open, her face set in an anxious mix of concern and fending off the paparazzi.

"Come on, Miss Lincolns," Julianne said, pushing them both inside. The door shut with a slam, and the noise was dulled; tinted windows closed Ariana and Lily off from the unrelenting scrutiny of the outside world.

Inside the car, silence was almost a reprieve. Ariana took a deep breath and turned to Lily, who was busy pressing her nose against the window to see the crowds outside.

“Mommy, why were those people shouting?" Lily asked curiously but unafraid.

Ariana fumbled over her words. "They were just excited to see us, darling. That's all." She smiled reassuringly, though her nerves still vibrated under the surface.

Julianne turned halfway in her seat, facing them. "I have a few updates," she said, lowly. "The press has already begun talking about your return, but we expected that. The good news is we've kept your schedule flexible, so you'll have time to get settled before any public appearances.”

"Thanks, Julianne," Ariana replied with appreciation at the considerate arrangement. She knew there was no avoiding the questions from the media, but at least she had a moment to breathe.

As the car navigated the streets of the city, Ariana couldn't help but experience a wave of mixed emotions: both nostalgia and trepidation. It was five years since she had set her foot away from New York City, determined to make a new life for herself and her unborn child. It felt as though she was reopening old wounds. She wasn't that young and scared girl anymore. A mother now, she needed to be strong for Lily.

They pulled up to the luxury hotel where a suite had been prepared, and stepping from the car, the familiar skyline jumped into view for Ariana. It felt as if she was reclaiming part of herself, though the shadows which chased her were still there.

She knelt down and gathered Lily into her arms before turning toward the door. "Come on, little one," she said, brushing a kiss along her daughter's forehead. "Let's go see our new home."

As they entered the lobby, the weight of the past didn't feel quite so heavy. Ariana would face whatever was to come on her terms. But she couldn't shake that nagging thought that had sat in the back of her mind: the truth of Lily's paternity would eventually come out. And when it did, she would be facing not just the press, but the man whose life she had upended without him even knowing it.