Moving in
1393 Words
"The person who wants this marriage to fail."
Aria's smile remained frozen as camera flashes exploded around them.
"What are you talking about?" she whispered through clenched teeth.
Damian didn't immediately answer.
Instead, he continued guiding her toward the restaurant entrance, his hand resting firmly against the small of her back.
To the photographers, they probably looked like a happy couple.
To Aria, it felt like she was walking into a trap.
"Damian."
"Not now."
His voice was quiet but firm.
The doors opened before she could press further.
Inside, the noise of the city vanished.
Luxury greeted them from every direction.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling.
Soft music floated through the air.
Every table was occupied by people dressed in expensive suits and designer gowns.
The kind of people who controlled industries with a single phone call.
The kind of people who probably knew Damian Blackwood personally.
Aria suddenly felt very out of place.
"Relax."
She looked at Damian.
"What makes you think I'm nervous?"
One corner of his mouth lifted.
"You're gripping my arm hard enough to leave marks."
Embarrassed, she immediately loosened her hold.
His smile widened slightly.
The expression transformed his face.
For a brief moment, he looked younger.
Less intimidating.
Then the smile vanished.
The cold businessman returned.
"This way."
Several people stood as they approached a private dining room.
Men and women in tailored suits greeted Damian warmly.
Most of them turned curious eyes toward Aria.
One silver-haired man spoke first.
"So this is the future Mrs. Blackwood."
Aria forced a polite smile.
"It seems so."
Laughter filled the room.
The tension eased slightly.
Introductions followed.
Board members.
Executives.
Investors.
By the time everyone was seated, Aria had forgotten half their names.
Dinner began.
The conversation focused mostly on business.
Which suited her just fine.
At least until one woman leaned forward.
"How did you two meet?"
Aria nearly choked on her water.
Good question.
They hadn't actually discussed that.
Her eyes immediately found Damian.
He looked completely unbothered.
"As strange as it sounds," he said smoothly, "we met through work."
Technically true.
The woman smiled.
"And it was love at first sight?"
Aria almost laughed.
Damian answered before she could.
"No."
The room went quiet.
Then he added,
"It took longer than that."
The lie came so naturally that it startled her.
Apparently, he had thought through this arrangement far more than she had.
The dinner continued.
Questions.
Stories.
Laughter.
The entire time, Aria couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched.
Every time she looked around, she noticed someone staring.
A waiter.
A guest at another table.
A woman near the bar.
Maybe Damian had gotten into her head.
Maybe she was imagining things.
Still, the unease remained.
By the time dinner ended, she was exhausted.
Outside, a sleek black car waited for them.
As soon as they climbed inside, Aria turned toward him.
"Okay."
Damian loosened his tie.
"Okay what?"
"You owe me an explanation."
His expression remained neutral.
"About?"
"The person watching us."
Silence.
The city lights flashed across the windows as the car moved through traffic.
Finally, Damian sighed.
"There are people who dislike me."
"That doesn't narrow it down."
A hint of amusement touched his features.
"Fair."
Aria crossed her arms.
"So?"
"So some people have a vested interest in seeing me fail."
"Business rivals?"
"Among others."
That wasn't an answer.
Not really.
And he knew it.
Before she could continue, the car slowed.
Aria glanced outside.
Then froze.
The mansion was enormous.
No.
Enormous wasn't the right word.
It looked like something from a movie.
Iron gates.
Perfectly landscaped gardens.
A massive fountain.
Lights glowing from dozens of windows.
Her apartment could probably fit inside the entrance hall.
Twice.
The car stopped.
A uniformed employee opened the door.
"Welcome home, Mr. Blackwood."
Home.
The word felt strange.
This place wasn't her home.
Not yet.
Maybe not ever.
Damian stepped out and offered his hand.
After a brief hesitation, she accepted it.
The moment she entered the mansion, she understood why people called him a billionaire.
Marble floors stretched beneath her feet.
A grand staircase curved toward the second floor.
Paintings lined the walls.
Everything looked expensive.
Painfully expensive.
A woman in her fifties approached.
"Good evening, sir."
"Good evening, Margaret."
Her warm eyes shifted toward Aria.
"And this must be Miss Bennett."
Aria smiled.
"It is."
Margaret immediately took her hands.
"You're even prettier than the newspapers suggested."
Aria blinked.
"The newspapers?"
Margaret beamed.
"The engagement announcement was everywhere this morning."
Of course it was.
Damian noticed her expression.
"You didn't see it?"
"I was busy trying not to have a nervous breakdown."
A surprising sound escaped him.
A laugh.
A genuine laugh.
Margaret looked delighted.
Aria stared.
The cold billionaire actually laughed.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
"Come," Margaret said. "I'll show you your room."
"Room?"
Aria looked at Damian.
"Not our room?"
A strange silence followed.
For the first time since meeting him, Damian appeared slightly uncomfortable.
Only slightly.
"We have separate rooms."
Relief immediately flooded her.
"Oh."
His jaw tightened.
For some reason, her relief seemed to annoy him.
Good.
They were both uncomfortable.
At least that made things equal.
Margaret led her upstairs.
The guest suite was larger than her entire apartment.
A king-sized bed occupied the center of the room.
A fireplace glowed softly.
The attached bathroom looked like a luxury spa.
Aria turned in a slow circle.
"This is insane."
Margaret laughed.
"You'll get used to it."
"I highly doubt that."
After Margaret left, Aria finally collapsed onto the bed.
The mattress practically swallowed her.
She should have felt relieved.
The company was safe.
The debts would be paid.
Her father's life's work would survive.
So why did she feel so uneasy?
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
She opened the door.
Damian stood outside.
Without his suit jacket.
Without the carefully maintained distance he usually kept.
For some reason, seeing him like this felt more dangerous.
"Everything okay?" she asked.
He nodded.
"I wanted to let you know the transfer has been completed."
Her heart skipped.
"The debts?"
"Paid."
Emotion flooded her chest.
It was real.
The company was truly safe.
For the first time in weeks, she felt like she could breathe.
"Thank you."
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Something flickered across his face.
Surprise.
As though he wasn't used to being thanked.
"You don't need to thank me."
"I do."
Silence settled between them.
Not uncomfortable.
Just... different.
Then Damian looked away.
A strange tension entered the room.
As if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
Finally, he stepped back.
"Goodnight, Aria."
"Goodnight."
He turned and walked away.
She watched until he disappeared around the corner.
Only then did she close the door.
The next morning, sunlight streamed through the windows.
For a brief moment, she forgot where she was.
Then reality returned.
Contract marriage.
Billionaire husband.
Mansion.
Wedding in two days.
Right.
After getting dressed, she headed downstairs.
The smell of coffee filled the air.
Following it led her to the kitchen.
And stopped her dead in her tracks.
A beautiful blonde woman sat at the breakfast table.
The woman looked completely at home.
Completely comfortable.
As though she belonged there.
Aria frowned.
The woman noticed her immediately.
Then smiled.
A slow, confident smile.
Not friendly.
Possessive.
"Well."
The blonde set down her coffee cup.
"So you're the replacement."
Aria stiffened.
"I'm sorry?"
The woman's smile widened.
"I've heard so much about you."
Something about the way she said it made Aria uneasy.
Footsteps sounded behind her.
Damian entered the kitchen.
The moment he saw the woman, his entire expression hardened.
Instantly.
The warmth disappeared.
The ease vanished.
Only ice remained.
"Vanessa."
The blonde smiled sweetly.
"Hello, Damian."
Aria's eyes moved between them.
Back and forth.
Understanding slowly dawned.
Oh.
This wasn't just any visitor.
This was the ex-girlfriend.
And judging by the look on Damian's face...
she definitely wasn't supposed to be here.
Vanessa rose gracefully from her chair.
Her gaze landed on Aria.
Then on the engagement ring sparkling on her finger.
For a brief second, genuine hatred flashed across her face.
Before the smile returned.
"Oh, this is going to be fun."
Aria's stomach dropped.
Because suddenly, she had a feeling life inside Blackwood Manor was about to become much more complicated.
- Writer
