ARIA'S POV
I stood at the window of Julian’s penthouse, arms folded tightly across my chest as the city blinked beneath me like stars in a different universe. I wasn’t used to silence this loud. Not when my life used to be filled with the noise of clinking mugs, worn-out heels on café tiles, and Mikey’s laughter echoing through our tiny apartment.
Now it was just… luxury.
Silk sheets. A closet bigger than my old bedroom. Security guards. Locked doors. And Julian Styles the man whose gaze burned through me even when he wasn’t in the room.
I hadn’t seen him since the boardroom, since Nicole.
God, Nicole.
The way she had looked at me, like I was a stray dog chewing on something expensive. I should’ve felt small. Insignificant. But for some reason, I didn’t. Because when I looked back
