Chapter 7

Smack!

" Shut up! I didn't say you could talk." He slapped her.

Aria held her stinging cheek in her hand which she was sure was going to bruise.

"You're getting quite bold, huh? Bringing a guy to our own home"

He roughly grabbed her by the hair, pulling hard.

"I promise you, he's just a friend. I ran into him on our block, I was only trying to be nice. We were only catching up." Aria pleaded, holding on to his hands on her hair.

"You were practically on his lap. How's that being nice?"

Aria felt that was a stretch. They sat on the same 2-seater couch in their living room. There was a considerable amount of space between them too. But she knew better than to point that out. He was obviously in a mood....and drunk. Judging by the stench of alcohol oozing out of him.

"Please, you're hurting me". She resulted to begging. She always did.

His grip loosened a little at that. Only a little.

"Why do you make me do this Ria?" He lightly caressed her head with one hand.

"You know I love you so much, yet you keep pushing me....making me the bad guy"

Aria sniffled, holding in a sob. He hated when she cried.

Knock knock knock...

Her head snapped towards the door. Someone was knocking at the door. It sounded so faint, but she heard it.

"...so you'll be a better person."

She didn't quite catch what he was saying because the knock kept on.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Aria jolted up on her bed, drenched in her own sweat. A nightmare. She hadn't had one in a while. Her breath, erratic.

Ding! Dong!

The door bell rang through the house. Someone was at the door. She didn't dream it.

Aria got out of bed in her sheer night gown. It had lace trimmings and did little to hide her curves. It was very short too, exposing her thick thighs.

Knock, knock, kno......,

She swung the door open, catching the person knocking with his fist stuck midair.

"Damian?"

" Aria.... Uhhh.... Good morning." He was holding what seemed to be coffee in take out cups, scratching his head nervously. His eyes taking a quick sweep at her form.

He cleared his throat, "Are you opening the cafe today? You seem to just be waking up."

Aria, the grogginess from just waking up cleared, getting over the initial shock of Damian holding coffee on her front door in the morning, and realizing the state she was in. She clumsily tried to brush her bed hair down then crossed her arms to try and cover her bust area.

"Ummm.....yeah, I would. Sorry.....Why are you here?"

"I realized your house is just on the way, and thought to just pick you up on my way out?" He offered her a small smile making sure his eyes didn't stray away from her face.

"Ooh, you didn't have to though." Aria moved slightly so she was now a little behind the door.

"I brought coffee!" Damian pressed a little.

"Uhhh...thank you?..." She said a little unsure, stretching her hands to collect the cup holder with 2 cups of coffee. "...would you like to come in and wait? It'll take me just a few minutes to get dressed."

"I would love that." This time he gave her a decent smile, even showing some teeth.

She pulled the door open all the way, gesturing for him to come in. Having been there before, he went straight to sit on one of the couches.

Aria placed the cups of coffee on the kitchen counter and made a dash to her bedroom. Damian couldn't help but notice the the little jiggle of her butt as she all but ran in the direction of her bedroom.

'she's cute when she's all flustered ', He thought as he chuckled to himself.

True to her word, Aria was out of her room in about 15 minutes. Clad in a yellow sundress and her hair up in a messy bun, she took Damian's breath away. He caught himself before she noticed he was staring, clearing his throat.

"Ready?" He asked. She nodded and they headed towards the door. Just before they made it out the door, she remembered the coffee, rushing back to the kitchen to grab one. On her way back out, Mila came out of her room rubbing her sleepy eyes.

"Good morning," Mila drawled out.

"Good morning Mila!" Aria chirped back.

"Someone seems to be in a good mood this morning." Mila teased.

"Ohh shut up. There's coffee on the counter for you. I'm out to the cafe, see you later when I'm back." Aria rushed out on her way to the door.

"Thanks for the coff..."

The rest of Mia's gratitude got cut off as the door closed. Damian was standing by his car when she got outside. In this lighting, he looked like someone Aria would crush on. With him leaning on his fancy car in a three piece custom suit. He looked up, catching her stare, offering her a playful smile as he opened the door for her.

"Thanks again for the coffee" she told him as he got settled in his own seat.

He paused and turned to her as he was putting on his seatbelt,

"You're welcome"

The rest of the ride was quiet. The type of quiet that was comfortable. No music playing in the background, no awkward small talks, just the soft hum of his engine and the air con blowing through the vents in full blast.

'he must not know how to handle the summer heat wave', she thought.

Aria almost smiled, wishing her day went on like this.

She must have jinxed it because on getting to her cafe, the last person she wanted to see was right there. Standing in front of her closed shop

Damian had not seen him yet, and rushed to open her door for her. She didn't get down though. Just stared in front of her. Damian followed her gaze and noticed the cause of her change in mood.

Ethan.

Damian walked straight to where he was standing.

"What are you doing here? I thought it was clear you're not wanted here"

Ethan smiled. A big, wide smile.

"Are you her bodyguard? You seem to be everywhere she's at." Ethan taunted.

"What do you want?" Damian retorted.

"A cup of coffee. Cold brew with cold foam. Just how you used to make it for me."

Ethan said looking past Damian to a still pale looking Aria.

"...ah, with a pump of vanilla. It's a new taste I'm still warming up to"

" I'll have to call the cops if you'll not willingly leave, Mr Evans"

"Ethan....my name's Ethan. And,.I'll leave. All I wanted was a cup of coffee, chill out bro!"

Ethan chuckled tapping Damian on the shoulder as he walked away from the café. Just as he walked by Aria, he leaned in whispering something into her ears. Her eyes went wide as saucers, her lips trembled a bit.

And just like that, he walked away. With a slight bounce to his steps.

"What did he tell you? Did he threaten you? I think we should file for a restraining order..."

Aria cut Damian off, " There's no 'we' Mr Damian and I'm fine. I don't need your help. Thanks for the ride but I think you should be heading to your firm now. Don't you have notices to deliver or something?"

Damian stumbled back, cut off guard. Not expecting the lash out at all. He was only trying to help. If she didn't want it, she didn't need to be this hostile about it, he thought.

"Fine. Have a good day Miss Aria"

With that, Damian walked straight to his car, got in and drove away.

It was better this way. She thought.

But why was her heart hurting this much...