Chapter 13

Aaliyah’s POV

Last night’s kiss on the rooftop bar had been careless of me.

I felt stupid the next morning. What was I thinking?

A surge of anger and desire that had me pouring my heart into him, sealing his deal with a breathless “yes.”

Now, tangled in the crisp hotel sheets, my heart raced—not with regret, but with a trembling uncertainty that made my chest ache.

What did that kiss mean? What did I mean to Orrin Hayes, billionaire with a teasing grin and eyes that saw through my walls?

I reached for my phone on the nightstand, fingers unsteady, the cool glass grounding me.

I needed to hear from Lisa, her sharp wit and unfiltered truth, to cut through the fog in my mind.

She answered on the first ring. Her voice was bright despite the early hour in NYC.

“Aaliyah honey, how are you doing? Forgive my ass for not reaching out.”

A shaky laugh escaped me, and I burrowed deeper under the covers, the dim warmth a cocoon against the world’s chaos.

“Still here, Lisa. And it's fine. But I… I did something big last night, and I’m not sure what to think.”

“Oh my. Go on and spill honey. I do hope it's something good, don’t tell me you just networked at that fancy conference. What’s the tea?”

My cheeks warmed, the memory of Orrin’s kiss flooding back— the way his firm hand wrapped round my waist, the city lights blurring behind us.

“I kissed Orrin,” I admitted, my voice soft. “Really kissed him. And then I said yes to his fake marriage proposal thing.”

Lisa choked, coughing through a mouthful of water I guess she was drinking before I spoke.

“Hold up! Aaliyah Monroe, you kissed Orrin Hayes and agreed to marry him? Fake or not, that’s next-level! Start from the top, girl, and don’t skip a single detail.”

I exhaled and told her everything.

“I was so angry,” I said, my throat tightening. “Seeing them together, acting like I was nothing… it broke me. And then Orrin's deal came to mind again. But now I’m second-guessing everything. What if 'm wrong? What if it doesn't work? What if– what if I fall for him?”

Lisa paused, her tone softening, no longer teasing. “Aaliyah, listen to me. That kiss wasn’t just some deal-sealer. Orrin’s been chasing you since you two met at that club. According to you, he looks at you like you’re the only person in the room.”

“But I get why you’re scared. You’re simply protecting your heart. That’s okay. You don’t have to have it all figured out right now.”

Her words loosened the knot in my chest, but another weight pressed heavier. I touched my stomach, where my son—Henry’s son, my secret—grew, a truth I hadn’t shared with Orrin.

“There’s something else,” I said, hesitating. “Last night, I almost ordered vodka. I was so upset, I wanted to numb it all. But I stopped, because of my child. I feel awful for even thinking about it.”

“Oh, babe,” Lisa said, her voice warm, like a hug through the phone. “ Does that matter? You didn’t drink. That’s you being a fierce mom already. Don’t beat yourself up for a moment of weakness—you’re human.”

“But keep in mind honey, if you do accept this, then maybe it’s time to tell Orrin about your child? If you’re even thinking about this marriage deal, he deserves to know the full picture.”

I swallowed. “I know I should. But telling him means letting him in, really letting him in, and I’m not sure I’m ready for that. What if he walks away when he knows I’m carrying another man’s child?”

“Then you let him be. Maybe he's not that smitten by you to have your child. You don't love me either,” Lisa said firmly.

“But I don’t think Orrin’s the type to run. He’s been all in, Aaliyah. He likes you. ALOT. Give him a chance to prove it. And maybe— give yourself a chance to feel something real again. Allow yourself fall for him. That kiss? It wasn’t just anger or revenge. You felt something for him, didn’t you?”

I closed my eyes, Orrin’s grin flashing in my mind, the way his voice softened when he called me. I do.

“I don't know, Lisa. It’s just… terrifying.”

“It’s supposed to be,” Lisa said, laughing softly.

“Love’s scary as hell. But you’re not the girl Henry broke anymore. You’re Aaliyah Monroe, building an empire, raising a kid, and kissing billionaires on rooftops. Own it.”

We talked longer and when we finally hung up, the hotel room’s silence felt less oppressive.

I dragged myself out of bed, the plush carpet soft under my feet, and stepped into the shower. Hot water cascaded over me, washing away the lingering panic.

Lisa was right.

This could be a step toward something new, something I wanted.

I dressed for the conference, slipping into a tailored navy blazer and office pants. My reflection in the mirror was sharp but softened by the faint flush in my cheeks.

Today was the last day of my trip. I'd be heading back home after the conference.

As I entered the hall, I scanned the crowd, half-hoping to spot his broad shoulders or catch his cedar-and-leather scent, but he wasn’t there.

The absence tugged at me, a mix of relief and longing I couldn’t untangle.

At lunch, I sat in the hotel’s glass-walled atrium, picking at a Caesar salad, a river glinted from outside as I ate.

A waiter approached, his smile polite, and slipped a folded note onto my table before vanishing into the bustle.

I opened it as if I already knew the sender.

“Missed you this morning, firecracker. Dinner tonight? I owe you a better kiss.”

Of course. It's Orrin.

My cheeks burned, his playful grin vivid in my mind, and I tucked the note into my purse. I'm sure the kiss gave him more hope than he's ever had. There's no way he’s backing down now.

The thought stirred a quiet thrill in me, pushing back the uncertainty.

The afternoon sessions droned on—panels on crisis management and influencer marketing.

As the conference ended, I lingered by the hotel’s floor-to-ceiling windows, the city’s skyline a mosaic of steel and light.

Lisa’s words echoed in my head—own it—and in that moment, I did. I wasn’t sure about the deal, or telling Orrin about my child, but the kiss? That was mine.

I’d felt alive in his arms, and I wanted more of that fire, not just for revenge, but for me.

I pulled out my phone, typing a reply to Orrin’s private number:

“Dinner sounds good. Though I’m not sure about your kiss.”

My thumb hovered, then pressed send, a smile curving my lips.