CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SIX

ARIA'S POV

My legs were shaking by the time we finished the bargain. I walked hurriedly out of the conference room, trying to find the nearest bathroom. My thoughts were spinning and all over the place.

How on earth is the same man I had practically seduced yesterday the same man I will have to deal with for the next eighteen months?

I still can't believe I made such an impression on the biggest businessman in all of New York, the night before I met with him to help me out.

I entered the bathroom, closing the door almost immediately. I rested my hands on the basin, watching my flushed face as my mind replayed the words he said last.

He looked like he hadn't remembered ever meeting me, letting me wonder if he actually remembers me at all, but something about his comments felt off, and it felt like he was nudging at my boldness yesterday.

“Fuckkkk…!” I groaned, dragging my hands through my dark hair. My phone vibrated, jolting me out of my thoughts.

‘Where are you?’ Tyler's message popped up, ‘We will leave soon.’

I groaned again, peeling myself from the basin. I pushed open the door of the bathroom with shaky hands, accidentally bumping into the woman about to enter.

We both paused, recognition dawning on me immediately. I gave her a quick once-over, then I tried to walk past her. But she didn't move.

“Have we… met before?” she asked, frowning, tilting her head as she tried to place my face.

I stared at her blankly, not bothering to act like I knew her.

“Oh, you were the girl who walked in on Ryan and me having sex.” She said, stretching her hands.

Is she for real right now?

She is expecting me to greet her?

“I'm sorry about yesterday, I didn't mean to interrupt your day, but your fiancé was persistent. He said he was restless and needed a release. Don't worry, he loves you a lot… nice meeting you, Vanessa.” She said, smiling smugly, still expecting my handshake.

I glanced down at her hand, then back to her face.

“I don't shake filthy hands.” I said, then pushed past her, walking out. I don't actually mind putting a bitch in her place if she acts like one. I am new here, but I don't mind making enemies on the first day. The nerve of her flaunting Ryan's antics in my face—I'm sure she is using it to spite me. I kept walking until I made it out of the office after addressing the team that put me through today.

I was trying desperately to calm the rage building inside me without transferring aggression. All I could think of was how long Ryan had been cheating on me and with how many women. How many of those women had seen me as a gullible prude who had nothing but her father's name?

He must have dated me knowing he was there for the name and influence, and I had been so blind and stupid, believing him in the first place.

I walked out of the building, giving Tyler some instructions as I still had other business to handle before going to the office.

I hailed a cab and got in. I pulled out my phone to dial Claire’s number. She picked up on the third ring.

“Hello? What's going on?” she answered, panicked.

“Calm down, I'm fine and the meeting is over.”

She sighed audibly through the phone. “So?”

“The man I slept with yesterday is the CEO of Ashford Group… I fucked Dominic Ashford yesterday.” I blurted out, almost scared it would sound different when I said it out loud.

“What!” she almost screamed.

“I know, I know it doesn't look good, but it only gets worse because I didn't tell you all that happened.” I said in a low tone, because I knew she was going to be even more dramatic.

“I won't ask you over the phone; you will get your ass to the apartment, and you will give me the key details of how it feels to be banged by New York's most eligible bachelor to the extent that you couldn't walk properly.” She said, barking out a fit of laughter afterwards.

I winced a bit at the sound of her laughter.

“What's funny?” I asked absentmindedly as my mind went back to Ryan. I got even more pissed at myself for feeling guilty.

“You know that's the perfect revenge, right?” she said. “He cheated, and you slept with his boss.” She laughed even louder for a while before she stopped.

“Don't even dare get worried about what happened. You don't owe that jerk anything; you both are over, and you are not some cheap girl for seeing something and going for it.” She said, dispelling all doubts I was currently having.

I whimpered even further, memories of how I maintained eye contact while he held on like I was the only thing anchoring him for the night. “God, I'm so screwed.” I murmured.

“Don't say that!” she said sternly. “If I were you, I would totally start a thing with his boss. The CEO is taller, richer, and has better dressing sense than that toothpick called Ryan.”

“Have you lost your mind… why would you say that?”

“No, I haven't, but thank God you aren't me, babygirl. We will talk about this better when you get back… You want to meet with the models today, right?” she asked.

“Yes, we will talk later. Love you.”

The call ended, and the silence in the car enveloped me again. Was I doing the right thing?

But one thing is certain: I'm glad I didn't run into Ryan today.

I turned to face the window, my phone in my lap, inhaling sharply, my mind running through the flashback of the other night.

I might need to get an after pill, although it might not be needed since my period isn't always regular, but it's better to be safe than to carry Mr. Ashford’s child.

My heart skipped a beat as I thought of what he said on my way out: “I hope you understand what you've agreed to. I don't tolerate people who change their minds after making a commitment to me.”

I can only wonder if he was referring to last night or the contracts between us, but the way his gaze switched between interested and professional suggested both.