Chapter 6

Aria did not respond to what he said immediately, not because she did not hear it clearly, but because the way he said it settled into the moment in a way that made it harder to dismiss than anything else he had said so far, and for a second she stood there holding his gaze, fully aware that whatever she said next was going to decide how far this went, because this was no longer just about a conversation or an unexpected meeting, it was turning into something more direct, something that required her to either shut it down completely or risk letting it move forward.

She chose control.

“I’m not something you need to start with,” she said, keeping her voice calm and steady, because the only way to keep this from going further was to make it clear that there was nothing there to continue.

Sebastian did not look convinced, not surprised either, just focused in a way that made it clear her response did not change anything for him, and that was the problem, because she was used to people backing off when she made it clear she was not interested in engaging, but he was not doing that, he was staying exactly where he was, like he had already decided that her refusal did not mean anything beyond a delay.

“That’s not your decision to make,” he replied, and the calm way he said it made it worse, because it did not sound like a challenge or an argument, it sounded like something he already believed.

Aria felt a small shift in her chest, not visible on her face but clear enough for her to notice, because that was not how things usually worked for her, she set boundaries and people respected them, but this was different, and the difference was him.

“It is when it involves me,” she said, keeping her tone even, because she was not going to let him control the direction of this conversation without pushing back.

Sebastian held her gaze for a second longer, like he was measuring something she was not fully aware of, and then he spoke again, his voice slightly quieter but more deliberate.

“You’re avoiding something,” he said.

The words were simple, but they landed in a way that made it clear he was not just making an observation, he was stating something he believed to be true, and Aria knew that arguing it directly would only make things worse, because the more she tried to deny it, the more it would sound like she was proving his point.

“I’m ending a conversation that doesn’t need to continue,” she replied, shifting her grip slightly on the file she was holding, because staying there any longer was already pushing the limits of what she wanted to deal with.

“And I’m continuing one that already started,” he said, and the way he said it made it clear he was not planning to let it go.

The room was almost empty now, the last few people stepping out without paying attention to what was happening between them, and that only made the moment feel more focused, more direct, because now there was nothing else to break it up, nothing else to hide behind.

Aria took a small step back, not enough to look like she was retreating, but enough to create a little space between them, because she needed that distance, even if it was only physical.

“You’re making this unnecessary,” she said.

“No,” he replied, his gaze not shifting at all, “you are.”

That answer made something in her tighten again, because he was not just pushing anymore, he was redirecting everything back to her in a way that made it harder to shut down without addressing what he was implying.

“I’ve made it clear there’s nothing here,” she said, keeping her voice steady even though the conversation was already moving in a direction she did not want.

“And I’ve made it clear I don’t believe that,” he replied, and the certainty in his tone left no room for misinterpretation.

Aria looked at him for a second, really looked this time, because she needed to understand exactly what she was dealing with, and what she saw there was not confusion or curiosity anymore, it was something more focused than that, something that made it clear he was not going to drop this just because she asked him to.

“You don’t know me,” she said again, not because she expected it to end the conversation, but because it was still the truth she was holding onto.

“I know enough,” he said, and that answer came too easily, like he had already decided that what he knew was enough to keep going.

Aria let out a small breath, turning slightly as if to leave again, because staying there was only making things worse, and she had already given him more time and attention than she should have.

“I’m done here,” she said, taking a step toward the door.

“You won’t be,” he said.

She stopped, not because she wanted to, but because something about the way he said it made it impossible not to.

Slowly, she turned back again, her expression still controlled, still calm, but her eyes sharper now, because she was starting to get tired of the way he was pushing.

“Don’t do that,” she said.

“Do what,” he asked.

“Act like you already know how this ends,” she replied, because that was exactly what it felt like, like he had already decided something she had not agreed to.

Sebastian held her gaze for a second, and then he said something that made everything else shift again.

“Because I do.”

The words were quiet, but they carried a weight that made them harder to ignore than anything else he had said so far, and Aria felt it settle in a way she did not like, because that level of certainty meant he was not guessing anymore, he was moving forward with intention.

“You’re assuming too much,” she said, even though she knew that was not enough to stop him.

“No,” he replied, “I’m noticing too much.”

And that was worse, because noticing meant he was paying attention, and attention was exactly what she did not want from him.

Aria shook her head slightly, turning fully this time and walking toward the door, because this conversation was done whether he accepted it or not, and staying any longer would only give him more to work with.

“You can notice whatever you want,” she said as she reached the door, “it doesn’t change anything.”

She opened it and stepped out without waiting for a response, because she had already decided she was not giving him anything else, not here, not now, not like this.

The hallway outside felt quieter, more normal, and for a second she let herself focus on that instead of what had just happened, because she needed that small break, even if it did not last long.

She walked steadily toward her office, her steps controlled, her expression unchanged, because no one needed to know that anything had shifted, no one needed to see anything different.

She reached her desk and set her file down, taking a seat and opening her laptop like it was just another normal part of her day, because routine was the easiest way to regain control, and if she stayed focused on that, she could push everything else aside.

But even as she tried to settle back into work, she could still feel it, the way the moment had not fully ended, the way something had shifted in a way she could not completely ignore.

Her phone buzzed on the desk.

She glanced at it without thinking, expecting a work message or something related to the meeting, but the moment she saw the name on the screen, her focus shifted immediately.

"Sebastian Drake.

For a second, she didn’t move, because this was exactly what she expected and exactly what she didn’t want at the same time, and the fact that he reached out again this quickly meant that what just happened in that room was not enough for him.

She picked up the phone slowly, not because she was unsure, but because she was already thinking about how to handle this before even opening the message.

When she finally looked at it, the words were simple, just like before, but they carried more weight now than they would have at any other time.

"You’re still lying.

Aria stared at the screen for a second longer than she should have, because that statement was not a question, it was not something she could answer or ignore easily, it was a direct challenge, one that made it clear he was not just curious anymore.

He was sure... and that changed everything.

Her fingers hovered over the screen as she considered her options, because responding would only pull her deeper into something she was trying to stay out of, but ignoring it would not stop him either, it would only delay whatever he was already planning.

Before she could decide, another message came through, and this one made her stop completely.

"I know where you live.