CHAPTER 4

ARIA POV

The sunlight slips through my window casting an eerie glow on my face.

I groaned, pulling the blanket over my head.

My body still felt sore and heavy, my muscles ached in a strange but pleasant way that instantly brought back memories of last night.

The club. Adrian.

My eyes opened slowly.

For a moment I just stared at the ceiling, replaying everything in my head. Then the memory of the note hit me again.

Sometimes we are meant to enjoy pleasure just once and keep it as a memory. 

I sighed and forced myself out of bed.

“Stupid,” I muttered to myself.

Why was I even thinking about him? It had only been one night. I barely even knew the man.

Still… the empty feeling in my chest hadn’t disappeared. I shook my head and walked toward the bathroom.

“Forget it, Aria,” I told my reflection in the mirror. “He already did. I doubt he still remembers the night we shared.” 

My mind drifted to my dad, and I hope he won't question my whereabouts. 

By the time I came downstairs, the house was already awake.

Our dining room was large, placed beside a window. The polished surface reflected the morning sunlight.

My father sat at the head of the table, reading something on his tablet while drinking his usual black coffee. I looked to the left hoping to see my mother, but she wasn't sitting. 

Meaning she wasnʼt back from her trip. 

My father didn’t look up when I entered.

“You’re late,” he said calmly.

I grabbed a cup of coffee from the table and sat down.

“Good morning to you too, Dad,” I replied sarcastically 

He lowered the tablet slightly and looked at me over the rim of his glasses.

“You should learn discipline, Aria. Waking up at noon is not productive.” He drawled. 

“It’s not noon,” I said, taking a sip of coffee.

“Ten thirty,” he answered. 

“Exactly.”

He sighed, having just confirmed his disappointment in humanity.

Then he set the tablet down. “I’ve hired a new driver.

I blinked. “Okay,” I responded, surprised as to why I needed that information. 

“Our previous driver quit yesterday.” 

I shrugged uninterested. “That happens,” I replied still sipping my coffee. 

My father frowned slightly. “You don’t seem very interested.”

“Why should I be?” I asking getting tired of the back and forth. 

“You will be using him daily.”

“I used the last one daily too,” I replied calmly. “I survived.”

He ignored my tone. “He starts today.”

“Great,” I said, reaching for a piece of toast. Right at that moment, the dining room door opened.

I didn’t bother looking up.

I was too busy adding more sugar to my coffee.

My father spoke first. “Ah. Perfect timing.”

Something about the tone in his voice made me glance up. And the cup nearly slipped from my hand.

Standing in the doorway was no other person than Adrian. 

For a second, my brain refused to accept what my eyes were seeing.

Same tall frame, same calm posture, same dark eyes. Except now he was wearing a clean blue suit, and standing inside my father’s house.

My heart beat violently against my chest. I had to hold it to stop it from falling. 

No.

That wasn’t possible. Adrain doesn't look like someone who would have to drive rich men to survive. He looks rich himself. 

Something doesn't add up. 

This had to be some kind of nightmare. But Adrian looked completely normal, composed, and professional. Like last night had never happened. He walked into the room slowly and stopped right beside the table.

My father gestured toward him. “Aria, this is your new driver.”

I stared at Adrian, unable to speak.

My fingers tightened around the coffee cup.

He looked at me calmly, no surprise or shock on his face. He held a blank look. 

Then he bowed his head slightly, in a polite and respectful way. 

“Good morning, Miss Bennett.”

The words made me froze. 

_Miss Bennett._

Like I wasn’t the same woman he had held in his arms just a few hours ago. My heart was beating so loudly I was sure everyone in the room could hear it.

But Adrian didn’t react. He didn’t look nervous or embarrassed.

He didn’t look like the man who had spent the night with me. He looked exactly like what my father had introduced him as.

A driver.

My father glanced between us. Oblivious of what was going on. 

“You two will be seeing each other often,” he said casually.

I swallowed the bile raising in my chest.

Adrian’s gaze met mine for a second.

Just one second. But something dangerous flashed in his eyes. Something that reminded me exactly of the man from last night.

Then it disappeared.

His expression returned to calm professionalism driver. My heart was still beating fast. 

Different thoughts kept running through my head. And one thing I was sure about was that he wasn’t surprised to see me.

Not even a little.

Which meant one thing.

Adrian already knew whose house he was walking into.