Chapter Six

I didn't want to stay here anymore. I wanted to leave but I couldn’t do that. If I leave there will be consequences. So I stood in the same corner looking at Nicolas who was busy laughing with Ava.

I felt a presence next to me, and when I saw it was an unknown person I frowned. “Hello Aria, how are you?”

“Do I know you?” I questioned the stranger

“No, you don’t but I know you.” He smiled, forwarding his hand for me to shake. I was hesitant but reluctantly shook his hand. I felt a fierce gaze on me and when I turned Nicolas was glaring daggers at me. I gulped but immediately withdrew my hand from the man’s hand.

“I’m Eric Johnson by the way.” I looked at the man who was looking at me with the same smile. I forced a smile and nodded my head.

“How do you know me?” I wondered who and what this stranger wanted with me.

“Oh, I completely forgot.” He smacked his head as if he couldn't believe he had forgotten something so important. “I am Mr Anthony Lorenzo’s assistant.” My eyes widened at that. Anthony Lorenzo was one the owners of one the richest empires in the country.

The Lorenzos are considered royalty just as the Kings. But why was this man talking to me? As if reading my expression he continued.

“Oh, remember the jewellery piece you made for Mr. Lorenzo. He loved it so much and he wanted you to make a few more designs for them.” He said with a grin.

“What? Really?” I said with an excited smile. The design I made for Mr Lorenzo was one of my best designs. It took nearly five months to perfect the design. It was a huge project for our company and it gave us really good exposure.

“Yes, and he wants to meet with you so that he can discuss further details.” I still felt the burning gaze on the side of my face. When I turned around Nicolas was glaring daggers at me. If looks could kill I would have benb dead by now.

I felt a shiver run down my spine. “Aria,” Eric called.

I broke eye contact with him and focused my attention on Eric. “Yes, yes. I’m sorry. what were you saying.”

“Mr.Lorenzo wants to have a meeting with you whenever you are free. What do you say?”

“That would be a great honour for me, Mr.Johnson. I will ask the manger of my company to contact you regarding the meeting.” I assured him.

“That won't be necessary, Mr. Lorenzo asked me to personally give you his number. So that you can contact him directly.” Saying that he pulled a card from his suit jacket and gave it to me.

“This is his contact information. Don't forget to call him okay.” I nodded, feeling giddy inside at the prospect of working for someone like Mr. Lorenzo. They are one of the noble families in the country if I worked with them and word got out it would be a huge boost for my career.

“I will call him Mr.Johnson.” I smiled. He nodded and I was about to say something when I was interrupted by a cold voice.

“Mr. Johnson, What a pleasant surprise,” Nicolas spoke from behind me. I stiffened, why is he interrupting my conversations?

“Mr. King!” Eric exclaimed, forwarding his hand to shake Nicolas’s. I was avoiding eye contact. I don't want to look at him. I just want this night to end as peacefully as possible. Nicolas shook his hand but I felt his hard gaze on me.

“I was just talking to Aria here.” Eric smiled at me.

“Aria huh,” Nicolas said with a dangerous tone. I looked at him but he was already glaring at me. I gulped.

“Yes, she is amazing. I was just discussing her designs.” Nicolas nodded but his attention was still on me.

“I don’t think her designs or her company are that good to be discussed, Mr.Johnson.” I gasped at his statement. Tears immediately gathered in my eyes as my chest squeezed painfully. Because he was the one who encouraged me to go after my dream and always said my designs were the best.

Now he is stating my designs are not that good. “Mr.King, what are you saying? Aria is the best; she is wasting her potential in her present company. If she wasn’t so adamant about not leaving her company I would have hired her in our company.”

“I don’t think that's-” Before he could finish Nicolas’s bodyguard called him.

“Sir, Mrs. King is requesting your presence at the table, and dinner is about to start.” Nicolas glared at me one last time and walked away from there. I wiped my sweaty hands down my dress taking a shaky breath.

“Don’t worry about whatever he said about you, Aria. He is a complete asshole. He only cares about himself and his family.” Eric glared at Nicolas’s retreating.

“It’s okay Mr.Johnson. I don’t mind.” I forced a smile. He nodded.

“Okay, then I will take my leave now. Don’t forget to call Mr.Lorenzo.” He said, shaking my hand. I nodded as he walked away. I placed the champagne glass down and walked towards the restroom.

After I was done with my business I was retouching my make-up when the flung opened. I was startled and looked to see Ava Brown standing there with a menacing expression on her face. She walked in and locked the bathroom door.

“What are you doing?” I asked, the confusion evident in my voice.

“Aria Williams.” She smirked. “How are you holding up? Must be hard to break up with your boyfriend and to have a family that doesn’t want you.” She looked at me with a mocking pity expression.

“How dare you talk about my boyfriend and relationship.” I sneered. I knew she was not the goody two shoes she pretended to be.

“Your boyfriend huh? A peasant like you can never be Nicolas’s girlfriend. He is mine and will always be mine. I made the mistake of rejecting him in the past but now I’m back and I’m going to take my rightful place as his, the King Enterprises owner’s wife.” She sneered.

“I know you are not the innocent woman you pretend to be. You just want Nicolas now because he decided to take over King Enterprises.” I said, looking at her in disgust.

“It doesn't matter. I am here and I will take my rightful place, so I suggest staying away from things and people that are out of your league.” I shook my head.

“Talking with you is a waste of time and you can do whatever you want.” I tried to walk away but she held my hand in a bruising grip.

“Remember I will make your life a living hell if you try to come near Nicolas again. Do you understand? Don't test me.” She warned in a chilling tone. I looked at her to see if she was serious and I saw nothing but hatred and disgust in her eyes which made me somewhat fearful.

“Nicolas is my boyfriend, you can't tell me to stay away from him. Yes, we are in a rough patch right but we will eventually solve it. So you are the one who should stay away from him. You are the other woman in our relationship right now.” I spoke, mustering the strength I didn't feel.

In a swift move, she lunged forward and grabbed my throat stopping my air supply. I struggled to breathe as I tried to break free of her hold but she only tightened her finger around my throat.

“Listen here you little bitch, you a whore who seduced him, he took pity on you and encouraged you and fucked around with you because he was bored. But that ended the day you fuck around with other men. He hates you right now but mark my words I will make him so disgusted with you that he can't even stand your sight that he will be ready to kill you.”

I was struggling to breathe all the while she spoke. My nails scratched her hands still her hold didn't loosen around my neck.

“L—let go” I wheezed out trying my best to push her away.

“If I kill you right now no one is going to bat an eye because you are nobody. Not even that useless father of yours will fight for you. You are all alone so stay the fuck away from me and my man before I kill you and throw you in the river.”

She pushed me so roughly that I fell against the counter and the sharp edges hit my ribs. A breathless gasp escaped my mouth at the pain that shot through my whole body. She looked at me one final time and walked away while tried to control my breath.