Chapter 37
Aria’ POV
I had butterflies in my stomach just thinking about tonight’s dinner.It was the first time I appeared in public beside Aiden as Mrs. Carter. A business dinner, of all things-a setting where every glance was measured, and every word calculated.
So, of course, I had to look the part.
I stood in front of my closet longer than I’d like to admit, staring at rows of dresses that suddenly all felt too casual or too stiff. I needed something that said: elegant, composed, untouchable.
My fingers finally landed on a limited-edition Dior dress I’d been saving for the right moment – a navy blue piece with the signature Oblique print, featuring a high neckline and pleated waist that hugged my curves before flaring out slightly.
After slipping it on, I studied my reflection critically. The dress was perfect – sophisticated enough for business yet undeniably eye-catching. I applied my makeup with extra care, finishing with a bold red lip that made my whole face come alive.
“Not bad, Aria,” I whispered to myself, turning to catch my profile in the mirror.
“You look beautiful,” came a deep voice from behind me.
I jumped, spinning around to find Aiden leaning against my bedroom doorframe. How long had he been standing there? His dark gaze traveled slowly from my face down to my heels and back up again, the intensity in his eyes making my skin tingle. “You could have knocked,” I said, trying to sound annoyed but failing miserably.
“I did.” His lips curved into that maddening half-smile. “Twice. You were too busy admiring yourself p>
I felt heat creep up my neck. “I was making sure everything looked appropriate for tonight p>
“It does,” he said simply, pushing off the doorframe and walking toward me. “More than appropriate p>
He stopped just inches away, close enough that I could smell his cologne – something woody and expensive that made my head swim slightly. In his perfectly tailored black suit, he looked devastatingly handsome, and for a moment I forgot how to breathe.
“Are you ready?” he asked, voice lower than before.
“Yes,” I managed, grabbing my clutch from the dresser to give my hands something to do.
In the elevator down to the garage, we stood closer than necessary, neither speaking. The air between us felt charged, electric. When his hand brushed against mine, I nearly jumped at the contact.
His driver held the door open for us as we approached the sleek black Bentley waiting in the private garage. Aiden guided me in with a hand on the small of my back, the heat of his palm burning through the thin fabric of my dress.
“So,” I began as the car pulled away, desperate to break the silence, “why did you choose Julian as Carter Group’s ambassador p>
“Mrs. Carter seems very concerned about Julian,” Aiden replied. His tone was casual, but I detected something else underneath – something possessive.
“No, I’m just asking. We’re only working together professionally,” I quickly explained. “He’s a brilliant musician p>
“Is that all?” Aiden’s eyes met mine, challenging.
Before I could answer, the car suddenly lurched forward as our driver slammed on the brakes to avoid a taxi that had cut us off. The momentum sent me flying straight into Aiden’s chest, my hands instinctively grabbing his shoulders for support.
“Are you alright?” he asked, his arms having immediately wrapped around me protectively.
I nodded, embarrassed, then pulled back only to realize with horror that I’d left a perfect red lip print on his crisp white collar.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” I gasped, mortified. “Your shirt—I ruined it p>
Aiden glanced down at the bright red mark, then back at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read.
“It’s just a shirt, Aria p>
“I’ll buy you a new one,” I insisted, reaching up to try to fix it. “Maybe if I p>
His hand caught mine midair, his fingers wrapping around my wrist. “Leave it p>
Our eyes locked, and suddenly I was acutely aware of how close we were, my body still half-pressed against his, his hand warm around my wrist. Time seemed to stretch between us, heavy with unspoken tension.
“But people will see,” I whispered, I whispered, suddenly very aware that I was still practically in his lap, his face inches from mine.
“Let them,” he replied, his eyes dropping to my lips momentarily before meeting my gaze again.
“Aiden I breathed, not even sure what I was going to say.
In one fluid motion, he reached up with his free hand and brushed his thumb across my bottom lip, smudging what remained of my lipstick. The gesture was so unexpectedly intimate that I forgot how to breathe.
“You missed a spot,” he murmured, showing me the red smear on his thumb.
“Thanks,” I murmured, pulling back into my seat, smoothing down my dress with unnecessary precision.
I didn’t look at him, but the image of that lipstick mark on his collar burned in my mind. My heart was racing so fast I thought it might burst through my chest.
This was a formal business dinner with Julian and Ellis Records executives.A lipstick stain, no matter how small, felt careless. Improper.
It wasn’t that obvious… was it?
But what if someone noticed? What if they thought we’d been making out in the car like a pair of reckless newlyweds?
I shifted slightly in my seat, trying to brush the idea away, but the awareness clung to me like static.
And then the car began to slow.
The Obsidian came into view, its glass façade gleaming under the city lights like a stage waiting for its actors.
I couldn’t stop staring at that damning lipstick stain on his collar.
“Aiden, your collar is a bit messy,” I finally said, unable to help myself.
Without waiting for his permission this time, I reached over and adjusted his collar, carefully folding it to hide the lipstick mark. My fingers brushed against the warm skin of his neck, and I felt him tense slightly under my touch.
“There, fixed it,” I said, withdrawing my hand quickly.
Aiden caught my gaze, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. “Thank you.” “Don’t mention it,” I mumbled, suddenly finding it hard to look at him.
The driver opened the door, and Aiden stepped out first, extending his hand to help me. As I emerged from the car, I felt several curious glances from people entering the restaurant. My ears burned as I worried whether anyone had spotted that incriminating lipstick mark.
Walking through the lobby with Aiden’s hand lightly resting on my lower back, I kept stealing glances at his collar, terrified it would somehow reveal itself. I only managed
to breathe easier when we finally reached the private dining room.
But my relief was short-lived.
As we entered, I spotted Julian already seated at the table, and my stomach dropped. The last thing I needed was for him to notice something so intimate as my lipstick on Aiden’s collar.
Just as we were about to greet Julian, Aiden deliberately reached up to adjust his tie, causing his collar to shift back to its original position. The edge of red lipstick suddenly became visible, and I panicked, quickly stepping closer to him.
“Let me fix that for you,” I whispered urgently, reaching up to adjust his collar again.
Aiden caught my hand, bringing it to his lips and placing a soft kiss on my palm. The gesture was so unexpected, so intimate, that I froze. Julian was watching us with undisguised interest.
“Mrs. Carter takes very good care of me,” Aiden said smoothly to Julian, his arm sliding around my waist and drawing me closer to his side. “Wouldn’t you agree p>