Chapter 78
Aiden’s POV
I watched her rush away, her cheeks flushed with that delicious shade of pink I’d grown addicted to seeing. The way she’d practically fled from our moment in the study left me both amused and frustrated. There was something intoxicating about watching Aria get flustered-how her composure would crack, revealing glimpses of desire she tried so hard to hide.
Alone in the study, I picked up my phone, scrolling through news alerts. One notification caught my eye-Aria’s social media post about the incident with Diana Hayes. Smart move. The unedited video showed exactly what happened, and her simple caption spoke volumes.
I smiled, impressed by her strategy. She didn’t need to craft a lengthy explanation; the evidence spoke for itself. Public opinion was already shifting dramatically in her favor.
Thirty minutes later, another notification appeared. Aria had posted again, this time mentioning me directly: “I admit I did rely on someone’s influence, but when Mr. Carter gets angry, what can I do p>
The photos she attached—me carrying her to the car, her medical records—made something possessive stir inside me. Without hesitation, I tapped the comment section and typed: “I’m very easy to please p>
I hit send without overthinking it, then set my phone down to review some contracts Lucas had sent over. Less than five minutes later, my phone exploded with notifications.
Apparently, my comment had been pushed to the top, my verified “Carter Group CEO” badge drawing immediate attention. The hashtag #CEOCarterComments was already trending at number three.
I scrolled through the replies, amused at how wild speculation had become:
“I’m very easy to please—not pleasing me isn’t an option p>
“I’m very easy to please-especially in bed p>
The latter comment caught my attention. Without thinking twice, I tapped the like button on it, then set my phone down with a smirk.
Leaning back in my chair, I considered Aria’s earlier joke about the Carter Group shares. She’d meant it in jest, but I’d been completely serious. The more I thought about it, the more convinced I became that this was exactly what we needed.
I picked up my phone and called Lucas.
“Sir?” he answered on the first ring.
“I need you to draft a transfer agreement immediately,” I said, not bothering with pleasantries.
“What kind of transfer, sir p>
“Twenty percent of my personal Carter Group holdings to Aria Jones-Carter. Full ownership rights, voting privileges, everything p>
The silence on the other end was telling.
“Sir, that’s… approximately four billion dollars in current market value p>
“I’m aware of the amount, Lucas,” I replied coolly. “Have the papers ready within the hour p>
“Yes, sir,” he responded, professional as always despite his obvious shock. “Will there be anything else p>
“That’s all p>
I ended the call and stood up, straightening my shirt. The decision felt right-natural, even. If Aria was worried about financial independence or people thinking she was after my money, this would solve both problems. And if I was being completely honest with myself, I wanted to see her reaction. Would she be shocked? Angry? Would she finally understand just how serious I was about her?
An hour later, Lucas delivered the documents as requested. I reviewed them carefully, signed where necessary, and headed to find Aria.
She was in our bedroom, phone in hand, likely monitoring the online response to her posts. When I entered, she glanced up, a hint of nervousness crossing her features.
“I saw your comment,” she said, her voice slightly higher than usual. “The whole internet is going crazy p>
“Good,” I replied, walking toward her with the folder in my hand. “I have something for you p>
Her eyes dropped to the folder, curiosity and wariness battling in her expression. “What’s that p>
I sat beside her on the bed, close enough that our thighs touched, and handed her the folder. “Just something we discussed earlier p>
She opened it, eyes scanning the first page before widening in shock. “Aiden, what is this?” Her voice was barely a whisper.
“A transfer agreement. Twenty percent of my personal Carter Group holdings, now legally yours p>
“Four… billion… dollars?” She choked out the words, staring at the paper like it might burst into flames. “Have you lost your mind? I can’t accept this p>
I frowned, genuinely confused by her resistance. “Why not p>
“Because!” She stood up abruptly, thrusting the folder back at me. “I was joking earlier! I don’t want your money p>
“It’s not about the money, Aria,” I said, remaining seated, refusing to take the folder
back. “It’s about showing you how serious I am p>
“By throwing billions at me?” Her voice rose slightly, her cheeks flushed with emotion. “That’s not how relationships work, Aiden p>
I stood then, taking a step closer to her. “Then tell me how they work, because
clearly I’m missing something.” The frustration in my voice was evident.
Her expression softened slightly at my genuine confusion. “They work by talking, by understanding each other. Not by… this.” She gestured at the papers.
“I thought I was understanding you,” I said quietly. “You were worried about people thinking you married me for my money. This solves that problem p>
“By making it look like you bought me?” She shook her head, but there was less anger now, more exasperation. “Aiden, I appreciate the thought, but this is too much p>
I took another step forward, close enough now that I could see the golden flecks in her brown eyes. “Then what do you want from me, Aria p>
Her gaze met mine, steady and clear. “Just you. Not your money, not your shares. Just you p>
Something shifted inside me at her words—a tightness I hadn’t realized was there suddenly loosening. I reached out, cupping her face gently with one hand. “You have me. All of me p>
“Then take these back,” she whispered, pressing the folder against my chest.
I didn’t take it. Instead, I leaned down, brushing my lips against hers in the lightest of touches. “Keep them. Not because you need them or because I’m trying to buy you, but because everything that’s mine is already yours p>
She sighed against my lips, her free hand coming up to rest on my chest. “You’re impossible p>
“I’m very easy to please,” I murmured, echoing my earlier comment, my hands sliding to her waist.
A soft laugh escaped her. “Is that so?” Her eyes sparkled with mischief now, the folder forgotten between us as it slipped to the floor. “And what exactly would please you, Mr. Carter p>
I pulled her closer, eliminating the space between our bodies. “You already know the answer to that p>
Her arms wrapped around my neck, her body melting against mine. “Maybe I need a reminder p>
I didn’t need further invitation. My mouth captured hers in a kiss that started gentle but quickly became demanding, pouring all my frustration and desire from earlier into it. She responded immediately, her fingers threading through my hair, pulling me even closer.
I walked her backward until her legs hit the edge of the bed, my hands roaming her body, memorizing every curve. When we broke apart for air, her eyes were dark with desire, her lips swollen from my kisses.
“Is this your way of persuading me to sign those papers?” she asked breathlessly. “This,” I said, lowering her onto the bed and hovering above her, “is my way of showing you that some things are worth more than any contract p>
Her answer was to pull me down for another kiss, and as our bodies moved together
in perfect synchrony, I knew with absolute certainty that I’d never wanted anything-
or anyone more than I wanted her in that moment.
The papers lay forgotten on the floor as we lost ourselves in each other, the rest of the world fading away until there was nothing left but us.