Chapter 35
Aiden’s POV
WHERE IS SHE?
I drummed my fingers against the mahogany desk, watching my phone screen remain stubbornly silent. No response from Aria. None. The message I’d sent her hours ago still sat there with just that single check mark – delivered but not read.
I tossed my phone aside, leaning back in my chair. Maybe she’s just fallen asleep. It was getting late, after all. People get tired. Normal people sleep.
But the thought did little to ease the tightness in my chest.
When morning came, I grabbed my phone before even fully opening my eyes. Nothing. Still no response from her. My jaw tightened. This wasn’t like Aria at all.
“Damn it,” I muttered, throwing off the covers. A cold shower did nothing to cool my temper. Why the hell couldn’t she just respond? How difficult was it to type a simple “yes” or “no p>
By nine, I was already terrorizing the office, plowing through meetings with a ferocity that had my staff walking on eggshells. I’d signed three contracts, rejected two proposals, and fired an underperforming manager before Lucas even brought in my coffee.
“Sir, I’ve arranged the meeting with Ellis Records for 11 AM,” Lucas announced, placing my coffee at a safe distance from the stack of documents I was violently signing. “They’re excited about potentially having Julian Hayes as Carter Group’s spokesperson p>
I looked up sharply. “Julian Hayes p>
“Yes, sir. The music superstar?” Lucas clarified, mistaking my reaction for
unfamiliarity. “Ellis Records believes his image aligns perfectly with our luxury brand positioning p>
“I know who he is,” I snapped, my pen pressing into the paper hard enough to tear it. “Fine. I’ll be there p>
When I arrived at Ellis Records, the receptionist directed me to the fifth-floor conference room. As I approached, something caught my eye – Aria walking into a recording studio with Julian Hayes, their heads bent close together, laughing about something.
My steps faltered. What the hell was she doing here? And with him?
The receptionist noticed my sudden change in demeanor. “Sir? Would you like to greet our potential spokesperson? I can call him over for you p>
“No,” I cut her off sharply, my eyes not leaving the sight of Aria smiling up at Hayes as he held the studio door open for her. “That won’t be necessary. I’d like to see how they record p>
“Of course, sir p>
The staff member led me to an observation room adjacent to the studio. Through the one-way glass, I could see everything while remaining unseen. Aria was settling herself at a grand piano while Hayes adjusted his headphones in the vocal booth.
Then she began to play, and for a moment, everything else faded away. Her fingers danced across the keys with such grace and emotion that I found myself holding my breath. I’d never actually heard her play before – never seen this side of her. The melancholy notes filled the room, creating something hauntingly beautiful that seemed to come from somewhere deep within her soul.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her. The way she swayed slightly with the music, how her eyes closed at certain passages, completely lost in the performance. It was mesmerizing.
But I wasn’t the only one watching her. Through the glass partition of his booth, Hayes was staring at her with undisguised admiration – no, more than that. The way his eyes followed her movements, lingered on her face… I recognized that look.
He love her.
He wants her.
My jaw clenched, a cold fury rising beneath my skin.
He dares.
He dares to look at my wife like that?
Like she’s his to admire. His to want.
Mine.
Aria is mine!
I turned to the Ellis Records executive who’d been waiting patiently beside me. “I need to reschedule today’s meeting. Something urgent has come up p>
The man looked completely baffled. “But sir, we’ve prepared everything… the contracts are ready to be signed p>
“I said reschedule,” I repeated coldly. “My secretary will be in touch.” Back in the car, I instructed my driver to wait. “I’ll be a while longer,” I told him, settling into the backseat with my laptop. I wanted to wait for Aria to come down.
I wanted answers. Wanted to know exactly what she was doing with Hayes and why she hadn’t bothered to tell me about it.
Thirty minutes had passed, and she still hadn’t come down.
Lucas leaned in. “Sir, the meeting with the Japanese investors starts soon. We can’t delay it p>
I exhaled slowly, jaw tight.”Let’s go p>
The meeting dragged on for nearly three hours. The Japanese delegation had come prepared to negotiate hard, but they weren’t ready for my mood today. I dismantled their every argument with ruthless efficiency, countered every proposal with better terms for Carter Group, and refused to budge on critical points.
“You’re asking for exclusive rights to your technology in our markets,” their lead negotiator said, frustration evident in his voice. “But your terms offer us little protection p>
“Your protection is working with Carter Group,” I replied coolly, leaning forward in my chair. “Our reputation speaks for itself. We deliver what we promise, unlike your previous partners p>
His eyes narrowed at the thinly veiled reference to their failed venture with our competitors.
“Perhaps we should reconsider the entire agreement,” he suggested, a weak attempt at leverage.
I simply stood up. “Feel free. My assistant will show you out.” I turned toward the door, knowing exactly what would happen.
“Wait,” he called, just as I reached for the handle. “Perhaps we can… find a compromise p>
By the end, they’d signed for considerably less than they’d hoped, while I’d secured exclusive distribution rights across Asia.
Once the meeting wrapped up, I finally had a moment to check my phone. I finally saw what I’d been waiting for – a message from Aria.
“Sorry for the late reply! I’ll be home later. Just so you know, Julian and I are just friends – I was at the studio recording piano accompaniment for his new album. Nothing more p>
A small fraction of my tension dissolved, but not enough. I stared at her message, deliberately not responding.
Ten minutes later, another message appeared:
“Are you angry with me? Please don’t be mad p>
The corner of my mouth twitched upward despite myself. There was something
oddly satisfying about Aria worrying about my reaction.
“I don’t know if I can forgive this,” I finally typed back.
Her response was immediate: “What can I do to make it up to you p>
“I haven’t decided yet,” I replied, enjoying her panic more than I should. “That’s two favors you owe me now p>
She sent back an eye-rolling emoji that made me smile despite my lingering irritation.
“What exactly is your relationship with Julian Hayes?” I asked directly.
“Purely professional,” came her quick response. “He needed a pianist for his album. That’s literally it p>
I thought about what I’d witnessed – the easy laughter, the casual touches. “I’ll drive you next time you need to see him,” I typed, surprised by my own possessiveness.
“You don’t need to do that… won’t it be too much trouble p>
I couldn’t resist the sarcasm: “Compared to getting trending hashtags removed, how much trouble could it be p>
I put my phone down without waiting for her response, then pressed the intercom. “Lucas, come in. The door’s unlocked p>
Lucas entered cautiously, clearly sensing my mood. “Yes, sir p>
“Handle that trending topic about my wife and Hayes. I want it gone within the hour p>
“Of course, sir. Although He hesitated, clearly choosing his words carefully. “May I point out that Mr. Hayes is about to become our brand ambassador? Perhaps we could use this situation to our advantage p>
I narrowed my eyes. “Explain p>
“The photos show Mrs. Carter in a professional setting. We could release a statement confirming her work on Hayes’ album, framing it as a collaborative project between two professionals. It reinforces both her talent and our company’s connection to Hayes p>
I considered this, drumming my fingers on the desk. An idea began forming – one that would serve multiple purposes.
“Arrange a dinner,” I said suddenly. “Tonight. With Hayes and his management team. Say it’s to welcome him properly as our brand ambassador p>
Lucas looked surprised. “Tonight? That’s very short notice, sir p>
“Make it happen. And inform my wife that her presence is required p>
A knowing look flashed across Lucas’s face, but he was smart enough not to comment. “Yes, sir. Anything else p>
“That’s all p>
After he left, I leaned back in my chair, feeling considerably better. Tonight, I would make sure Julian Hayes understood exactly who Aria was married to. And more importantly, I would make sure Aria remembered it too.