"I knew it… I knew that this kind of person would demand something from me!" Aria's voice echoed through the empty room. She slammed the laptop lid down halfway, her hands trembling with anger and confusion. Her breath came out in sharp bursts as she paced back and forth.
She stopped, staring at the silver device like it was her greatest enemy. Her chest felt tight. Should I fling this laptop across the room? Should I burn it? Or maybe… maybe I should just walk down to the sea and let it swallow me whole.
Tears stung her eyes before she could stop them. One slipped down her cheek, then another. She swiped at them with the back of her hand, but they kept coming. She whispered to herself, as her voice kept breaking, "Why am I being punished like this? Why won't something like this come to me so easily… just once in my life?"
Aria sank onto the edge of her bed, burying her face in her hands. The room felt so quiet now, too quiet. Only the sound of her soft sobs filled the space. The walls of her large room seemed to close in on her. The soft white curtains swayed gently as the evening breeze came in through the open window. The faint scent of the ocean mixed with the fresh paint of her newly decorated room. Everything was beautiful. But it all felt empty.
Just then, a beep sounded from her laptop. Her heart jumped. Slowly, as if she wasn't sure she wanted to, she lifted the screen back up. Her teary eyes scanned the screen.
Ethan's message glowed on the chat.
"Did you just get knocked off? Talk to me."
Aria stared at the words, feeling that strange stirring in her chest again. She wiped her eyes quickly, trying to steady her breath. Why does my heart do this every time his message pops up? Why do his words pull me back even when I want to hate him?
She took a deep breath, ran her slender fingers through her hair, and placed them on the keyboard. For a few seconds, she just stared at the blinking cursor, gathering courage.
Then she typed slowly.
"What do you want me to do?"
She hit send and sat back, watching the screen. The cool breeze brushed her face, but she barely felt it. Her focus was fully on the chat. Her heart thudded with every passing second.
Almost immediately, his reply came. As if he had already crafted the words before she even asked.
"I want you, Aria, to help… or take me to the top. For me to have access to the portal that will connect me to the government."
Aria's brows drew together as she read his words. What? She blinked in shock, reading it again to make sure she saw right. What kind of man is this? What does he mean by portal?
She stared at the message, trying to make sense of it. But instead of letting anger take over, she kept calm. If I upset him now, his sharp mouth will come out again. So she took a breath and typed as gently as she could.
"How do I help you with it, Ethan?"
She waited, chewing on her lower lip. She could almost feel the weight of his gaze through the screen, like he was watching her somehow.
And just as fast, he replied.
"You can do it, Aria. With your father's company name, with you standing behind me, I would be invincible in the business world, even the government. No one would dare stand against me."
Aria stared at the screen. Her fingers hovered above the keyboard but didn't move yet. What type of man is this? she thought again. He speaks so boldly, like he owns the world already. Like he's sure I would say yes.
And yet… something about his openness, his daring, his raw honesty… it touched a hidden part of her heart. No one ever came this close to her, no one ever trusted her with such big dreams. Even if his reasons were selfish… at least he was showing her that he saw her as useful, as needed.
Her heart whispered to her, What if I help him? Maybe he will be mine. Maybe I will finally taste what it feels like to be wanted. Even if it's just for a short time.
Her fingers moved on their own as she typed.
"Okay, I will do that for you."
The words appeared on the chat, and almost at once came his reply.
"I'm just beside your house. Meet me immediately."
Aria's breath caught in her throat. She stared at the message, her eyes wide. What? Her heart raced so fast that she thought it might burst out of her chest.
She got up from the bed and walked to the window, pulling back the curtain. She peered into the night. The estate was quiet, the street lamps casting soft yellow pools of light on the smooth roads. The sea breeze made the leaves of the palm trees sway gently. But where was he? Was he really out there?
She turned back to her laptop, feeling her skin prickle. Does this mean he knows where I live? Does this mean he's been watching me all along? Texting me while standing right at the corner of my house?
Her mouth felt dry. Confusion, fear, excitement… everything mixed together in her heart.
"How?" Aria asked, the word slipping from her lips as she stared at the screen, as confusion were written all over her face.