Forty stories below, the city light melted into a blur of gold and glass. Livia Hart didn't notice. Her back pressed against the window, breath quickening, as Aria's lips brushed her neck, her hands tracing over curves Livia had barely allowed herself to acknowledge.
"We shouldn't" Livia whispered, even as her fingers got all tangled up in Aria's hair pulling her closer. "What if someone finds us?"
"The cleaning crew doesn't come until midnight," Aria said softly against her skin. "And your husband is in Singapore, so we have a lot of time to ourselves.
"Your husband," the word should have stung, they should have reminded Livia why this was forbidden. Instead, this made her want to rebel against the prison she was in.
Aria pulled back a little, her eyes searching Livia's face, "Tell me to stop," her thumb brushing across Livia's trembling lips.
"Tell me you don't want this."
"Don't stop," she said with heavy breath, pulling Aria into a deep kiss that tasted like freedom.
Arias' hands moved with confidence as she undid the buttons and slid over silk. Livia's pulse raced, every brush of skin electric. It was nothing like her wedding night, mechanical and duty performed. This was a choice, raw and consuming.
"God you're so beautiful," Aria eyes scanning over Livia's body. She looked at her with lots of appreciation, this made Livia feel special and seen, not as pretty face, not as perfect wife, but as a woman, as herself.
"I've wanted you since the moment we met," Aria said between kisses, her hand sliding up Livia's thigh. "At your wedding reception, l hated myself for wanting you that much."
"Don't hate yourself" Livia said calmly, it was the only thing that felt right in months.
Aria's mouth captured hers again, taking in moans as the pleasure grew inside her. Aria paid attention to every gasp, every shiver mirrored in Livia's body.
After the aftershocks faded, they lay together on the couch, Aria's head resting on Livia's chest, fingers tracing careless patterns across her skin.
"We can't keep doing this, " Aria said quietly, the weight of reality pressing in.
"I know," Livia said, fingers running through Aria's hair, unwilling to let go just yet.
"But I can't stop."
Aria lifted her head, torn between desire and guilt. "Livia, what if Ronan finds out?"
"He doesn't care." The words came out more bitter than Livia meant them to. "He never notices that I am around except when we are in public and he needs me to be the perfect wife by his side."
Arai hesitated, "that may be true, but men like him don't give up their possessions easily.
Livia sat up, suddenly aware of their vulnerability.
"We should get dressed,"
Aria caught her wrist. "Hey, don't go, not yet, I need you to stay with me." She couldn't believe herself wanting more after suggesting they should stop.
"I'm not giving up, Livia said, voice trembling, I'm just being smart.
"I'm scared too, Aria admitted. But what we have is real, the wrong thing is the marriage you were forced into, the wrong thing is living a life that's not yours.
Livia swallowed hard. "Then help me to stop lying," she said. "I can't be Mrs. Ronan Vale while sneaking around with you. It's destroying me, it really is."
"We'll figure it out," Aria promised, though Livia could see through her eyes that she wasn't sure.
Before Livia could say a word, the elevator chimed from a distance.
They both froze.
"The cleaning crew," Aria said urgently, "They're early."
Livia's fingers fumbled with buttons, Aria zipped her skirt, fixing her hair, and transformed into a professional in seconds. Voices grew closer.
"The private bathroom" Aria said, grabbing Livia's hand.They slipped inside just as the office door opened. Through the crack Livia watched the cleaning crew entering, chatting in Spanish about weekend plans, It all seemed orderly and normal.
Aria's hand found hers in the dark, squeezing it gently. They waited in silence, barely breathing, until the cleaners finished and moved to another.
"Now " Aria said softly, they quietly slipped out, checking to ensure the coast was clear before making their way to the private elevator.
Livia didn't let out the breath she held till they were inside and doors closed, descending towards the parking garage.
"That was really close," Livia murmured, body trembling.
"I know right," Aria replied, face pale. Maybe we should—"
"Don't," Livia cut her off. "We've both said we'll stop, yet we always end up right back here."
The elevator stopped at the garage level, the doors swung open, there was Livia's Mercedes, a wedding gift from Helena (Ronan's mother ), one of the things that always reminds her of the life she was trapped in.
"When can I see you again?" Livia asked, knowing she sounded desperate but she didn't care.
"Ronan will return on Friday, we have a meeting with the board of directors that day. I'll text you," Aria responded.
"That's four days."
"I know," Aria said as she gently brushed a strand of hair from Livia's face. "But we'll have to be extra careful."
Livia nodded, even though four days felt like eternity. She walked towards her car then turned, "Aria? Do you ever regret us?"
"Never," Aria answered firmly. "You're the best thing that has ever happened to me. It's complicated, and I know it's dangerous too, but you're very important to me."
Livia held those words closely, while driving back through the quiet streets. The Vale mansion was empty, dark and quiet. A place of rules she had never chosen.
She went up the stairs to the bedroom meant for her, a room she had never shared with her husband. Ronan liked staying in his room on the other side of the house, claiming he didn't want to disturb with late-night work calls.
Showering, she washed off the scent of Aria's perfume, feeling a piece of herself go down the drain. She put on a silk nightwear and slide into her enormous bed alone.
Her phone buzzed, a message from Aria: I made it home, I'm thinking about you. Signed with A.
Livia smiled and typed back, I wish you were here, L.
Then she deleted the message thread as always, covering tracks, living in shadows.
As she lay in the dark, remembering every touch from Aria, every whisper, Livia made a promise to herself: she couldn't keep living this way.
But she didn't know yet that the change, when it came, would tear her entire world apart.