Chapter 11 Chapter 11.

Chapter 11 Chapter 11.
Aria sat on the bed before the cabinet, the shadows of her past flashing before her eyes like a chaotic projection. What if she had accepted Marius when he proposed? Would things be different now? If she hadn't left Lucien, would she have been untouchable from Marius? Was choosing to marry Nathan a mistake that ended both his life and left her life in shambles?

She pushed the turbulent thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand. Pulling out a folder from the cabinet, she opened it with determination. 

As she opened the folder, a stack of photographs and documents spilled out. Aria's eyes widened as she began to sift through the contents. There were pictures of Marius Velkoz, his associates, and various business dealings. There were also documents detailing his connections to various organizations.

Aria's mind began to reel as she realized the scope of Lucien's operation. This was more than just a simple plan for revenge; it was a comprehensive strategy to take down Marius and his empire.

She spent hours lost in the contents of the folder, meticulously making notes and drawing connections. The more she uncovered, the clearer it became that Marius was not merely a charming businessman; he was a master manipulator who wielded his wealth and influence like a puppet master. She finally realized why the police worshipped him.

As night fell, she had made considerable progress, having gone through three files already and now on the fourth. 

A sudden knock on the door pulled her from her concentration. “Who’s it?” she called out.

“Francesca,” came the response from the other side.

“Oh, come in,” Aria said, barely looking up.

The door clicked open and Francesca stepped inside. “Dinner is set, and Mr. Moretti is already waiting for you at the table,” she informed her.

Aria met her gaze with determination. “Oh, thank you, but I’ll come down later. I’m busy right now.”

With a smile that didn't reach her eyes, Francesca shot. “You don’t have the right to disregard Mr. Moretti’s orders.” 

Aria’s own defiance surged within her. “You didn’t mention it was his orders; you said dinner was ready and he was waiting,” she retorted.

"And do you think I have nothing reasonable to do than waste my time here?" Francesca countered, her brows knitting together in annoyance.

Aria's eyes bore into Francesca's, a spark of anger igniting in her chest. "I’m currently in the middle of something important," she said, her tone resolute. "I'll join him when I'm finished."

Francesca's smile faltered momentarily, but she quickly composed herself. "Mr. Moretti expects you to join him for dinner, and this is not a request."

Aria’s gaze remained steadfast. "I don’t know what kind of relationship you have with Lucien, but I’m not one of his employees. I’m his guest, and I don’t take orders from him unless I choose to."

An icy veil shadowed Francesca’s face, her voice lowering conspiratorially. "You’d do well to remember your place, Aria. Mr. Moretti is not someone to be trifled with."

A flash of anger sparked in Aria’s eyes, yet her tone remained steady. "I’m not trying to trifle with him. I’m simply prioritizing my own needs. Right now, that means finishing my work."

The air between them was tense for a moment, before Francesca turned and strode out of the room.

Aria let out an exasperated scoff. "What a piece of work!" 

Rounding up her work shortly, Aria arose and left the bedroom.

Upon entering the dining room, she found Lucien leaning against the table, smoking a cigarette. An empty plate sat unceremoniously at his side.

"I got your message," Lucien said, the smoke curling around him like a specter. "Why the sudden change of heart? Feeling hungry?"

"What?" Aria replied, disbelief evident in her voice.

Then she recalled her earlier confrontation with Francesca. "What message of mine did you receive?" 

Lucien drew slowly from his cigarette. "It’s your message. You remember it better."

Letting out a scoff, Aria turned to leave the dining room, her frustration bubbling to the surface.

"Where are you going? You haven't had your dinner yet," Lucien called out, his tone teasing, but his gaze sharp.

"Why should I?" she shot back, spinning around to face him, her defiance flickering like a flame.

"I believe that's a question for you to answer," he replied coolly, a smirk dancing on his lips.

Aria scoffed,the sound low and sharp. "How can I even be sure this is all real? How do I know you haven’t poisoned this food or that you’re not hiding some ulterior motive behind it?” She lashed out, her voice trembling with anger and uncertainty.

Lucien chuckled, leaning back in his chair with an air of satisfaction. "You seem to be forgetting, baby, that you've paid for all of this. You paid me with yourself, remember?"

Heat rushed to Aria's cheeks, his words hanging in the air, thick with implications that made her want to both scream and disappear. The audacity of him was infuriating, yet she couldn’t shake the discomfort that tinged her anger. 

Lucien took another drag of his cigarette, the smoke swirling in lazy tendrils as he addressed her. “You might want to get that food into your stomach before it gets soggy.”

She attempted to ignore him, but her stomach betrayed her with a loud growl, embarrassing her further. 

“Oh, someone’s hungry,” Lucien commented, amusement glinting in his eyes.

Rolling her eyes, Aria crossed her arms over her chest. “I’ll eat when I’m ready, not because you say so.” The resolve in her voice wavered against the undeniable truth of her hunger, her stomach grumbling in agreement as it twisted in discomfort.

Lucien exhaled another cloud of smoke, studying her with an amused but intense gaze. “You’re stubborn, I’ll give you that. But food isn’t just sustenance, you know. It can be a bridge to something more… pleasurable.” 

“Spare me the metaphors,” she retorted, her heart racing as she fought to maintain control. “I’m not interested in your games.”

“Then what are you interested in, Aria?” he asked smoothly, standing up slowly and breaching the distance between them, an intoxicating energy cracking in the air as he discarded the remnants of his cigarette with a casual flick. 

As their gazes locked, mere inches apart, Francesca entered the room, her expression twisted in disdain at the closeness of their bodies. 

“Sir, your presence is needed outside,” she interjected, her voice sharp, filled with urgency.

With a reluctant sigh, Lucien finally tore his gaze from Aria, a playful wink lingering on his face. He turned to follow Francesca, leaving Aria momentarily breathless, the tension in the air dissipating as he disappeared from view.

Feeling the weight of the moment slip away, Aria let out a heavy exhale. She quickly settled at the table, her fingers deftly digging into the food, the comforting flavors soothing her, even as her mind raced. Each bite felt like a consolation, filling both her stomach and the void in her.