Chapter 62: The Real Purpose

Kyle’s P.O.V

I take a sip of the wine, letting the rich flavor settle on my tongue. Aria watches me with a keen, calculating gaze, but there's a warmth there, something almost approving. It’s strange, this balance between her cold Alpha demeanor and the slight flicker of something more personal, more human, behind it. I can’t quite place it, but it's there, subtle in the way she holds herself, in how she listens.

“So,” I say between bites of steak, “I’m pretty sure there were at least two reporters in the restaurant tonight. This whole dinner will be viral by tomorrow morning.”

Aria’s lips curl into a grin, her eyes dancing with a knowing glint. “That’s exactly what I want, actually. You have no idea how much my father loves to get the latest gossip. If this doesn’t show him that I’m ‘serious’ about business, nothing will.”

I laugh, nodding in agreement. “I can’t imagine growing up with someone like that constantly breathing down your neck. Must’ve been exhausting.”

Aria’s smile fades just slightly, a shadow flickering across her expression before she masks it again. But it's enough for me to catch. She sets her fork down with a deliberate, controlled motion, her gaze turning more focused, a little guarded.

“Trust me,” she says, her voice quieter now. “You wouldn’t want to grow up in a household like that unless you had to. You’d understand that keeping your business and personal life separate is a necessity when your name carries this much weight.”

The tension in her words isn’t lost on me, but I can’t help myself. The curiosity that’s been gnawing at the back of my mind all night comes spilling out, not carefully thought out, just pure instinct. “But... why not stand up to your father? Show off your omega lover, let the world see who you are. Why keep hiding?”

The question hangs in the air, and I immediately feel the shift in the mood at the table. Aria’s posture stiffens just a little, the confident mask slipping back into place as she carefully considers my words.

“I grew up in a family where weakness was never tolerated,” she says, her voice soft but firm, as though she’s rehearsed this answer countless times. “You’re right. You might know the drill, coming from a similar background.” She pauses, her gaze meeting mine with an almost too-knowing look, a slight bitterness behind it. “Families like mine, they don’t see omegas as equals. They see them as liabilities, things that can get in the way. And believe me, I’m not in a position to show any weakness—especially not now.”

I’m taken aback by her candor, the vulnerability tucked behind her words. She’s not just talking about an abstract power struggle, she’s talking about a very real, personal battle. A battle she’s been fighting her whole life, one that has made her hold back and bury parts of herself.

“You think your father would disown you over an omega?” I ask, my voice low, careful. The idea seems almost foreign to me, even though I know it’s a reality for people in certain circles.

She nods, her fingers drumming lightly on the edge of her wine glass, a small, unconscious gesture of anxiety. “If I showed my father that I was serious about someone like that... yes. It would weaken my position in the family. They’d never trust me to take over. They’d never trust me to lead the business, never trust me to carry the Weston name.”

“But I’m not ready to make that kind of move yet,” she continues, her voice steady but edged with something like resolve. “I have my sights set on something bigger. My father wants me to take control of the company, to inherit it all. If I show him that I can run things and that I’m capable, then I’ll be in a better position. And once I have that, then I’ll do whatever the hell I want with my life.”

I give Aria a sincere smile, the kind that’s not entirely practiced but feels earned after everything she’s shared tonight. “I admire your courage, Aria,” I say, my voice calm but filled with a hint of genuine respect. “You’ve got a strategic mind, I can see that. You know how to play the long game.”

She raises an eyebrow, clearly not impressed with my flattery. "Enough with the compliments, Kyle," she says with a small, knowing smirk. "I’m not here for that. You didn’t call me out tonight to boost my ego. You want something from me. Let’s get down to business.”

I chuckle, leaning back in my chair, admiring how effortlessly she sees through me. “You’re right,” I say, finally dropping the pretense. “I knew I liked you for a reason. But jokes aside, I actually need your help with something specific.”

She sits up straighter, her eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to gauge whether I’m about to waste her time. I can tell she’s not one to entertain anything that doesn’t have a clear return.

“I need some data,” I continue, my voice shifting into a more serious tone. “On an old case, actually. Your father entrusted one of his projects to Elyse Thompson five years ago. There was an accident on the site that caused a bit of trouble. I’ve been looking into it for a while now, and I need any information your father might have had on it.”

Aria’s demeanor shifts the moment I mention the accident, her lips pressing together in a thin line of concentration. “Ah, yes,” she says, her voice almost nostalgic, like she’s sifting through old memories. “I remember that clearly. My dad was... concerned, to say the least. He thought the death could create a big hold-up on his work, and, honestly, the entire project felt like it could be cursed after that.”

I raise an eyebrow, interested in her recollection. “Cursed? You think the whole thing could’ve gone south because of a single accident?”

She shrugs, nonchalant, but there’s an edge of something darker beneath her words. “My father has a very superstitious side when it comes to business. He believes in curses, karma, whatever you want to call it. If something bad happens in the beginning, it’s like a sign, you know?”

I can’t help but let out a short laugh. “Seems like your dad’s more like an old-school mogul than I thought. But I get it. So, how did it all play out?”

“Thankfully,” she continues a flicker of relief in her voice, “nothing serious came from it. The project was able to go on, and they wrapped it up smoothly. Six months later, everything was back on track, and now... well, the business is booming. I don’t think that accident had any lasting impact, but there were certainly worries at the time.”

I lean forward slightly, my curiosity getting the best of me as I glance at Aria. "Do you know anything more about that project? About the person who died, and what happened after?" I ask, my voice low but serious.

"I don’t know all the details," she begins, her tone measured. "But what I do know is that there were CCTV cameras in certain areas of the site. My father made sure that security was tight, and those cameras caught something that helped them figure out what happened."

My mind races. “CCTV?” I repeat, a spark of excitement igniting in my chest. This is exactly what I need. "And what did they find?"

"It was an accident, not a suicide," she says, her voice tinged with an unsettling calmness. "That’s all I know. I don’t have the footage myself, but I’m sure my father has it stored somewhere in case anyone ever asks about it."

A grin forms on my lips as I feel the pieces starting to fall into place. This is huge. If I can get my hands on that footage, it could change everything. My mind races with possibilities.

"Aria," I say, leaning in a little closer, voice dropping to a more persuasive tone. "If you could get me that CCTV footage, it would be a game-changer. I need it to understand exactly what happened, to make sure nothing gets swept under the rug. And I think you’d be doing me—and, frankly, your family— a huge favor."

She eyes me carefully, not quite convinced, her gaze sharp like she’s trying to read my intentions. Then she smirks, tilting her head to the side. "I’m happy to help, Kyle. But what’s in it for me?"

I pause, taken aback for a split second. Aria doesn’t just do favors for anyone. She’s got a sharp business mind and knows how to negotiate. Of course, she’s going to want something in return. I wasn’t exactly expecting it, but now that it’s on the table, I need to offer something worthwhile.

I take a deep breath, trying to think of something that’ll pique her interest, something that might work. Finally, I lock eyes with her and give a slow, knowing smile.

"You want something real, Aria," I say, my voice smooth, "but you're not in a position to act on it yet, not with the family business to inherit. So how about this? I’ll pretend to be your man—let the world think we’re a couple—until you’ve got everything you need to step into the role you want. After that, you can be with your real lover, the one you actually care about."