Aria sat in her car, outside the biggest condominium she'd ever seen, and tried to talk herself into walking inside.
She'd texted Ethan and told him she'd be there ten minutes before but hadn't had the gall to get out of her vehicle yet. Considering the car that parked beside her was a Lamborghini, she felt a little unsure of herself.
"You've got this Aria. This is the father of your baby, even if he doesn't know it yet. You've got to get out of the car and … move."
Aria closed her eyes before opening the door to her vehicle with a squeak and walked toward the front lobby. The door attendant—that Aria knew would be there—opened the door for her, and she walked into a white wonderland. The floors were white, the furniture and décor, all white… it almost felt blinding.
She walked onto the elevator's platform and pressed the top floor. The penthouse. Just watching the numbers rise on the digital dial made her stomach churn.
Aria smoothed her palms down her dress to make sure the flow of the dress hid her stomach. Aria pretended not to worry about the next weekend when she would tell Ethan the truth.
There was no rhyme or reason as to why she needed to wait, but she wanted to enjoy the fundraiser and not have Ethan's reaction playing in her head the entire night. That was if he didn't fire her, of course. There was no logical reason to fire her; it happened prior to her time at Devry Media, but Ethan was the CEO and could do whatever he wanted.
She planned to find out what he wanted out of life tonight, and hopefully that would help her prepare for the upcoming weekend.
The elevator dinged, bringing her out of her thoughts and onto the top floor. Stepping out of the glass box, she walked toward the door at the end of the hallway. It looked intimidating with the cool metallic color and it standing halfway to the ceiling.
Aria stopped on the sleek doormat and knocked three times.
The door swung open seconds later with a wide-eyed Ethan standing on the other side. Aria's mouth dried at the sight of him in casual blue jeans and a simple white T-shirt. Those icy blue eyes smiled without any help from those kissable lips.
"Crikey," she mumbled to herself. "I'm here as promised," Aria said. "And I was right; there is a doorman."
Ethan chuckled deeply and opened his door wide to let her inside. "Well, come on inside," he said softly. "The food is ready, and I'm starved."
Aria was starved too, but not just for food.
Those pregnancy hormones had her headspace all over. If she hadn't been hiding a pregnancy from Ethan, she would have prayed to have another night like the one at Surreal. It bummed her out that she couldn’t indulge in more than a kiss and had to keep him at arm's length during it.
Aria walked into his penthouse in awe. The cool black and silver coloring of his furniture and appliances screamed bachelor pad, but also money. Floor length glass windows lined the opposite side of the apartment that showcased a balcony overlooking the city.
It took Aria's breath away.
When she looked back at Ethan, he stood beside her, examining the apartment with her. "Do you like it?"
Aria laughed. "It's a beautiful apartment, Ethan. I love it."
He braced his palm against her lower back and guided her toward the kitchen. "It's just stuff though, Aria."
Aria snorted. "Says the CEO with nice stuff."
He pulled out her chair in front of what looked like expensive Italian food, making her stomach rumble. "This smells amazing."
She expected him to sit on the opposite end of the table, but he sat down next to her and smiled. "I'd lie and say I made it, but I forgot to put the bag away from the restaurant, and I figured you'd call me out on it before the night ended."
Aria's head fell back in laughter. "You're completely right. I would have."
Ethan gestured toward the food. "Let's eat."
"And then we'll talk about the project?" she asked, sipping her glass of water.
Ethan smirked. "If that's what you want to call it."
Aria's mouth popped opened in shock. "Did you use the project for your personal motives, Mr. Devry?"
Ethan leaned back in his chair, biting the end of a breadstick that Aria couldn’t wait to eat herself. "Are you surprised, Aria? I'm becoming surprised at myself at the lengths I would take to get to know you."
Aria smirked and took a bite of her ravioli that melted in her mouth. She hadn't eaten anything this good in ages, since the beginning of her relationship with Landen. Back when he still felt he needed to impress her.
Their conversation drifted from one subject to the next, effortlessly. Aria found out more about him than she'd planned to, and all about his childhood—or lack thereof.
Which made Aria doubt Ethan being ready to become a father. She had a great childhood. They didn't have a lot of money, but her parents loved her and took care of her.
It sounded like Ethan's father paid others to take care of him.
"Does it make you want to have children to do better for them, or not have children at all?" Aria finally blurted out.
Ethan lifted one shoulder. "I've never seen myself as a father, truth be told. That doesn't mean I'm completely against it, but I don't see it happening for me right now."
Too late, Aria thought.
She mustered up a smile, and unfolded her leg from the chair, looking around to search for her phone for the time. "It's getting late. Tomorrow is Friday, and I have to make sure Amy doesn't get behind—"
"Wait," Ethan said, standing up. Aria watched him walk toward the kitchen and pull out two small to-go containers from the refrigerator. "Come outside on the balcony with me. I have a sweet tooth tonight."
Aria took Ethan's hand, following his lead to the balcony where the breezy fall night hit her skin like satin. "This is beautiful," she said, taking a seat on the long, cushioned bench that spanned the length of the balcony's edge.
Ethan opened the containers and handed Aria a spoon to a piece of cheesecake that looked to die for. "You've really spoiled me tonight," she said, taking a bite. Baby Boy would eat well tonight.
Ethan took a bite, watching the way Aria's mouth moved over the fork. "You deserve a little treat, don't you think?"
Aria didn't think she deserved any special treatment because of the big lie that weighed her down. "I think that this cheesecake is delicious."
Ethan agreed. "Do you want to be a mom?"
Aria did her best to hold in her reaction and took another bite to buy herself time. "I can definitely see myself as a mom."
He chuckled as he took his last bite and offered to take Aria's once she finished. "We're over here talking as if we're ready to settle down and have kids now."
Aria inwardly cringed. "You're right," she laughed. "What's your favorite color?"
Ethan laughed.
"Let me guess," she said sitting up on her knees. "Black and silver?"
Ethan eyed her with a smirk. "Cute. If you don't like my décor, Aria, you could have just said so."
She chuckled and ran her fingers into her curls, stopping cold when Ethan gripped the edge of one of them and rubbed it between his fingers. "I love your hair," he said softly. "It was one of the first things I noticed about you at Surreal. I loved that you didn't straighten it like the other girls or dye it blonde. You wear it natural."
Aria sighed heavily. "Why did you leave the next morning without a goodbye?"
Ethan continued to rub her hair. "It's always been what I do, ya know? I've had a bachelor lifestyle for so long; I never expect any of the one-night-stands to become anything. Then I saw you during your interview, I was reminded how much chemistry we had. The more you pushed me away because you love your job showed me how much dignity you have for yourself. I like that you don't care I have money. I like that you wouldn't risk your career for me. It did the opposite of turn me away; it made me want to get to know you even more. I wish I hadn't left, but I can't change it now. Do you forgive me?"
Aria smiled. "I didn't hold it against you, Ethan. I was in the same boat. I didn't think anything would come of it either. I can't blame you for leaving."
He nodded and cupped her cheek, leaning in to kiss her mouth softly. It felt different from the fire escape kiss. It was soft, passionate, and made Aria feel wanted. It made her feel safe.
A soft breeze pushed her hair from her shoulders and sent a shiver up her spine. Ethan pulled back and braced his forehead against hers. "Are you cold?"
"Just a bit," she said in a breathy sigh.
He nodded. "Let's go inside."
Ethan led her inside and grabbed a light jacket from his coatrack and draped it over her shoulders.
"Thank you," she said, watching the way his gaze heated and pinned her to his living room floor. He gave her the look he did that night at Surreal. The look that had unraveled her self-restraint and left her in the position she was in now. Pregnant. Aria swallowed heavily, knowing what would come next and knowing it couldn’t happen.
She needed one more week to enjoy his company before she ruined their relationship with the truth. The truth stuck in her throat; she wanted to blurt it out so badly, but she swallowed it down again, regardless of the bitter taste it left behind. "I think I better go," she whispered.
Ethan's blue gaze dropped to his feet and then he smiled at the floor. "I'll see you in the morning, Ms. Linetti," he said, leaning in to whisper, "Don't be late or I'll have to write you up."
Aria half-heartedly laughed. Ethan had no idea that being written up was the least of her worries.