Are you interested in my offer?

Are you interested in my offer?
Aria tried to push him away, but once again that gentle touch from Dominic slid over her skin and made her breath betray her. A soft sound left her mouth before she could stop it.

She hated that. Overwhelmed, Aria finally gave up and grabbed his wrist. “Let go of me. Take your fingers away.”

“Let go of your fingers, Daddy,” she added with forced boldness.

Calling him that made Dominic pause. For a second he looked surprised. Then a slow smile spread across his face. He looked satisfied instead of offended.

He pulled his fingers away from beneath her clothes, from the warm flesh he had just been exploring.

“Sorry,” he said calmly. “They got addicted.” Aria cursed under her breath.

She felt humiliated. She was not innocent about desire. What happened last night was an accident, something neither of them planned. But this felt different. This felt like he was enjoying power over her.

Why was he acting like he had the right? They were nothing to each other. Just a woman’s daughter and a future husband. That was it. Nothing more.

Yet he touched her without hesitation. And what made her angrier was her own body. It responded. Her traitor of a body reacted to him. To his hands. To the heat of him. The place between her legs still tingled, as if it wanted his fingers back.

Disgusted at herself, Aria fixed her clothes and faced forward.Dominic turned his attention back to driving. They were heading to the boutique where Helena was waiting.

“I heard you are applying for a scholarship to America,”Dominic said casually. “Why a scholarship?”

Aria kept silent. She stared out the window as if he did not exist.

“Speak, Aria. Or I will…”

“That is my right,” she snapped. “Whether I apply for a scholarship or not has nothing to do with you.”

“What a pity,”Dominic replied with a face that pretended regret. Then he remembered something Helena once mentioned. “I heard you like cooking.”

Aria glanced at him for only a second. “Whether I like cooking or not is none of your business. Stop interfering in my life. You are just my mother’s fiancé. Even if you marry her, you will never be my father. Do you understand?”

Her voice was full of anger now. She felt like he had crossed too many lines. He knew about her scholarship plans. That meant her mother told him. That alone annoyed her.

“I know you heard all of this from Mom,” she continued. “But can you just stay out of it?”

Mark lifted his shoulders lightly and smirked. “Fine. I will stay out of your business.”

He paused, eyes still on the road. “Too bad. My company actually funds young people who want to study culinary arts in America. Full support. No competition exams.”

He said it casually, but Aria heard every word.

Her head turned slowly toward him before she looked forward again. She felt her curiosity rise, but pride held her back from asking. Cooking school in America. Was that what he meant?

She knew how expensive it was. Way beyond what she could afford. If someone funded her studies there, she would be stupid to refuse. This is a chance, she told herself.

Mark knew she was tempted. He knew she was thinking about what he said. The truth was, there was no official program like that. He only said it to see her reaction.

“Oh right,” he added lightly. “You must have friends you can recommend. This year I want to sponsor someone from Indonesia. The food there is incredible.”

Aria turned her head again. Her eyes gave away everything. Interest. Doubt. Pride fighting desire.Dominic pretended not to notice.

“So,” he said at last, glancing at her. “Are you interested in my offer?”

Aria looked at him carefully. The idea pulled at her. But the fear followed right behind it. If she accepted, would she be trapped under his control forever?

“You do not need to worry,”Dominic continued smoothly. “While you are in America, I will not restrain you. You can live freely. Do what you want. But not when it comes to your education. Even if my company pays your tuition without entrance exams, that does not mean you can slack off. I will monitor your progress. Of course, your mother will know as well.”

He paused and studied her seriously. “The decision is yours. If you agree, I will arrange everything. If not, continue chasing your scholarship here. But understand this. The opportunity I offer is not something small.”

His words created a storm inside her. Suddenly, the plan to ask her lecturer about scholarships felt pointless.Dominic’s offer was far more attractive.

“Think about it tonight,” he said. “Tomorrow I want your answer. If you are too embarrassed to speak to me, tell your mother and let her talk to me instead.”

He stopped the car and parked at the boutique. “And now change your expression. Do not make your mother sad.”

Aria looked out the window and opened the door before he could say anything else. She shut it harder than necessary and walked away, leaving him alone in the car.

Mark did not feel offended. He smiled instead, watching her from behind. He studied the shape of her body as she walked. If she accepted his offer and went to America, he would have even more access to her.

The scholarship story was only an idea he made up. But if she agreed, he would make it real. He had the money. He could provide everything. Tuition. Housing. A car. It would be easy for him. His company was powerful, especially in hospitality and tourism.

Mark stepped out of the car and locked it. Then he walked into the boutique to meet Helena, the woman he would soon marry.