로그인This must be a dream. No, a nightmare. There’s this
heaviness, this tightness I feel in my chest as I looked at them while they try to adjust themselves. “Ari, Dear, I can explain this.” My Dad said as he tried to reach for me. “What exactly do you want to explain, Dad? The fact that you’re gay or the fact that your dick was just in my boyfriend’s mouth?” I shot at him. Then I turned to my so-called boyfriend, scratch that, my ex-boyfriend. “Is this the meeting you told me you were attending?” I lashed at him. “Ari…I…I was going to tell you.” He said, guilt crowding his features. “You were going to tell me that you’re gay or you’ve been fucking my Dad? What a fucking joke you are!” I yelled at him. “Ari…” My Dad started. “How long?” I asked, cutting him off. Then I turned to Finn, “How long have you been fucking my Dad, Finn?” He looked at me, then he looked down in shame. “Answer me!” I yelled, barely containing the rage coursing through my veins. “Three months.” His response only fueled my disdain. “Three months?! You’ve been fucking my father for three months?!” This is unfucking believable. And then, I started laughing, so hard tears formed in my eyes. I can’t believe this is happening! “Is this the reason you never wanted to have sex with me? Silly me thinking I was the problem when in reality, you’re just a boy who’s confused about his sexuality! Is this the reason you approached me? Because you have always been interested in my Dad?!” I can’t believe I was so blind. I mean, it’s really clear now that I think about it. Finn and I have been together for eight months now, and the farthest we’ve gone was only second base. Whenever I wanted to take it further, Finn would pull back and start telling me about him wanting to wait till marriage. I literally thought he was just conservative, but apparently, he had no problem fucking my Dad. “Sweetheart, we didn’t mean for you to find out like this?” My Dad croaked, rubbing his temples. I scoffed, “You didn’t mean for me to find out at all. Tell me, Dad, when did you start fucking men? This is a big joke! Here I was, terrified you’d found out about my fake scandal, not knowing you’re the scandal yourself!” And then, I looked at him again, “Is this why Mum left? Because she found out you enjoy fucking men half your age?! My Dad was taken aback by my outburst, and he dared to look hurt. Good. I want him to feel the pain I’m feeling right now. I wish I could inflict more pain on him. “Ari….” Finn started, “Save it.” I cut him off. “I’ve heard enough.” I didn’t wait for either of them to respond; I turned and walked out of the house, letting the tears I’ve been holding back flow freely. “Fuck Finn. Fuck my Dad too. Fuck everything.” I mumbled to myself as I cleaned my face. I walked for hours, or maybe minutes, and found myself in front of a bar. The universe sure knows what I really need right now. I picked up my phone and called my best friend Mike; his humor and lightness are everything I need right now but it went to voice mail; I guess I’m doing this alone tonight. I really need a drink or two. Alright, maybe more. Ugh! Fuck this fucking city and everyone in it!” I yelled over the loud music, my words nearly swallowed by the bass vibrating through the floor and straight into my head. Six shots in, I needed to feel something. “Careful,” a voice said behind me, calm and amused. “Don’t let the cops hear you.” I turned towards the sound and froze. He was unfairly handsome; the kind people call exotic, dark hair with a silver threading through his temple and a set of sharp dark eyes; he wore a perfectly tailored grey three-piece suit that clung to his broad frame, his tie still neatly in place. Who the hell wore a suit to a bar? “Not you,” I said, squinting at him, alcohol loosening my tongue. “I like handsome men.” I paused, and then added, “Has anyone ever told you that you look like an ultimate DILF?” I slurred, approaching him with heavily blurred vision. His brow lifted. A slow smirk formed on his lips. “A DILF?” he repeated. “Care to tell me what that is?” I shrugged, the room tilting slightly, “My best friend Mike says it's a term used for older men that looks like sin.” He let out a soft laugh, “And you think I look like sin?” “Yes, sir.” I nodded solemnly. “The kind of sin men pray against.” His laugh deepened. “You are interesting,” he said, “I like you.” “My name is Aria,” I mumbled. “I’m much less fascinating when I’m sober.” I chuckled as another shot burned through my throat and chest. “You shouldn’t be drinking so much anyway.” He announced. “What are you? My Dad? How do you know how much I’ve drunk?” I frowned, irritated at the sound of ‘You shouldn’t’. Don’t fucking tell me what to do. “I’ve been observing you for a while, and it’s clear you are really drunk.” He laughed as we sat down. “Well, that’s good because the last thing I want to look like is my actual state.” I went in for another drink which he swiped out of my hand. “It can’t be that bad, baby girl.” He sighed, placing the drink away from my reach. “It can’t be? For starters, I have a blackmailer that is making my life unbearable, my supposed sex tape is out for the whole world to see, and as if that’s not enough, I stumbled upon a secret that should have remained hidden.” I said and reached for another shot. He frowned, but he didn’t stop me. Good. “I shouldn’t have entered that god-forsaken room,” I whispered to myself, and then I looked up at him, “Why am I even saying all these to you? I don’t even know you.” I slurred. “Perhaps, you find me attractive enough to tell your secrets?” He smirked. I scoffed, “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Hotshot.” He laughed, “Wow, two nicknames in one night? You’re truly talented.” I smirked at him, “I’m talented at other things too, want me to show you?” His eyes darkened, and he moved closer, all traces of humor gone, “Don’t test me, Aria.” He whispered in my ear, his voice lowering an octave. The way he whispered my name sent ripples straight to my lower region. God damn, this man truly is sin. I leaned into him, my body impossibly close to his and whispered, “Or what?” I nibbled his ear a little bit. He grabbed my neck and kissed me hungrily; I kissed him back with the same urgency while grabbing his shirt, and then he paused, his lips a few inches from my lips. “Not here. My place.” He said, his breathing harsh. He walked me towards his car and drove me to his place. The sound of a phone ringing jolted me up, and I was attacked with a splitting headache. I cursed lowly, served me right for drinking that much last night. My eyes swept over the unfamiliar room until they landed at a stranger who seemed to be getting satisfaction from watching me. A really hot stranger. Memories from last night rushed in, and I grimaced. “Here, take this; it will help with the headache.” He placed a pill in my palm and gave me a cup of water. I peeked at him suspiciously, “Are you trying to drug me?” He looked at me incredulously, “You can’t be serious. I was with you the whole night; if I wanted to harm you, don’t you think I’ve had enough chances to do that?” I ignored him and took the pills, then a phone started ringing, the same ringtone that woke me up. I later figured it was my phone. “You might want to take that. It has been ringing nonstop, seemed important.” He said while handing the phone to me. “Stella?” I answered. Nothing could have prepared me for the words that followed. “I’m sorry for what I’m about to say, Ari,” Stella said, her voice shaking. “But your Dad got into an accident last night.” My heart stopped. “What?!” “He is now in a coma.”I always imagined my wedding would be beautiful. I would be marrying the love of my life, at the beach or the garden, surrounded by family and friends. Instead, I was standing in the City Hall wearing an ivory dress Stella had picked out for me the day before. Life was funny that way. “You’re frowning.” I looked up and saw Micah before me looking annoyingly handsome in a tailored black suit. Damn! Why does he have to be so hot? I rolled my eyes. “I’m getting married. What am I supposed to be doing?” “I mean, most brides smile.” I scoffed, “Most brides are not marrying strangers.” “Fair point.” He said raising his hand while smirking. The infuriating thing about Micah was how easy he made everything seem. The last two weeks had been a nightmare. My Dad still hasn’t woken up, the doctors said his vitals are strong and he should wake up any moment. I’ve been occupied with meetings, board approvals, legal contracts, wedding arrangement and through all t
“What?! That’s preposterous!” I exclaimed stepping away from Victor, you’d think he was the one that just asked me to marry him. “Why? I don’t know his son. I don’t even know him!” “Aria…” “No” I said shaking my head. “Marriage is a big deal for me. I can’t marry someone I don’t love; I refuse to do that Victor.” Victor looked like he wanted to be everywhere but here, I mean, he’s the one telling me to marry someone I’ve never met! “Aria, listen, you are the CEO now. You have to make sacrifices; the marriage doesn’t have to last forever. We can draft up a contract, it will only last for two years, and then you can go ahead and divorce him. The company should have fully stabilized by then.”I didn’t say anything, hell, I couldn’t say anything. What am I supposed to say to that?Victor held my hand, “Aria, I know this is hard foryou, but think about it. Micah is a good guy, I’ve ran a background check on him and he is a walking unicorn.” He said softly. I sig
For a second, I couldn’t breathe and I could feel the ground shake beneath my feet. My phone slipped from my hand as panic took over. I started dressing frantically, fumbling with the buttons of my shirt. “I don’t know what you just heard,” He said, stopping me at the door, “but let my driver take you. Youlook out of it.” I barely managed to say a “thank you” before rushing out. The hospital smelled like antiseptic and something else I can't pinpoint. Dread sat heavy in my chest as I rushed inside. Seeing my Dad motionless in the hospital bed, with tubes, wires, machines barely keeping him alive broke something deep inside me. I knelt beside him, tears streaming down my face and soaking thesheets. I can’t lose my Dad like this. I refuse to lose him at all.A knock on the door jolted me up; I turned towards the door and saw Victor making his way to me. I stood up and met him halfway, launching myself into his arms; I broke down the second time today. “Th
This must be a dream. No, a nightmare. There’s this heaviness, this tightness I feel in my chest as I looked at them while they try to adjust themselves. “Ari, Dear, I can explain this.” My Dad said as he tried to reach for me. “What exactly do you want to explain, Dad? The fact that you’re gay or the fact that your dick was just in my boyfriend’s mouth?” I shot at him. Then I turned to my so-called boyfriend, scratch that, my ex-boyfriend. “Is this the meeting you told me you were attending?” I lashed at him. “Ari…I…I was going to tell you.” He said, guilt crowding his features. “You were going to tell me that you’re gay or you’ve been fucking my Dad? What a fucking joke you are!” I yelled at him. “Ari…” My Dad started. “How long?” I asked, cutting him off. Then I turned to Finn, “How long have you been fucking my Dad, Finn?” He looked at me, then he looked down in shame. “Answer me!” I yelled, barely containing the rage coursing through my veins. “
The flashing cameras found me before I even stepped out of the building. “Ari! Is it true you're in a relationship with Derek now?” One reporter yelled. “This is the third man this month. Do you enjoy using men and discarding them whenever you want?” What the hell? What are they on about this time? I lowered my sunglasses and kept walking, my heels striking the pavement with practiced confidence. Years in the spotlight had taught me never to let them see me crack. “Ari! Say something!” Someone yelled again. Say what? I don't even know what you're talking about! “Move,” one of my security guards barked, creating a path through the crowd and escorting me to my car; with my assistant, Stella, close behind. I slid into the seat, my heart still racing. “So,” I said, trying to catch my breath, “who am fucking this time?” Stella didn't answer immediately, her eyes glued to her tablet, her nose scrunched slightly. That couldn't be good. “Dave Montigo,” she s







