Chapter 53

Aria

Bella was right—I really did need a spa day after all.

As I made my way to work on Monday morning, I felt as if I had turned over a new leaf. With Sarah and her parents—hopefully—out of the way for good, along with a fresh haircut and smooth skin, I felt more refreshed than ever. Like a new woman, honestly.

And I hardly even thought about the unexpected encounter with Arthur, too, figuring it was just an unfortunate little coincidence and nothing more. He seemed like he was just out on an errand or something, just as surprised to see me in the big city as I had been to see him.

And pissed about getting fired, of course. But that was hardly my problem.

When I arrived at work , I immediately made my way to my desk. Of course, I wasn’t expecting anyone to actually notice my small transformation. But the second I walked in, all heads seemed to turn toward me like I was someone completely different.

“Aria!” Lily practically leaped up from her desk, grabbing my hands as I approached so she could inspect my manicure. “Oh my Goddess! Your nails look so nice!”

I blushed a little as she fawned over my nails—even more so when Melissa came over and started touching my hair, Brandon scratching his head in the background with his stained coffee mug in one hand.

“Doesn’t she look nice?” Melissa exclaimed, turning to look at Brandon with her hands on her hips. “Brandon, when a woman gets dolled up, you’re supposed to say something nice. Say something nice. Now.”

Brandon looked like he wanted to die, and I sort of wanted to die as well, but he grunted, “Uh, yeah. She looks real polished or whatever.”

I shook my head and quickly turned away, setting my things down on my desk. “Thanks, guys. I just had a spa day this weekend, that’s all.”

“Ooh, a spa day?” Melissa asked, raising one eyebrow. “Any particular reason? Trying to impress a special someone, maybe?”

I swallowed hard, hating the way my heart stuttered at the mention. “Uh, it was just—”

But before I could finish my response, I felt another presence nearby. I turned just in time to see Darren walking past with a coffee cup in hand, mismatched eyes skimming over me before he stopped and nodded.

“You look… nice, Aria,” he said, his voice carefully neutral. But I didn’t miss the slight hesitation in his words, the way his eyes lingered just a bit longer than usual.

“Thank you,” I managed, keeping my tone as casual as I could muster. But inside, my heart skipped a beat.

Nice? That was it?

All at once, the memory of our almost-kiss flooded back. A part of me had begun wondering over the weekend if I’d been too harsh with him, but I didn’t want to back down. If only because if I did back down, I’d just come across as weak and desperate.

But… I’d be lying if I said that it didn’t sting a little that he didn’t have more to say, as silly as it seemed.

Still, I quickly ducked my head and plopped down in my chair, hoping to avoid any more comments for the way. My traitorous heart would snap out of it eventually, right?

But barely an hour had passed when I heard the secretary saying my name over the intercom. “Aria, you’re wanted in Alph—Mr. Avarise’s office.”

Great. The last thing I needed was to go face Darren now, especially after our little interaction earlier. But I told myself that it was just that: a little interaction. I took a deep breath and stood, forcing myself to keep my expression neutral as I walked toward his office.

When I stepped inside, he was seated at his desk, sorting through some papers, but he looked up as I entered and gestured to the chair across from him. “Sit, please.”

“Sure,” I replied, taking a seat and clasping my hands together.

He leaned back in his chair and studied me for a moment. I clenched my jaw to keep my lips from wobbling.

“I’ve been thinking,” he began slowly, “and I just don’t feel right not doing something more for you after all you’ve done. For everything you’ve been through, all your hard work lately, and how you’ve handled things around the office… And especially for what you did for me as a kid.”

I blinked, caught off guard. “Oh… well, Darren, I already said you don’t have to—”

He held up a hand, stopping me as he rose from his chair. “No, I do. It’s only right. So I’ve decided to officially hire you. Full-time.”

I stared up at him, momentarily speechless. “Wait… you mean… a real position? With benefits and everything?”

“Yes,” he replied, a slight smile tugging at his lips. “Officially. No more interning or nannying. A real job with benefits. If you want it, I mean.”

The news hit me like a tidal wave, and before I knew it, I was on my feet, throwing my arms around him excitedly. “Do I want it? Of course I want it! Thank you, thank you so much!” I blurted out, unable to contain myself..

But as quickly as I’d hugged him, I realized what I’d done and immediately pulled back, practically falling back into my chair as I tried to regain my composure.

“I… I’m sorry,” I stammered, my face turning a bright shade of red. “I just… didn’t expect that. I’m sorry if that was… unprofessional.”

Darren didn’t miss a beat; it was as if the hug never happened. He was the perfect picture of professionalism today, unlike me, apparently.

“We might have to discuss your package—salary, benefits, that sort of thing. As Lucas’s full-time Nanny, I was willing to pay an exorbitant amount due to his… affection for you. And you will be compensated for that time. But with this position, things may be different.”

I raised an eyebrow, a little confused. “I understand, of course, but… what are you getting at, exactly?”

He cleared his throat. “If you’re going to work full-time here, in the office, then I don’t expect you to nanny anymore on top of it. So if you’d like to stop nannying, that’s fine. But the benefits may change. Unless…”

Darren gave me a meaningful look, asking me a silent question. Nannying for Lucas part-time on top of my job… And I still dogwalked three mornings a week, too. It was a lot, even for me.

But as I considered it for a moment, I knew that it wasn’t too much for me. Not when it came to Lucas. And besides, I’d always been the multiple-streams-of-income type of girl.

I shook my head. “I don’t mind spending some time with Lucas,” I said with a shrug. “Hell, you don’t even really have to pay me if you want me to help out whenever. I… I love that kid.”

Darren’s eyes widened slightly, as if he didn’t expect me to be so open about it. But it was true; I really did adore Lucas. He was a sweetheart, a really good kid. And I had fun with him. It didn’t really feel like ‘work’ with him.

Darren took a sharp breath before saying, “You know, he’s been more obedient lately—more willing to let the others keep an eye on him around the office.”

As he spoke, he gestured to the office below, where Lucas was currently coloring happily by Lily’s feet as she worked. “But I think that’s mostly because of you. It’s clear he… trusts you.”

I felt my chest tighten a little bit at the kind words. “Lucas and I… we get along,” I mused softly. I paused, then added with a chuckle, “I mean, he calls me ‘Mommy’ half the time. It makes it hard not to want to dote on him.”

He nodded, his jaw ticking a little as if there were more he wanted to say but was holding himself back—maybe I’d struck a nerve. Briefly, I was reminded of that beautiful woman in the picture with Darren. Lucas’s mother. Or so I assumed.

“But I want you to know,” he continued, “that if you’d rather focus solely on this new position, you don’t have to continue with the nannying. The choice is entirely yours. And if you do decide to nanny part-time on the side, you’ll be compensated.”

I opened my mouth, honestly ready to tell Darren that I’d do it, even if it was a lot of work. But before I could answer, the door suddenly creaked open. Darren and I both turned to see Lucas’s chestnut hair poking in, his mismatched eyes watery and large.

“Hey, Lucas, bud, we’re having a meeting—” Darren began. But Lucas ignored him and stepped into the room, his lips quivering as he wrung his little hands in front of him.

“Aria?” he said in a heartbreakingly tiny voice, “you… You don’t want to play with me anymore?”