“The food is cold but nice,” I commented as I ate the meal Aria had served.
“Oh, come on, you don’t get to complain,” Aria warned. “I did warn you to come to breakfast earlier.”
“I know, but we were both weak to each other’s animal magnetism,” I sighed.
“Yeah, maybe we do,” she sighed.
Her phone started to buzz.
“Strange, it’s my mom,” she said as she picked up the phone. “Hello? Mom?...I’m okay…No, I didn’t go to work today…Yeah…Hmm? Nick?”
She turned to look at me and then back to the phone. “Nick is fine. He’s with me…yeah, we both didn’t go to work today…it’s a long story…”
Her cheeks slowly turned red. “Mom, I told you it’s not like that! It’s really not like that…Is that all?... Oh okay…Alright then, see you, mom…No, I didn’t forget about the deal…Yeah, take care, mom.”
She put down the phone and let out a heavy sigh.
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
“Well, she just called to know where you were,” she replied.
“Did she say why?” I asked.
“No, she didn’t,” she replied. “Sometimes she just acts all random. You think you’ll get used to it, but nah…new mom maneuver.”
“But you love her nevertheless,” I said.
“Well, we both do, my sister and I, that is,” she sighed. “I just can’t tell what she’s thinking sometimes.”
“Well…uhm…” I scratched the side of my head.
“Yeah?” she raised a brow.
“About the deal,” I started to say, “Is it about the thing we talked about? The suitor situation?”
“Yes, sadly,” she seemed even more down, “I still have to meet with the three suitors she’s lined up with.”
“Do you have to?” I asked. “You’re practically a powerful woman now.”
“No, Nick, believe me when I say that I am not nearly as powerful as my mother is,” she said. “Besides, this could also be a good opportunity.”
“A good opportunity? How?” I asked.
“Well, you see, my mother wants me to have a man who is actually very stable, and no offense, that’s not you right now,” she explained.
“No offense taken,” I admitted. “Please continue.”
“But if I spend my time with these guys, I could actually use them to acquire power for you. That way, you can fight back and get back at your brother,” she said. “A wealth transfer is something you need right now.”
“You think it would work?” I had my doubts.
She only laughed and ran her fingers through her hair, “Believe me, I’m not called the Wolf with a huge appetite for nothing. There’s no one I can’t prey on as long as they are male.”
“You say it so coolly that no one would know it’s your sex drive we’re talking about,” I laughed.
“Well fuck you, Nick,” she pouted.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” I chuckled lightly. “I’m grateful, I really am.”