10. ETHAN

The dream was pleasant, and I couldn"t remember the last time I had such a peaceful night"s rest. As the warmth of the morning sun filtered through the window, I reluctantly opened my eyes, hoping to bask in the lingering embrace of sleep a little longer.

But as my surroundings came into focus, I was met with a jolt of confusion and disbelief. The room I found myself in was vastly different from my own. Instead of the dark, masculine hues of my bedroom, this room was awash in bright pinks and warm colors, a stark contrast to my usual environment. The bed beneath me felt unfamiliar; softer and more inviting than my sturdy mattress.

It took a moment for the realization to sink in, but when it did, a wave of panic washed over me. I was in Aria"s room.

"Oh, shit," I muttered, my heart pounding as the events of the previous night flooded back to me. I couldn"t believe I had allowed myself to become so vulnerable and let down my guard in such a way.

In a moment of weakness, I had sought solace in Aria"s arms, baring my soul to her in a way I had never done. But now, in the cold light of day, shame and regret gnawed at me, reminding me of the walls I had worked so hard to build around my heart.

I knew I had to leave, to put distance between myself and the woman who had unwittingly chipped away at those defenses with every challenging glance and defiant word. But as I moved to slip out of bed, a pang of longing gripped me, a longing I refused to acknowledge as anything more than desire.

I struggled to push aside the overwhelming emotions within me and bury the rising feelings that threatened to consume me.

Love was a weakness and a vulnerability I couldn"t afford to entertain. I would be damned if I allowed myself to succumb to its charm.

The bond I felt with her was a thin golden thread connecting us. I forced myself to rise from the bed and distance myself from the woman who had unwittingly captured my heart, even as I denied the existence of such feelings.

Aria slept peacefully beside me, her rhythmic breathing a stark contrast to my inner turmoil. It was as though she had no problems in the world, her features softened by the gentle embrace of slumber. The delicate curves of her face and the tendrils of hair framing her temples exuded innocence and tranquility.

As I watched her, a pang of guilt and regret gripped me. How could I face her after what had transpired between us? What if she woke and confronted me, demanding answers I was not prepared to give?

With a heavy heart, I slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb her peace, and hastily gathered my clothes from where they lay strewn on the floor.

My actions hung heavy upon me as I quietly made my way out of her house, leaving behind the warmth of her presence and the unanswered questions lingering in the air.

As I drove home, my mind spun with conflicting emotions. I was lost in thought when a call interrupted my reverie. Glancing at the caller ID, I saw that it was Rob.

"Just the person I needed to talk to," I exclaimed, relief flooding me as I answered the call, eager for the distraction from my inner chaos.

"Good morning to you, too," he replied, his tone laced with amusement at my abrupt greeting.

"Good morning. I"m sorry, but this is no time for pleasantries," I replied hastily, urgency creeping into my voice. "Would you believe me if I told you I was just coming from Aria"s place?"

"Don"t tell me you spent the night there," Rob interjected, his disbelief evident.

"Well, I did," I admitted, hesitating as I struggled to justify my actions. "But we"re not in a relationship, and last night was a mistake in the heat of the moment. Surely, she wouldn"t hold it against me."

"Really?" Rob was skeptical, and his response only amplified the doubts and fears gnawing at my conscience.

"You know what, Rob? I"ll see you in the office in two hours," I declared.

"No problem," Rob responded, his tone casual but curious.

Last night had been one hell of a night, and I wish it hadn't ended. Who knows? Maybe last night could be the first of many.

***

It wasn"t until later in the day that I finally had the chance to speak with Rob as I had intended.

The day had proven to be far more hectic than I had anticipated. Upon arriving at work, I was bombarded with a barrage of tasks and responsibilities. Emails flooded my inbox, demanding attention, and documents requiring my signature piled up on my desk. Impromptu meetings seemed to spring up every minute, which only added to the mental and physical stress of the day.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of juggling competing priorities, I managed to secure a moment alone with Rob. As we sat together, I wasted no time in expressing my desire to reverse the acquisition of Aria"s bookstore.

Rob"s response was not what I had anticipated. With a cheerless expression, he informed me that the deal had already been finalized, and that there was little chance of reversing it.

"Did the bank take ownership of the property?" I exclaimed in frustration and disbelief.

He sighed again, running a hand through his hair resignedly. "Look, Ethan, I"m not sure of all the details," he admitted reluctantly, "but certain... arrangements were made behind the scenes."

I frowned, feeling a surge of indignation. "Arrangements? What kind of arrangements?" I pressed.

Rob hesitated once more, his expression grave. "From what I was able to piece together, someone had a vested interest in ensuring that their deal went through smoothly," he explained.

My pride was hurt. How could I have been outsmarted? "You mean... someone already bought the land?"

Rob nodded. "It seems that way," he confirmed, his gaze meeting mine with a somber intensity. "It looks like a claim on a lien that we missed. There"s little we can do to reverse it now unless the person is willing to sell to you again, but we don't know who it is.."

I understood immediately. Frustration boiled within me, and I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth. "So, you"re telling me that a rival buyer swooped in and sealed the deal behind my back?" I demanded angrily.

"That seems to be the case," he confirmed.

"Well, who the hell is it?" I demanded, my impatience growing by the second. "And how the hell did they manage to pull this off under my nose?"

Rob hesitated, exchanging a wary glance with me before answering. "Their identity isn"t clear yet," he admitted. "But it seems they"ve been making moves under the radar for some time now."

I let out a frustrated sigh, running a hand through my hair in a gesture of exasperation. "This just keeps getting better and better," I muttered, my anger simmering beneath the surface. "So, what"s our next move?"

Rob"s expression grew somber. "For now, all we can do is assess the situation and figure out our options," he replied. "But we need to tread carefully from here on out."

I slammed my fist against the desk. "Damn it, Rob! How could this happen?" I exclaimed.

Rob sighed, rubbing his temples wearily. "I wish I had all the answers, Ethan," he admitted. "But it seems like they"ve been planning this for a while, and they just got the opportunity when you tried acquiring Aria"s land."

"We need to find out who they are and what they"re after," I insisted.

Rob nodded in agreement. "I"ll get my team on it right away."

I leaned back in my chair, trying to quell the rising tide of frustration. "We can"t let them get away with this," I muttered, more to myself than to Rob.

"We won"t," Rob vowed, his voice firm. "But we need to be strategic about our next move."

I nodded, knowing he was right. "Let"s get to work, then," I said.

As I watched Rob leave the room, a knot tightened in my stomach. I had orchestrated the takeover of Aria"s bookstore and land, driven by a desire to expand my territory. Yet, in the midst of it all, I found myself inexplicably drawn to her fiery spirit.

Now, with the emergence of a rival in the picture, the situation has become even more complex. I knew I couldn"t keep my involvement hidden from Aria forever, especially as my feelings for her continue to grow.

The thought of facing her and confessing my role in the takeover filled me with dread. How would she react when she discovered the truth? Would she ever be able to forgive me? These questions slammed into me as I tried to figure a way out of this mess. My hastiness and greed would be the death of me.