Chapter 6
The door clicked shut behind Aria with a finality that seemed to echo in her mind. She didn't even bother locking it. What was the point? There was nowhere to go. Nowhere to run. Her father had made sure of that. Everything she had known—the only life she had known—was slipping through her fingers. And in its place was the cold, suffocating weight of reality. She was a prisoner of a deal, a pawn in a game she hadn't asked to play.
Aria collapsed onto her bed, burying her face in the pillow as though she could somehow escape the suffocating feeling that had settled over her. But no matter how deep she buried herself, the truth kept clawing its way back into her thoughts.
She hadn't spoken much after her father left her that day, and Madison hadn't pressed her. Her best friend had come over to try and comfort her, offering the usual distractions—laughing, chatting, pretending like everything was normal. But Aria couldn't bring herself to join in. How could she? How could she pretend that everything was okay when her entire world was falling apart?
Madison had left eventually, leaving Aria alone in her room with nothing but her thoughts. Her mind raced through everything that had happened. It felt like a dream, a nightmare she couldn't wake up from. She had always dreamt of freedom, of stepping outside the confines of her hidden life. But not like this. Not this way.
She had wanted to see the world beyond the estate walls, but now that she was about to be thrust into it, she realized just how terrifying the outside world really was. There was no excitement, no thrill in it. It was all so… foreign. So full of fear and uncertainty.
The thought of being traded like an object, as if her father could so easily hand her over in exchange for a deal, gnawed at her insides. She had always been the secret—hidden away, protected from the world. But now, she was being handed off to a man she didn't know. A man who had been part of the deal that had ruined everything for her. Cassian Cole. The name itself made her shiver, but it wasn't just the name that haunted her; it was the way her father had spoken it—so matter-of-factly, as if handing his daughter over for three months was a normal business transaction.
Days had passed since that morning, each one dragging by slower than the last. Aria had tried to keep herself busy, but nothing felt real anymore. Every conversation, every thought felt like it was happening in a distant dream. The familiar sights of the mansion seemed cold and unwelcoming now, as if they too had betrayed her.
And then came the day—the day her father's deal was to be fulfilled. Cassian Cole was expecting her. A new chapter was beginning, though Aria couldn't see how anything about it could ever feel like a beginning. It was just the end of everything she had known.
The car ride to Cassian's penthouse was an agonizingly long one. Aria stared out the window, watching the world pass her by as if it were a movie she couldn't control. There was a vague sense of awe at the city's towering skyline, the people rushing through the streets, the life that was so far removed from her own. But there was no wonder in it. No joy. She didn't feel alive. She felt numb.
When the car finally stopped, her heart pounded in her chest. She wasn't sure if it was fear or something else. Perhaps it was just a crushing realization that there was no turning back.
The doorman opened the car door for her, and she stepped out slowly, her legs feeling like lead. She tried to walk with her head held high, but her steps felt heavy, like chains were pulling her down. The entrance to the penthouse loomed ahead, grand and imposing, just like the man who was waiting inside.
She was ushered inside, and as she stepped into the lavish foyer, the coolness of the marble floors sent a shiver down her spine. The penthouse was even more opulent than she had imagined—luxurious, sleek, and cold. Everything was polished, pristine, as if no one ever lived here, just admired the empty perfection of it all.
A woman in a uniform greeted her, offering her a drink, but Aria shook her head. She wasn't thirsty. She wasn't hungry either. Nothing could satisfy the emptiness she felt inside.
She was led to a sitting area in the parlor, where the soft light from the grand windows filtered in, casting long shadows across the room. Aria sank into one of the plush chairs, her body rigid with tension. She wasn't sure if it was the luxury or the emptiness that made her feel more out of place. She couldn't stop thinking about the fact that she was here because of a deal. She was here because she was a pawn, not a person.
The minutes stretched into hours, and still, there was no sign of Cassian. Time passed in a blur as Aria sat motionless, barely noticing when refreshments were brought to her—small sandwiches, pastries, tea. But she didn't touch any of it. She didn't want it. She didn't want anything.
The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the occasional rustling of staff moving around, making preparations, or the faint hum of a conversation somewhere in the distance. Aria barely registered any of it. She couldn't. Her mind was too filled with the thoughts that had been swirling around since the moment she left her father's office. The thought that her life—her very sense of self—was now in someone else's hands. Someone who had already made his intentions clear.
Cassian Cole.
She didn't know much about him, except that he was cold, calculated, and ruthless. Her father had warned her about him, though it hadn't meant much at the time. She had never expected to be a part of his world. Now, it was all too real.
The hours dragged on, and Aria felt herself growing more restless. Her nerves were frayed, the anticipation building in her chest like a storm waiting to break. She couldn't stand the waiting any longer.
And then, finally, there was a sound—a soft, almost inaudible tap of shoes against the floor. Footsteps. Coming closer.
Aria's heart jumped in her chest. She stood up abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor. She caught a glimpse of movement from the corner of her eye. A figure, tall and commanding, appeared in the doorway. He stepped into the room, and Aria's breath caught in her throat.
Cassian.
He was exactly as she had imagined—imposing, elegant, and completely unapproachable. His sharp, chiseled features were expressionless, his dark eyes unreadable. He stood there for a moment, surveying her, his gaze cold but piercing.
Aria felt a chill run down her spine, but she held her ground. She refused to show fear.
"Miss Devereux," Cassian's voice was low, almost a growl. "I trust your journey here was pleasant?"
She didn't respond right away. Instead, she just stared at him, feeling a mix of anger and confusion churn in her stomach. Why was she even here? Why had her father agreed to this? Her world had been turned upside down in a matter of days, and all she could do was stand here in this strange, unfamiliar place.
And then, from behind him, another man appeared. He was tall too, with a casual air about him, yet his gaze was sharp and calculating. Aria didn't know who he was, but something about him seemed just as dangerous as Cassian. She glanced between them, trying to make sense of it all.
Cassian didn't wait for a response. His gaze flicked briefly to the man beside him before he turned back to Aria, his eyes narrowing just slightly. "You've been waiting long enough," he said, his voice tinged with something unreadable.
Aria felt her anger flare up, but she bit her tongue. She wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of showing weakness.
Cassian motioned for the man beside him to step forward. "Jaxon," he said, his tone flat. "Take her to her room."
Jaxon nodded without saying a word, and Aria was left standing in the midst of this cold, calculating world.