The Romano Affair

Chapter 7

Chapter 7He waited for them outside The Quake restaurant. A few minutes later, the car they were in arrived. His heart thumped like it always did when she was around. He couldn't wait to see her. Riaz got out first and ran to him. He was holding a cap.

"Dad, look what we got." He showed off the cap to his father. It was black and had the 'NY' emblem in white at the front.

She was wearing one, too. Some of her hair spilling out of it. Colin's eyes feasted on her from top to bottom. She had on a sleeveless white button-up top that left a lot to be imagined with the way her breasts shaped up beneath it. A pair of navy blue jeans that clung to her hips and legs was her option for the lower half and a black pair of glittered six-inch heels covered her feet. She looked hot.

Aria took off the cap when she reached him and his son.

"Hi," she greeted and he responded in the same way. "I guess I'll see you later, Riaz."

"Join us, please. You don't have any plans, do you?"

That was unexpected. She also did something she never did. She looked into his eyes. The man was gorgeous. Did he realize that? Most girls would kill to be with him but here he was inviting her for lunch.

"Uh, no. I don't," she replied. "But I wouldn't like to impose."

"I invited you. You wouldn't be imposing." He smiled at her.

The way her heart was skipping in her chest, Aria was sure she was going to die. And that hot smile only made it beat harder.

"After you," he told her.

A gentleman, he was. Her mind was exploding. Her heart was running. She was smiling in her heart. Her spirit was screaming. Yet with all that going on, she managed to walk ahead of him. Could it be that she liked him?

"So, where'd you guys go?" Colin asked his son, once they were seated at a table and served. Riaz was only too enthusiastic to start listing everywhere Aria had taken her.

She was spooning her food as she listened. Colin was busy observing her. The way her fingers twisted with her spoon in hand. The way she smiled at certain points in Riaz' speech.

When she finally looked up at him, their eyes met. The thrill that shot through her was nothing like she ever felt. And if he could make her feel that way just by looking, what would happen when he touched her?

He smiled coyly at her. It was getting harder to even hold her spoon more so eat. A massive wave of heat filled her face. She knew she was blushing. She couldn't help but look away and pretend that didn't happen.

He noticed. He saw her blush. If he didn't think she was beautiful before then she sure as hell was beautiful now. He couldn't deny it. He liked her! Despite his efforts against it, he liked her.

This was not good. He couldn't. He was only in the country for a few weeks and to think of even taking her with him was such a stupid idea. After all those women he had asked Riaz to be nice to and in the end they left; he couldn't do that again. This time he wasn't thinking about himself only. He had to think about his son, too. 'I can't like her,' he told himself and that was not an option.

***

Second meeting of the day was over. It was around twenty minutes to five o' clock. Colin was still seated in the conference room. He had a mild headache. Probably because of the hot sun, he thought. He closed his eyes for a minute. His phone vibrated on the table.

"Hey, dad. You're meeting's over, right? You said you'd join us if you could. So come on." It was Riaz.

He grunted. He wanted to say 'no' but the kid was already expecting him. "Okay. Okay, I'm coming."

This meant he was going to see her. At this rate, he wasn't going to be able to forget about her. He had to let her go. Surely, he could be provided with another stylist at his request even if it meant importing one from his home country.

They were at an aquarium. Aria was taking pictures of Riaz. She was included in a few. Riaz had his hand in a dolphins' water tank with a diver next to him when Colin arrived. He stood silent next to Aria as she clicked away on the camera.

Aria looked to her left and saw him. His eyes were trained on his son. She cleared her throat.

"Hi," she spoke up.

"What are you doing?" Colin, abruptly, asked.

"Uh, taking pictures," she replied. "Camera man," she said as she held up the camera in her hand. "Or woman."

"No. I mean to my son. What have you done to him?" His tone was very serious. He gazed at her sternly.

"I-I don't follow. Isn't he okay? Did he say something?" she asked.

"Why? Is there something he should say?"

Aria was definitely confused. Her brows furrowed as she tried to comprehend what he was saying but it still made no sense. Her hands dropped to her sides as she turned fully to face him.

"Is there something I should know?"

"Is there something I should know?" he repeated stressing the 'I' in his question.

"But you just said-"

"What did you tell him?"

"I really don't get what you're saying."

Colin looked like he was really trying to stay calm.

"Even a wardrobe stylist must have some work to do but you are here. With my son. Playing! Is there something you expect to be given?"

It all started to make sense for Aria. Did he think?

"Are you serious?"

"Are you?" Colin retorted.

"You're insinuating that I'm using your son to...get your..." She couldn't even get herself to say it.

"Isn't that what you’re doing?" Now it was, really, Aria's turn to look like she was trying to keep calm.

"Listen, I know you're...wealthy and all but that doesn't give you the right to judge me especially if you don't know me. I get that SOME people try to get to your money but that doesn't mean EVERYONE is out to get you!"

Colin pinched his nose. He faked a smile as he looked at Riaz, who was still playing with the dolphins. They had managed to keep their conversation silent.

"I don't want you near my son," he told her.

Aria glanced at her feet not believing what he was implying. She didn't mind staying away, as a matter of fact, she hadn't wanted the job in the first place. She placed her hands on her hips.

"Fine," she said. "I trust you'll find your way home, Mr. Romano." She forced the camera she was holding into his hands before stomping off.

A second later, she stopped, pulled something out of her jeans pocket, walked back and slammed her palm into Colin's chest. It was Riaz's credit card.

Only then did she exit.