The Arrangement

Authors pov.

Aria gripped the polished crest of the gold armchair, her knuckles turning bone-white under the pressure. She stood in silence as she watched the household maids scurry down the grand sweeping staircase, their arms heavily loaded with her designer luggage and the few personal belongings she was allowed to take. This sprawling mansion was the only home she had ever known, and now she was being evicted from it.

Mr. Thorne strode into the parlor. He held a glass of fresh juice in one hand, radiating the calm authority of a man who commanded an empire and never took no for an answer. "What is with the long face, Aria?"

Aria jutted out her bottom lip in a deep pout. "I am going to miss you, Dad. And I am going to miss Brody."

Her father chuckled. He walked over to a nearby marble table, carefully setting his glass down to free his hands. He opened his arms wide, a warm smile softening his stern features. Aria did not hesitate. She collapsed forward into his embrace, letting his familiar, strong arms wrap tight around her petite frame. He stroked her jet-black hair with gentle motions, trying to soothe the stiff tension radiating from her shoulders. The comforting paternal gesture, however, did nothing to extinguish the bitter anger she was trying so desperately to bury inside.

Aria was his youngest child, his only daughter, and the guarded center of his overprotective universe. She had just earned early admission into her dream university in Seattle. Her perfect, long-awaited plan was to finally move out and live with her boyfriend, Brody, who had been studying in the city for over a year. That dream shattered into pieces the moment her father intervened. He mandated that she live under the strict supervision of Vance, his younger best friend.

The very thought of living under Vance’s roof provoked a fresh wave of resentment.

Mr. Thorne was terrified for her safety in a new city. Aria was petite, blessed with flawless pale skin, bright hazel green eyes, and plump lips. But it was her body that had blossomed into a dangerous distraction. She possessed a tiny waist that flared out dramatically into a big ass and heavy tits. Her father knew exactly how men operated. He knew her body got their dicks throbbing the moment she walked into a room, and he refused to let his daughter become just another victim of sexual assault or rape. Putting her directly in Vance’s territory was his ultimate insurance policy.

Aria pulled back slightly from the hug, looking up into his eyes. "Can I please just not live with Vance, Daddy? I want my own life. I can take care of myself."

Mr. Thorne exhaled a heavy, measured breath. "I have known Vance since I was twenty-nine years old. He stepped up and became my closest ally right after his brother passed away. He is my best friend, Aria. He knows how this world works, and I feel safe letting you stay under his roof. He will protect you from anyone who tries to look your way."

Aria swallowed her protests. She knew the finality in her father's tone. No amount of begging, pleading, or crying would ever get her dad to change his mind once his decree was set in stone. She had to live by his rules.

Mr. Thorne patted her shoulder firmly. "You are going to miss your flight. Let us get going."

Aria took one last, sweeping look at the opulent parlor. Her heart stiffened painfully in her chest. She really was going to miss her father and the security of this fortress. Hot tears burned the back of her eyes, threatening to spill over, but she blinked hard, forcing them back down. She would not cry today.

She followed her father out the massive front doors, walking briskly to the waiting armored SUV. They slumped into the leather seats, and the convoy took off toward the private airstrip.

The cold Seattle wind whipped wildly through Aria’s dark hair the second she stepped off the plane. She stopped on the tarmac, letting her eyes flutter to a close before popping back open. She tilted her head back to stare up at the cloudy sky. A sudden surge of pure happiness flooded her chest, washing away the lingering gloom of the morning.

Aria breathed out happily, a bright smile breaking across her face. "Seattle, here I come!"

All the pain and frustration in her heart seemingly vanished into the crisp air. It had always been her ultimate dream to visit Seattle, and now she was finally standing here on her own two feet.

The sharp beep of her phone vibrating in her pocket pulled her aggressively out of her optimistic thoughts. She reached into her jacket and pulled out the device. It was her best friend, Chloe.

Chloe giggled loudly from the other end of the line. "Hey, dolphins!"

Aria dragged her heavy suitcase through the bustling airport terminal, scanning the area for a quiet place to sit. "That name sucks, Chloe."

Chloe let out a dramatic, pitchy laugh. "Everything sucks to the Aria I know."

Aria scoffed, rolling her eyes as she found an empty metal bench. "Have you arrived yet?"

"Yes. I am at the airport right now."

"Did the grand plans change? Are you going to Brody's place?"

Aria let out a loud, frustrated sigh and slumped onto the cold seat. "No. My dad still insists that I stay with Vance. It is a total nightmare."

Chloe laughed, the sound muffled as if she were covering her mouth. "I am sorry, girl. But honestly, this isn't even a bad idea. I mean, plenty of women would literally pay good money to be in your position with him."

The joke successfully aggravated the deep anger Aria was already feeling. She rolled her eyes in pure disgust. "I am not like a lot of girls. I do not wish to live with him, and I certainly do not care about his money or his face."

"I suppose she is protesting against living with me."

The husky, tantalizing baritone voice broke straight through the noise of the terminal, hitting Aria’s ears like a physical strike. A chill instantly ran down her spine. Her fingers went numb, loosening their tight grip on her phone. She did not even need to turn around to catch a glimpse to know exactly who was standing behind her. How could she ever forget his voice? It was the kind of deep sound that sent shivers straight to a woman's core.

Chloe gasped through the receiver, jolting Aria out of her frozen state. "Is that his voice?"

Aria swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. She tapped the red button to hang up and gripped the phone tight against her chest. She forced her legs to move, turning around to face her newly appointed warden.

Her breath hitched in her throat. Vance was taking slow, deliberate, and incredibly steady steps toward her. Aria blinked softly as she stared up at the perfectly structured, six-foot-six giant of a man. His long raven hair was neatly braided back, drawing full attention to his pointed nose and his sharp jawline that looked as dangerous as the edge of a combat knife. His pale pink, plump lips were curved into a faint, knowing smirk. As he moved, the wind from the terminal doors caught his dark jacket, blowing it wide open to reveal his broad shoulders and the thick muscles of his arms.

He was thirty-three years old now, and he had grown far more intimidating and fully developed than her teenage memories had prepared her for.

Vance stopped mere inches from her. The rich, intoxicating scent of his expensive cologne instantly captivated her nostrils, making her head spin.

He called out the condescending nickname the moment he stood over her, shattering her silent admiration. "Baby girl."

Aria’s irritation flared up instantly, masking the sudden, treacherous flutter in her stomach. She rolled her eyes. "I am not the baby girl from high school anymore. I am all grown up now."

Vance used her defiant statement as an open invitation to inspect her. His dark gaze dropped from her face, tracing a slow, burning path down her body. He did not bother hiding his blatant hunger. He stared directly at her heavy tits pressing against her shirt, tracked the sharp dip of her tiny waist, and lingered heavily on the wide flare of her big ass. The little Aria he once knew had transformed into a woman built strictly for sin. His mouth practically watered. His mind filled with the vivid thought of grabbing that ass and gripping it tight.

Aria felt her cheeks burn furiously under his intense objectification. She snapped her fingers aggressively in front of his face. "Isn't it bad manners that your eyes are about to tear my clothes away in the middle of a public airport?"

Vance did not flinch. He batted his dark eyes softly, his lips stretching into a low, seductive smile. "Do you think my hands would do a better job?"

Aria stamped her foot on the tile floor, furious at how effortlessly he bypassed her defenses. He had grown infinitely naughtier, and he wielded his dominant charm like a literal weapon against her. "You do not intend to keep me standing here forever, do you?"

"No, baby girl. I just wish to stare a little bit more."

Aria groaned in sheer frustration. "I am not your baby girl!"

Vance watched her face flush with anger. He liked the cute, furious expression she wore. It made him want to push her buttons even harder. Bullying her was already proving to be entertaining, and getting that fiery reaction out of her was his new favorite reward.

He leaned down, closing the gap between them until his lips were hovering dangerously close to her ear. "Seeing that you are already too grown for the name baby girl, should I call you momma?"

His voice dropped to a gravelly, vibrating whisper that was barely audible over the airport noise. Aria felt her heart skip a frantic beat at the dark, promising undertone in his words. The sudden, overwhelming physical tension rooted her feet firmly to the floor.

Vance pulled back slightly, flashing a wicked grin. He scoffed lightly. "Do not stare at me too much, momma. You might just fall for me."

Aria opened her mouth to shoot back a biting retort, but Vance gave her zero chance to speak. He reached out and snatched her small hands into his large ones, his fingers locking around hers in an unbreakable iron grip. He snapped a quick order at his hulking security guards to grab her suitcase and the rest of her stuff.

Without a single backward glance, Vance began walking toward the exit, dragging her effortlessly along with him. Aria stumbled forward, helpless to resist his overwhelming physical authority.