Chapter 5 FIVE

ARIA POV

My father finished his coffee as if nothing unusual had just happened.

Like the man standing a few feet away from me wasn't the same man who had spent the night making my entire body burn.

My father finally stood from the table adjusting the cuffs of his suit.

"Adrian." He called.

"Yes, sir,"

"You will drive Aria to her university today."

"Of course, sir."

After he picked up his tablet and walked out of the house without even bidding me goodbye.

Well I wasn't new to that.

Now I was left with him. Adrian. I sat still, staring at Adrian. He didn't look at me, he even didʼnt spare me a glance.

He remained where he was, his face hard as steel.

I forced my legs to move.

I slowly went back to my room to grab my bag. I slammed the door, running my hand through my hair.

"This is a bad idea," I cried out in frustration.

I took my bag and walked toward the door. Adrian was still standing in the exact same spot where I had left him. I walked out anyway.

He moved behind me like a bodyguard.

The walk to the driveway felt longer than usual.

The morning air was cool against my skin, but my body felt hot.

The black car was already prepared outside the mansion gates.

Adrian opened the back door for me bowing lightly. "Miss Bennett," he said, in that same formal tone again.

"Fucking coward," I muttered, under my breath.

I climbed inside the car without saying anything. I didn't want to give him the impression that he has a hold over me.

The leather seat felt cold against my skin. A second later, the door beside me was slammed shut.

Adrian walked around the car and got into the driver's seat.

The engine started.

And just like that, we were leaving the mansion.

The silence inside the car was unbearable. My fingers tightened around my bag.

I stared at the back of Adrian's head. His shoulders were relaxed, while his hands moved calmly on the steering wheel. Like nothing had happened between us, like last night never existed. Like he doesnʼt even know me.

I know everywhere was dark when we saw, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't be able to make out my face. Because I could also make out his face in the dark.

Was he seriously pretending? My chest tightened at the thought of that.

The car stopped at a red light. That was it. I know I shouldnʼy have done that, but fuck I had run out of patience.

"Explain. Now." I yelled, my words came out sharp.

Adrian didn't react immediately, his eyes stayed on the road. Like he didn't hear me.

The traffic light turned green, and the car started moving again.

My anger rose.

"Are you going to pretend you don't know what I'm talking about?"

Still nothing.

I leaned forward slightly in my seat. "Adrian." This time my voice was colder.

Finally, he spoke. His tone was calm.

"What would you like me to explain, Miss Bennett?" he asked.

My jaw dropped. "Are you serious right now?" I asked, my voice shaky.

I didn't want to sound desperate, but I couldn't help it. He made me feel what I haveʼnt felt in years. I couldn't blame myself.

His eyes met mine briefly through the rearview mirror. His expression remained dark, holding no emotions.

"Very serious." He responded, clenching his jaw.

I felt heat rush to my face in embarrassment.

"You spent the night with me." I dropped my voice, "... in that club."

Silence filled the car again.

For a moment, I wondered if he would deny it.

But he didn't.

"I remember," Adrian said.

My chest tightened with a mix of anger and something worse... disappointment.

"Then why are you acting as if nothing happened?"

His gaze returned to the road. "Because nothing happened that should affect my job. What happened at the club remained in the club."

I stared at the back of his head in disbelief. "Your job? Remained in the club?" I repeated still in shock.

"Yes."

"You spent the entire night with me," I said through clenched teeth. "And now you're pretending I'm just your boss's daughter?" My voice rose despite trying to keep it down.

Adrian slowed the car slightly. "Lower your voice, Miss Bennett."

That did it. "Stop calling me that!" The words burst out of me.

"Miss Bennett. Miss Bennett. Miss Bennett." I mocked angrily. "You didn't call me that last night."

The car grew quiet again. For a moment, Adrian said nothing.

Then he spoke quietly. "Last night and today are two different situations."

I clenched my fist, resisting the urge to punch that word off his mouth. "Oh really?"

"Yes."

"What exactly changed overnight, Adrian? Or should I call you the dominant driver now?"

I know I shouldʼt have said that. But you can't tell an angry woman what not to say.

Adrian's jaw tightened slightly at my word, but he ignored it. "You became my employer's daughter."

The words hurt me more than I expected. I leaned back slowly in my seat.

"So that's it?" I asked bitterly. "That's your explanation?"

Adrian didn't answer.

The silence stretched between us.

My mind kept replaying the night in the club. His hands, his voice. The way he looked at me.

That man felt real.

But the man driving this car? He felt like a stranger.

"You knew," I said suddenly. Adrian's eyes darted in the mirror. "You knew whose house you were walking into."

It wasn't a question, it was more of a statement.

He didn't deny it. "Yes." He said coldly.

My stomach dropped.

"You knew I was Victor Bennett's daughter... and you still..." I stopped myself.

Adrian spoke before I could finish. "The club has rules."

My eyebrows furrowed. "What?"

"What happens inside stays inside." His voice was firm now. "That night belonged to the club. Not to our lives outside it."

I let out a dry laugh.

"So you're just going to erase it?"

Adrian didn't answer.

The university gates appeared ahead of us. Students walked around the campus. The car slowed to a stop near the entrance.

Adrian got out and opened my door. "Your university, Miss Bennett."

I stepped out slowly. For a moment, we stood there facing each other.

This was the first time I had seen him up close since this morning. And I couldn't deny the fact that he looked exactly the same. Same posture, same calmness.

But his eyes... They weren't as cold as he wanted me to believe.

"You're lying," I said quietly.

His expression didn't change. "What do you mean?"

"You're pretending it meant nothing," I said, holding his gaze. "But it did, deep down you know that."

For the first time since the drive started, Adrian looked slightly unsettled.

I stepped back, without waiting for his answer. "See you later... driver."

Then I turned and walked toward the university entrance.

I didn't bother looking back, but I could feel his gaze on me.