Chapter 7 Strings Attached

The next morning, Aria sat at her office window, stirring her coffee slowly.

Last night played over in her head again and again.

The way Damien looked when he saw the photo.

The way he still smiled, even after the truth was out.

He thinks this is a game of love.

But this is war.

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.

"Come in," she said.

Mia entered, holding a small file.

"There's something you need to see ma."

Aria raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"It's about Damien's company. He's in trouble."

Aria leaned forward. "Trouble?"

Mia nodded. "They're being audited. A silent investor pulled out two days ago. They're losing money real fast."

Aria smirked.

So his perfect world is already falling apart.

"Thank you, Mia. Keep your eyes on him."

Mia nodded and left.

Later that day, Aria received another text from Damien.

"Lunch today? My treat."

She typed back:

"Only if you bring no flowers."

"Deal."

They met at a small restaurant.

It was a public one.

And it was safe.

But underneath the table?There was real tension.

Damien looked nervous.

"I'm glad you agreed to meet."

"I was bored," Aria replied, sipping water.

He gave a soft chuckle. "You always had that sharp tongue."

"And you always had that forked one."

Ouch.

He looked down.

Then reached for her hand.

She didn't pull away.

Not yet.

"I know I hurt you, Aria. But I want you to give me a chance to fix it. I want to be better person to you."

She stared at him.He looked so convincing, innocent and soft.

But this look and talk were all lies.

"I'll believe you," she said sweetly.

"When?"

"When I see you crawl."

He blinked.

"What?"

"You heard me right," she said, smiling.

That night, Aria walked into her secret apartment again.

This time she added more notes to the wall.

Under Damien's photo, she wrote:

"Loves to beg. Good. Let's make him cry next."

She wasn't done.

She picked up her phone.

Called someone.

A deep male voice answered.

"Still watching him?" Aria asked.

"Yes," the voice replied.

"Good. I need to know who he's meeting tomorrow."

"Got it."

She hung up.

Because revenge wasn't just about the past.

It was about destroying the future too.

And Damien had no idea-

That every step he took now...

Was planned by her.