Chapter 24: Chapter 24

JETT

“Your meeting with the lawyers for the finalization of the DYAD buyout had to be moved up to one p.m.,” Aria says as she enters my office and approaches my desk.

“Right, I’ll do a quick lunch in here before then. Those meetings tend to last a while,” I say.

“Okay, and should I reschedule the meeting with the PR firm?” she asks without looking up from her planner.

“Yes, see if they can do a Zoom meeting on Thursday morning, please,” I say. “Also…”

I get up from my desk and approach her.

“Do you have plans on Friday?” I ask as I stand right in front of her so she has to look up at me. She’s wearing gray slacks and a raspberry-colored blouse, and I’m desperately guessing what she’s wearing underneath.

“I’m going to hang out with my grandma,” she says with a polite smile.

“Ah, of course, and what about Saturday?” I ask nonchalantly.

Her smile drops as she searches my face inquisitively.

“How’d you know? Did someone tell you?” she asks.

I chuckle. “Did you really think you were going to celebrate your thirtieth birthday without me finding out about it?”

She smiles coyly as she raises and lowers one shoulder.

“I don’t normally do anything special for my birthday. I was just going to go grab a few drinks with Katie and Len,” she says timidly. “But maybe…you can come…if you want.”

I raise my eyebrows. “Can I? Well, how about we rent out an event space for the night so we have privacy? Do you like Nobu?” I ask.

She narrows her eyes at me. “Nobu? I highly doubt we can get that by this weekend,” she says, then realization dawns on her. “You already rented it, didn’t you?”

“Guilty,” I say.

She sighs but smiles and shakes her head. “You’re crazy, you know that?”

I chuckle and kiss her lips. I want her to open her mouth, but she pulls back instead. She’s always extra cautious at the office.

It’s been two weeks since our balcony date night, and Aria and I are simultaneously maintaining two separate relationships.

Between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., we’re colleagues, and she’s remained on as my temporary PA.

Between 5 p.m. and 8 a.m., we can’t get enough of one another, and I’m completely infatuated with her. She wants to take it slow, and I respect that, but our work relationship is softening as our personal relationship deepens.

“I’ll let Len and Katie know,” she says.

“They already know,” I say.

Aria’s eyes widen as she tilts her head to the side.

“All right, the secret conversations with my friends have to stop! When do you even have time to do this stuff?!” she demands.

“Well, you made me change my work hours, so I have a little more time on my hands,” I say.

“Yeah, well, normal people don’t want to work twelve hours a day,” she says.

“What’s normal, anyway?” I say, and she laughs. I kiss her again, running my hands down her back until they rest on her round ass, then I squeeze.

She squeals into my mouth, then pulls away. “All right, I’m leaving now, you bad boy,” she says playfully.

“Worth it,” I say.

I’m excited to hang out with Aria’s friends, but I’m also nervous.

In fact, I can’t think of anything I’ve been more nervous to do than this, including spending time with Louise. The evening has to go well, and I’m willing to do just about anything to make sure of it.

***

On Friday, Aria ducks out early to see Louise, which gives me the opportunity to leave early as well. I have David take me to the legendary jewelry store, Tiffany & Co.

As I enter, I am greeted by a familiar face.

“Jett Abrams, is that you?”

Melanie Gill is an expert in fine jewelry and goods, with a keen sense for helping people find things they don’t know they’re looking for.

Lena and I met with her frequently when we were together so Lena could shop for pieces to complement outfits for various red-carpet events. I still send a personal shopper here occasionally for my mom’s birthday or other special occasions.

“Melanie, nice to see you,” I say as she approaches, and we exchange a polite hug and cheek kiss.

“And you! To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Well, I’m hoping to find a gift,” I say.

“And you didn’t send Hallie?” she asks.

I smile politely. “I decided this needs a personal touch.”

“Well, the recipient must be quite special, then,” Melanie says with a raised eyebrow. “Tell me about her; what does she like?”

We start walking through the main room filled with spotless glass cases featuring various sparkling items.

“She’s smart, fierce, and stunningly beautiful yet humble,” I say.

“She sounds lovely. Earrings? Bracelet? Necklace?” Melanie asks as she steps around a colleague—a short girl in a blue skirt suit—who is cleaning the glass cases.

“I’m not sure,” I say. “I’m open.”

“What’s the occasion?”

“It’s her birthday,” I say quietly. There aren’t many others near us, but I want to be discreet.

“Okay, something for a romantic birthday, let’s see here…” Melanie opens a case and starts to pull out pieces.

I look up and see the girl in blue looking at me. Her cheeks turn red, and she goes back to cleaning.

“Here are some pieces from a brand-new collection featuring brushed white cold-water diamonds and a brilliant sapphire for that ~wow~ factor.”

“Hmm, they are lovely, but…”

“You aren’t blown away,” she says, finishing my sentence.

“Right,” I say.

She returns the pieces and follows me as I continue to peruse the case.

We look at several more pieces with no luck. I find them all beautiful but don’t feel they suit Aria.

“Sorry to be so picky, Melanie,” I say. “I guess I just don’t feel like any of these are special enough. I want something one of a kind, something only she will have.”

Melanie smirks. “Well, sounds like we should visit our vintage collection. Follow me.”

Melanie and I weave through the store, past other shoppers and glamorous displays. Up the stairs, I see the iconic Tiffany’s necklace worn by Audrey Hepburn behind a wall of glass next to life-size posters of the young actress.

After we walk through two open glass doors, we enter a smaller, private room with several cases of jewelry. Melanie and I begin to walk slowly through the space as we peruse the items.

Suddenly, my attention zeroes in on something truly eye-catching.

A large, rosy diamond sits inside a ring of smaller white diamonds on an intricate filigree band. I can picture it sitting on Aria’s hand, and my heart skips a beat.

“Something finally sparked your appetite?” Melanie says. “Oh, I didn’t think you were shopping for an engagement ring?”

“I…am not,” I say, but I can’t tear my eyes away from the brilliant ring.

Melanie pulls it out and sets it in front of me in a small ring holder.

“Made in 1963, this beautiful diamond was discovered in a mine in Brazil. Its rosy hue is truly unique given its incredible clarity. The filigree is also truly one of a kind,” she says.

“It is lovely, but I don’t want to scare her away,” I say.

Melanie laughs. “With all due respect, I think this would do quite the opposite,” she says. “Let’s keep looking.”

Farther down the case, Melanie pulls several pieces out, including a necklace with a large silver flower adorned with small diamonds at its center. I pick it up to inspect it further.

“Ah, you have good taste,” she says. “This is from a collection from a guest designer in the late eighties. Its white gold and quarter-carat diamonds are of exquisite quality.”

“It’s perfect,” I say.

“Great. Shall I wrap it up for you? It’s thirteen thousand seven hundred dollars,” she says.

“Please,” I say. “And, out of curiosity, how much is the ring?”

Melanie lifts an eyebrow slightly, then looks at the box that the ring rests in.

“Two hundred eighty-eight thousand dollars,” she says.

“Good to know. Do you have a lot of interest in it?” I ask.

“Most people stop and look. I haven’t seen a serious buyer yet,” she says.

“I see. Well, I’ll keep it in mind if the time comes,” I say.

***

The next evening, I knock on Aria’s door and hear her call from inside.

“Just a minute!”

Finally, she opens the door, and I see her eyes widen in surprise and excitement as she sees me. “I thought I was meeting you downstairs in ten?”

I smile wide as I look her up and down. She’s still barefoot, but she has poured her svelte frame into a black top and matching skirt with an inch of soft skin in between. Her hair is pulled back into a low ponytail, and sparkly copper eyeshadow highlights her eyes.

“You look amazing,” I say. “I wanted to give you your gift in private.”

I hold up the blue bag from Tiffany & Co.

“Oh…,” she says breathily. “What have you done, Jett Abrams?”

We enter her apartment, and she closes the door behind us. She sets the bag on the kitchen counter and then looks at me. I smile and nod. She tears into the bag.

My heart soars as I watch her lift the flower necklace out. Her eyes widen, and her mouth drops open.

“Oh, Jett…,” she says softly.

“You like it?” I ask as I watch her inspect it.

“It’s gorgeous,” she says. “I—I don’t know what else to say. It’s amazing.”

“That,” I say, taking the necklace from her, “is exactly what I was hoping you would say.”

I circle around her and clasp the necklace around her neck. Then I spin her around so I can look at it on her.

“Gorgeous, as always,” I say.

I lean in and kiss her. Her arms slide around my neck, and her intoxicating smell invades my senses. She pulls back.

“Thank you…~so much~,” she says. “Let me just grab my shoes, and we can go.”

It’s all I can do to let her leave my grasp and watch her walk away. I am suddenly very eager to get her home tonight.

In the car, I watch Aria fidget with her necklace, her purse, and her hair. She checks the time on her phone several times. Finally, I reach over and place a hand on her thigh.

“You okay?” I ask.

She smiles. “Yes. A little nervous, I guess.”

“How come?” I ask.

“I dunno,” she says as she turns back to the window.

I reach over, grab her chin, and turn it back to me.

“Aria?” I ask.

She looks at me then drops her gaze. “Um, well, this is like…official, right? You planned my birthday party; we’re attending together…”

“I said we can go as slow as you want.”

She nods. “I know, and we are, but this was always going to be a big step for me,” she says. Then she looks at me again. “I really like you. It’s not you that I’m worried about. It’s…well…the rest of the world.”

I nod. “I know. Just know I’ve got you,” I say.

She smiles.

“Thank you,” she says. “Um, and there’s one more thing. I…invited my dad.”

My heart drops slightly. I search Aria’s face and see she is clearly holding her breath, waiting for my response. But underneath her apprehension, I see how hopeful she is.

I’m nervous about the sudden appearance of Aria’s dad, but I also know I would do almost anything to make her happy. So, I smile.

“Can’t wait to meet him.”