Page 19 of Bound to the Bratva
Aria rolls her eyes, but I ignore her reaction and focus on Emily. She seems more receptive to my presence than Aria does. Perhaps she can help bridge the gap between us.
"So, Emily, how long have you and Aria been friends?" I ask casually, taking a sip of my drink.
Emily shrugs, clearly still thrown off by my unexpected arrival. "We've been friends since college. We were roommates freshman year and just clicked."
"That's wonderful," I reply sincerely, trying to maintain a friendly atmosphere despite Aria's obvious disdain.
Aria finally decides to join the conversation, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Maxim here has a habit of inserting himself where he isn't wanted."
I turn to face Aria fully, leaning in closer with mock innocence. "Oh, little girl, if I waited around for an invitation from you, we'd never speak."
Her eyes flash with irritation as she opens her mouth to retort, but before she can say anything, Emily interjects hastily. "All right, all right, let's all calm down kids," Emily says, trying to diffuse the tension between the two of us. "Maxim, um, who are you exactly?"
I feel a twinge of disappointment that Aria hasn't told anyone about me. "Has Aria not told any of you about me?" I glance around the table of women.
All of them are silent, looking at their friend for some sort of answer. Aria shifts uncomfortably in her seat, avoiding eye contact with both me and her friends. Her silence speaks volumes, confirming my suspicion that I am a big secret. The atmosphere at the table becomes tense, with each woman exchanging confused glances.
I maintain my composure, trying not to laugh at the situation I'm in. Instead, I wear a calm smile and lean back in my chair, taking another sip of my drink. The women at the table are waiting for an explanation, and it's clear that Aria is reluctant to provide one.
"Well," I begin, my voice gentle yet filled with authority, "Aria and I are engaged to be married."
The news elicits a mixture of surprise, shock, and disbelief from the women. It seems they have absolutely no idea about our arrangement. One of them breaks the silence, her voice laced with curiosity.
"But how did you two meet?" she asks cautiously. "Not to be rude, but I've never even heard about you. I don't think any of us have."
I turn to look at Aria, giving her an opportunity to speak up for herself. Yet, predictably, she remains silent. Her reddened cheeks betray her discomfort as she fidgets with her glass.
Clearing my throat, I proceed to share our story in a way that paints Aria in a favorable light. I speak of how our families have long been business partners and how our engagement was seen as a way to solidify that partnership. I emphasize that despite this arrangement, I genuinely have come to care for Aria. It's all bullshit, but her friends don't need to know that.
Although I have no obligation to protect her reputation or feelings after her deliberate secrecy, I choose not to expose her true nature to her friends just yet.
Seven
Aria
I cannot fucking believe Maxim. Why is he here? Did he follow me or something? Now all of my friends know I'm engaged, and I didn't even tell them. God, this is a big fucking mess.
Lori glances down to my hand. "If you're engaged, where is her ring, Maxim?" There's a bit of sass in her voice.
"Well, it's being resized so it won't slide off her finger anymore." Wow, I can't help but roll my eyes at Maxim's response. The audacity of him to come up with such a smooth explanation on the spot. But deep down, I can't deny that his quick thinking doesn't intrigue me a little bit. Despite my best efforts to stay mad, my curiosity gets the best of me.
Lori leans forward, her eyes narrowing as she studies Maxim intently. "Resized, huh? Well, you better make sure it fits perfectly, or Aria here might think twice about that engagement." There's a hint of drunkenness in her tone and I know she's playing around with him.
Maxim chuckles, unfazed by Lori's playful threat. "Don't worry, Lori, I intend to make it fit like it was tailor-made for her."
Her sassy demeanor softens into a mischievous grin. "Well then, I can't wait to see this ring of yours, Maxim. It better be worth all the secrecy."
I shoot Lori a look mixed with both amusement and annoyance. She's always had a knack for pushing people's buttons just to get a reaction out of them. And she knows damn well that her teasing only riles people up. She loves getting reactions when she's playing around. She's a real bitch like that, but I love it.
Maxim turns his attention back to me, his voice lowering to a more intimate tone. "Aria only deserves the best, and that's what she has."
His words sent a shiver down my spine. There's something about the way he's speaking that makes my heart race with anticipation. Maybe there's more to this man than meets the eye. I doubt all of it is good, but I am so curious.
"So, your father's must be very good friends then," Emily finally pipes up, moving her gaze between me and Maxim.
"Yes, they've known each other for a long time," Maxim replies smoothly, his eyes never leaving mine. There's a flicker of something in his gaze, a mix of intensity and vulnerability that makes me question everything I thought I knew about him.
Emily raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the connection between our families. "Interesting. I didn't know you were from such prestigious backgrounds, Aria."
