Page 124 of Tyrant (The Villetti Chronicles)

“It’s a great space… a blank canvas. You could do a lot with it, but I guess it depends on what you have planned.”

A slow smile spread across his face. I don’t know why it made me nervous. He dug his hands into his pockets and stepped towards me.

“I’m glad you like it.”

My fingers tugged at the hem of my jumper. It was nice out so I hadn’t worn a coat today.

“Why does it matter if I like it?”

“Well, you’ll have to sign some paperwork, but once we’ve closed on it, the building will be yours.”

I stood there for a long moment, trying to comprehend what he’d just said to me. My eyes darted around the room again, the realisation dawning on me. Zayn was buying me a building. A fucking building.

“Hold on a sec… did you just say you’re buying this building for me?”

“Yes.”

“Why the hell would you do that? You’ve done a lot of things for me, but this is…”

Zayn’s smile remained as he closed the distance between us and placed both his hands on my shoulders.

“This is your photography studio, Ari, or, at least, it will be.”

I tilted my head back to meet his eyes. Zayn kept telling me he wanted to take care of me and I allowed him to do so. However, I don’t think I realised just how far the care he so desperately wanted to bestow on me went until now.

“You’re buying me a studio.”

“Yes.”

“You’re crazy.”

He leant down until our faces were inches from each other.

“I hope by that you mean crazy for you.”

“You can’t buy me a building. It’s too much.”

He lifted his hand from my shoulder to cup my cheek and run his thumb over my bottom lip. I trembled under his touch. Why did this man have to be so fucking perfect? He was everything I never knew I wanted in a partner.

“I’m not allowed to provide you with a future in the career that makes you happy?”

“Buying me a camera and laptop to edit photos with is not the same as buying me a studio space! I dread to think how much this place costs. You can’t spend that much money on me.”

The amusement in his dark eyes made me scowl.

“If you think me buying you a building in Central London is beyond my means, then you’re seriously underestimating the extent of my wealth, Arianna.” He brushed his thumb over my mouth again. “I planned to buy you a studio, no matter what happened between us. Let me give you the means to carve out the career you’ve always wanted. Let me make your future bright… please.”

How on earth could I say no to that? Besides, I’m not sure he would listen if I told him I didn’t want it. He’d know I was lying. My brain was already in overdrive thinking of all the things I could do to this place.

“You have all the office space you could need on the other floors, but if you don’t like it, I’ll find you somewhere else.”

I shook my head.

“It’s perfect. You know it is or you wouldn’t have brought me here.”

He pulled back slightly.

“Then you’ll let me get it for you?”

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