Chapter 3 Kiss In The Dark

Suite no. 300012 | Grayson Group of Hotels,
“The paparazzi are right. Mr Grayson is a playboy!” The young girl from the housekeeping department changed the bedsheet and cleaned Aries’s suite.
“We fire gossipers first at Grayson Group!” the old housekeeping staff said. “Not a word against Mr Grayson!”
“It’s not gossip, it’s frustration!” She sighed. “I wish I could be one of the women he adores. Imagine, he threw on the bed and….”
“Jeez... shut up, girl!” The old woman scolded. “Do your work!”
“A girl can dream!” The girl pouted. “Anyway, what to do with this?” She picked Aries’s white shirt.
“Toss it in the trash! Mr Grayson never wears the same shirt twice!”
***
Cara was walking down the street, totally entranced by her own thoughts. She was abruptly ousted from her job again and did not know what she was going to dine on tonight. She went on walking aimlessly when a hand firmly grasped her forearm, and pulled her back, protecting her from an approaching fast-moving lorry.
“Are you crazy? You’re walking on the running road!” The officer grabbed her arms and noticed her crying. “Are you alright, lady? Do you need some help?” His tone softened.
Cara glanced up at him. “Thank you for saving me.” She said. Her voice was shaky, and the officer frowned, letting go of her arms.
“Are you sure? You don’t look good,” he said in his deep voice.
“I lost my job!” She lowered her head and the officer could count her tears as she started sobbing again.
“It was just a job! Calm down, I’m certain you’ll find another one!” He tried to cheer her.
“Do you know how difficult it is to make it in this city without a job?” Cara snapped at him, arching an eyebrow, but quickly covered her mouth, realizing it was a police officer she has just misbehaved with.
The officer smiled at her action, staring into her hazel eyes that went wide. “I do realize it’s difficult. I was just trying to cheer you up.”
“I know. I’m sorry!” She apologized and looked down, averting her gaze from him. “It’s just… it was a hard day for me.”
“I understand!” The cop smiled. “But when you’re on the road, pay attention to your surroundings. Your life is precious.” He said and Cara looked up at him.
“My life is precious!” She smiled bitterly but didn’t voice her feeling. “I’ll be careful next time.” She spoke. “Thank you, officer.”
“Take care,” he said and turned to walk away.
Cara stood in her place and wiped her tears, taking a deep breath. “My little girl is the strongest!” She recalled her father’s encouraging words, and as she took the first step forward, she heard the officer calling her.
Cara stopped in her track and looked back at him. “Hey!” The officer jogged in her direction. “I think I’ve something for you.” He said, taking out a card from his wallet. “You can try for a job here with my reference.” He handed her a card.
Cara couldn’t believe the universe was finally giving her a break, and she grabbed the card from him. “Thank you so much, officer!”
“It’s alright. Just say Keith Wilson sent you and you’ll be fine.” He left, and Cara’s lips stretched into a huge smile as her eyes took in the name of the company.
***
“Grayson Group of Hotels should always be on the top!” Aries said in his deep voice, inviting the eyes of his employees. “We are going to build our new hotel in New Orleans, and I’d be selecting some of you to lead the project.” He announced, and every face had a smile, wishing for that one golden chance that could launch them straight into the sky as working with Aries Grayson was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“I’ll do an internal evaluation in a couple of days, and those who succeed will have this fantastic chance to direct this project with me,” Aries said. “Questions?” He looked over at his employees.
“What kind of internal assessment, if I may ask?” A girl asked. “Do we need to prepare ourselves for some kind of test?”
Aries’s eyes stared at her, and she gulped. “You just have to do your work sincerely, and the assessment is done!” He said, and she nodded, lowering her head.
“Anyone else?” He asked, but no one dared to put across questions.
“The meeting is adjourned.” He said in a gruff voice and left the conference room. His assistant followed him.
“Mr Grayson, you have a lunch appointment with your grandmother,” He reminded him and Aries groaned on his way out.
An hour later,
Aries joined his grandmother for lunch. “You’re twenty-eight, Aries! Perfect age to get married.” She pestered him while he calmly took a bite of chicken, listening to her.
“I’ve shortlisted some girls for you and you’re going on a date with them. You need to settle down now. I want to play with your kids!” she said. Aries glanced into her dreamy eyes and sighed, realizing she was daydreaming again.
“Grandma, I don’t need to get married to give you grandkids. Just tell me how many you want?” He smirked, and his grandmother smacked his biceps, glaring at him.
“Why are you not excited about getting married?” She asked. “Not ready to say goodbye to your playboy status?”
“Women are not trustworthy. For example, my mom. The biggest bitch of all time!” He clutched the fork, his eyes blazing with fury.
She looked at him anxiously and gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze, and he looked back at his grandmother. The storm in his eyes died slowly, and a smirk stretched on his lips. “How can I share my life with someone I can’t trust?” His cold eyes exposed the void space of his heart.
“Not all women are the same, Aries! I can find a nice girl for you if you trust me, of course.” His grandma chuckled.
“You’re the only one I trust, but I’m not ready to settle down right now.” He said and wiped his mouth with a napkin.
“What about that model you’re dating these days? Aren’t you serious about her?” His grandma inquired.
Aries gave an amused smile. “We have an arrangement!” He said to stay brief and uncomplicated, not getting into the nitty gritty.
“Arrangement?” She lifted her eyebrows when his phone rang up.
“Just a minute!” He said, taking the call from his office.
“Okay, I’ll meet them at the party.” He disconnected the call, taking a sip of his juice. “I really need to go, grandma!” He rose from his chair and kissed her cheeks. “But I’ll visit again. Take care.”
“Be ready at eight. We’re going to a party.” He texted his girlfriend, Sasha Lewis.
***
Keith made it to his extravagant penthouse, had a quick shower after a long day at the office, and changed into grey shorts and a plain white t-shirt. He slouched down on the red couch with a glass of wine and turned on the television.
He was binge-watching a show on Netflix and something on the TV made him think of Cara. Keith grabbed his phone and called someone. “Hey! There might come a girl tomorrow and give you my reference. Hire her.” He directed.
“What’s her name?” The person on the other side asked.
“Umm... I didn’t ask her name!” He answered. “But she’ll give my reference. Make sure she is hired.” He disconnected the call and took a sip of his wine.
***
Cara opened the door of her apartment and slumped down with a thud on the old worn-out couch, throwing her head back. The humiliation she faced at the restaurant took a toll on her again. Life has been unjust to her since the night she was thrown out of her home four years ago.
She had no friend or place to go as the demons of her past chased her away. A new city, unknown roads and a heart heavy with grief wandered on the road aimlessly hoping to find a kind heart and it finally ended when she came before a car and got into an accident.
Lily Morgan, a travel-blogging 23-year-old, was drunk when she crashed into her. Cara woke up in the hospital the next morning and Lily pleaded with her not to file a complaint.
Cara put a condition to take her in and Lily quickly agreed. She took Cara home, and Cara did all she could to make her happy. When she was all better, Lily asked her to get a job and help with the bills.
Now that the demons have tracked her down yet again, it was her fifth job, which she lost because of them. Cara knew Lily would be mad at her when she got back from Paris, as she hadn’t been paying her share lately.
She was rubbing her temples when the doorbell made her jump. The living room was pitch black, and she gulped as the doorbell wouldn’t stop ringing, and then her phone started buzzing in her jeans.
She quickly took it out, only to find Sandra’s name flashing on the screen. She received the call, and Sandra blasted her ear from the other side. “Why the fuck aren’t you opening the damn door?”
“Uh. oh okay!” Cara dashed to open the door and Sandra frowned at her walking inside.
“I’m sorry!” Cara murmured as she saw Sandra throwing her sling bag on the couch and turning to her.
“Why aren’t you taking my calls? I’ve been calling you like crazy!” she snapped.
“I needed some time to clear my head,” Cara answered and sat next to her on the couch.
“Have you eaten?” Sandra questioned, but before Cara could reply, the bell rang again. “Bet you haven’t!” She shook her head and headed to open the door while Cara tried to have a peek. Sandra turned to her with a broad smile on her face, “Pizza!! Come on… come on” she exclaimed and Cara’s stomach growled in response.
They chatted about random stuff over pizza and Sandra didn’t bring up the lady at the restaurant to make her madder. “I met someone today,” Cara said, and Sandra raised an eyebrow. “A Police Officer. He saved me from an accident.”
“Accident?” Sandra looked at her. “Are you alright?” She asked, and Cara nodded her head when Sandra shot her next question. “Was he handsome? Tell me the details, bitch!” She narrowed her eyes.
“He certainly was! Tall, about six feet, black hair, mesmerizing blue eyes....” she continued.
“Fucking angel!” Sandra cut her off and Cara chuckled for the first time in the entire day.
“Indeed!” Cara smiled. “Oh, yes!” She took out the business card Keith gave to her and showed it to Sandra. “He said I can get a job here.”
Sandra’s eyebrows scrunched together as she read the name of the Ascent Group and glanced up at Cara. “This is one of the top ten companies in this country!”
Cara’s mood plummeted when she realized she couldn’t work for a respected company. “What will I do now? This job was my last hope!” She said, her voice choked.
“Then go for it!” Sandra said, but Cara shook her head in denial. “Look, Cara! I don’t know what happened in your past, nor do you tell me, but you can’t let it ruin your present. You have to be strong now.”
“You don’t understand, Sandra!” Cara said. “I didn’t choose this life for me. This life has chosen me! And I can’t do anything about it!” She sighed.
“Calm down!” Sandra rubbed her arm when she got a call from a friend.
“Hey, Tom! What’s up?” She smiled.
“Okay! I’m up for the night.” She answered, and her eyes shifted to Cara. “One more? Okay!” She ended the call and turned to Cara.
“I don’t know what you gonna do tomorrow, but I have got a job for you tonight!” Sandra grinned, staring at Cara.
“What job?”
***
Aries donned a bright blue jacket that perfectly contrasted with his crisp, white tailored-fit shirt. He checked himself in the mirror before he opened one of the drawers and selected one of his most expensive wristwatches from his collection. He adjusted his sleek tie and once satisfied with his look, he left his hotel, and the chauffeur opened the door of the backseat of the car.
“Take me to Sasha Lewis!” His tone was sharp as he dropped a message to Sasha to be ready, as he abhorred having to wait for women. An hour later, the car screeched to a halt outside the apartment complex. Aries walked into the building and headed to the elevator. He pressed the button on the twenty-fifth floor and a faint beep echoed in the elevator before the doors opened, allowing him access to her penthouse with his fingerprints.
His eyes took in the expensive furnishings of her apartment, and he sighed, realizing he still had to wait for her to finish getting ready. He marched upstairs, his steps echoing down the hallway, and gave a sharp knock on her bedroom door. “Sasha, I told you to be ready on time!” His words rumbled in his deep, resonant voice.
“Coming!” Sasha appeared on the doorframe, dressed in a white gown that was cut to accentuate her figure and had a low-cut neckline. She had her hair pulled up in a stunning bun, and diamond earrings caught the light in her ears.
Aries’s eyes lingered on her, taking in every detail from the tips of her toes to the depths of her blue eyes. “How am I looking?” She nervously bit her lips, and Aries leaned against the door frame, taking in her captivating scent.
“I’d have taken my sweet time to describe how ravishing you’re looking tonight!” His finger traced her neck, disappearing into the valley of her breast. “But let’s save it for later. We’re getting late for the party.” He whispered, and she felt his warmth as he took her hand, and they walked out together.
***
Cara stood in the line of servers, her white shirt perfectly tucked into her black skirt, which came up to her knees. Her dark blonde hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail, and she stood professionally with her hands behind her back, as she listened to the instruction of the manager.
“I expect the highest standard of service, as we’re expecting VIP visitors tonight, and there can be no room for error.” He looked them over critically, making sure they were presentable and appropriate.
“Stay attentive to the needs of the guests. If there’s any negative feedback, I’ll be sure to give you the boot right away.” He said, stopping before Cara and fixing her bow tie. “I’ll keep a close eye on all of you. So, stay focused and don’t make me find you sitting idle in some corner.” He spoke, and the staff responded with subtle nods of agreement. “Dismiss!”
The manager waited until the last person had left before turning to Cara.“Listen, girl, we hired you because one of our employees ditched us at the last minute, and Sandra believes you’re perfect for this job. If you make a single mistake, you’ll be dismissed without any sort of severance.” The manager stated firmly.
“I will do my best to meet your expectations, sir,” Cara spoke with assurance and gave a dazzling smile, yet the despair emanating from her hazel eyes was unmistakable.
“We will see!” The manager allowed her to leave.
***
In the limousine, Aries tried to focus on reading an important document on his phone. However, Sasha was more interested in some naughty business. “Not now, Sasha!” He said nonchalantly, his eyes glued to his phone, but she snuggled closer, her long legs crossed, putting on a display for him.
“Why?” she whispered in his ear, and he groaned when her hand reached his crotch.
Aries met her gaze and brushed his lips against hers, and Sasha responded by deepening the kiss. Her hand played with the buckle of his belt. Aries grabbed her wrist suddenly, cutting their kiss short. “Stop if you don’t want to be fucked like a slut in the back seat of the car.” He said, looking deep into her eyes.
“What if I want to?” She arched an eyebrow, biting her lips seductively.
“Behave!” He said sternly, and his cold eyes were just enough to stop her.
***
Cara, with a sincere smile on her face, went to the bar and got the drinks, bringing them to the tables draped in red velvet and making sure she was accommodating to the requests of all the guests.
Her gaze moved around the room as the banquet quickly filled up with VIPs, and for a fleeting moment, she envisioned her father entering the grand entrance with his captivating smile. The thought itself brought a genuine smile to her face that was reaching up to her hazel eyes.
Taking in a deep breath, she slowly made her way to the bar to get the other round of drinks. “Thank you,” Smiling at the barman, she lifted the tray from the counter, and as she manoeuvred through the crowd. A loud commotion echoed in the air, as all eyes were directed toward the entrance.
The room filled with a loud buzz of conversation amongst the women as they discussed Aries Grayson, the renowned business magnet and the CEO of the year. “God, he is so gorgeous!” Cara heard one of the women whispering to another. She attempted to peek between the shoulders of the tall men in front of her but unfortunately could not get a glimpse.
Sandra showed up beside her and gave her a friendly nudge on the arm. “Cara, go there! They need drinks.” She motioned in the other direction, and Cara quickly melted away into the surrounding crowd.
Aries and Sasha, recently the couple had been the subject of much discussion, and the paparazzi had quickly gathered to take pictures of the couple. Sasha linked her arm with Aries as they walked in through the entrance, and after a couple of shots, Aries gestured for the paparazzi to stop, and they stepped aside to let them enter the party.
Aries mingled with the investors he was attending the party for while Sasha was busy with other women. Aries tried to focus his mind on something else to distract himself from the sensation of his arousal, but the heat that she had ignited in him in the car was still going strong. He quickly outlined the reasons for his meeting with the investors and set an official date for them to meet.
Cara appeared at his table, and he took the drink from her without throwing a glance in her direction. “Thank you,” he said in his deep voice. Cara threw a quick glance in his direction, but he had turned his back to her, scanning the area for Sasha, and at last, he saw her at the bar, guffawing and talking with the ladies.
Not wanting to engage in their trivial conversation, Aries fished his phone out of his trousers and sent her a text, gazing in her direction, and a wide smirk stretched across his face as he watched her extracting her phone from her clutch bag and reading his text.
She anxiously searched the crowd for him, her eyes finally settling on Aries, her face mirroring his smirk. Sasha saw him moving in another direction, and she stepped down from her high-rise bar stool to follow him.
“Thank you for this job, universe! I’m not sure what tomorrow will bring, but I’m confident that you have something amazing in store for me, and I’m eagerly anticipating the surprise.” She said in her heart.
The bartenders refilled the glasses. “Here!”
“Thank you!” She maintained her charming smile even after serving ten rounds of drink in her six inches-high heels. Every time she felt her heels killing her feet, she imagined the money she was going to get by the end of the party.
As she was about to turn, a hand groped her buttock and squeezed painfully. Cara’s face lost all colour. “It’s always a pleasure meeting you!” A voice whispered in her ear.
Cara swiftly turned, leaving the tray on the counter, and came face to face with Alfred Doyle. The biggest nightmare of her life. The man dressed in a white suit was in his late forties, and his gaze sent a ripple of terror straight down her spine.
Cara shivered, watching an evil smirk stretching on his lips. “I didn’t expect to see you here tonight. What a surprise!” He exclaimed with a mysterious glint in his eyes. His thumb brushed the metal of her name tag, pinned to the right of her starched white shirt. “Cara,”
Cara’s mouth went dry. Cold sweat appeared on her forehead. “Oh, why are you scared of me?” Alfred grabbed a napkin from the counter and attempted to dab the sweat from her face, but she pushed him and quickly darted away, melting into the throng of people. She just ran without giving a damn about the job, money, or anything. She used the back door through the kitchen and stepped into the dark, empty alley.
Aries puffed clouds of smoke into the air as he heard the crisp click of heels. He crushed the cigarette under his foot, and as soon as he turned, Cara bumped into him. Everything stopped around them as Aries wrapped his strong arm around her waist. Her heartbeat picked a race, and it was loud enough for both of them to hear in the dark, silent alley.
Cara’s heart raced, her mind too overwhelmed to process what was happening. Her body felt like it had been paralyzed, and she remained in his arms without moving an inch. Aries pinned her to the wall and the air between them seemed to hum with energy. “You shouldn’t have teased me!” He whispered in her ear. Cara knitted her eyebrows in confusion and before she could understand anything.
Aries tenderly pressed his lips to hers.

A total of 144 chapters

Chapter 3 Kiss In The Dark

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