Chapter 1

• Aria's perspective
• “You are fired.” My boss walked off in a huff after pronouncing my "sentence".
• "Oh no!" I groaned as my eyes settled on the big box that sat on the edge of the desk.
• Standing up resignedly, I grabbed the box and tossed it on my chair. With a hand, I swept off everything from my desk into the box and heaved a sigh.
• "Do you need any help clearing all out, Aria?" Sarah's annoyingly chirpy voice buzzed in my ears.
• "Thanks, but no." I answered listlessly.
• "You know, I've always been wondering how you got employed in the first place, Aria.”
• Sensing the mock in her tone, I looked up, only to find Sarah flashing me a pretentious smile while arranging the files on her desk.
• Before I could even come up with something to snap back at her, the office door was shoved open forcefully.
• It was my boss again.
• “I told you to get out of here in ten seconds! Wasn't my orders were clear weren’t they?” He was thunderous
• “Crystal clear, Sir.” I lifted my box, forcing a smile. “...I’m leaving right away.”
• It was getting late outside. Walking on the street aimlessly, I couldn't feel worse.
• Finding another job wouldn’t be easy since I was considered a mole in the company.
• Yes, I revealed trade secrets to a rival company. More specifically, they offered to pay me for that when I happened to need money to settle my debts.
• That explained why I ended up here now. Just as I was deeply troubled by all this mess, my phone beeped.
• Dropping my box down on the ground, I got the phone out of my back pocket. It was a message from the landlady.
• My rent was overdue, and she was gonna lock me out tonight.
• “Argh!” I screamed and ruffled my hair with both hands. With tons of bills piling up, I gotta land a new job as soon as possible. Or I'd become officially homeless.
• Fuck!
• As I finally made my way to the bus station, the last bus had just left before my eyes...
• Just perfect!
• Nothing seemed to work in my way today.
• Worst day ever! Beaten savagely by the harsh reality, I started to walk home awfully, my shoulders sagging.
• Maybe it was time to leave New York for my hometown in Maine, where I lived with my parents before they had passed away.
• That’s if I couldn’t get a job the following week. I would be kicked out of my apartment by then.
• My stomach growled loudly as I was lost in deep thought.
• Couldn't feel a penny in my pocket, I found myself come to a dead end when my feet took me into a park by the roadside.
• Sitting down on an empty bench near the entrance, I took a deep breath and was about to pity my dog's life when a faint din reached my ears from the depth of the park.
• "What's going on? Is anyone having a campfire party here?" I spun around curiously and caught a few glimpses of flash now and then.
• After taking a few more steps inside the park, I was able to find that several young men and women were seated around a merrily blazing log fire in a green space, talking, drinking and eating.
• It was an outdoor gathering indeed! Thank God! He had some mercy on me nonetheless.
• My stomach grumbled noisily as my roaming gaze stopped on the steaks.
• Swallowing hard, I moved my feet and tried to mingle in.
• My eyes widened at the grand food as I approached them. Stopping beside a man who was serving himself some lasagna, I grabbed a plate and waited for my turn.
• When I was glancing sideways nervously to check if I got noticed by anyone, someone came to my side. I could smell his strong cologne and feel his predatory eyes on me.
• It seemed like a century when it was finally my turn. Not planning on sticking around for long, I simply filled my plate with steaks and pasta.
• I just had this strong feeling that his scorching gaze would follow me wherever I went. I'd better just leave after filling my empty belly.
• “Is that enough? You can take some more.” A deep baritone whispered behind my ears, at which I flinched.
• “Did I scare you?” He asked, his gaze narrowed and his mouth drawn tight. I could feel his voice in my stomach, deep and confident.
• “No, I'll just...” I pointed toward the entrance of the park, hating how guilty my voice sounded.
• Looking away from his blue but burning eyes, I fled away from his presence with my plate.
• Sitting inconspicously in a corner, I was ready to devour the food when his stares sent shivers down my spine.
• His eyes wouldn’t go off me! I noticed he had been watching my every move.
• I ate the food quickly, feeling so uncomfortable under his stare. Why was he ogling over me like a hawk?
• I couldn’t wait to get out of there.
• What have I gotten myself to this time?
• Ignoring the shivers that ran down my spine, I stood up and headed out of the park.
• Nervously, my hands ran down my jeans. When throwing a glance over my shoulders, I saw someone following me.
• Someone was coming after me!
• I increased my pace; so did he. My heart thumped wildly in my ribcage as if it would burst out of my chest any time.
• Finally, I took to my heels, running as fast as I could. My mind was spinning.
• “Somebody help!” I screamed out.