Chapter 248
Author’s POV
That night.
Freshly out of the shower, Julian stood in his luxury penthouse apartment, a white towel loosely wrapped around his waist.
He glanced over at his phone vibrating on the glass coffee table, raising an eyebrow at the interruption.
Without rushing, he walked across the hardwood floor, picking up the device with mild annoyance flickering across his face.
Seeing the caller ID, he hit the speaker button and placed it back down. “What is it?” he asked flatly.
It was, unsurprisingly, Christopher Garcia calling.
“What the hell are you playing at?” Christopher’s voice exploded through the speaker. “You seriously told the producers of ‘Secret Getaway’ that you’ll only participate if they bring Aria on as a guest for one episode? Are you out of your damn mind p>
“Julian, have you lost it completely? She’s married! She’s Aiden Carter’s wife now, and they’re apparently crazy about each other! Didn’t you see them trending on T yesterday p>
“For twelve years you’ve kept your image squeaky clean and focused on your music. Now suddenly you’re acting like some lovesick teenager making impulsive decisions without thinking p>
Each word from Christopher’s mouth dripped with frustration. Julian continued his bicep curls with a dumbbell, not bothering to defend himself. He waited until Christopher finally ran out of steam before responding.
“Are you done?” he asked calmly.
“You’ve put the call on speaker and aren’t even listening again, aren’t you p>
Afraid Christopher might explode again, Julian replied with a short, “I heard you.” “Well if you heard me, then back the hell off! I’m too old for this shit, and I’m not cleaning up your mess at 3 AM when this blows up in your face p>
Sometimes Christopher thought Julian would be easier to manage if he were just a womanizer, changing girlfriends daily. At least those situations could be handled with money and NDAs. But Aria was Aiden Carter’s wife now. If anything happened between them, Julian’s career would be finished.
Julian had been with Christopher since he was eighteen. They’d built their success together over twelve years, and Christopher genuinely cared about him.
“You’re overreacting,” Julian said. “I just want to be on a show with her p>
What he didn’t say was that he needed to see for himself whether her marriage to Aiden was real or fake. Everything online seemed exaggerated, like some scripted reality TV drama.
People didn’t understand Aiden Carter like he did. After years climbing the entertainment industry ladder, Julian knew exactly how ruthless businessmen operated.
The timing of Aria’s marriage to Aiden was beyond suspicious. She’d broken off her engagement to Liam just one month earlier, and she’d spent most of that month in the hospital. Then suddenly she was married to Aiden Carter.
This marriage couldn’t be that simple.
“I’m overreacting?” Christopher’s voice rose again. “Don’t you realize fans analyze every second of these shows with a microscope? You think you can hide your feelings from millions of eyes? Julian, remember – you’re a singer, not an actor p>
“And have you considered Aria’s feelings at all? Whatever the story behind her marriage to Aiden, she’s publicly Mrs. Carter now. If rumors spread about you two, how do you think the Carter family will treat her p>
Of all Christopher’s words, these last few actually penetrated Julian’s consciousness.
“Fine. It won’t happen again. Goodbye p>
Without waiting for Christopher’s response, Julian ended the call.
The vast penthouse fell instantly silent. Julian grabbed his cigarettes, walked to the balcony, and pulled one out. He lit it, inhaling deeply as he gazed across the city lights.
Why was he always one step too late?
After finishing his cigarette, Julian flicked it into the ashtray and stepped back inside. The emptiness of his apartment suddenly felt overwhelming. He poured himself two fingers of whiskey, downing it in one burning gulp.
His bedroom felt like a sanctuary and a prison all at once. Julian collapsed onto his king-sized bed, staring at the ceiling. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. Aria. The woman who had slipped through his fingers.
Almost unconsciously, he reached for his phone, and pulled up her m profile. Her most recent photo showed her at some charity gala wearing a stunning red dress that hugged every curve Hecsmile looked genuine, but did it reach her eyes? Was she truly happy with Aiden?
Julian felt his body responding to the image. He tossed the phone aside and groaned, pressing his palms against his eyes. But the image of Aria remained burned into his mind.
His hand drifted down his bare chest, fingers tracing the defined muscles of his abdomen. Despite his better judgment, his towel was tenting noticeably now. Julian swore under his breath but couldn’t stop himself.
He let the towel fall open, wrapping his hand around his hardening length. “Fuck p>
he whispered, beginning to stroke slowly. In his mind, it was Aria’s hand, not his
own.
Julian reached for his phone again
In
with his free hand, scrolling to find a particular photo of her- one where she was looking directly at the camera, those mesmerizing eyes seeming to stare right through him: His strokes quickened, his breathing’ becoming more ragged.
“Aria,” he whispered into the empty room, his back arching slightly off the bed. He
imagined her lips on his, her body pressed against his. His grip tightened as
pleasure built within him.
His hips began to thrust upward into
his fist, his movements growing
more desperate. Julian’s eyes remained fixed on her photo as sweat beaded on his forehead. The fantasy was so real he could almost smell her perfume, feel her breath on his neck.
“God, Aria,” he groaned, his voice strained. His body tensed as he approached the edge. With a final, forceful stroke, release washed over him in waves. Julian collapsed back onto the bed, chest heaving, his body covered in a thin sheen of sweat.
As the haze of pleasure faded, reality crashed back. Julian closed his eyes, shame and longing battling within him. He cleaned himself up and put the phone away, but the emptiness in his chest remained.
Why was he always one step too late?