Liam
I have finished meeting the surveyors and everything has been taken care of. We have toured the site and the board members are satisfied. It’s a beautiful place, I wish I had taken Ariana with me but she was probably still at work. It’s Friday and I ha upve decided this is the last meeting I am having for the week. I have some paperwork to deal with when I get home, but that won’t stress me.
I was thinking about flying home, with Ariana, if she agrees but I think it is already too late to ask her.
When I get back to my suite, it is 6:30 and I am in need of a shower. Hector is taking my R8 to the car wash, the site was pretty muddy.
After cleaning up, I turn on my phone and check the time. It’s 7pm. Aria’s shift is probably over. I asked to meet this weekend and she told me she would think about it. I want to see her now. I get my phone and dail her number. She answers my call almost immediately.
“Hi,” I say, grinning at myself.
“Hi, Liam,” she replies.
“How are you?” I ask, trying to be casual.
“Am fine. How was work?”
“Good. I went to see the site for the shipyard. The place looks nice, I should have taken you with me,” I say, and hear her chuckle.
“You should have called me. I would have adjusted my schedule,” she says. That’s my line!
“I thought you have your priorities set straight. Are you sure you would have adjusted your schedule?” I hear her laugh from the other side of the line.
“Anyway, we have finished the survey and we are going to start the construction process next month. I met the heads of the construction company that we assigned the project to and we agreed on beginning next month,” I tell her.
“That sounds like a lot of work.”
“It is, but we are all ready for this. I have a lot of expectations from this.”
“I don’t know anything about ships and their construction but I know you are a very capable business man, Mr Carter. I believe you can get anything you want aslomg as you put your heart to it,” she says, making me smile.
“Thanks for believing in me, Aria. I feel much been and less hesitant after hearing from you,” I say.
“Hardly do I ever share my work issues with anyone I am not associated with in my company. Talking with Aria about my ship building project has made me believe in myself the more and stand my ground on this decision I have made to take Carter Ships on a new level. Perhaps I should talk to her about business more often, at least not too often to bore her out.
That reminds me of the reason why I called. I want to see her but asking her to come over right now would be so much to ask. She could accept and come over but that wouldn’t be right. It would have been better if I had called and informed her earlier.
“About the weekend, have you made up your mind?” I ask.
“I don’t have any plans for tomorrow or the entire weekend. What plans do you have?” She asks.
“If you accept to spend the weekend with me, I could come up with an interesting couple of activities we could do together,” I respond.
“Okay, I would love to seeing what you will come up with,” she says.
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes,” she responds with a chuckle. I can’t stop the victorious grin that spreads across my face.
“What time should I pick you up?” I ask.
“I don’t know. I just have to do a morning shift at Taste’s Home. It ends at midday,” she replies.
“Okay. Can I pick you up? We can do lunch together.”
“Sure. That would be great,” she responds.
“Don’t forget to pack yourself an overnight bag,” I say, remembering how she felt about me buying her new outfits when she slept over.
“Are you taking me to your house?”
“Yes, that’s what I was thinking. I want to get out of the city for some time and spend it with you.” I hear her smile from the other side of the line. I am not usually a flirt but I find myself unable to stop myself when it comes to Ariana.
“I would love to visit your house again and have another night to remember,”
“Trust me. I can guarantee more than that.”
I HAVE MY CAR PARKED infront of Aria’s apartment. I text her to inform her that I have arrived and she promises to be down in a minute.
It is a sunny afternoon this Saturday and it is the perfect weather for what I have in mind. Never in my life did I ever imagine myself to be standing anxiously infront of a girl’s apartment. They always find me where I want them and I have never had interest to want to meet them again like I have this urge for Aria.
She was only in my hotel on Wednesday but I can’t wait to see her again. I want to impress her, spoil her and give her everything she could ever want. Maybe that’s why I always want to see her again, because she brings out what is in me that I never thought existed. She is changing me, and perhaps I have already changed. I think that’s why Hector has been giving me that confused look since we drove here. He is confused by this shade of Liam. I also don’t understand it but I feel comfortable in it. I feel comfortable when I am this happy to meet Aria again.
Ariana walks toward the car with a duffle bag in her hand, I believe that is the overnight bag she has brought with her. I hope she is prepared. I want her to be comfortable with me, I don’t want to push her away in any way.
She is dressed in black jeans and a sky blue blouse that makes the entire appearance jaw dropping. A bright smile forms on her face when I walk to her and get the bag from her.
“Hi,” I mumble, kissing her cheek.
“Hi,” she responds, pulling her hair back giving an indulgent smile. Hector gets over and gets the bag from my hands. He puts it in the car and sits in. I let my eyes drink in the sight of her before I hold her hand in mine.
“Are you ready?” I ask, making her grin.
“Always,” she responds. I open the door for her and let her in. She sits down and I close the door. When I enter the car, Hector drives off. I turn my attention back to Aria who is sitting quietly looking thoughtful.
“Hey, are you nervous?” I ask, remembering the way she was so anxious the first time I took her to my home.
“No, it’s not that. I am just having a lot of thoughts about next weekend. I don’t know if both my parents will make it,” she responds. I frown, confused.
“What’s there next weekend?” I ask.
“The graduation ceremony,” she replies. Shit! And I had no idea about it? “Mom and dad promised they would both come but dad says he might not make it.”
“It’s your graduation, and you didn’t tell me?” I ask, feeling totally awakward and excluded from Aria’s life. It might sound stupid but it is so damn annoying.
“How could I have told you? It didn’t come up and I didn’t have any way of beginning to tell you. I didn’t think you even want to know about it,” she responds.
“Why wouldn’t I? It is such an important occasion in your life, and I should know,” I tell her. She purses her lips and a guilty expression covers her face. Damn! This is not what I meant to happen. I don’t want this to get awakward when we are even still in the car.
“Don’t let it bother you, Aria. It’s just that the news has overwhelmed me. I had even forgotten that you haven’t graduated yet,” I say, trying to lessen the tension in the car. I hold her hand in mine and look her in the eyes.
“I was planning to tell you today,” she says.
“It’s okay. Why wouldn’t your father attend your ceremony?” I ask.
“It’s just that he has a work trip for the whole of next week. It is a company trip and he is one of the employees that must attend it. He can’t cancel the trip just for one day and it is so important for the company,” she says and sighs in frustration. “We have been looking forward to my graduation ever since I was a little girl, I don’t want to do it without him there.”
“I can understand how you feel, but all that matters is knowing that he would have wanted very much to be there for you. He didn’t cancel on you, he has no choice in this. Hey, look on the bright side! Your mother will be there. I only had my grandma there and it meant the world to me seeing the biggest smile on her face as I received my degree,” I say, hoping to make her feel better. She gives me a small smile.
“Your grandma definitely holds the most special place in your heart, doesn’t she?” she inquires.
“Yes, she does,” I reply without even thinking about it.
“I really want to meet this woman and get to know her. She seems to be very nice,” she says.
“She is, and I bet she would like you,” I tell her. She giggles and then looks at Hector who is busy driving without minding our conversation. We are almost there. The talk has helped shorten the ride. I run my thumbs on Aria’s knuckles and look out the window. The hotel is situated a few kilometers from the shore and the fresh air around it is refreshing enough in this sunny weather. We get out of the car, and I hold Aria’s hand so that I can lead her into it.