(Strategy, Seduction & A Very Confused CEO)
Aria Larkspur recovered like a miracle.
Two days.
That's all it took.
Fever? Gone.
Hoarse voice? Back to normal.
Weak, fragile, "don't touch me I might shatter" energy?
…Unfortunately for Ethan, also gone.
---
And that's where the problem began.
Because Ethan Vale did not update accordingly.
---
"Sit properly."
"I am sitting properly."
"You're barefoot."
"It's called freedom."
"It's called pneumonia waiting to happen."
---
Aria stared at the slippers placed in front of her like they personally insulted her ancestors.
"Ethan."
"Yes."
"If I wear those, will you stop supervising my breathing too?"
"No."
"…You're unbelievable."
"Yet here I am, still correct."
---
Ever since her fever episode, Ethan had upgraded into something between a CEO and a full-time bodyguard.
Temperature checks.
Meal monitoring.
Room thermostat adjustments like he was controlling the weather system.
---
"I'm going to the piano room," Aria announced.
"Wait thirty minutes."
She paused mid-step.
"…Why?"
"I asked them to warm the room."
Aria slowly turned her head.
"I'm wearing a sweater."
"Add a coat."
"I'll add sarcasm instead."
"Denied."
---
In the end—
Compromise.
Sweater + coat = Ethan reluctantly satisfied.
Aria internally plotting his downfall.
---
As she walked downstairs, she brushed her bangs aside, muttering under her breath:
"So… how bad is it?"
The system responded instantly.
"Trust level: 80%."
---
Aria stopped.
"…Only eighty?"
She looked mildly offended.
"From his behavior, I thought we were at 'write-my-name-in-your-will' stage."
"He has trust issues," the system replied.
"You're not dating a normal person. You're dating a walking trauma archive."
"…Fair."
She smirked slightly.
"Still. Eighty percent for him probably equals one hundred for regular people."
---
And honestly?
She wasn't in a hurry.
Not yet.
Because Aria Larkspur had one defining trait:
She didn't just win.
She collected interest.
---
That night—
Things escalated.
Dramatically.
Strategically.
And… questionably.
---
Aria stood in front of the mirror, analyzing herself like a scientist conducting an experiment.
White shirt.
Long enough to be decent.
Short enough to be dangerous.
Top buttons open just enough to suggest chaos without confirming it.
Collar slightly tilted.
Hair loose.
Expression?
Pure innocence.
---
The system was silent for a full five seconds.
"…You forgot pants."
Aria waved it off.
"Details."
"…This is a crime."
"This is art."
---
She tilted her head, studying her reflection.
"What do you think?"
"I think Ethan deserves compensation."
---
Moments later—
Bathroom door.
Knock knock.
---
"Ethan?" her voice came soft, careful. "Can I come in? I need a towel."
Inside—
Water stopped.
A pause.
Then:
"Come in."
---
Ethan opened the door.
And immediately regretted every life choice that led to this moment.
---
There she stood.
Bare legs.
Loose shirt.
Looking like trouble wrapped in good intentions.
---
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"…You need a towel?"
Aria nodded, stepping closer.
"I'll take it myself."
---
Bad idea.
Terrible idea.
Catastrophic decision.
---
She reached past him—
Slipped.
Of course she slipped.
Because apparently gravity also worked for her agenda.
---
And just like that—
She fell straight into him.
---
Ethan caught her instantly, arm wrapping around her waist.
Too easily.
Too naturally.
Too… aware.
---
And that's when he realized something very important.
She was way too light.
---
"Do you even eat?" he muttered.
Aria, resting slightly against him, blinked up innocently.
"I eat your patience daily."
"…Clearly not enough protein."
---
For a brief second—
Neither moved.
Distance?
Gone.
Breathing?
Not helping.
Situation?
Highly illegal.
---
Then—
Aria lightly bumped her chin against his shoulder.
"Ow," she murmured.
---
That snapped him out of it.
Immediately.
---
In one swift motion—
He grabbed a towel.
Wrapped her up like a human burrito.
Secured. Contained. Neutralized.
---
Aria froze.
"…Excuse me?"
"You'll get sick again."
"That was not the mission."
"That is the mission."
---
She tried to move.
Failed.
Because he had wrapped her like she was being shipped internationally.
---
"This is kidnapping."
"This is prevention."
"I feel attacked."
"You should feel warm."
---
Before she could argue further—
Ethan bent down, picked her up, and carried her out.
---
Aria blinked.
"…Wow."
"Quiet."
"I was going for romance."
"You're getting recovery."
---
He placed her on the bed, grabbed proper clothes, and dropped them beside her.
"Change."
"…And if I don't?"
"I'll call Marie Aunt."
"…You fight dirty."
"I win efficiently."
---
Door closed.
Silence.
---
Aria sat there.
Wrapped. Betrayed. Emotionally offended.
---
"…System."
"Yes?"
"I just got rejected."
"Spectacularly."
---
She narrowed her eyes.
"Oh, this is war."
---
Days passed.
And Aria?
Was annoyed.
Deeply.
---
Because Ethan—
Would give her anything.
Except that.
---
"You want dessert?"
"Yes."
"Done."
"New piano strings?"
"Already ordered."
"Company shares?"
"…We'll discuss."
"Physical affection?"
"Go to sleep."
---
Aria stared at the ceiling.
"…Unbelievable."
---
Meanwhile—
Ethan was confused.
Because suddenly—
Aria was sulking.
---
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing."
"That's not convincing."
"That's because I'm not trying."
---
He frowned.
Something was off.
But every time he tried to figure it out—
She'd smile like nothing happened.
---
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
---
Later that evening—
She sat beside him, flipping through a random book.
"Ethan."
"Hmm?"
"Do you think parallel worlds exist?"
"No."
"Romantic."
"Accurate."
---
She turned a page.
"Why do female mantises eat the male?"
Ethan didn't even look up.
"Biology."
"…You're ruining the mystery of life."
"You're creating unnecessary questions."
---
Silence.
Then—
"Ethan."
"Yes?"
"…What if I remember everything?"
---
That made him pause.
For real.
---
He looked at her.
She looked calm.
Too calm.
---
"I told you," he said slowly, "you don't have to rush."
Aria smiled faintly.
"But what if I already forgot something important?"
---
And just like that—
For the first time in days—
Ethan Vale felt something unfamiliar.
---
Not control.
Not strategy.
Not calculation.
---
Fear.
---
Because suddenly—
It hit him.
Everything right now—
Her trust.
Her closeness.
Her presence.
---
Was built on something fragile.
---
And if she remembered?
If the truth came out?
If everything collapsed?
---
Would she still look at him the same way?
---
Ethan leaned back slightly, expression unreadable.
But inside—
For the first time—
The man who controlled empires…
Had no idea what move came next.