It was late Saturday morning and, strangely enough, I had nothing to do. No meetings to go to and no work to take care of. This hadn’t happened in a long time, and I didn’t know what to do with myself.

I hit the gym early in the morning, and after I was showered and changed, I sat in my den thinking about my life. This was exactly why I liked to keep busy – so that I wouldn’t have these thoughts.

I had everything I wanted or needed. Why would I have to worry about my life? Yet, I couldn’t stop feeling like there was something missing. Ever since I’d met Aria, these thoughts were coming to me too often. I scanned my brain for things I could do to occupy myself, to keep me distracted. I had no life outside of work. It was just hitting me.

Suddenly, I longed for those lazy Saturday afternoons in Spring Green when I was a child. When Amy and I had nothing else to do but go exploring in the woods at the back of our modest house. When Mom’s home-cooked meals and Dad’s peach cobblers were the highlights of our weekends.

What happened to me? Since when did I start needing sex and a bottle of whiskey to make me feel good again? To make me feel anything? I needed to go for a walk. Clear my head out in the open, get some fresh air. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d gone for a walk in Chicago.

I couldn’t stop blaming Aria for the way I was feeling. She was the one who’d reminded me that there was more to life than women with hourglass-shaped figures and pouty lips. She’d made me feel small and ashamed of myself for going to any length to get a client. What would my family think of me if they found out about my current lifestyle?

I left my penthouse, jogging all the way to the nearest park. It was bustling with life. A Saturday in spring was the perfect time for families to gather and enjoy a pleasant day outside. I was alone, but at least it was better than being cooped up in my penthouse.

I plugged my earphones in and continued jogging on the track around the park. I was feeling better already.

But then I saw her.

Aria was walking towards me with her head down. She had earphones plugged in as well. She hadn’t seen me yet. In her hands were big bags of groceries. She was dressed differently than I’d seen her before, wearing a pair of loose jeans and an oversized thin sweater that was falling off her shoulders, revealing her bright bra straps. Her hair was plaited, but those pesky red curls escaped and framed her face like a halo. I remembered now that her apartment building was close by. Had I subconsciously known that?

I stopped in front of her, startling her out of the daze she was in. I pulled my earphones out and she did the same.

“Mr. Sole!” she exclaimed. Since that night at the bar with Liam, I could sense that Aria was avoiding me. She didn’t want to have a conversation with me, but I’d taken her by surprise and she had no choice but to acknowledge my presence.

“Hello, Aria. Do you need a hand with those?” I tipped my head towards her bags and her cheeks flushed.

“I’m okay, thanks,” she stuffed her earphones in the pockets of her jeans, leaving her bags on the ground.

“I was just out for a jog and saw you here,” I said, smiling, but Aria wasn’t smiling at all. She wasn’t happy to see me. Surprisingly, I was happy to see her, but what happened between us was bothering me and so was that sickening feeling – like I was wasting my life.

For some reason, I felt that if I could convince Aria I wasn’t a bad human being, then I could convince myself too.

“Okay,” she replied, making it clear that she didn’t want to carry on with the conversation.

“Do you have a minute?” I asked and she picked up her bags again.

“I was on my way home, Mr. Sole. I have to put these groceries away,” she replied, and I knew she was just making up a silly excuse.

“You can call me Michael when we’re not in the office.” I smiled at her and she stared back at me with her large amber eyes. She was still hurt, and I wanted to make it better.

“Sit down with me, please?” I urged her, leading the way to an empty bench that was near us.

Aria hesitated before she finally followed me. We sat at distant corners of the bench and I allowed her to maintain the distance. I had no intention of spooking her.

“Look, Aria, I know things have been bad between us since that night with Liam. Well, I guess things have been bad between us from the beginning. We started off on the wrong foot.”

I turned to her. Aria was looking at me without any verbal input of her own. Since she hadn’t stopped me from talking, I continued.

“I would like to make a fresh start, if that is okay with you. I’m Michael Sole, CEO of Sole Communications. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” I extended a hand to her, the way I would do to a stranger.

Aria was considering it. She was looking at my hand like she was deciding what to do about the situation. When she looked up at me, her gaze had softened. “Aria Lawson, secretary to Mr. Sole of Sole Communications,” she said and we shook hands. A soft grin was spreading on her face.

I couldn’t know for sure if she had forgiven me . . . I had a long road ahead of me for that, but at least this was some sort of start.