I knew I’d forced Aria into coming to the meeting tonight, but I also knew she was the right person to invite to sit with us. Aria had a soft-spoken charm – an innocent girlishness to her – that was hard to come by. I’d seen it in her. It was what attracted me to her still, and I knew it would play to my favor as far as Liam Bloom was concerned.

I was the first one to arrive at the bar. I was shown to our table, where I waited for the others to join me. I wasn’t even sure if Aria was going to turn up. After she told me she would at the office, I hadn’t asked her again. I was depending on the fact that she would stick to her word.

Liam turned up next, and I stood up to shake his hand. He sat down across from me. “It’s so good to see you again, Michael!” he remarked and ordered his drink boisterously from the staff.

Liam Bloom was a man with refined taste and old school sensibilities. He wore a three-piece suit that stretched over his massive belly. His beard was shaped and styled neatly and on his fingers were thick signet rings. He would be an invaluable client for the company, and I hoped that Aria and I could sway him in the right direction. While we made small talk, I noticed his eyes traveling to the waitresses and other young women who were walking around the place. He was hardly paying any attention to what I was saying.

Then Aria arrived. I saw her at the door and stood up so she would see me.

“What is it?” Liam asked, turning in his seat. His eyes fell on the girl who was weaving her way around the tables to get to us. “Wow. You know that woman?” he asked. He hadn’t taken his eyes off her.

“Yes, she works for me,” I replied, staring at her as she drew closer.

She was wearing a red cocktail dress with a neckline that dipped low. The sleeves were skimpy and thin, revealing her delicate shoulders and her slender long arms. The dress matched her fiery red curls. She’d pinned them up messily, and it added an old-world charm to her look. Her lips were firetruck red, her shoes were black high heels, and she carried a small black clutch in her hand.

There was no denying that Aria turned a lot of heads at that bar. There was no way of not noticing her as she walked toward us. She was a striking presence in the venue.

“Mr. Sole,” she said demurely as I pulled out a chair for her between Liam and myself.

Liam jumped out of his chair. “Good evening, madam. Liam Bloom at your service.” He offered to take her hand, and Aria looked at me nervously before she gave it to him. Liam kissed her fingers gently, like someone from the previous century would, and I could see Aria’s cheeks flushing.

“I’m Aria Lawson,” she replied, sitting down gracefully in her chair.

“Michael! You gave me no warning that such a vision would be joining us for our meeting. I would have dressed more appropriately!” Liam remarked with a laugh.

Aria smiled. “I wouldn’t want you to go to any trouble, Mr. Bloom,” she said. I saw her literally fluttering her eyelashes. Whatever reservations she had regarding the meeting, she’d left them at home before she came here. She had taken on the role of the perfect hostess, and she was executing it brilliantly.

“And tell me, Miss Lawson, in what capacity do you serve Michael’s offices?” Liam was leaning towards her. His attention was completely monopolized by Aria. I knew what he was seeing. She wasn’t just like every other woman you met. She was different. She was sweet. There was an untouched beauty to her that a man just couldn’t ignore.

“Miss Lawson is new to the company, and I wanted her to experience what a business meeting with a high-profile client looks like,” I answered for her.

Liam smiled, nodding his head. He was pleased to hear himself being praised that way in front of her. “I shall do my best to educate you, Miss Lawson,” he said, and I could see him leering at her. My intention had been to put Liam at ease, but now that I was seeing the way he frothed in the mouth over her, I felt a pang of discomfort in my stomach.

“Shall we get down to business?” I spoke up. Liam couldn’t drag his eyes away from Aria while she stared down at her lap, her cheeks still flushed. It was obvious that Liam Bloom wasn’t the kind of man who shied away from expressing his desire. He wanted Aria from the first moment he set his eyes on her, and he wanted to make sure that she knew it.

“There will be time for business later, Michael. Right now, we should get this poor girl a drink to quench her thirst. Waiter!” Liam clicked his fingers in the air. Aria shot a look at me, her sparkling amber eyes wide. I could sense that she was trying to tell me something — that she was uncomfortable.

She had every reason to be. It was too late now, though. I hadn’t expected Liam Bloom to come on so strong, but I couldn’t end the meeting either.

“A gin and tonic, please,” Aria gave her order to the waiter.

“Make that two and keep them coming,” Liam said to the man commandingly and leaned towards Aria again. “Now, my dear, tell me everything there is to know about you. I’m all ears,” he said with a sleazy, wide smile.

I gritted my teeth with disgust. I had knowingly dragged Aria into this, but it was never my intention for things to go this way. I could see how wildly uncomfortable she was, as much as she was trying to hide it. How was I ever going to redeem myself from this?