Chapter 43 : “Gilded Cage”
*Aaron’s POV*
The intercom crackled with Roanne's voice, laced with an edge of confusion that tightened my chest. "Yes?"
"Roanne, it's Aaron. I need to talk to you," I said, my voice steadier than the drumming of my heart. The concierge glanced up, a flicker of recognition in his eyes before he buzzed me through.
I ascended, the elevator's plush silence a stark contrast to the turmoil within me. Her door swung open, revealing the opulence I had grown indifferent to, but something was different—Roanne's personal touch permeated the space. A stack of thick textbooks on the coffee table, a vibrant throw over the back of a leather chair, her scent lingering like a caress in the air.
Michael stood there, embodying privilege and calm elegance. His gaze wasn't aggressive, but wary, sharp as a blade beneath a veneer of civility.
"Didn't expect a visit from you, Aaron," he said, the words measured, careful.