A Thief's Kiss

29| Checkmate

Chapter 29: Checkmate (Aria's POV)

I wrapped the towel around myself, realizing that I forgot my clothes on the bed. I huffed, pulling the robe on and quickly towel drying my hair. I finger-combed it and then threw my hair over my shoulders before opening the door while tightening the robe. When I walked out, he was sitting on the bed, typing away on his phone, looking a little tense. "Everything okay?" I asked while picking up my clothes. 

"It's just an interview email," he replied. 

"Oh." I turned around to go back into the bathroom but stopped when he called my name. 

"Would you like to go out for dinner? We can get something nice to eat." 

I shrugged, "You pick the place. We can leave at seven-thirty?" 

"Okay," he agreed. "I'll find a good restaurant here." 

I went back into the bathroom and got dressed in leggings and a tank. I plugged in the blow dryer and then blow-dried my hair a little. There was suddenly a loud knock on the door. I turned off the blow dryer and opened the bathroom door, seeing Alexander. 

"I've called your name like five times," he huffed. 

"I couldn't hear you." I held up the blow dryer. "Tell me. What happened?" 

"I made the reservation for eight. Do you have a dress?" he sighed. 

"Why do I need a dress for dinner?" 

"Would you prefer to go to a fancy restaurant in a t-shirt?" he deadpanned. 

"I don't think I packed a fancy dress. I'll check." And then I resumed blow-drying my hair. 

He left the bathroom and then minutes later, came back in. "I found one!" He held up a plain black slip dress that I had brought just in case we ended up going somewhere fancy. 

It seemed a little short now that I'm looking at it. I also don't remember putting this in my suitcase "Did you go through my suitcase?" I arched a brow at him. 

"You said you weren't sure so I looked for you. It was at the very bottom, don't worry, I didn't make a mess of your things," he said while walking over. He stood behind me and held the dress in front of me, his arms over my shoulders. "See. It looks fine." 

I looked in the mirror and looked at the way he was holding the dress up against me. I looked at him. "What are you doing?" 

"What am I doing?" I turned to look at him, regretting it when I realized how close we were. 

He cleared his throat, stepping back and folding up the dress, leaving it on the counter. "There," he nodded before leaving. 

I frowned in confusion, staring at the doorway. 

What was that? 

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We both stepped out of the elevator side by side and headed to the exit so we could get going to the restaurant. "Can we go somewhere else after?" I asked. 

"Where do you want to go?" he asked. 

"Somewhere I can drink," I mumbled. 

He stopped in his tracks and I stopped beside him. "No. No, no, no, no, no. You will not be drinking again. Even at dinner, I will keep a close eye on you," he said, almost scolding me. 

"But-" 

"No. No drinks for you." 

"That doesn't sound any fun." We both looked up, seeing Adrian make his way over. Oh right. I forgot some guests are here too until tomorrow morning. "Hello." He flashed me a smile before merely nodding at Alexander. "No drinks for the lovely lady? That sounds a little boring, doesn't it?" he asked, turning to me.