Chapter 5

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MARCH 3RD

I looked through my closet, trying to find a dress that was 'classy.'

My dad said it was a classy event, and that my date would be dressed in a suit. There was a white one that I thought fit the occasion, and I paired it with a pair of white heels.Β 

I sprayed some perfume on myself before adding some lipstick, and then some concealer to my forehead where I got hit.Β 

My dad knocked on my door while opening it, "Hey sweetheart."Β 

I laughed a little, "Dad, there's no point in knocking if you're just going to do it while opening my door."

He grinned, "Sorry. I just wanted to come and tell you that your date is here."

I nodded my head, adjusting my dress one last time before leaving my room. I walked downstairs and saw a man standing at my front door. His skin was tanned, with dark brown hair and green eyes. He reached out to take my hand and introduced himself, "It's nice to meet you, Hailey. I'm Dante."

I allowed him to take my hand and he pressed a kiss against the top of it. I smiled at him, "Nice to meet you, Dante."

I gave my dad and mom a quick hug goodbye before leaving with Dante. His car was a sports car, and it was the same shade of green as his eyes. I could tell that it was an expensive car, and it made me curious as to what he does.Β 

He started to drive as he said, "You look beautiful, Hailey. I wish we could've met sooner but I've been busy with work lately."

Dante was sweet, but I can't exactly say that I was thrilled to meet him. But here I am, and I'm going to make the most of it. I shrugged, "It's okay, I understand. How old are you?"

"I'm 26. Your dad told me that you're 22, correct?"

"Yes, my birthday was earlier this year. I love having a birthday in January, it's so beautiful when it snows. When's your birthday?"Β 

"July. I like having a birthday in the summer," He said with a smile.

He drove us to the party and my jaw dropped at the building. It was huge, like three times the size of my house. We walked inside and I understood what my dad meant by 'classy.' It wasn't a party with people drinking and loud music and lights and girls crying over their exes in the corner - it was people in tuxes, trays of champagne being offered to people, and classical music playing.Β 

Dante asked me, "Do you drink?"

"A little," I shrugged.

He nodded and grabbed us both a glass of champagne off of one of the trays. I took a sip, pleasantly surprised by the taste. This tastes way better than that drink Aero was drinking at the last party I went to.Β 

He grabbed my hand and forced me to do a spin, making me laugh slightly. He said, "Tell me about yourself, Hailey."

"I'm in my third year of university, I hope to someday travel outside of New York and-"

"Dante Evans," A familiar voice spoke from behind me, cutting me off.

I turned and saw Aero, making me furrow my eyebrows. He said he had something today?

Dantes face lit up seeing Aero. His eyebrows raised and a smirk appeared on his face. He said to him, "Black. I didn't know I'd be seeing you here tonight."

"Business. What are you here for?" Aero asked Dante, not looking at me once.

I spoke up, "You two know each other?"

"Yes, we're in the same line of work," Dante said with a smile.

I nodded my head. After seeing the car that Dante drove, it didn't surprise me that he also had his own business.

I looked between Aero and Dante. They were silent now, but it looked as if they were having a conversation with their eyes that I wasn't a part of. Aero was wearing a dark suit but without a jacket.Β 

"Well, you should get going then," Dante said to Aero. "I assume they wouldn't like to be kept waiting."

Dante was speaking to Aero with a smile, but Aero's face remained still. Aero slipped his hands into his pockets and turned his head to the side.Β 

"No, I don't think I will," Aero responded to him. "3 is a party, right?"

I raised my eyebrows, surprised at his words. I placed my hand on his arm and said, "Do you want me to find the cook and have them cook some steak?"

He looked like he wanted to say no, judging by how his face was resting. There was no happiness behind his blue eyes and his mouth didn't turn up in the slightest. But to my surprise, he said, "Yea. Let's go."

I turned to look back at Dante who was looking at Aero with an emotion that I was unsure of. I felt bad coming here with Dante and then just leaving him, so I asked, "Do you want to come with us?"

He shook his head, "I have to find somebody here. I'll see you again before the end of the night."Β 

I nodded my head and gave him a smile before walking away with Aero. We didn't even take three steps before he said, "When you said 'party' I didn't think you meant this."

"To be fair, I didn't think it was going to be this either," I said while shrugging.

Aero spoke in a cold tone, "You should be staying home, Hailey."

I gave him a confused look. I'm 22, not a child. I can take care of myself, and I can handle going to parties.

My face lit up when I could smell that we were near the kitchen. Once I spotted it I almost ran over to it, Aero walking slowly behind me. I looked around, trying to find somebody who would make a steak.Β 

"Carla?" I said, spotting a girl that I recognized.Β 

Carla turned her head at the sound of my voice and gave me a big smile, "Hailey! I'm so glad to see somebody that I recognize. Would you like me to make you something?"

Carla and I have had a few classes together over the years. We weren't super good friends, but we were definitely on good terms. I asked her, "Can you make a steak for Mr. Black here?"

She nodded her head and asked, "How would he like it done?"

I turned around to look at him. I crossed my arms and looked him up and down, with anΒ over-exaggerated look of thinking on my face. I said to her, "Medium rare."

"What about me tells you that I like my steak medium-rare?" Aero asked me.

The corners of my mouth turned up and I shrugged, "The way you walk."

I laughed slightly to myself and told Carla to come hunt us down once it's done. I stood in the doorway of the kitchen to leave when I looked over my shoulder and saw Aero whispering something to Carla. She nodded her head at whatever she said and he walked over to me to leave the kitchen. As we walked out I asked him, "What'd you say to her?"

"Nothing, sweetheart," He responded while continuing to walk forwards.

We went up the stairs because I wanted to explore this place. I ran my hand along the railing that was surrounding the area to overlook the main floor. I stared down at all of the people and said, "You wanna know something weird?"Β 

I looked at him, waiting for him to respond, but he didn't. I said the rest of my sentence anyway. While pointing at all of the people below us I said, "At least one of these people has killed somebody. Statistically, you know? Well, I read it online somewhere so I guess it could be bullshit."

"Does that scare you?" he asked me, his head tilting as he slipped one hand into his pocket.

"No, not really. I feel pretty safe."

I rolled my eyes once I saw a familiar face down below. Malcolm walked in with his arm wrapped around a girl, and I felt stupid for not considering that he could show up here. He liked these kinds of parties, he said they were a great opportunity for business.

Aero could feel how tense I was now and he asked me, "Want me to go down there and kick his ass?"

A laugh escaped my mouth. I shook my head, "No. That would just create more problems, but thank you for the offer."Β 

He nodded his head, "What's his name?"

"Malcolm Bernard."

I felt a little gross saying his name. I pushed myself off of the railing that I was leaning against and turned around so that I could no longer look down. A great smell filled my nose and I turned in the direction that it was coming from. Carla held two plates in her hands, and held them out for us to take.

I took mine and gave her a smile, "You didn't need to make me one, Carla."

She laughed slightly as Aero took his plate, "Mr. Black requested it. I have to go back and cook some more food, but I hope to see you in class tomorrow!"

I turned to look at Aero as she walked away. He shrugged, "Thought you might be hungry."

I was, honestly. I walked into the room that was closest to us, and it looked like an office of some sort. A huge desk sat in the middle and there were bookshelves pressed against the walls. I walked over and sat myself down on the chair opposite of the desk, letting Aero sit in the bigger office chair.Β 

We placed our plates down and started cutting our food. I asked him, "How do you actually like your steak done?"

"Medium rare."

I smiled, proud of myself for getting it correct, "I told you I could tell by the way that you walk."

We started to eat our food, and I made a mental note to tell Carla that she's an amazing cook the next time I see her. After swallowing my last bite I asked him, "Who did you have to meet with? You can go meet with them if you'd like. I'll be fine on my own."

"No, it's fine. He's busy right now, so I can just stay here."

I felt confused as to how he could tell that he was busy, but I just shrugged. He runs his own business, his IQ is probably triple mine.Β 

"What do you study?" He asked me.

"Accounting. I'll graduate next year. Hey, maybe I'll end up working at your company," I said while leaning forwards in my chair.

He nodded, "Maybe."

I smiled, opening my mouth to respond. I stopped when loud noises from downstairs made my stomach drop. Sounds of bullets and screams filled the air and I instinctively stood up to go downstairs to help people. I couldn't even take one step before I felt Aero's arms pick me up and pull me over the desk, sitting me down on the ground.

I sat underneath the desk and he sat in front of me, both of us not being visible to anybody walking past the room. I whispered to him and pointed to my phone that fell out of my hand, "Aero, grab my phone. You can call 911."

He didn't grab my phone and didn't respond to me, making me knit my eyebrows together. He was looking over the desk slightly so I whispered again, "Aero-"

His thumb and middle finger went onto my jawline and his index finger pressed against my lips. He whispered, "Shhhh."

I stared at him in complete confusion. A few people at least got shot downstairs and he isn't even going to call the police?

He noticed the look I was giving him and he said, "Don't be scared, Hailey. Nothing will happen to you. You just have to trust me, okay?"

I was still hesitant. What could he do against people with guns downstairs? He sighed and put his hand behind his back, pulling something out from his waistline. My eyes widened seeing that it was a gun and I moved back out of shock.Β 

He placed his left hand on the side of my face and whispered, "Just trust me, okay? I won't let anything happen to you."

I could feel myself calm down a little bit, but my heart still ached for the people downstairs. He aimed his gun at the door, ready to shoot if anybody walked in. His face looked completely unfazed by this, like holding a gun was easy for him.Β 

I couldn't take my eyes off of him. The way this situation didn't even shake him in the slightest started to make me think.

Maybe there's even more to the mysterious Aero Black than I thought.Β 

Word Count: 2118


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