A T I Y A
Atiya blinked several times. He was here. Mr. Billionaire himself was here. In her shop. Conversation with April . When Detty called her to say that Mr. Scott was looking for her, she didn't believe it. But now he was standing in her shop and looking at her. "What are you doing here?" she asked, praying the heat in her cheeks wasn't as obvious as it felt. April glanced at her and then back at Aquila . "Wait. Do you know yourself"
Aquila gave her a half-smile that caused her knees to buckle without her consent. "Yes. She made cupcakes for my party a few days ago." He raised his eyebrows in April as if there was a secret between them. Atiya stifled a groan. What did April say? She had a habit of talking to everyone about anything. April 's lips curled into an "O". "Oh my god. Nice to meet you, mystery man from the party.
Aquila held out his hand. Aquila Scott .
"April Brimone ," she said, shaking his hand. Atiya was embarrassed and blushing at the same time. Why was this man standing in her bakery shaking her aunt's hand? "Why are you here?" she asked again. Aquila looked at her. His dark eyes tingled all over. She hated what he had done to her even without doing anything. "Well, I'd like to eat some more amazing cupcakes you brought. When I found out that you never left your details, I asked my assistant to call your friend. . .? Was it?
Too nervous to face him, Atiya busied herself behind the counter. She shuffled through several stacks of unpacked boxes, hoping she looked busy and not looking like an idiot. She called me and said you were looking for my bakery.
April raised her hands. "I will help other customers. I'll just let you two talk. She hurried past Atiya to where George was waving his coffee cup in the air. Atiya watched April leave and was about to call her back. She didn't want to be stuck here with this billionaire she might piss off the other day. She still wasn't sure. Instead of speaking, she grabbed a rag and a spray bottle and began wiping down the counter. Anything that worries you. Anything but looking up and meeting Aquila ' s eyes. To keep her sanity, she had to stay as far away from him and his mesmerizing gazes as possible. "I think we might have gotten off on the wrong foot," he said, bending down to look at her. Why didn't you tell me who you are? She whispered as the embarrassment of a few days ago overcame her. "I didn't mean to embarrass you," he said in a low voice. Atiya placed the rag and bottle back at the back counter, walked around the glass railing, and began picking up discarded plates and paper paraphernalia from the small tables on the far wall. "Well you never told me you were the billionaire the party was meant for. I would never say such a thing to you. She went to the trash can and threw the trash in. Aquila followed her. "Maybe you can't call me a billionaire
Atiya turned to him. Heat flooded her skin. "Sorry," she said. She didn't even know why she said that. Maybe it was because someone with that much money was on a completely different playing field than they were. And subconsciously she remembered that fact. He nodded. "All is well." He stopped and looked around. "As for your question, maybe I didn't want you to know who I am. You've only known me for less than a week and you're already judging me by my money.
She looked at him. His heart clenched in his chest. He looked sad. Almost lost. Why couldn't she just tell him the right things? "I see," she said, leaning against the trash can. "Sometimes I speak before I think. This is the curse of my family. I mean do you know my aunt? Atiya waved in April , who laughed with the two visitors who had just entered. "I like your aunt," he said, nodding to April . "Yes. She is a character. Same goes for my dad," Atiya said, trying to suppress the shivers she always felt when she talked about him. The familiar ache that clenched in her chest every time she thought of her father still took her breath away. Aquila reached out, grabbed some plates and threw them in the trash. When his hand touched hers, goosebumps ran down her skin. She silently cursed her ridiculous body. "I like that you speak your mind," he said, just inches from her. He looked down. She parted her lips as if to say something, but nothing came out.
She backed away as worries ran through her body. Her separation from Aquila and his appearance seemed to confuse every part of her brain. "Have you got what you need?" she asked, clearing her throat. Aquila looked at her. Behind his eyes, an idea seemed to grow. The intensity of his gaze made her unsure if she wanted to know what it was. "I… 'Um, I don't know,'" he said, also giving her her half-smile. Atiya nodded at the bag on the counter. "Did you need anything more
Aquila glanced at the place she gestured to. "Yeah." He stopped and turned to her. "Your aunt said she couldn't stop talking about me. Really?"
Her cheeks flushed. Why did she have to confide in her talkative aunt? She should have known better. April Brimone was the talk of the town. "My aunt often thinks so," she said, nodding to the customer standing behind Aquila . They went to the cashier and had 20 in their hands. She was happy to help him, hoping that Aquila would take the hint and leave. She tried to have a conversation with the man, but he kept staring at her like she was mad. But no amount of procrastination seemed to deter Aquila . He was standing a few feet away tapping the edge of the next bookcase with his fingers. "Can't you get other people interested?" she asked her client. She never wanted to go back to the conversation, but Aquila seemed desperate to end it. The man shook her head and left her with another confused look on her face. Like a cat waiting to pounce, Aquila retreated to the counter. She moaned as her smile twitched his lips. "I don't know if it's all true," he said, picking up where the conversation left off. She sighed. I was able to finish it too. "Do you think I was in love with you?" she asked, her elbows on the counter in front of her. "Perhaps," he shook his head. "You see, I can be very attractive if I want to."