The fragrance of Tom Ford came from the bathroom, notes of Sandalwood and Amber floated in with the steam of the shower and soon Desmond emerged, his hair still damp as he fastened his tie. I had work tonight so I was disappointed to be woken at seven in the morning, but kept quiet as he lifted his jacket from the bed post.

"We have a banquet dinner for the firm on Saturday night," he mentioned, wandering over to the mirror to fluff his hair. "Get something nice to wear."

"I work on Saturday night, Des."

He turned around and sighed with frustration. "You're coming with me. End of discussion. Get the night off. Quit. I don't care. I've said before that you don't need that job."

I sat up and pushed my hair back, tugging the covers up. "I like working."

"Great," he snapped with a sarcastic smile. "Enjoy it all you fûcking want. Just not on Saturday night. Got it? I'm going to work. Get up and do something useful with yourself."

I waited until I heard the front door shut and then I hopped out of bed and spent a good half hour in the shower. Last nights sex still made me feel dirty and disgusting. I washed and washed until I was feeling a little more clean than I had been. It felt good to be able to dress in a pair of shorts and a tucked in tank top. It had been a while since Desmond left a mark on me and I embraced having clear skin.

Afterwards, I cleaned the apartment from top to bottom, ensuring that there wouldn't be cause for complaint later before I decided to head into town in search of a dress. On the occasion, Desmond left me his credit card. But he hadn't this morning, so I assumed that he wanted me to pay for it myself. Which I was more than happy to do. It was actually a relief when he didn't force me to spend his cash.

I knew that Jules wasn't working the lunch shift at work today, so I sent her a brief message and told her to meet me in the mall if she wanted. She was quick to respond and let me know that she was already there, doing a little shopping for her weekend in Miami that she'd planned with Jordan.

"How cute is this bikini?"

I assessed the piece of fabric that should cost half the price considering there was nothing to it. "Jordan wouldn't mind you wearing that on the beach?"

"What?" She laughed. "No. He'd love it."

She smiled to herself and tucked the bikini under her arm before she continued flicking through the racks. There was a definite bout of envy. Part of me wished for someone so supportive that he'd praise me for how hot I looked, rather than pushing me head first into the wall and demanding that I cover up instead of acting like a whore.

"Ari!" Jules waved her hand in front of my face and brought me out of my thoughts. "Are we looking in here for a dress or should we go down to Dior?"

"Oh no," I shook my head. "I'll just have a look in Max or something like that. I don't need to spend a lot."

"Are you alright?" She questioned as we wandered out of the store after purchasing her finds and heading towards the escalator. "You seem zoned out and kind of weird."

"Oh, I'm fine," I smiled. "How's Jordan. Looking forward to Miami?"

"Mhmm," she grinned. "We're staying at his grandparents beach house. We're going to have hot sex all weekend, drink martini's and rail E at the clubs. I can not wait."

I stared at the floor with a wide stare. I loved Jules but we were different, that was for sure. But when I thought about who I was as a teenager, before I met Desmond, I realised that I had once over shared with friends. I'd been into having drinks with the girls. And I used to like sex. But those were foreign concepts to me now. I kept most things private to save from letting certain secrets slip.

"That sounds amazing," I laughed with Jules as we wandered into the dress store. "Take lots of photos alright."

She ran her hand along a rack of floor length gowns. "Duh of course. You and Desmond should come with us sometime? Well probably go back again before summer's over. It can be a cute couples get away?"

"Yeah for sure," I nodded, focusing on a beautiful mid length dress. It was white with a high neck and no sleeves. It looked elegant and tasteful but flattering. "That would be fun. I'll talk to Desmond about it."

She clapped her hands together in excitement and glanced at the dress that I was caressing between my fingertips. "That's cute. Try it on?"

I grinned and carried the garment to the change rooms. Despite a constant dark cloud that lingered above me at all times, when I was able to spend some time with a friend and relax, I was reminded that the world wasn't all bad. It felt good to smile and laugh with someone.

"You have a plump as fuck ass," Jules complimented from where she sat on the soft white seat outside of the change rooms. I blushed and did a twirl. "For real. What the hell. How am I just noticing this bomb butt?"

I wasn't sure how to respond, so I shrugged and twisted, peering at my behind in the mirror. "Maybe it's because I wear heels most nights?"

"Bitch me too and I'm a pancake."

I curled over with laughter as she stood up and slapped her butt. Which was fine in my opinion. But she sighed with disappointment. "Get that dress. It's gorgeous and the bi bitch that came out in college is resurfacing."

"You're the best," I blew her a kiss and started to shut the stall door to change.

"Stop flirting with me. I'm in a hetero relationship."

I giggled and changed back into my tank top and shorts. I bought the dress and Jules and I did a little more shopping after that. As well as having a smoothie for lunch. I was in an amazing mood when I arrived at work later that afternoon. I'd spent the day free of anxiety and stress. I needed to do that more often.

"Arian," I straightened up from where I was leaning against the wall in the kitchen. Michael was snapping his fingers at the waiting plates that needed to be delivered.

My exhaustion was due to the fact that I'd been awake since seven in the morning after a late night last night. But I straightened my shoulders and walked towards Michael. "You can take your break after this," he said before he wandered off.

My brows quirked with surprise but I didn't waste time and got on with it.

After I'd collected a coffee from the staff room, I slipped out in to the alleyway and walked towards the street. As I approached the footpath, I noticed a tall figure leaning against the brick corner, cigarette smoke billowing in to the night air.

I smiled when I realised who it was. There wasn't a chance that I could forget that defined back and those full dark locks that sat in an unkept style. He glanced down when I stepped in front of him, his emerald green gaze as startling as it was the first time that I saw it.

"Mr Emerson," I gave him a slight nod and smiled as he dropped his cigarette into the ash tray that was fixed to the restaurant wall.

"Aiden," he grinned. "It's just Aiden."

"Aiden," I blushed under his warm stare. "Right. So uh— are you having a good night. . . alone?"

He laughed and stared over me, pushing his hands into his pockets. I noticed that he had a theme in his outfits. Tailored pants and crisp dress shirts that he worse casually. It suited him. Wow, did it suit him. "Well I'm not alone anymore, am I?"

"Mhmm," I smiled and glanced around, scanning the streets and beach front. "Well, sort of. What are you ordering tonight?"

"The st—"

"Steak and chips," I finished his sentence and laughed when he gave me a guilty grin.

"I'm a man of habit."

"You should try the chicken filo and salad next time," I shifted from one foot to the other and peered over my shoulder again. "Just for a change. It's good."

"Alright," he nodded. "I'll take your word for it."

"Ya know, my friend Jules — the waitress with a pixie cut — has a theory about why you eat here so often."

"Oh? Let's hear it."

"You love the food, or you love her."

He burst into a loud rumbling laughter and I watched, mesmerised and immersed in his unfiltered exuberance. He shook his head and ran his hand through his hair. "Mmm Jules is beautiful. But no. The food is fantastic though."

"Right," I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, feeling mildly relieved that he wasn't harbouring some secret crush for Jules. I wasn't sure why I was so comforted at that information though.

"Are you looking for someone?"

I snapped my head back towards him and noticed how he watched me with pinched brows. I'd been searching for Desmond of course. Or anyone that knew him and could let him know that I was standing outside talking to a man.

"Oh no," I laughed it off. "Um I'm going on a dinner break so enjoy your food."

"Would you like to join me?"

I paused and turned around. "You want to have dinner together?"

He shrugged his shoulders and closed the distance between us. "We're both about to eat alone. Might as well eat together."

"Well, I'm just having a coffee," I waved the takeaway cup and laughed.

"How about I share my fries with you?"

I chewed on my lip as I contemplated the offer. It was something that I should have turned down. Eating with another man was something that could land me in the worst trouble that I've ever been in. But as concerned as it made me, I couldn't help but accept with a timid nod. "Yeah okay. But I have a special spot. You'll have to come with me."

He gave me a curious grin. "Sure. Let me just go in and grab my order. It must be done."

After he'd collected the bag of food, he met me outside and I subtly kept a look out as we wandered down the pavement and towards an apartment building beside the restaurant. Each time I glanced up at Aiden, I caught him watching me with a curious stare. We stepped into the foyer of the swish building and took the elevator to the top floor. There was a stair case that led us to a door which read 'roof'.

"This isn't weird," Aiden teased as I pushed the door open.

I glared and stuck out my tongue. "This is beautiful. Feel honoured that I'm sharing it."

We stepped out on to the apartment rooftop and I smiled at the man made garden. Flower beds covered the entire space, with narrow paths that were just wide enough to wander through. Twinkling lights were wrapped around the brick walls that surrounded the roof. A few wicker seats sat in the middle of the garden and tiled paths led to the small enchanted seating area.

"This is your spot?" Aiden questioned as he walked behind me.

I let my hands graze over the flower petals and leaves on either side of me, inhaling the fragrance of lavender, rose, tulips and more. The sound of waves crashed against the shore below us and I was transported to another world. Up here, I was free. I was free of a life that burdened me with sorrow and heartache. I had the miracle of nature and the whisper of the wind, promising better tomorrows.

"This is it," I said as we sat down on a seat each. He held his bag of food in his hands and rested his elbows on his knees as he glanced around, his face full of wonder and appreciation. "I came up here one night, a few months ago to—" I paused, realising that I was close to letting slip a part of me that I wasn't willing to share. I reformed the sentence in my head as fast as I could before I continued. "To get a better view, of the sea. Ya know. But I discovered this and it was so much more than I hoped for. I love it."

He smiled and set his boxed meal on his lap before he opened it and snatched a chip. "I feel honoured that you shared it with me."

"Yeah I think I've lost my mind to be honest," I sipped the now lukewarm coffee. "You're a total stranger. I should not be so trusting."

He laughed and nodded in agreement. "You shouldn't. Please don't bring other random men up here. Me though, you can trust me."

"Well, I'll have to see about that. Tell me more about yourself. All I know is that your name is Aiden Emerson and you love steak and chips."

"Alright," he settled back into his seat. "Well let's see, I'm thirty—"

"Uh huh, knew that. On the third of June."

"Right," he nodded. "I've lived in Fort Lauderdale my entire life. I own the largest repossession organisation in Florida—"

"Woah, wait," I leaned forward and stared at him in disbelief. "You're a shark? That's how you're so well off?"

"I'm not a shark," he chuckled with amusement. "Shark sounds so . . . back street and shady. No no. I run a legal repossession organisation. It's legit and I inherited the business from my father after he passed ten years ago."

"Oh," I frowned and felt an immediate onslaught of empathy. "I'm sorry. How did he die?"

"Heart failure," Aiden pursed his perfect pout with a saddened gaze. "He was a great man. But he didn't know a thing about a balanced diet."

"That's awful."

He nodded. "Yeah its just Mom and I now. Well, I have a sister but I haven't heard from her in about two years," he rolled his eyes with exasperation. "She comes and goes."

"Black sheep of the family?"

"Something like that."

He grinned and I bit down on my lip as I toyed with the coffee cup lid. How was I so relaxed? My heart hadn't beat at such a steady rate in years. I felt as though I could breathe without struggle. And it wasn't just the rooftop garden, that much I was sure of.

"So how about you Arian? Tell me more."

I chuckled through my nose and peeked up at him. "Arian Moore. That's my last name. And uh, there's not much to tell. I grew up in Tampa. I moved here a few years ago and went to culinary school. And now I'm just biding my time until I can get a decent job."

That was all a collection of half truths that I was rehearsed in giving. Part of me knew that I should tell him that I'm married. But I didn't want to. In this moment, I was exisiting as the version of myself that I wanted to be. The version that I wanted him to see. Carefree, happy . . . not trapped in an abusive relationship. For now, I just wanted him to see me as someone who was whole.

"Parents?" Aiden questioned, pushing his food around with a plastic fork. "Siblings?"

"Uh no," I took a deep breath. "Only child and my parents were killed a while ago."

"Just you huh?" He gave me a sad smile. "No man?"

I felt a familiar ball of distress forming in the pit of my stomach. Telling him about Desmond meant telling him that I was in a loving relationship. It meant spinning bullshit and painting him as a wonderful man to ensure that no one knew the truth. I hated that. But I smiled and waved my ring finger. "Yeah, uh I'm married actually."

His expression flinched but he quickly smiled. "He's a lucky man."

I blushed at the warmth in his stare and attempted to stop the compliment from going to my head. "How about you?" I shrugged and set the coffee cup down, deciding that it was too cold to drink. "Girlfriend? Wife?"

"Nope," he stared off to the side with a thoughtful glance. "No, I'm detached at the moment."

"Surprising."

"How so?"

We met stares and I swallowed, feeling heated before I'd even said the words. "You're good looking, you own your own company, you're sweet. It just. . . seems odd that no ones snatched you up."

"I've had girlfriends," he confessed with disinterest. "But right now, there's no one that I've seen a future with. I'm at that age now. I don't want to date for fun. I want to date for love."

"That makes sense," I nodded.

"How old are you Arian?"

"Twenty four."

"And you were pleased to have married at this age?" He questioned with a curious stare. "Did you feel that click? That instant ease and comfort? As if hearing a song and knowing that it would be your favourite from that moment on? Like it was more than just an introduction through words, but souls that had been searching and found each other. Did you connect in a way that words could never measure?"

I felt my heart hammering out of my chest as he watched me with soft but intense eyes. This man was more than just breathtakingly beautiful. He was articulate and well spoken and the words that he had delivered left me staring at the dark blue blanket of sky. Meeting Desmond was something that I had appreciated at the time. He was an older, handsome man that wanted to treat me when I was in a vulnerable place. But I had never felt those things with him. Never.

"Yes," I lied with more regret than I'd ever felt before. "I felt all of those things with him."

"Mmm," he clenched his sharp jaw. It was such a sensual act, the heat behind his gaze adding fuel to the fire. He shook his head and averted his gaze. "You're both lucky to have each other."