The Hockey Roommate's Filthy Desire novel Chapter 134

Chapter 134

ARIA’S POV

Brandon looked at me for a long moment, his eyes searching my face. “Have you eaten today, Aria?” he asked quietly. He always noticed when I was too busy to take care of myself.

“Yes, I had something small,” I lied. Even though my stomach was in knots and I hadn’t touched a plate all morning, I didn’t want him to worry more than he already was.

He nodded, adjusting his watch. “I have a meeting right now that I really can’t miss. It’s very important for the firm and the board of directors. But I will text you later to confirm the details for Amelia’s meeting. I don’t want to be late for her. I want to be there to see her drawings.”

Just as he said that, my phone buzzed in my hand. I looked down and saw a message from the school board. I sighed as I read the text on the screen.

“Wait, Brandon,” I said, showing him the phone. “They just sent a message to all the parents. The teacher meeting has been moved to a few days from now. Something came up at the school and they had to change the date.”

Brandon read the text and looked back at me. He didn’t look disappointed, he just looked determined.

“That’s fine. I will still find a way to pick Amelia up from school later today. I promised her I would be there, and I never break my word to her. Ever.”

I looked at him, feeling a bit worried. He was doing so much for us. “Brandon, you don’t have to keep giving in to her every demand. You’re going to spoil her too much. She needs to learn that adults have work to do and can’t always play.”

Brandon just smiled, a warm and soft look in his eyes that only I ever got to see. He leaned down and kissed my forehead gently. His lips felt warm against my skin.

“Amelia is my special girl, Aria,” he whispered. “I will never say no to her. She makes me happy, so she deserves to get every good thing the world has to offer. I want her to have everything she ever dreams of

I couldn’t help but smile back. “Thank you, Brandon. Really. For everything.”

He stared at me for a while, his gaze dropping down to my lips. For a second, the air in the office telt very heavy and very still. I knew he wanted to kiss me.

I could feel the pull between us, like a magnet. But then, he looked away and cleared his throat, pulling

himself back

“I won’t rush you,” he said firmly, his voice sounding a bit rough. “I’ll wait until you are ready. Then, and only then, will I do everything I want to do to you

The way he said it made a sliver run down my back It wasn’t a bad feeling, but it was intense

“I… I’m leaving now,” he said, checking his laptop

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18:17 Mon, Jun 1

Chapter 134

ཉྙཱ་

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I nodded quickly, trying to find my voice. “I have to get back to the pastry shop too. The morning rush is starting.”

I walked out of the building and drove back to the shop, my mind spinning with a thousand thoughts. I kept asking myself the same question over and over.

What if Brandon was really the right man for me? Was I making a huge mistake by pushing him away because of my fear?

But then, a cold feeling hit my heart. They all seemed like the right men at first. Julian had seemed perfect once, too. He was sweet and kind before everything fell apart.

I decided I would just let time tell the truth. I wouldn’t rush into anything I might regret later, especially now that I had Amelia to think about.

Her safety was more important than my feelings.

When I got to the shop, I needed to stay busy so I wouldn’t think. I called the acting CEO of my father’s company.

“How is everything looking today?” I asked, trying to sound like a boss.

“Everything is fine, Miss Aria,” he replied. “The profits are steady, and the board is quiet. I’m sending over the latest records to your email right now so you can check the numbers.”

I went through the records, but it only took me twenty minutes. I still didn’t feel busy enough. I was restless. I needed to move, to do something with my hands to calm the shaking in my heart.

I went into the kitchen and started baking. I baked white bread, chocolate cookies, and fruit cakes. I started making random things that weren’t even on the menu or in any customer’s orders.

I wasn’t even following a plan. I was just mixing flour, eggs, and sugar to stop my brain from thinking about the kiss Brandon didn’t give me.

I was so distracted and lost in the smell of baking bread that I completely forgot the time. I also forgot that I was supposed to be waiting for Brandon to bring Amelia here.

When I finally checked the clock on the wall, I froze,

I saw a text from Brandon that had been sitting on my phone for an hour.

Aria, I’m running a bit late with this meeting. It is taking longer than I thought I’ll meet you and Amcha at the shop as soon as I’m out. I’m sorry.

I panicked. If he was late, that meant he hadn’t picked her up yet. But luckily, Brandon had already paid for the school bus service.

Anytime we were late, Amelia could just take the bus, and they would drop her right in front of the shop door

The problem was, that was supposed to happen thirty minutes ago. The school bus was never late. They were always on time, every single day.

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I stepped outside and looked down the street, searching for that yellow bus, but the road was empty. Another thirty minutes passed, and then a whole hour.

My heart began to pound against my ribs like a trapped bird. Something was very wrong I called the kindergarten, my hands shaking so much I almost dropped the phone.

Hi, this is Aria Ford. I’m calling about my daughter. Amelia. Did she get on the bus today

“Oh, hello,” the teacher said, sounding very confused. “No, she didn’t take the bus today. Her father came so pick her up by himself right after school ended. He said he wanted to surprise her?

I felt like the ground opened up underneath me. I almost ran mad right there in the middle of the kitchen “Her father? Which father? Who was it?” I screamed into the phone.

I tried to take a deep breath, but I couldn’t get enough air. My head was spinning. I called Brandon immediately. The moment he picked up, I started shouting before he could even say hello.

“Brandon! Why would you pick up Amelia when you told me you were busy with work? Why didn’t you just wait or tell me you were there? The teacher said her father picked her up! Why are you playing games with

me?

“Aria, calm down! Slow down,” Brandon’s voice came through. He sounded completely shocked and confused. “I’m still in the meeting. I’m sitting in the boardroom right now. I haven’t left the office all afternoon. I didn’t go to the school, Aría. Honestly.”

My heart sank into my stomach. A cold, terrifying fear washed over me, turning my blood to ice.

“If you didn’t pick her up….” I whispered, my voice breaking into a sob. “Then who has my daughter? Who took her?”

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