Chapter 218 · My Hockey Roommate’s Filthy Desires

Chapter 218

ARIA'S POVI pressed send on the text message and watched the little bubble pop up on the screen. A small, genuine smile touched my lips.After the absolute nightmare of the past few days, a quiet lunch with Brandon was exactly what I needed. I locked my phone, tossing it into my purse, and began gathering the remaining files scattered across my desk.I was just reaching for my coat when the sharp ring of my phone broke the silence of the office.Assuming it was Brandon letting me know he had pulled up to the curb, I swiped the screen and pressed the phone to my ear without even checking the caller ID."Hey," I said softly, a light tone in my voice. "I'm already on my way downstairs.""Just what the hell does he think he is, Aria?!"The venomous, raging roar that echoed through the speaker made me freeze instantly. My smile vanished, my blood turning to absolute ice. It wasn't Brandon."Julian?" I whispered, my grip tightening on the phone as my heart began to hammer against my ribs. "Why are you calling me? I told you to leave me alone.""Why am I calling you?" Julian laughed, a jagged, unhinged sound that sent a shiver straight down my spine."Your lover boy just walked into my arena. He bought off my coach, he bought off my entire team! He's the new sponsor, Aria! He completely ruined my family, he took you, he took my daughter, and now he's trying to steal my fucking career too?!"I stood rooted to the spot, my breath catching in my throat. The sponsorship. Brandon had mentioned it briefly over lunch yesterday.He told me his friend Henderson had approached him about backing a local hockey team before their final run. I remembered telling him to go for it, that it was a great investment.But Brandon hadn't mentioned a name. I had no idea that the team he was talking about was Julian's."Julian, calm down," I pleaded, my voice shaking as I tried to process the information. "Brandon is a businessman. He handles sports investments all the time. I'm sure it was just a coincidence—""A coincidence? Don't be so naive!" Julian hissed, his breathing ragged and heavy through the line. "He did it to humiliate me. He stood right in front of me and mocked me, Aria! He told me you belong to him now. He told me the whole world is going to know."A heavy silence fell over the line, save for Julian's harsh, desperate pants. "Listen to me, and listen to me carefully," Julian growled, his voice dropping into a dark, terrifying threat."You better warn your billionaire boyfriend to back off. Tell him to stay away from my life, or I swear to God, I will do something we will all regret. I have nothing left to lose, Aria. Remember that.""Julian, wait—" Before I could finish, the line went dead. I slowly lowered the phone from my ear, my hands trembling violently.My mind was spinning out of control. Julian sounded completely unraveled, like a man pushed entirely over the edge. *What did he mean by that? What was he going to do?*I stood there, completely frozen in the middle of my office, the air suddenly feeling heavy and suffocating. Fear for Amelia, for Brandon, and for the fragile peace we had just built cloned inside my chest.Before I could sink any deeper into my panic, the heavy glass door of my office swung open. I jumped slightly, my wide eyes snapping toward the entrance.Brandon walked in. He looked absolutely flawless, a picture of calm, masculine power in his tailored suit. In his arms, he held a massive, breathtaking bouquet of deep red roses.The moment his dark eyes locked onto mine, the fierce, sharp look he usually wore melted into a soft, warm smile. "Ready for lunch, my queen?" he asked smoothly, stepping into the room.I just stood there, my throat completely dry, looking between the beautiful roses in his hands and the calm expression on his face. He looked so unbothered, yet I knew he had just come straight from the battlefield.I stood there, my grip tightening on my purse as Brandon set the massive bouquet of roses on my desk.They were stunning, but the sight of them and the calm, predatory grace with which Brandon moved only heightened the tension thrumming through my veins."Why didn't you tell me it was Julian's team you were sponsoring?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.Brandon paused, his hands resting on the back of the leather chair opposite me. He looked at me, his gaze unreadable, almost amused by my distress. "Was it necessary? I make dozens of investments every month, Aria.""It was to me," I shot back, frustration bubbling up. "Why agree to invest in that specific team when you knew it was Julian's? You had to know it would cause issues."Brandon leaned forward slightly, his expression schooled into cool indifference. "I do business, Aria. I don't micromanage my competitors' personal lives. Henderson, the head of the scouts, has been trying to collect on a favor I owed him for years. This was the easiest way to settle it. Do you want me to drop the deal? Cancel everything just because Julian Vance is on the roster?"I was quiet for a moment, the weight of his question hanging in the air. I thought about Julian’s unhinged screaming on the phone, the way he had threatened me, and the fear that still lingered in my chest."No," I finally said, shaking my head. "I don't want you to drop it. I just... I wish I had known."Brandon’s eyes narrowed slightly, his sharp intuition catching the shift in my demeanor. "How did you know, Aria? I hadn't told a soul."I looked down, picking at the strap of my purse. "Julian called me. Just before you walked in. He was... he was yelling. He was furious."Brandon let out a sharp, cold scoff, pacing around the desk to stand right in front of me. "Is that so? And is that why you’re jumping to his defense the second I walk through the door?"My head snapped up, meeting his intense, darkening gaze. I saw the flash of possessive anger behind his eyes and realized he had misunderstood me entirely."I am not defending him, Brandon," I said firmly, reaching out to touch his arm. "I don't care about his career or his team. All I want is for him to leave mine and Amelia's life. I just want him gone."Brandon’s expression softened, the hard line of his jaw relaxing as he looked down at me. He placed a large, firm hand over mine, his thumb tracing my knuckles."I understand, Aria. I truly do. To me, this was always purely business. It's just a transaction on a balance sheet. Julian is the one projecting his own failures onto it. He’s the one who will have to watch me from the sidelines while he slowly realizes he’s lost everything."He stepped closer, invading my space in that way that always made my breath hitch. "And besides," he murmured, his voice dropping to a low, intimate register, "you're mine, not his. Julian messed up. He threw his chance away, and now you’re with me. Or isn't that true?"I felt the tension melt out of my shoulders. He was right. Julian was a ghost of a past I was trying to escape, and Brandon was my present. He was my steady, powerful reality.I leaned into him, a small, genuine smile finally reaching my lips. "Yes," I whispered. "I'm yours."I rose on my tiptoes and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to his lips.He responded instantly, his hand moving to the small of my back to pull me flush against him. When we pulled apart, he looked refreshed, the lingering shadow of the arena completely gone."Good," he said, his voice husky. "Now, we should probably get going. If we stay here any longer, I’m going to stop caring about lunch and start caring about locking the office door."I laughed, a sound of pure relief, and grabbed my coat. "Okay, lead the way."I walked toward the door, then paused, looking back at him. "Are you going to be busy later this afternoon? I really need someone to go over some legal documents with me, and I trust your eyes more than anyone else's."Brandon smiled, a real, indulgent smile that made my heart flutter. "For you, I’m never too busy. I'll make the time.”"Thank you," I said softly, giving him a grateful look as I grabbed my purse from the desk.We walked out of my inner office together. As we passed the main desk, I caught the attention of my assistant. "Chloe, I'm heading out for lunch. I should be back soon. Handle any urgent calls for me, please.""Of course, Miss Aria. Enjoy your lunch," Chloe replied, her eyes briefly darting to Brandon with a mix of awe and curiosity.Brandon guided me toward the private executive elevator, his large hand resting protectively against the small of my back. The doors slid open smoothly, and we stepped inside.But the moment the elevator reached the main lobby and the doors parted, a wave of self-consciousness hit me.As we walked across the marble floor toward the glass exit doors, I could feel the weight of dozens of eyes on us. Whispers broke out among the reception staff and the employees milling about the lobby.The stares were heavy, filled with intense curiosity and speculation. I felt incredibly uncomfortable, my fingers tightening around the strap of my purse. I wasn't used to this level of public scrutiny.But as Brandon walked beside me, completely unbothered, his shoulders squared and his expression calm, a strange sense of grounding settled over me.This was the reality of being with a man like him. It was uncomfortable, yes, but it was also my way of knowing that what we had was real. We weren't hiding in the dark anymore. I had to believe that.When we stepped outside into the warm afternoon air, Brandon pushed ahead slightly, opening the passenger door of his car for me. I offered him a tight smile, slipping inside, and he shut the door securely before walking around to the driver's side and getting in.He started the engine, the powerful car purring to life. "Where would you like to eat?" he asked, glancing over at me as he navigated through the lunchtime traffic.I thought about it for a second, wanting somewhere private but nice. I told him the name of a small, fancy restaurant tucked away in the quieter corporate district—a place known for its discreet booths and excellent service.Brandon nodded in approval, his hands moving smoothly over the steering wheel as he redirected the car toward the venue.As the city streets blurred past the window, the quiet hum of the air conditioning filling the cabin, I leaned my head back against the leather seat. I couldn't help but wonder what this new sponsorship deal truly meant for us.Julian’s frantic, desperate voice kept echoing in my mind, a dark contrast to the peaceful life I was trying so hard to build. I didn't want any more chaos. I didn't want any more trouble at all.Right now, sitting next to Brandon, I felt a semblance of peace. That was what I chose to believe, and I was going to hold onto it with everything I had.

Chapter 218