His Construction Princess

Don't get yourself hurt, princess

Aria's POV

Both men froze. Their gazes locked on mine. "Did he abuse you?", Antonio's cruel hard voice had lightened an octave. I hate that f*****g question. Why do men think it's okay to ask it? "I was 16 years old when he started grooming me. You tell me, Mr. Antonio, did he?", I growled.

"Aria", William said softly, placing his hand on my back. Antonio opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by Alexander. "That's enough, father", he demanded. Antonio and I were locked in on each other. A battle of the wills. Who would back down first? Not this b***h. I can assure you that.

"Let me clarify for you, Mr. Antonio. You may be opposed to working with a woman contractor. However, when I step onto the job site, I'm the head man there. And will run circles around everyone. I was born for this. Intimidation doesn't sway me", my shoulder's were squared.

Indistinguishable smirks crossed their kindred faces. "I like you, Ms. Aria. This is going to be an interesting contract", Antonio announced. Our waiter returned with our food, just in time, too. The tension at the table was finally subsidiing.

William took the opportunity to brag on me. He talked about how quickly I learned and grew. "Anytime I teach her something new, she perfects it, and surpasses my skill, everytime", he grinned in memorance. "God placed us in each other's lives at the perfect moment. I needed someone to pass my knowledge to and she needed someone to give her a hand up in this world", he explained.

My heart ached at the memory of five years ago. I was on my knees, weak from the realization that my fairytale family wouldn't last. He cheated on me, yanked and slapped me around if I wasn't feeling good, gaslighted me, and manipulated me. He broke me.

"Aria?", Alexander's voice cracked the haze. I shook my head. "Huh? Yes?", I came to, realizing that I had disassociated in the middle of our business lunch. Get it together, Aria. It's been five years. Heal already. "Are you okay with riding along with me?", he asked. "Yes. I'll just need to grab my inspection bag from my truck", I nodded.

"Now if this goes well, there are many other projects that we want to start", Antonio informed us. "Splendid. Very good", William nodded. Alexander's gaze always seemed to drift back to me. Matter of fact, I think he has looked at me more than anyone or anything else. Ooh, I hope he doesn't have any bright ideas. I don't sleep with my clients, or workers.

After eating, I said my farewells to William, and Antonio. Alexander walked with me to my truck. "Do you like what you do?", he asked, as I fished my inspection bag from the backseat of my Chevy Colorado. "I love it. Keeps me on my toes", I answered, with a soft smile.

"Good. That's important", he nodded. "What about you? What do you do for a living? And do you like it?", I asked, closing the truck door and facing him. He chuckled nervously as he gestured towards his truck. "I do a variety of things. Some I love, some I despise", he answered vaguely.

"So very specific", I toyed. "It's not safe to share what I do, with you", he whispered in my ear, as he reached across me to open the passenger side door of a RAM 1500. "Oh, that's the way that it is", I nodded, getting into the truck.

Alexander softly closed the door and went around to the driver's side. He was quiet as he maneuvered the parking lot. "It's not exactly fair that you are taking me into harm's way and you can't even warn me of the threat", I said boldly, looking over at him.

His facial expressions showed determination. "I'm not taking you into harm's way", he protested. "If it's not safe to tell me what you do. Then, that means it is dangerous. Which explains the NDAs. However, that also means that danger comes with being associated with you, in the vehicle with you, or working with a group of only your men", I explained, babbling because my anxiety won't let me shut up.

A heavy sighed derived from the driver's seat. "You are quite sharp, princess", he muttered. "What do you think I do, Aria?", he asked, peering over at me. "I don't want to be the one who answers that question. That's why I asked it", I voiced. "And straight-forward", he nodded. "How about I tell you after you've signed the NDA", he smirked.

I nodded in agreeance. "That's fair", I said. "We are new to this town. So you will have to bear with me", he said, looking between the road and his GPS screen. I immediately recognized the name of the street we were destined to.

"Take your next left. It's a short cut", I said, pointing at the upcoming street. Alexander followed my guidance and the GPS recalculated. "Huh. Why didn't it take me this way to begin with?", he asked, noticing the time difference on the ETA.

"GPS only registers main roads, unless there is no other way, or you force it to recognize another route", I explained. "It's too small of a town", I chuckled. Alexander grinned. "Are you from here?", he asked, peeking over at me. "No. I was born in Florida. My mom moved me here when I was nine. So, I was pretty much raised here, but not from here", I answered, wondering if my babbling even made sense at this point.

"If you stick with me, I'll show you all the back roads", I teased. "What part of town do you live in?", he inquired. His questions didn't make me feel uncomfortable, like he was being evasive, quite the contrary. "The bad part", I laughed. "No, really", he grinned. "I'm serious", I laughed harder.

"Ah, s**t. I don't know. I don't have problems like the people around me do. I get left alone. My neighbors have had their houses broken into. I leave my door unlocked majority of the time", I shrugged. "Now, why would they leave you alone, but not your neighbors?", he questioned wearily.

"I've lived in the same neighboorhood since I moved here. Just changed residences. I don't buy materialistic things. So, I don't have anything worth stealing. Plus the street rats don't scare me. They respect me for that", I explained, to the best of my ability.

"Street rats?", he asked, almost sounding offended. "Don't take offense to that. You would say the same thing if you saw them. Half of them saying they are crips the other saying their bloods. Me telling them they are f*****g idiots", I rambled off. Alexander chuckled.

"Really. They are kids. Playing pretend. This small little town isn't on a big gangs radar. As much as the street rats would like", I said. "Why not?", the look he gave me was to be careful with my answer. f**k that. I'm too f*****g bold for that. Plus, everyone loves living life on the dangerous side right?

"Because this town is more appealing to the Mafia. Where real business gets done. And sophistication buys the sellers", I taunted. Alexander's dark emerald eyes burned into mine for as long as he could hold before looking back at the road. He smirked as he turned his face away from me.

"Don't get yourself hurt, princess", he muttered. "You won't hurt me", I said confidently. "What gives you that impression?", he asked. I shook my head. "I just know".

My phone rang, cutting our conversation. "What's wrong, Marcus?", I answered with fret. "Nothing, boss lady. I'm just calling to update you. We got all of the debris picked up and in the dumpster. Would you like us to wrap the hole? Or do you want me to get the material and get us started?", Marcus rambled.

"The materials need to be ordered, so you will have to wrap it. Let me ask you. Do you think that you are capable of determining all the material we will need? And, I suggest that you highly consider this before answering. It's fine if the answer is no. However, if you say yes, then you get it wrong, that's your job", I instructed.