A marriage deal with billionaire stone (Ivy and Silas)

Chapter 164

"Hey man, I just landed in California," Bailey said, giggling into her phone as she waited for her girlfriend.

"Oh, that's great," her brother, Logan, replied. "How was the journey? Have you seen Mom?"

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She strained her neck, scanning the airport. Aaliyah shouldn't be hard to spot, she was supposed to arrive with her parents.

"Not yet," Bailey replied. "I'm still waiting for Aaliyah. We're having dinner at her parents' house first, then I'll go see Mom.

"Oh, cool," Logan said. "When you get there, let me know so Alice and I can talk to her."

“Alright, man. Talk to you later. Say hi to Alice."

"Bye," Logan said, ending the call.

Bailey tucked her phone into the pocket of her baggy pants. She had been at the arrivals terminal for over forty minutes now, waiting to be picked up.

The last time she called Aaliyah, she said she was close and that had been fifteen minutes ago.

Glancing at her wristwatch, Bailey sighed, "You better have a good reason for being late," she muttered, her eyes darting across the crowd.

She had no idea what car Aaliyah would be driving, so she gave up trying to guess. Just then, her eyes landed on a small flower shop across the road.

A smile spread on her lips as she set her bags against the wall. Nobody would steal her luggage; she was just stepping across the street and she had a Glock. Not that she would use it unless absolutely necessary, but still.

"Hey, how much for this?" she asked the vendor, pointing to a small bouquet of

roses.

"Thirty dollars," the seller smiled.

Perfect. Just exactly what she had left. She took the money from her backpack and handed it over. "Thank you."

The vendor nodded and packed the bouquet. Moments later, Bailey returned to her spot, flowers in hand, her luggage untouched.

San Francisco.

It felt good to be back home. It wasn't exactly home, but she and Logan had spent most of their childhood here. After their father died and their mother threw herself into work, accepting the transfer to Colombia just made sense.

Though she flew in now and then-which was how she had met Aaliyah-she had never thought of San Francisco as permanent.

Except now it was different. She would be here for at least three months. Maybe less, if by some miracle she solved the case faster.

Not that she wasn't happy being back, her mother was here, her girlfriend was here. She was just going to miss Colombia

more.

Her mind drifted to Aaliyah and her stomach churned. Was Aaliyah going to come? How would she react when she met her

parents?

Meeting the parents meant stability, next-level shit. Not that she was scared of commitment; she loved Aaliyah deeply. It was just... a lot.

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Chapter 164

uncomfortable standing at the exit, a

"Bai!"

voice, and when she stepped out, dressed in a hot black gown, Bailey fought the urge to

a few weeks ago when Aaliyah flew to Colombia, Bailey still missed

as Aaliyah approached her. But instead of a hug and a kiss like they always

frowned, her arms still in

asked, grinning sheepishly, already walking to the car before Bailey

lowered her raised arms, as the realization hit. Aaliyah still hadn't told

you tell them?"

she hadn't heard her, and Bailey repeated her question when they

the road. "You know it's

jaw. "But it is.

she

Aaliyah. A year of hiding. When I pick you up in Colombia, I kiss you,

could be close to you. I can't believe I spent five weeks convincing my bosses, and for what? To come

Bailey noticed how her hands gripped the steering

annoyance dissolving

finally said, her voice soft. "I'm working on something big.

that for months. Why did you lie

to give you hope," Aaliyah admitted, finally meeting Bailey's gaze. "I know you're tired of this, but I promise I'll fix it." She

touch melted softened Bailey's

You know that," Aaliyah

know," Bailey replied. "I

briefly before Aaliyah turned her attention back to the

have you told your chief you

when we get

private jet since she was back in California on official duties, but she had managed to convince her chief to let her

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Wed, 21

Chapter 164

mission.

outside world, she was just a regular girl being picked up by her girlfriend and not

in a singsong voice, snapping

"Cool."

properly. Bailey got

to help with the luggage, it

that Aaliyah was treating her like a friend, but Bailey didn't say

luggage in, one of Aaliyah's neighbors shouted from

the street.

Aaliyah you have a

just a friend," Aaliyah said quickly, without looking

her chest as she unlocked Aaliyah's door

the code.

She knew the code to her girlfriend's house, yet she was

for it in her bag and picked it up. "Hello