by K E Osborn
“What do you think?”
I rub my hand along the soft, glossy wooden texture of his desk. “I think this desk could be quite useful.” I smirk, sitting on the edge of it.
His eyebrow rises. “Why, Miss Taylor, what are you insinuating?”
Now I have his full attention. “You’ll just have to wait and see, Mr. O’Connell.” I lean in, grabbing his tie, and pull him to my lips for a kiss.
Suddenly, a knock sounds on his door, breaking us apart. Aiden straightens his tie swiftly. “Come in.”
Niall pushes the door back quickly and spots me, but there’s no acknowledgment apart from a sharp exhale as he walks into the office. “Don’t forget about the account control agreement for the McAllister’s,” he affirms sternly.
“I haven’t forgotten,” Aiden advises.
Niall spins to leave. “Don’t make mistakes, girlie. I don’t tolerate incompetence,” he snaps as he walks past me. “Oh… and Aiden?”
“Yeah?”
“You have lipstick on your damn mouth.” He walks out, closing the door behind him with a sharp snap.
Aiden wipes my lipstick from his lips while I begin to grin. “We’ll have to be more careful.” He winks at me, and I sigh.
“Guess I better go and do some actual work before he fires me on my first day.” I stride out of Aiden’s office, closing the door behind me.
With a small sigh, I sit at my brand-new desk and turn on my computer. I glance down, and in front of me is a list of printed instructions from Daniel. It outlines the day-to-day running of the office very succinctly and also gives me guidelines regarding other more important issues that could arise during the day. Honestly, I couldn’t be more grateful right now.
The elevator chimes, and Rachelle and Matthew step out into the foyer.
“Good morning,” I say to them cheerily.
“Morning, Jeni,” Rachelle coos as Matthew continues into his office. “Nervous?” Rachelle asks.
“Is it that obvious?” I give a little uneasy laugh.
“Don’t worry. This job is a breeze once you get the hang of it. If you have any questions, let me know. I’ll be happy to help.” She smiles reassuringly.
“Thanks, Rachelle.”
The elevator chimes again, and a deliveryman walks through with a bunch of flowers. My heart leaps into my throat while Rachelle sits in awe.
“Seriously?” I blurt out loud to no one in particular.
“I have a delivery for Miss Jenifer Taylor.”
I raise my hand.
“Someone’s lucky,” Rachelle murmurs as I sign for the flowers.
I shrug. “This seems to be a thing.” She looks at me with her brows furrowed. “Aiden promised me flowers every Monday. I didn’t believe him at the time, but it appears the tradition is continuing, even with me working here.”
She smiles halfheartedly, but her eyes look saddened. “Wish my boyfriend would buy me flowers,” she grumbles.
I look at the card. As always, it’s very neatly handwritten.
Dear Jeni,
Welcome to O’Connell Finance.
Love Aiden xoxo
I put the vase filled with the most beautiful flowers on the end of my desk and then stride to Aiden’s door and knock softly.
“Come in.” As I step in, I notice he’s staring at his computer intently.
He casually looks up and smiles. “Hey, baby,” he murmurs as he relaxes back into his chair.
Spinning around, I close his door with a click, then walk to his desk and sit on the edge. “Thank you.”
“What for?”
“You know what for.”
He stands, moves around the desk in front of me, and shifts my legs apart so he’s standing between them. Lust smolders in his eyes as I look at him. He slides me closer, so I wrap my legs around his hips. One hand goes to my hair, and the other holds my lower back as he moves in to kiss me. I feel the throb deep in my core as I react to his touch. I sense he wants me too as his kiss becomes more forceful, more zealous, our tongues intertwining together in perfect synchronization.
Abruptly he stops and pulls away, leaving me breathless. I’m confused. “You. Are. Trouble.” He wipes my lipstick from his mouth as I frown. “The things I want to do to you right now should be illegal.” He shakes his head and straightens his tie. “I want you so badly, my cock’s aching to be inside you.”
A smirk fills my face, but I realize now is not the time, so I hop down from his desk and smooth my skirt back into position. With a gentle thumb, he wipes my smudged lipstick from my mouth.
Unexpectedly, his door rips back on its hinges with a loud bang, and Niall marches into the room flanked by two policemen and a guy wearing a suit, who flashes his detective badge.
“Aiden, for fuck’s sake. How could you?” Niall yells at him.
Aiden’s eyes widen as he jolts back showing the same shocked face I know I am. “How could I what?”
One of the policemen walks over to Aiden. Pulling out his handcuffs, he takes Aiden’s hands one at a time and places the handcuffs around his wrists as my heart pounds in my chest.
“Aiden O’Connell, you’re under arrest for the crime of embezzlement against O’Connell Finance. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you can’t afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you. Do you understand your rights?”
Aiden’s eyes glisten, and he blinks a few times as he stares at me completely bewildered. My heart squeezes so hard it’s making me breathless as I watch the policeman manhandle him.
“What the hell’s going on?” Aiden demands.
Rachelle and Matthew walk into his office. “What did you do?” Matthew sneers.
I can’t think straight as Aiden’s roughly led out of his office by one of the policemen. “I didn’t do this, Father! How can you think that I’d do this to you and our company? You know me. Jeni, I didn’t do this,” Aiden states categorically.
My eyes fill with tears, and they spill over onto my cheek as my hand shoots to my mouth in shock at Aiden’s sheer desperation. He struggles against the policemen trying to break free.
“Jeni, I didn’t do this. I swear.” He panics.
The policemen grip him harder as hot, salty tears run down my cheeks and onto my top. I peer over at Matthew as Aiden’s forcefully escorted to the elevator.
My heart is breaking, shattering inside my chest. I have no idea what the hell is going on other than Aiden has been arrested for a serious crime. A sudden wash of anger floods my veins—anger over what, I’m not quite sure.
Rachelle walks over to me. “Are you okay?”
A loud sob expels from my mouth, followed by another and another. I can’t control them as I look up to see Matthew smirking. The asshole’s actually taking pleasure in all this chaos. So, I point at him. “That’s right, you fucking jerk. It couldn’t work out better for you, could it? Aiden’s arrested for embezzlement leaving you to fill the vice president’s chair,” I scream at Matthew, who looks at me, huffs, then exits Aiden’s office like the weasel he is.
Rachelle attempts to comfort me as my thoughts run a million miles an hour in a hundred different directions.
Did Aiden do this?
He must have. Or, at least, they have found evidence leading to him.
But how could he do this?
To his family, to me—it makes no sense.
I’m so confused.
Maybe I was stupid to trust him, but I honestly can’t bring myself to imagine him doing this. He’s one of the most honest people I know. I’m dizzy as a cold sweat invades every inch of my skin. My heart pounds so loud I can hear it in my ears as the tears continue to roll down my cheeks, and I do nothing to stop them.
Rachelle leads me over to the sofa and sits me down. “I know this is hard for you, but you have to be strong. He needs your support now more than ever.”
The pounding in my ears is s
o damn loud I can barely hear what she’s saying, and to be honest, I don’t care what she has to say. Aiden could be a criminal, but through the despair and frustration, anger appears—anger at me, anger at Aiden, anger at Matthew—I frankly don’t know who to be more enraged with.
Rachelle leaves to fetch me a glass of water. Somehow, I find the strength to stand and walk to the door where I overhear talking, so I peer through the office window.
“Are you sure this will work?” Rachelle asks Matthew, and I furrow my brows.
“It already has.” He laughs as he takes Rachelle into his arms and kisses her.
I wonder what the hell they’re talking about, but my head’s a mess, and I can’t think straight. After a few seconds, I stumble out of the office and to my desk. Upon seeing me, they instantly let go of each other, and Matthew casually walks back into his office, but the strut leaves me wondering.
Quickly, I gather my handbag and head to the elevator pulling out my phone as I step in.
I dial Sarah’s number. “Hello, stranger, how’s the new job going?” she asks chirpily. I can’t contain myself upon hearing her voice and burst into tears again. “Jeni? Oh, Jeni… what’s wrong?”
“Can you meet me at the police station?” I manage to ask through my whimpering.
I hear her gasp. “Jesus, what’s going on? Are you okay?”
I can’t find the strength to say anything else, so I simply end the call. The elevator makes its way to the ground level, opening its doors to the main foyer where the receptionists are in full crisis mode. Walking briskly, I step over to the main entrance, out the door, and down the stairs to the underground parking garage.
Mike’s chatting with some other men as I walk up and hug him tightly. “Miss Taylor, are you okay? Did Niall upset you?”
He obviously hasn’t heard the news yet, so I look up at him full of fear and hurt. “Aiden’s been arrested. Can you take me to the police station, please?”
His eyes open wide as he gasps. “Fuck! On what grounds?”
“Embezzlement.”
He takes my arm, leading me to the car, and we exit the parking garage at lightning speed.
“Miss Taylor, I know you’re upset, but are you sure that’s what’s actually happened?” Mike asks, trying to wrap his head around my despair.
“I was in the office when they barged in, Mike. He was dragged away by two policemen and a detective,” I snap at him, instantly feeling remorse. “Sorry, Mike, I didn’t mean to snap at you. I just don’t know what to think.”
“It’s okay. I understand, Miss Taylor. But you know he didn’t do it… right?” He studies me briefly.
Unfortunately, I can’t manage to say anything. I don’t know what to think.
Mike sighs but drives the rest of the way in silence. When we arrive at the police station, I run inside, not waiting for Mike. Niall, Callie, Daniel, and Killian are sitting in the waiting area. I run over to Callie, who stands to hug me.
I feel like a bottomless void of nothing as I sit and stare into the distance.
Waiting to see Aiden.
Waiting for this to all be a dream.
Waiting to wake up.
Waiting to find out this was all a big misunderstanding.
We wait and wait for what seems like hours.
“What’s happening?” I manage to quietly ask Callie as a tear rolls down her cheek.
“He’s being questioned. Don’t worry, he has a lawyer present. What we don’t know is what’s going to happen next,” she mentions quietly.
“I know what’s going to happen next,” Niall roars. “I’m going to wring his scrawny little fucking neck when I see him. That’s what’s going to happen next.”
I wince.
“Niall, shut up. You know he didn’t do it.” He glares at Callie in response.
“He did it all right, the ignorant little fucking prick, the evidence is all there.”
Killian stands, takes his father’s arm and leads him outside for some fresh air. Honestly, I couldn’t be more relieved to have Niall out of the room for a little while. Daniel taps the chair next to him, gesturing for me to sit. He puts his arm around my shoulders, and I lean into him as he holds me tighter, taking my hand in his. For a guy who was angry at Christmas when I found out about Killian and his relationship, I think he’s come a long way to forgiving me for outing them. It looks like going to work for Killian might have been the best step for their relationship. Not so sure it might have been the best step for Aiden and mine, though, right now.
Mike takes the seat next to Callie, consoling her. More hours pass when finally, a detective steps out of an interview room behind the desk. “Is there a Jenifer Taylor here?” he announces, gaining my attention.
I look up. “That’s me.”
“Mr. O’Connell has nominated you as his visitor. He’s only allowed one person.”
My heart beats rapidly as my stomach swirls with nerves—the detective gestures for me to walk through to the interview room. I look back at Daniel, Callie, and Mike, who all nod at me. The big, burly detective leads me to an interview room, where I see Aiden and his lawyer sitting at a small rectangular table. Aiden’s handcuffed to it, and there’s a detective sitting on the opposite side. I inhale deeply at the sight.
“Miss Taylor, thank you for coming,” the lawyer acknowledges.
“You have five minutes,” the detective states with a stern look. I nod and sit where he was seated as he leaves the room, shutting the door behind him with a firm click.
Aiden sits forward, his eyes conveying hurt as he stares at me. “Jeni, I didn’t do it.”
I nod, but I don’t say anything. My head’s a mess. The lawyer pulls out a file from his briefcase and places it on the table.
“This is the case the detective has built against Aiden. Details are as follows. They have tracked small fraudulent transactions from O’Connell Finance that have been transferred and deposited through various accounts and institutions. The money was moved from one account to another quickly, and they couldn’t keep up with the transfers, and that’s why it took so long to find the person responsible, but eventually, they found a way to follow the transactions…” He pauses. “Eventually, the transfers stopped in an offshore account in the name of Aiden O’Connell…” He pauses again. “The sum in the account is over ten million dollars.”
A tear rolls down my cheek as my eyes widen in shock. Ten million? That’s so much money.
“Miss Taylor, I’d like you to know that I believe Mr. O’Connell has been set up. No one who’s smart enough to fraudulently withdraw funds with such complexity from their own company is stupid enough to end the transfers in an account labeled with their own name.”
Aiden looks at me, his eyes glistening, but he remains stoic.
I swallow and nod. “I understand. What’s the next step?” I glance at Aiden, he seems optimistic so I give him a somewhat weak smile. Frankly, it’s all I can muster right now.
The lawyer runs through the papers in front of him. “This matter will end up in court, and the evidence will be presented to a jury. It’s my job to make them understand Mr. O’Connell’s innocence. The hardest and most important issues facing us right now is to attempt to discover who has framed him.” The lawyer looks at me over his glasses.
“Jeni, you trust me, right?” Aiden states while tears form in my eyes, but I blink them away as I nod.
The evidence isn’t in Aiden’s favor, but the lawyer believes in his innocence, so I should too. Blinking a few times, I make eye contact with Aiden’s melancholy blue eyes, and my lip starts to quiver.
“I love you,” his voice breaks reaching his hand to try and meet mine, but his handcuffs stop him, so I lean forward, and my skin tingles as warmth floods me when our fingers join for the briefest of moments.
“Aiden… I—”
The door opens, and a detective walks in, effectively ending our moment together. “Time’s up.”
Sighing, I mouth ‘I lo
ve you’ and regrettably stand and walk to the door. I hesitate, take a step, then stop, and as I look back, Aiden’s being led out of the room.
Seeing Aiden in handcuffs is a sight I won’t soon forget. I turn back and continue to walk with my chest feeling like an elephant’s sitting firmly right in the center.
As I walk out to the waiting area, Sarah and Chris have arrived at the station. Sarah spots me and rushes over, giving me the tightest of hugs.
I feel like I’m internally breaking. Seeing Aiden in there like that is twisting my insides, but I don’t want his family and our friends to know how bad this truly is. I need to be strong, for him, and for them right now. So, I take a deep breath, pulling my shit together, and draw back from Sarah straightening my shoulders and putting on a brave face.
Everyone watches me like they’re expecting me to break. Hell, I’ve given them no reason to think I won’t, but right now I need them to believe Aiden is fine. I need them to believe I’m fine.
I am not.
I’m far from it.
But if I fall apart in front of them, then we will all be panicking. I have to hide how scared I am until I’m behind closed doors.
“Are you able to tell us what’s going on?” Daniel asks.
I take another deep breath to steady my nerves as Niall and Killian walk back in to sit with us.
I exhale, preparing myself to tell them what happened. “Basically, the embezzled money was sent to an offshore account in Aiden’s name.”
Their eyes are all wide, but no one says anything except for Niall. “Of course, he’s stupid enough to put the money into an account with his name. What a complete fucking idiot.”
“Father… no one wants to hear what you think! Especially not in here and especially that you believe he’s guilty. We all know he’s innocent. So, shut the hell up. No one wants your stupid, no value-added, uneducated opinions,” Killian grunts.
“Boy, you are stepping close to the edge…” Niall pauses and then mumbles, “Personally, I say, let him rot,” under his breath.