by K E Osborn
Nana strides into the room gracefully as Callie walks off to the kitchen. Her eyes meet me right away, saddening in a somber expression. “Darling, you look tired,” Nana says to me kindly.
That’s just a nice way of saying that I look like crap.
Aiden takes my hand in his and entwines our fingers, obviously understanding the sentiment as well as I do.
“I’m getting there, Nana.”
“You two make such a gorgeous couple, don’t they, Mike?” Nana asks casually.
“Yes, ma’am, they certainly do.” Mike smiles up at Aiden, a hint of protectiveness shining through. Mike really takes his job with Aiden seriously.
Aiden relaxes back into the sofa, and I make myself comfortable next to him as he places his arm around me.
“Dinner’s ready,” Callie announces a short time later.
In the dining room, the table is set beautifully with silver cutlery, a white tablecloth, and the biggest vase of roses I’ve ever seen as a centerpiece.
Not surprisingly, Niall grumpily walks in, slumps down at the head of the table, ready to carve the roast in the uncomfortable silence. The rest of us sit awkwardly, waiting for someone to say something.
“Niall, how was your day?” Callie breaks the tension.
In sync, we all look to Niall, waiting for his answer. “It would’ve been good if I had competent staff.” He stares directly at me as the words spew from his mouth like venom.
At least he’s acknowledging I’m here. I guess that’s a start, I think.
Aiden rolls his eyes but doesn’t say anything.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me, boy. You know as well as I do that she’s useless.”
“Niall! Please be civil for once in your life,” Callie says quietly.
“I’ll be civil when it fucks off.”
My mouth opens slightly in shock, I can’t help it.
“Father! What the hell?” Aiden yells.
“Yes. The only reason I don’t fire her is because you’ll leave. Am I right?”
“Yes. You’re one hundred percent right! But you’re dead wrong when you say she’s useless. Jeni’s doing a fantastic job, and you know damn well she is. You’re annoyed she’s doing so well, and you’re taking that out on her.”
I sink into my chair. I hate being the butt of another one of their arguments, and to be honest, it feels like they are discussing me like I’m not even here.
“Brielle’s the only one working her ass off out there. It doesn’t even know how to hand out coffee. That’s how useless it is?”
“It? Why the hell are you calling Jeni it?” Aiden yells. “She’s my partner, Father, and her name is Jeni. You would do well to remember it.”
“What’s the point of learning her name, Aiden? She’ll be gone soon enough, anyway. You know she only wants you for your money. Once she’s had enough, she’ll be gone. She would’ve used that baby to trap you.”
My eyes bulge out of their sockets. I can’t believe Niall’s said that about me. My leg starts to agitate under the table as my teeth grind together. My muscles quiver with the adrenaline of the moment as heat flushes over my entire body. I’m seething.
“For God’s sake, Father, Jeni’s right here. Don’t talk about her like she’s not.”
“Niall! Stop it! Don’t say things like that,” Callie blasts loudly.
“Oh, shut up, woman! What would you know! You would be on her side, wouldn’t you?”
I bite my bottom lip so hard I can taste the metallic tang of blood.
Fuck! Now Callie’s getting involved.
“How dare you talk to me like that, Niall O’Connell? You’ve walked all over me for the past thirty-seven years, and I won’t stand for it any longer. Do. You. Hear. Me?”
“Thirty-seven years of my life I’ll never get back, Callie.”
Mike flares his nostrils. His face turns a bright shade of red as the vein in his neck pulsates with every beat of his heart. He’s angry as hell as Callie scoffs.
Nana stands. “Niall Patrick O’Connell, I didn’t raise you to be a first-class asshole. Now apologize to Jeni and Callie.”
Niall’s jaw ticks. “Mom, I respect you, but I won’t apologize to either of them. Especially that.” He points directly at me. “She will ruin your grandson’s life. That woman is a tramp, a waste of space, and is completely and utterly useless. No one in their right mind would fall in love with her. So that, my son, must make you a moron. Get it through your head… if she was twice as smart as she is now, she’d still be stupid.” Niall looks directly at me. “You’re a worthless dog. Go and lay by your bowl.”
Tears well in my eyes, but there’s no fucking way I am going to allow them to fall.
Aiden stands abruptly, his fists clenched ready to fight, but I pull hard on his arm. He looks down at me, his face bright red with rage. I shake my head, even though I would love nothing more than for Niall’s face to be a bloodied-up mess right now. But if I’m being brutally honest with myself, I’d like to be the one who throat punches the asshole into the middle of next week.
“No! Jeni, he can’t talk to you like that.”
“Aiden… please. Sit down. It’s fine.”
“No! It’s not fine. Jeni, he—”
“Aiden, please!” I interject raising my voice.
With a loud huff, he exhales forcefully and sits. The room is completely silent. Everyone’s shocked at Niall’s harsh words, including me. The tension in the air is thick. The atmosphere is rife with anxiety as everyone waits for someone, anyone, to make the next move.
“I’ll eat in my study.” Niall picks up his plate and storms out of the room.
“Good. I’d rather not eat with someone who’s as callus and downright vile as you, Father,” Aiden grunts, obviously he can’t hold in his anger.
As Niall leaves, the emotion hits me like a tidal wave. I exhale loudly, I can’t stop the anger building inside of me while my body shakes with the adrenaline overload it’s receiving.
Aiden rubs my back in an attempt to somehow comfort me.
“I could kill that asshole with my bare fucking hands,” Aiden mutters under his breath.
“Mom, are you all right?” Brielle asks quietly.
Callie starts to dish out plates of food, trying not to let what was said get the better of her, although she blinks furiously trying to remove the tears in her eyes and stop them from falling. “I’m fine. I’m used to his abuse.” She turns to me. “Jeni, I’m sorry. You don’t deserve that.”
Mike shakes his head. “Mrs. O’Connell, if I can say… you shouldn’t have to put up with that abuse from him.”
“It’s okay, Mike.”
“No. It’s not, Callie!”
“Mike!” she warns sternly, opening her eyes wide at him.
Mike shakes his head but keeps quiet, sinking back into his chair as Callie continues to serve up our meals like the consummate matriarch of the family.
I manage to calm myself somehow, God only knows how. I don’t want to let the family, but especially Aiden, know how much Niall affects me.
I mainly play with my food pushing it around my plate. My appetite is now completely lost.
“Is that what you’ve been putting up with at work?” Nana asks, watching me move the food around my plate.
I nod. “But this was worse than anything he’s ever said to me before.”
Nana shakes her head. “I’m sorry you’ve had to go through that, Jenifer darling. You know you’re not any of those things he says, don’t you?” I swallow a lump in my throat while I nod. “And you know for sure Aiden doesn’t think any of that, right?”
He kisses my head in agreement.
“Yes, I know.”
Everyone finishes their meals in an awkward silence. I can’t help but feel sorry for Callie. She shouldn’t have to put up with that shit from her husband. I don’t know why she doesn’t just leave him. But then I think back to Jason and realize it’s not always that easy. It takes a whole pile of
strength to build up the courage to take that initial step to leave.
“Aiden, it’s your birthday soon,” Callie announces quietly, trying to change the subject and break the tension.
“I don’t feel like celebrating, Mom.”
“We do something every year for your birthday, and it’s your first with Jenifer. Can we at least go out for dinner?” Aiden looks at me, and I smile at him. “Let me know who you’d like to invite and where you want to go. I’ll organize it for you.”
Nana starts to collect the dishes to take to the kitchen, so I stand to help her as does Brielle.
“Brielle, how are you feeling? Are you all right?” I ask.
She tilts her head at me in confusion. “Yeah, why?”
“It can’t be easy seeing your father acting that way around your mom.”
She sighs. “I’m used to it. When you live with them, you see this kind of shit all the time. To be honest, I don’t know why she doesn’t leave him.”
“To tell you the truth, I was thinking the same thing.”
“They don’t even sleep in the same bedroom anymore. I’m fairly certain Mom hates the sight of him. She probably doesn’t leave because of me. She knows I wouldn’t want to live here alone with Father, and she also realizes he would probably fire me out of spite if I went to live with Mom. That’s what I’m guessing, anyway.”
“Girls! Niall might walk in. Be careful what you say. You don’t want him having another outburst, do you?” It feels like Nana’s telling us off.
“Sorry, Nana,” we both reply in unison.
“Don’t be sorry, girls. I completely agree with you. But talk about it when he isn’t within hearing distance.” She gestures toward the study with her eyes.
We both nod and move into the living room, all of us that is, except for Niall, who’s sulking in his study like a spoiled little brat, and not the patriarch of a dynasty that he’s supposed to be.
We sit on the sofa, and the mood lifts slightly while we talk about who Aiden wants to invite to his birthday. He includes my mom, which surprises me, but in a nice way.
“Have a think about where you want to have dinner and let me know, honey.”
“Of course, Mom. I’ll let you know as soon as I decide.”
She nods. “With that settled, who wants coffee or tea?”
“Think we might head off, Mom. It’s getting late, and it’s been an emotional night.”
Callie smiles and stands. “You two have a lovely weekend, and I’ll talk to you soon. Jeni, look after yourself.”
With a dip of my chin, we stand and walk to the door. “Thanks for dinner, Mom. It was delicious as usual.”
“Thank you for the company. You know I love having you both here. I’m sorry about what was said tonight. I can only imagine how you’re feeling, Jeni, because I know how I feel.” Her face contorts into a frown.
“Never mind. He is who he is. Your dinner was delicious,” I tell her.
She raises her eyebrow. “You hardly touched your food, sweetheart, but thank you, anyway.”
Aiden takes hold of my hand and hugs his mom using the other. “Love you, Mom.”
“I love you, my darling. Call me soon about your birthday dinner.”
Aiden smiles, then leads me to the car. I shuffle in, and he follows closely behind me.
We’re finally on our way home when a wave of exhaustion hits me. What an emotional day and evening. I’ll have to grow a thicker skin and not let Niall’s taunts get to me. Otherwise, I’m going to end up a blubbering mess in a mental institution. It’s not easy to absorb so much anger from one person—he really does detest me. I mustn’t let that asshole worry me, though. I have to be strong for Aiden. I won’t let the bond Aiden built with his father before I came along be torn apart by me. I just won’t.
The moment we park, I’m completely drained. Mike opens the door for us, and Aiden walks me to the elevator with his arm around me for support. Mike follows close behind.
“I’m tired, and my head is pounding,” I say to no one in particular.
Aiden kisses my head gently as the doors open on level two, and Mike steps out.
“‘Night, Mike,” Aiden offers.
Mike nods as the doors shut. It feels like an eternity before the elevator stops at our apartment.
“What a night!” I exhale as the door opens, then kick off my shoes. Suddenly, Aiden bends and lifts me up. “Ahh… what are you doing?”
He carries me through our room to the ensuite and places me on the vanity so I’m sitting at the same height where he stands. This little display makes me instantly relax. He holds either side of my face and talks directly to me. “I love you, Jeni.” His tone is deadly serious.
My eyes meet with his, staring deeply into them. “I know.”
“No. Really. Please listen to me. My father’s purposely trying to tear us apart. He wants me to follow in his footsteps and make my life all about work, which it was until I met you. But he knows my priorities have changed, and my life is now all about you. I don’t want you to think that what he says is true. I will always love and protect you, no matter what he says or does. You’re my priority now and always, Jeni.”
“I know. It hurts that he hates me so much when I haven’t done anything to him. He was plain awful to me tonight.”
He lets go of my face and exhales. “Maybe it’s time to leave.”
“What do you mean, leave?” I say hurriedly.
“Leave the family business. I can start up on my own. I wouldn’t be under as much pressure all the time, and I can look after you better. Actually, I think it’s the best direction for both of us and our future.”
I shake my head slowly. “No! Aiden, I won’t be the cause of your family rift. That would make me feel worse than I already do. I won’t have you throwing everything you’ve ever worked for away for me. You need your father in your life.”
He frowns. “I have to really think about this, Jeni. I won’t have him treating you badly all the damn time. I’m nothing like him, and I never will be.”
Aiden moves closer to me, standing between my legs. With one swift movement, he pulls my top off over my head and moves to unclip my bra. My eyes widen, and I smile as I move my hands to unbutton his shirt. He pulls me off the vanity, so I’m standing in front of him and slowly he undoes the button on my pants and pulls on the zipper, then they cascade to the floor.
He shuffles out of his shirt while I move my hands down to his pants and undo them, letting them fall, freeing his rock-hard cock. His hand skims across my panty line and swiftly removes them. He squats below me and runs his hands up my naked thighs, then his mouth connects with my body. Kissing up my legs and over my thigh, he continues upward, making me shiver.
The tingling starts as he gently kisses my pussy. My hands move to his head, my fingers running through his hair, holding him to me as my breathing quickens. He continues to kiss past my hips, up my stomach to my ribcage, and finds his way to my breast. His mouth maneuvers over my nipple and gently sucks on it, tantalizingly slow. His hand moves down to cup my wet pussy.
I inhale sharply as his warm finger moves slowly around my clit, making me shiver with every swirl. My head falls back as I let the sensations take over me. He moves his mouth from my nipple to my collarbone, kissing slowly and gently up my neck to my jaw. I exhale when he moves slightly faster on my clit. The anticipation is becoming unbearable as I moan against his lips.
With his free hand, he pulls me to him. I feel his hard cock at my side, kissing him forcefully with want and need. I shiver again as he slides two fingers inside of me, making my breath catch. My hand is in his hair and my other around his waist as he kisses me with such unrelenting gusto that I almost fall backward.
Suddenly, he steps away from me as he heads toward the shower, leaving me breathless and wanting more. Upon opening the door and turning the faucet, he looks back at me and puts his hand out for me to take. I feel slightly unsteady on my feet from the passion we hav
e shared, but I manage to walk into the shower with him without stumbling.
Aiden rotates me away from him and without saying a word, he moves my legs apart, and I brace my hands against the shower wall.
Then, he positions himself behind me. His hands run down my sides from my breasts to my hips. Aiden pulls my hips back, and he’s inside me, taking me by surprise. With a quick push, he has me against the wall while the water flows over him. He’s moaning when he thrusts into me, and it becomes almost painful.
I still and hold my breath but keep quiet while he starts to pound over and over again, pushing me against the wall. Hard. Aiden, my gentle Aiden, groans almost animalistic. It feels like he’s in pain, like he’s trying to remove his frustrations.
This is starting to feel a lot like angry sex and not our usual lovemaking. I can’t help but wonder how it has turned so quickly from passion to fury.
I start to tense as I become aware that he seems lost behind me.
Why is he doing this?
I’m too busy overthinking to even feel pleasure as he moans loud, his hands gripping onto my hips so hard I’m pretty certain it will bruise.
“Jeni,” he calls out while I tense, and he pauses, unloading inside me.
I stand against the wall with my heart racing, but not in a good way. To be honest, I’m hurt and emotional as he rests his head on my shoulder kissing it tenderly.
I tense, and he notices right away.
“You… okay?” he questions through his staggered breaths.
I nod while he holds me pinned against the wall.
“Jeni, did I hurt you?” he asks, now sounding worried when he pulls out of me.
I shake my head in answer.
Only mentally.
Aiden grabs my shoulders, spinning me around.
My eyes can’t meet his—I have no idea what that was. I can’t help but feel like he was taking all his anger out on me.
“My God, Jeni. What’s wrong? You look like you’re going to cry.”
My emotions get the better of me as a single tear slides down my cheek.
Aiden’s brows furrow, and he holds his breath. “Jeni, what’s wrong? Tell me.” He pulls my face up, so I’m forced to look at him.