by Lilly Wilde
“No, you’re just very focused on what you do and your personality never really seems to come out. You hide it.”
“It’s just the after-effects of a wonderful vacation,” I explained.
Raina what you are probably seeing is my overcompensating for the aches and pains I am dealing with. It wouldn’t be wise to let the staff know I’d been fucked into oblivion by my intern for several of the last twenty-four hours.
“Speaking of which, how was your vacation?” she asked.
“It was great.” Full of surprises, I thought to myself.
“It would seem so, good to have you back. Don’t forget you have a lunch meeting with the distributor from L.A.,” she said as I opened my office door.
I turned to the sound of laughter and saw Jennifer and Aiden talking near the elevators. I took note of the proximity of her body to his and jealousy, a very new feeling for me as of late, was immediate. I didn’t like the feeling; it was very unsettling. She flirtatiously placed her hand on his forearm as she laughed. He stepped back slightly, away from her touch. That small gesture made me feel much better. He looked gorgeous as usual, refreshed from the previous night’s indiscretions. You would never know he had been fucking all night. Did I look as refreshed as he, I wondered as I stepped toward my desk. I couldn’t possibly because I was dog-tired! Not just physically but emotionally as well. I had broken so many rules and opened myself to so many new things that I had not yet processed. Aiden was right to have demanded to be with me last night because I was sure I would have found a way to ease out of this arrangement. And quite frankly, I didn’t even know what the arrangement was.
My phone rang, I answered it was April. She never called me on my office phone so of course I was instantly on guard.
“Damn it Aria, why is it so difficult to get in contact with you lately?” she demanded.
“Well, hello to you too April.”
I looked up to see Aiden standing in my doorway. He looked as delicious in a suit as he did naked. He was always so appetizing. He closed the door behind him. I slowly shook my head from side to side signaling him to not do that, but of course; he didn’t take heed to it.
He walked over to my desk and stood staring at me.
“April, hold on for just a second okay?”
“Good morning Aiden,” I said
“Good morning Princess.”
Princess. That was twice now. Was that his new name for me?
“I really need some privacy to speak with April. I have a 10 o’clock meeting with you, Raina and Josh but until then I have a very busy morning and I don’t have time to play with you.”
“Play with me? Is that why you think I’m here?”
“Well you addressed me as Princess and correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t think that is a greeting from someone who came to my office for business,” I said.
“Touché”
“Let’s have lunch today,” he suggested.
“I can’t I have a lunch date.”
His face froze and the green dance of his eyes halted.
“Date? Male or female?”
“Does it matter?” I asked, agitated.
“Aria, don’t –”
“It’s a business lunch with one of our distributors Aiden.”
He visibly relaxed.
My phone beeped reminding me of April on hold.
“Finish your conversation with April and I’ll see you at the meeting.” He turned and walked out of my office.
“Sorry about that April, I’m sure you’re calling about the Dane situation. What’s going on?”
April went on to explain that Dane was in Venezuela for business, which I knew because he had mentioned it but he never mentioned a wife and I didn’t really care to know. When Dane returned home, his very suspicious wife checked his phone and saw a text that Dane sent to April asking about me. To sum it all up, Dane’s wife contacted April and said that she knew about everything and wanted to speak with me. She had filed for a divorce and wanted me to testify in the divorce proceedings.
I was stunned into silence; various images and outcomes running wildly through my mind. “Fuck! I can’t do that. The reason for an out-of-state romp was to remain discreet. Something like this could be very bad for me. What did you tell her?”
“Actually, I followed our mantra “deny, deny, deny” but when I realized that she was planning to go public with the information, I told her that I would get in contact with you.”
“Go public? That means she really does know who I am and how this information would look for me if it were made public.”
“Yes, I think so.”
I sighed, rubbing my already throbbing forehead. “So after making contact with me, what did she want you to do?”
“She wants you to call her. She’s given me her contact information…that’s if you want it.”
What the hell? I started to feel anxious and nervous as all the ramifications of this disclosure traced through my mind.
“Aria, are you still there?”
“Yes,” I whispered, so low that I barely heard it myself.
“What are you going to do?”
“April, I really don’t know. I need some time to sort this all out before I do anything.”
“I hate to pour on the pressure, but this lady was quite anxious to speak to you and if you don’t call her back at least to appease her and buy some time to figure out your next step, there is no telling what she is liable to do.”
“Yes, I know. Will you do something for me?” I asked.
“Sure, if I can,” she replied.
“Can you call her back and tell her that you’ve spoken with me and tell her she can contact me this weekend? That will give me the remainder of the week to sort through all of this and figure the best way of handling it. I also need to contact my attorney to see if I can threaten her with some type of slander or liable suit if she discloses any information about me.”
“That’s a good idea Aria. I’ll call her back as soon as you and I hang up.”
“Okay, thanks April. “
“Of course. I’m always here if you need me; you know that.”
“Yep, for as long as I can remember it’s been you and me against the world. You’re like a sister to me and I’m so glad you’re still in my life. I already have so much going on right now, things you would not believe; now I have to deal with this bullshit.”
“Well, I’m happy that you have allowed an entrance for Aiden. And the pictures you sent last night were hot! You need to let me know what that was all about.”
“I’m still trying to process what type of entrance I’ve given him.”
“Oh, no. Not the “processing” again. Stop it and enjoy it Aria. I have to go but I’ll call you after speaking to the bitch.”
“Ok, talk to you then. I love you.”
“I love you too.”
I hung up the phone and angrily glared at it wanting to toss it across the room. How could this be happening? What a great way to start my fucking day!
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
My meeting with Aiden, Raina and Josh was incongruous albeit productive; overcoming extensive issues with the most recent campaign details which Blake thought relevant. Aiden presented unyielding resistance to many of the items for which Blake demanded we include. His formidable demeanor had actually become rather common place and we tended to lean toward his stance on several key decisions; meaning I would have to go to head-to-head with Blake in a side-bar.
I didn’t quite know how to behave in a room with Aiden after all that had transpired over the last few days. I felt as if everyone knew. I tried my best to conduct myself as I normally would, however; I no longer knew what normal was for me. This situation had thrown me for a loop and I had lost my footing. Aiden and I exchanged a few heated glances during the course of the discussions making it that much difficult. I was hoping upon hope that Josh and Raina were not cognizant of our exchanges. The tone of our meetings had already
been altered since Aiden had joined our team so maybe they would attribute it to the normal oddness. He was very difficult to be near without thoughts drifting into areas that were inappropriate for the work place.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Aiden remained in my office, which really wasn’t a shock to me at all.
“Who’s the lunch date?” he asked as soon as they were out of hearing range.
“I told you earlier. Even if I hadn’t, what makes you think it’s your place to ask?”
“If it’s not my place to ask then whose is it?” he countered.
“Aiden, we cannot do this here.”
He looked at me scowling. “Where then? I think we need to revisit the St. Barts conversation. I’m sure you must recognize that the situation has already complicated itself.”
“I have. And I don’t know where we can talk about it but it will not be here.” I think he complicated the situation. It hadn’t complicated itself.
“My place after work,” he suggested.
“Sure.”
“I’ll text you the address,” he replied turning to leave.
By the end of the day, I was working on fumes. I needed rest. And I was still sore from the previous day. As badly as I needed to see Aiden, I planned to cancel. I knew he wouldn’t like it, but I also needed my senses about myself when I was with him. It was damned near impossible to refuse him anything when I was on full alert. There was no way I would be a match for him in this state; not that I ever really was.
It was nearly 5o’clock. I sent him a text.
*I will not be able to make it tonight. Tomorrow night?*
I waited nervously for his reply. To my surprise, I didn’t receive one. I let out a sigh of relief as I busied myself with closing files and shutting down my computer. I exited my office to see Raina was about to head out also.
“Have a good evening Raina.”
“You too Miss Cason,” she replied as we both strolled toward the elevator.
“Any plans this evening?” she asked.
“Nothing beyond ordering dinner and diving into bed directly afterwards. I am beat. What about you?”
“I have to attend an after-school event with the hubby and kids then we’re going to grab a late dinner afterwards.”
“That sounds nice.” I really envied her. She had given her children the life I’d deeply longed for as a child.
The elevator doors finally opened and low and behold, there was Aiden. He looked upset. I avoided his eyes as I entered and stood near the front of the elevator.
“Hello Aiden. Looks as if we’re all headed for the exit,” Raina said.
“That is does Raina,” he replied.
“Miss Cason and I were just discussing our plans for the evening. Do you have anything special planned tonight?”
“As a matter of fact, I do. I have a date.”
What the fuck? A date? Is that why he didn’t reply to my text? A sinking feeling eased into my stomach. Disappointment? Hurt? Both.
“Well, who is the lucky lady? Someone special?” Raina asked.
“Yes she is. Very special,” he replied.
I had the sudden urge to throw up.
“You know a lot of women at work will be very disappointed to know that,” she said.
He laughed in response.
The doors opened for the first floor and although my car was in the garage, I wanted out of there so I stepped to leave but he grabbed me subtly at my waist.
“Isn’t your car in the garage Miss Cason? I parked beside you after lunch.”
“Oh. That’s right. What was I thinking?” I shrugged his hand off still facing the elevator doors.
“Good thing you have me here,” he said.
“Yes, it would seem so.”
“See you in the morning Raina,” I said as she stepped off the elevator.
“Goodbye Miss Cason,” she said.
The elevator doors closed. I didn’t say anything and neither did Aiden. When the doors opened for the garage, I stepped out and he followed. I reached my car and pressed the button on the key fob to unlock it. I reached for the handle to open the door and he closed it.
“I thought we had plans tonight,” he said. I could see that he was irritated.
“Obviously you had plans with someone other than me so you should be good, right?”
“What?” he asked.
“You know the “special someone”,” I turned to open my door; his hand was still pressed against the top to where I couldn’t open it.
“Move your hand,” I demanded.
“The special someone I was referring to was you Aria and you know it.”
“Do I?”
“Are you fucking kidding me? Are we here again?” he asked.
“Aiden, I’m tired and I need to get home and get some rest. Please let me do that,” I glanced around hoping no one saw our exchange.
“How about you come home with me? You can sleep at my place as I prepare dinner for us. I’ll wake you after a couple of hours and we can talk over dinner?”
“Oh so you cook too? Why am I not surprised?”
“Why do you say it like it’s a dirty word? Yes I can cook. There is a story behind that though.”
“It’s not a dirty word. Sorry if I made it sound that way. It’s just that sometimes you just seem too good to be true and I wonder why someone hasn’t taken you off the market.”
“Maybe the right person hasn’t come along to make me want to be off the market.”
I looked at him wondering if it was more to the story but I was sure I would never know.
“Follow me home,” he said.
I sighed. “Okay.”
*****
He leaned over and kissed the base of my neck. I tingled and leaned into his soft touch. He planted two subsequent kisses along my neck moving toward my chin and slowly slid his tongue to the base of my neck and back up again. He was driving me insane.
“Dinner’s ready,” he said.
I never made it to his bed. It was a little nippy so as soon as we entered his lavish penthouse, he started a fire. I sat on the couch watching him and was asleep in no time.
He placed his hands on either side of my face and stared into my eyes. I could only imagine what he saw...a tired groggy mess. That is exactly how I felt.
“I asked you here so that we could talk and attempt to make some sense of what’s happening between us.”
“Yes,” I replied. What happened to “not placing a label on this”? I sat up and he grabbed my hand and led me to kitchen. Dinner was arranged on the table complete with wine and salad. It smelled wonderful. He pulled back a chair allowing me to sit.
“Did you really cook this? I asked taking another bite.”
“Yes, it’s my mother’s recipe. It’s one of the few meals she could actually make without our having to pull out a fire extinguisher,” he said smiling.
“It’s delicious. What is it?” I asked.
“Chicken and Avocado Lime Soup,” he replied. “I’m glad you like it.”
After dinner we cleared the dishes and moved to the living area. I noticed how richly designed his home was. My attention was immediately drawn to the grand piano near the window and beside that, a guitar on a stand. “Do you play often?” I asked.
“No. And when I do, it’s only for entertainment purposes around a campfire,” he replied smiling.
I continued looking at it; reminded of my attempt to play as a child.
“I know you wanted to learn to play the piano but what about the guitar? Can you play?” he asked.
“I tried. It didn’t work out. I would love to learn though.”
“I can teach you that too if you would like. I wouldn’t have guessed you to be musical.”
“That’s because I’m not,” I replied smiling. “I started lessons as a child and I learned one extremely simple song, well it’s more of a melody than a song.”
He walked over and retrieved it.
“Play
it for me.” For a moment I just looked at him trying to decide whether I should or not. Eventually I grabbed it and began to strum a few chords. He stared, wide-eyed and smiling.
“What?” I asked. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I’m surprised you did as I asked so easily. I didn’t think you could do that.”
“I wonder if my reluctance to do as you ask has anything to do with the fact that it usually involves my going along with whatever kinky sex idea you’ve worked up.”
He laughed. “So does that mean you regret last night?”
“How about I let you know when I am firing on all cylinders?”
“I’ll do that.” He sat beside me. “I guess we should begin with a not so difficult elephant in the room. I imagine you are wondering how I can afford such a place on an intern’s salary.”
I raised my eyebrows and shook my head. “No, I wasn’t really; well yes the thought did cross my mind.”
“I guess we can begin there. Well you know part of my history, the educational part at least. Remember when I told you my father was a successful business man?”
I nodded as he continued. “Well some things in life that I own are a result of his success. I’m somewhat obstinate and have refused some luxuries he offers because they come at a price. Then there are certain aspects of my relationship with him that I tolerate for my mother’s sake. That’s an entirely different story which I hope to share with you one day. I‘ve also done exceptionally well with investments which allowed me to start a business of my own. It’s nothing like what my father does but I’m passionate about it. I’m sure you have questions but I promise we’ll get to those at a later date but for now, I want to talk about us.”
“What’s happened between us has been the equivalent of Alice falling down a rabbit hole. It’s foreign to me, all of it. I can’t help but wonder if it’s all been a dreadful mistake. Yet, I can’t seem to stop myself from wondering deeper.”
He smiled at me as he reached to place a strand of hair behind my ear. “Good, I don’t want you to stop it,” he replied, obviously ignoring the part about it all being a mistake. I froze as his finger lightly skimmed my cheek. He removed his hand and I continued.