Authors: Lilly Wilde
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!
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.
“I know this may sound silly but when I’ve thought of the effect you have on me, I pictured myself as a cartoon character.”
He smiled shaking his head in confusion. “What?”
“As a child I remember the cartoon villain luring the innocent victim with a delicious aroma and the victim floated through the air being led only by olfactory senses towards that delicious aroma...unable to stop. Well that’s me. I know I should stop but I simply can’t help myself.”
“Firstly, I‘m no villain and by no means am I offending you but I would hardly describe you the innocent victim.”
“Oh really?” I asked.
“Really. Our recent trysts more than destroy the image of your innocence. Secondly, you seemed more than willing, so if you were the victim, you were an extremely pleased victim.”
“You smug bastard.”
“Wait. I’m not being pretentious. I’m simply stating facts. You’re a woman that appreciates factual data, are you not?”
I stared at him as he continued. “Miss Cason, well first off, I think we’re beyond the Miss Cason stage, don’t you?”
“That is yet to be determined,” I replied.
“Very well.
Miss Cason
, we’re both extremely attractive people who are extremely attracted to each other. We acted on that. Should we stop? I say no. I can’t. And thinking back, I don’t know that I can say that I thought one time would be enough. The first time in your office, when I came and pulled out of you, I immediately wanted more.”
I didn’t know what to say. Despite my many reservations, I felt the same way.
“You say that you are drawn to me, well it’s the same for me. I can’t stop thinking about you and not just in a sexual sense…but in everything. I want to know you intimately- in every possible way. I’ve told you countless times, I want you.”
His deep green eyes penetrated mine. We sat and stared at each other for several heated seconds and before I knew it, I was on my back, his firm body pressed against mine as he kissed me slowly… deeply; his tongue exploring my mouth. I felt his manhood harden against my stomach and my hunger for him took over. He reached under my shirt kneading my breast, pulling down the cup of my bra to touch my bare skin. I moaned as he pinched my nipple and then I heard his doorbell. He abruptly stopped and looked down at me.