by K E Osborn
I turn my head away from him, my entire body wants to convulse at his touch. “I haven’t forgotten…” You complete fuckhead, I say this part in my head.
“Good,” he says with a menacing smile as he suddenly turns his back to me.
As he walks away, I steady myself on the wall, trying to calm my racing heart rate. He heads toward his office, and my pulse races so damn fast I’m not sure I can control it, but I have to. I need to get back to work. Otherwise, Aiden will know something is going on.
So, I straighten my shoulders, take a deep breath, then I walk with purpose back to my desk to distract myself with my work. I need to stay strong and not let Niall get into my head.
The Andersons arrive for the first meeting of the day, and I do my best to avoid eye contact with Erik. I quickly get up and walk to Aiden’s office before Erik has the chance to come over to me to let him know they have arrived. I open the door and peek inside. “Your ten o’clock is here.”
Standing, Aiden walks over and stops when he reaches me to give me a wink before continuing to his meeting.
Niall comes out of his office and smirks, but I turn away and head back to my desk. Even with just a simple look, Niall can unnerve me, but I’m trying my best not to let him get to me.
Brielle and I take in the refreshments, and I purposely avoid Erik as I hand them out. Aiden raises his chin when I hand him his coffee. Once finished, I move toward the door. I walk with my head down, passing Niall on the way out. As I walk past him, he purposely places his foot out in front of me, and I have no control over my body as I catapult face-first into the carpet, my head banging hard into the wooden door as I go down. Pain sears through my skull, and I blink a couple of times. My knees and palms scrape on the carpet giving me carpet burn instantly, and I gasp as I fall flat on my stomach. The pain shooting through my head gives me an instant headache, not to mention the overwhelming embarrassment that’s flooding my entire being right now as I lay on the floor in pain.
The whole room stands abruptly to see if I’m all right.
Aiden and Erik both rush to me as my hand moves to my aching head.
Niall’s acting surprised, but the expression in his eyes tells it all.
I can’t believe that old bastard just did that!
“Jeni, are you all right?” Aiden asks, reaching down to help me.
“I think so,” I murmur while rubbing my head.
“Jeni, do you need me to help you up?” Erik asks, taking hold of my arm.
I shake my head which sends a searing pain into my neck as he pushes Aiden out of the way to help me. I glance down at the glowing red carpet burn on my palms, and instantly feel the throbbing pain in my knees.
“Please don’t handle my staff,” Aiden grunts, physically removing Erik’ hand from my arm.
Erik stares at Aiden. “I’m not handling her, I’m helping her. Jeni, are you hurt? Do you need me to take you to the doctor?”
I glare at Aiden with that don’t-you-dare look. “No, I’m fine. Thank you, Erik.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, she doesn’t need a doctor. The girl is fine. Can we get back to our meeting?” Niall grumbles as Bree comes to help me.
Erik hesitantly takes his seat as Aiden looks at me with that are-you-really-all-right look he seems to have mastered. I nod, and he goes back to his seat watching me intently.
“Sorry, everyone.” I wave it off like I’m fine as Bree takes me back to my desk and sits me down.
“What happened? You were right behind me, and then I look back, and you’re on the floor.”
“Yeah, must have tripped on… something.”
“How’s your head?” she asks while touching the lump that’s forming at the top of my hairline.
“It hurts, and I have a killer headache,” I say truthfully.
Bree nods. She heads off to the kitchen, then comes back with some ice in a hand towel. “Do you think you have a concussion?”
“No, it’s only a little bump. I’ll be fine.”
Bree checks my knees which are slightly bleeding. “Jeez, Jeni, you did a really good job on these,” she says, grabbing a tissue to dab at the wounds. She continues to fuss over me, walks over and grabs the first-aid kit from her desk, then comes back with some bandages for my knees. I laugh as she places the oversized bandages over the grazes.
“There, that should do it.” A broad smile crosses her face. “Sorry, Jeni, you look ridiculous, but there’s nothing smaller in here.”
I laugh as I picture myself with ice on my head and oversized bandages on my knees, but even I can see the funny side of it.
The meeting finishes, and Aiden’s chatting with Mr. Anderson, but he’s watching Erik closely as he walks over to me. “Hey, are you okay?” Erik asks.
“Yeah, I’m fine. More just a bruised ego. Thanks for your help, though,” I add, trying to be nice, but not too nice that he gets the wrong idea.
“Anytime. So, ah… did you get my flowers?” he asks.
I casually glance over at Aiden who’s staring at me, but he obviously can’t get away from Mr. Anderson.
“I did, thank you. They were lovely, but not necessary. Erik, I’m engaged, and although I’m flattered by your kindness, it’s making my fiancé uncomfortable.”
“Well, I don’t see your fiancé, so he doesn’t even have to know. What do you say? Can I take you out tonight for dinner?” he asks as he sits on the edge of my desk.
What the actual fuck! Seriously?
I can’t believe he’s asking me out even though he knows I’m engaged. I shake my head as I watch Aiden walking over, his nostrils flaring and his fists clenching.
Shit!
“So how about it, beautiful. You, me, a bottle of champagne. No one needs to know,” he suggests as Aiden walks up behind him.
“Aiden,” I warn sternly.
Erik peers over his shoulder as Aiden grabs Erik by the collar of his suit lifting him from the desk. “What the hell, dude?” Erik groans, trying to push Aiden off him.
“Aiden… leave it.”
He looks at me with a death glare, then pushes Erik away from him. “How dare you! You know she’s taken, and yet you still go after her? Get it through your thick imbecilic brain, she’s not interested,” Aiden sneers right in his face.
Erik scowls and pushes Aiden again.
“Stop it,” I yell, but they both ignore me.
“She wants me, and you know it,” Erik goads, getting so close to Aiden I’m sure he can smell Erik’s breath.
Aiden grabs Erik by the scruff of his neck and slams him up against the wall with a thud. “Don’t you talk about Jeni like that,” Aiden cautions.
Mr. Anderson and Niall walk over to see what the commotion is all about.
“Why do you care?” Erik asks, pushing Aiden away from him again.
“Because she’s mine, you asshole. She’s my fiancée, and I won’t let anyone take her from me again, especially not a sniveling little weasel like you.”
Erik’s eyes open wide as he looks at me, then back to Aiden.
“Aiden, stop it,” I grumble.
“Well, she must have horrible taste in men if she chose you.” He narrows his eyes on me. “C’mon, baby, come be with a real man,” Erik chimes.
Oh, for God’s sake. Really?
Aiden looks at me, and his face contorts with rage as he clenches his fists. But Erik suddenly punches Aiden in the jaw, his head snapping to the side with the force. I gasp, my hand shooting up to my mouth as Aiden grabs Erik and rams him against the wall so hard, he forces a crack in the plasterboard. I wrap my arms around myself as I watch Aiden lose his temper. My heart thrashes in my chest hoping Aiden doesn’t hurt him.
Aiden clenches his fist, and Erik exhales loudly as Aiden’s fist connects with his stomach. I gasp as tears well in my eyes when Erik throws another punch at Aiden. Mr. Anderson hurries toward the now-brawling men to try and separate them.
“Get off me, you fucking freak,” Erik yells out.
<
br /> Niall pulls Aiden back while Mr. Anderson pulls Erik away.
“Aiden, get a hold of yourself, boy. You’re acting like a goddamn fool for this floozy,” Niall yells, holding Aiden from behind.
“Don’t even start, Father. I swear to God, I’ll knock you out, too. I’m in the mood.” Aiden shakes free of his father’s grip.
“Niall, I have never been so insulted in all my life. How dare your son hit mine. I don’t care what Erik may or may not have said. Aiden, you were completely unprofessional and out of line. If you act like this in the workplace, then I hate to think of what you’re capable of with my finances. I’m withdrawing my account effective immediately, and I’ll be telling everyone I know how unprofessional and incompetent you and your staff are. I’m extremely disappointed in you, Aiden. We had high hopes, and you’ve proved me completely wrong… c’mon, Erik, let’s get you home. Good day, Niall,” Mr. Anderson snaps as they storm off toward the elevator.
I look at Aiden, who’s breathing heavily out his nose and glaring at Erik.
Niall scurries off after them. “Robert, I can’t apologize enough for my son’s behavior. I’ll pull him from your account and will deal with you personally from now on. I can promise you that your account will be in safe hands. Bob, don’t let this come between our friendship,” Niall begs.
Mr. Anderson shakes his head and turns up his lip. “Niall, we never had a friendship. It was a business relationship. I’ve never liked you. I only stayed because I believed in Aiden, and now he’s turned out to be an arrogant asshole as well. No. Definitely not. I’ll not deal with you from now on because as of this very second, our business relationship is terminated. You, your hostile son, and his tease of a fiancée can go to hell. As I said, good day to you, sir,” Mr. Anderson sneers as they step into the elevator.
Erik looks at me and furrows his brow. He appears extremely angry as he holds on to his stomach.
The doors close, and Aiden rushes to my side. “Are you all right?” he asks, checking me up and down to assess the damage from the fall and the emotional damage from what just happened.
“What was that?” Niall screams which, of course, makes me jump as he walks over.
“He asked for it,” Aiden replies, running his hands up my arms.
“I’m not asking you. I’m asking her,” Niall yells glaring at me knowing I won’t tell Aiden that it was him who purposely tripped me. That’s what started all of this in the first place.
“Pulling a stupid stunt like tripping and then being a cocktease to Erik has lost us that account. You’re nothing but a stupid fucking bitch.” Niall thumps his fist on the table so hard, the computer screen rattles.
“Don’t you dare call her a cocktease! She couldn’t help tripping. It was an accident. Shouldn’t you be angry with me? I’m the one who lost us the account,” Aiden jabs back just as hard.
Niall huffs, shaking his head. “Pull your act together, both of you. And, Aiden, if you pull a stunt like that again, I’ll lay you out myself, so help me God,” he screams, then storms back into his office.
Aiden looks at me with a frown. “Jeni… I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. I just lost it when I heard him talking to you like that. Don’t worry about Father.” His eyes lock onto mine lovingly.
I raise my hand and lightly touch his jaw where a slight bruise is forming. My heart breaks that he’s in pain, and it’s because of me yet again.
He winces and takes my hand. “Would you like to go home? I’ll come and look after you.”
Niall walks back out of his office, glaring at me. Seeing as the asshole is in a really bad mood and will probably keep tormenting me, plus, the emotion of seeing the man I love in a brawl, makes me agree that it is best for us to head home. “I think that’s a good idea. You don’t mind?”
“I want you to be comfortable, and I think we might feel better relaxing at home for the rest of day.”
I grab my personal belongings, and Aiden walks with me to Mike.
“Oh, Miss Taylor, what happened?” he asks.
“I tripped and fell, it’s nothing new.” I half laugh.
“You seem to be very accident-prone lately, don’t you?” he asks with a slight smirk. Mike looks at Aiden and focuses in on his bruised jaw but says nothing while Aiden helps me into the back seat.
We pull up at Sarah’s house and make our way inside. I can hear strange noises coming from the kitchen. It’s like a slapping sound mixed with moaning. I turn toward Aiden, who looks at me with his brows furrowed.
“Fuck me, sailor. Show me how good your seaman skills are.”
Oh shit! We slowly walk down the hall, and I gasp when we reach the kitchen. Sarah’s naked except for an apron wrapped around her waist and a little French maid’s hat, and Chris is naked except for a sailor’s hat and bib. Sarah’s bent over the kitchen counter while Chris is ramming into her from behind.
It’s like watching a real live porno.
Aiden chuckles as I raise my hand to cover his eyes.
“You’re such a filthy maid,” Chris grunts out, making me literally laugh loudly.
I quickly raise my hand up to my mouth as they both turn to see us gawking at them.
“Fuck,” Chris yells when he spots us. He pulls Sarah up from the counter and places his hands on her tits. Luckily, the apron is covering her pussy, or Aiden would have seen everything. Sarah squeals and places her hands on top of Chris’.
Like that’s going to cover your tits more!
Chris smirks as Sarah looks mortified. He turns to place Sarah in front of him, and they quickly dash over to the refrigerator and open the door, blocking our view of their naked bodies. I can’t help but burst into a fit of laughter, and Aiden doesn’t know where to look. His eyes dart everywhere but at them.
“Um… what are you guys doing home?” Chris asks as Sarah turns around and hides in his chest.
“Well, we were having a pretty bad day at work, so we decided to take the rest of today off. Luckily, we did, or we’d never have seen the filthy-maid-and-horny-sailor spectacular,” I quip, making Aiden chuckle.
“Oh God,” Sarah mumbles as she hides even further.
“You guys do know this is a kitchen, right? We prepare food in here. I would’ve thought with you being a master chef, Chris, you would know all about the correct hygiene procedures,” Aiden jests.
“Yeah, you would also think that a maid would be cleaner than that. I thought they clean up messes, not make them.” I giggle.
“Okay, okay. Hit us with it. Go on, get it all out,” Chris states.
“Well, if you insist. I guess it would be good to have a maid around here. I’m used to having one, but a filthy, naughty maid is always better than just your standard run-of-the-mill maid,” Aiden teases.
“Oh yeah, and I gotta say I love a man in uniform, even if it is only the hat and bib. It’s good to know you’re serving Sarah’s cunt-ry,” I joke.
Aiden laughs so loudly. “I’ve never heard you say that word before, baby. I like your potty mouth. Maybe I should dress up as a sailor and see what other filthy, naughty things you can say to me?” Aiden quips as Sarah and Chris continue to hide behind the refrigerator door.
Chris is smirking while Sarah frowns.
“Oh yeah? Well, what about this for potty mouth? Shit,” I say, seductively licking my lips as Aiden laughs and shudders.
“Oh, yeah, baby, I like that,” he murmurs.
Chris laughs obviously entertained by us mocking them.
“Seriously?” Sarah drones, not so entertained.
“Oh, we’ll only be a minute, Sez. What about this, Aiden? Fuck,” I seductively murmur.
Aiden’s smiling so damn wide it’s contagious.
“Oh, Jesus, Jeni, I might have to take you right here and now in the kitchen. Oh wait, it’s occupied already. Damn! I love a good countertop fucking.”
I burst into a fit of laughter as Aiden cuddles into me tightly.
“Okay, okay, you two
have had your fun. Can you let us go now?” Sarah snaps.
I look at Aiden who’s smirking and tilt my head. “What do you think? Have we teased them enough?”
“I don’t know. Surely, there has to be a joke about Chris getting his anchors away. Or him docking into port. Or something about his seaman lost at sea. Surely, there’s more fun to be had?” Aiden asks.
Chris laughs, but Sarah groans.
“Well, maybe we should let them get back to… whatever it is they are doing. I guess it’s only fair. We did interrupt them, after all.” I grin.
“Thank you, you assholes. Now turn around so we can go to our room.” Sarah’s tone is curt which only makes us both laugh again.
“Oh, hell, no. You think we’re going to make it easy for you? Nuh-uh. You want to go to your room, don’t let me stop you. Go on… off you go.” I wave my hand though the air.
Aiden looks at me with his eyebrows raised like he’s impressed.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. Chris, cover my boobs,” Sarah shimmies away from the refrigerator door. She closes it, and Chris stands close behind Sarah, and they shuffle back down the hall toward their room. I can’t hide my smirk.
“I won’t forget this, Jeni!” Sarah calls out.
“Just think of it as payback for putting condoms in my bag when I went on my first date with Aiden,” I call out.
Their door slams shut, and I turn to face Aiden, sliding my arms around his neck. After the trauma of the day, I think Chris and Sarah have just provided the little bit of light relief we both needed.
“Good morning, you two,” Bree says chirpily.
“Morning, Bree,” we both reply in unison.
“You guys are so in sync. It’s sickly sweet, almost barf worthy,” Bree teases.
Aiden leans over and gives me a deep passionate kiss. Bree giggles as Aiden walks to his office.
Niall steps out to talk to Brielle. “Do you have that file I asked for?”
“What file?” She raises her eyebrow.
“You know, the Stewart account files I asked you to get for me,” he berates sternly.
Bree scratches her head. “Father, you never asked me to retrieve those files. I’ll get them for you now if you like,” she says, rolling her chair back to open the filing cabinet under her desk.
