by K E Osborn
Aiden makes his way to me while I continue to keep my eyes focused on my desk. He swings my chair around and pulls me up from my seat with an exhale. “I’m sorry,” he expresses, then he drags me by my hand into his office and slams the door. He takes hold of my chin and forces me to look at him as I let out a long breath. “Baby, I know you overheard all of that. I’ll never leave you just because he wants me to.”
“He thinks I’m a slut, Aiden,” I blurt out.
“Jeni, you and I both know that’s not true. Don’t even go there.”
I shake my head and huff. “Maybe I should go back to ADF. It would make life easier for you, and maybe for your father as well.”
“No! I want you here with me. He needs to learn he can’t always have everything his own way.”
I need to do what’s best for the both of us.
I sure as hell don’t need Aiden coming out of jail and straight into hellfire here at work.
“You. Are. Not. A. Convenience. You are the reason I exist. My life revolves around you, and I see a bright future for us with you by my side. I won’t have him tear you away from me.”
I swallow hard. “I thought I was fine with his taunts and abuse. I’ve been coping with it fairly well, but that really stung. Comparing me to a prostitute and saying I’m a distraction.” I shake my head. “Aiden, what if he’s right? What if I am distracting you? Your job is extremely important to you, and it’s not fair. Maybe I should leave, and—”
“Stop! Just stop! You’re not going anywhere, and you’re certainly not a distraction. You help me to be a better man. Trust me, if you leave, that will distract me. Anyway, if you leave, then I’m going with you. I’ve had enough of his fucking ludicrous crap. He’s driving me crazy.”
I exhale and move in to embrace him. “I’ll stay, but no more kissing in the elevator and definitely no more being late for work.”
Aiden doesn’t say anything. He simply runs his finger along my cheek, then he kisses me on my head and lets me go. “I’m in love with you, Jeni. Don’t you ever forget that. And I’ll do anything for your happiness, even if that means leaving the family business and my father behind.”
I gulp and nod, then turn to walk out of his office and straight to the bathroom. Brielle is in the boardroom setting up, and as I walk past her, she smiles at me sympathetically. I smile back at her, letting her know I’m fine.
I step into the bathroom, look in the mirror, and stand with my hands on the basin staring at my reflection.
Is this what I want?
Niall picking on me for the rest of my life with Aiden?
Aiden thinks he will warm up to me once he gets to know me better, but how long will that take?
Can I tolerate this for the foreseeable future?
I stare aimlessly into the mirror asking myself questions that I have no answers for. I know one thing for sure, I can’t let Aiden walk away from his family and work. I know how much he loves them both. I also know he loves me, but that’s too big of a sacrifice to make.
Brielle moves in behind me, touching my shoulder. “Hey, are you all right?”
“Yeah. It’s damn hard getting used to your father hating me like this.”
She exhales. “He doesn’t hate you. I’m sure he doesn’t. He’s always wanted Aiden to be just like him in every way. And thank God, Aiden sure as hell doesn’t want to be like our father. I, for one, couldn’t stand another one of him running around. One is more than enough.”
I laugh, and she puts her arm around me. “Look at it this way… he just wants what’s best for Aiden, and he honestly doesn’t care who he hurts in the process. In his mind, he’s molding him to be the best he can be and to follow in his footsteps. Father was always going to make him vice president. He wants Aiden to want it and to work that little bit harder for it.” She shrugs as she purses her lips. “Father has a really bad way of showing how much he cares about him.” She smiles. “I’m not defending him in any way, not at all, just trying to make you feel a bit better by understanding how his mind works. Father is very complicated. I’m not sure even Mom really understands what makes him tick. I do know that Father only has Aiden’s best interests at heart.”
I fake a smile. “Thanks, Bree.”
“You’re welcome. Oh, and don’t tell him he was always going to get the vice president position. Aiden would pitch a fit if he found out.”
“Secret’s safe with me.”
“We better finish getting the boardroom ready, or Father will have an aneurysm.”
I laugh as she walks out of the bathroom while I move into a stall thinking about how much stress I’ve been under, but it’s nothing I can’t handle. I know life here at the office can be tough, but I need to keep my head and strength up in all of this. After I wash up, I make my way to the kitchen to check the coffee machine and to grab the cookies and other nibbles for the Andersons to snack on in the meeting. With everything in hand, I meet Brielle in the boardroom where she is placing folders with the O’Connell Finance logo on the table in front of each chair.
“Will they be here soon?” I ask Brielle.
“Yeah, the meeting is due to start in about five minutes.” She frantically rubs off what’s on the smartboard while I place the items in the middle of the table, spreading them out evenly so everyone can reach something to eat. The elevator chimes, and five suited businessmen and a woman walk into the foyer. I glance up as Aiden and Niall greet them, shaking their hands in turn.
Brielle gestures for us to leave the boardroom, so I walk out with her, and we head back to our desks. I watch them make their way into the boardroom and shut the door—this is all very formal.
“We have to go in there in about five minutes or so to take their coffee orders.”
“Five minutes. Got it.” Nerves begin to invade my body. I want to make a good impression.
My phone starts to ring, so I answer it.
“Hi, honey, it’s Callie. How are you finding it?”
On hearing Aiden’s mother’s calming voice, I finally relax. “Callie, it’s good. There’ve been a few minor settling-in issues, but other than that, all is going well. How are you?”
“I take it the minor settling-in issues are to do with my husband? Take no notice of him, sweetheart. He’s a grumpy old man who doesn’t know how to behave himself.”
I chuckle. “Thanks, I’ll try to remember that. Did you want to speak to Aiden? He’s in a meeting at the moment. I can have him call you back.”
“No, that’s fine, honey. I rang to talk to you actually.”
“Oh!” I widen my eyes wondering why she wants to talk to me of all people.
“I’d like to have you both over for dinner next weekend to arrange Aiden’s birthday.”
I nod even though she can’t see me. “Oh, okay. It’s the twenty-second of March, right?”
“Sure is, sweetheart. If you’re both free next Friday night, would you like to come over so we can discuss the details?”
“Sounds good. What time would you like us there?”
“Straight after work if that suits.”
“Sure, see you then. Do you need me to bring anything?”
“No, sweetheart, just bring yourselves. I’ll provide the rest.”
Excitement bubbles through me. Dinner with the parents, what can go wrong?
“Great, can’t wait. Bye, Callie.”
“Goodbye, sweetheart.”
I hang up the phone, and Brielle walks to my desk. “We better get the coffee orders now.”
“Do we write it down or something?”
She shakes her head. “Nah, I’ll remember them.”
I furrow my brows in amazement at how she could possibly remember eight people’s coffee orders. Yes, two are her brother and father, but that still leaves six orders she doesn’t know.
We walk to the boardroom and knock on the door.
Niall waves us in. “Everyone, this is my personal assistant, Brielle, and some useless new girl.” He wav
es his hand around pretending as though he doesn’t know who I am.
I inhale sharply and look at Aiden who’s shaking his head subtly with a frown.
“Would anyone like tea or coffee?” Brielle asks confidently.
They give her their orders, and I try my hardest to remember what they are saying, but I get lost halfway through. Thankfully, Bree’s so good at this. We excuse ourselves from the room and head to the kitchen area.
On the way, Brielle wraps her arm around me. “Remember, he’s a grumpy old man. You’re the newest one around here, so he’s taking it out on you. Don’t take it personally,” she whispers in my ear.
Bree prepares the coffee. I make Aiden’s because I know how he likes it, plus, it’s the only one I can remember. We each take a tray and proceed to the boardroom, and I try my hardest not to spill any, which isn’t easy. Brielle walks into the boardroom backward, opening the door with her ass. She’s done that before. I follow, trying to do the same thing, but spill one of the coffees onto the tray. Luckily, it’s Aiden’s. Awkwardly, I enter the room and place the tray on the table next to Bree’s.
My stomach churns trying to remember which coffee belongs to who. I want to make a good impression on Aiden and his arrogant asshole father.
We start to hand them out, one by one. I place the first one in front of a larger man who’s probably in his fifties and definitely seems grumpy, maybe a bit like Niall. I place the next one in front of the lady who’s frantically taking notes.
Niall is talking in what sounds like a foreign language because I can’t understand any of it. The next coffee is placed in front of a young and scrawny but good-looking guy who appears totally out of place. Maybe he’s an apprentice or something. He smiles at me, and I smile back at him politely.
The first man takes a sip of his coffee and nearly spits it out. “There’s no sugar in this.”
“There’s sugar in this one.” The young guy turns to me. “I think ours might have gotten mixed up, hon,” the apprentice offers. Immediately when he speaks, I realize that I’ve mixed up Mr. Anderson’s coffee, the client leading this meeting.
Oh shit!
I look at Brielle panicked, not knowing what to do.
“Sorry, Mr. Anderson, we’ll make you a fresh cup immediately.”
Oh fuck, I feel like a complete idiot.
“No need, Brielle. Erik is my son. I don’t mind swapping coffee with him.”
Relief washes over me when he says that. Maybe he isn’t as grumpy as he looks. I hand Aiden his coffee and mouth ‘sorry,’ while handing it to him. He mouths, ‘it’s fine’ and rubs his fingers against mine when he takes the coffee cup from my hand. I take in a deep breath and walk out of the room followed by Brielle.
We make our way back to our desks, and I collapse into my chair, looking over at her completely horrified. “Fuck, Bree, I’m so sorry. Could I have handled that any worse?”
She laughs. “It’s your first meeting. I did the same thing when I started. Don’t worry about it. Mr. Anderson didn’t seem to mind, so no harm done. Don’t stress,” she tries to reassure me unsuccessfully.
I look into the boardroom and see Aiden sipping his coffee while looking at me. He smiles, and I frown in return. He shakes his head and smiles again, and this time, I smile back. Aiden winks and turns his attention back to the smartboard. Even though he can’t actually talk to me to make me feel better, a smile and a wink says it all.
A couple of hours later, the meeting finishes, and the Andersons walk out of the boardroom laughing, joking, and looking like a deal may have been struck.
“Niall and Aiden, we’ll be in touch.” Mr. Anderson shakes Niall’s and then Aiden’s hand.
Mr. Anderson’s young son strides over to me, winks at me, and offers his hand while thanking me for the coffee. I shake his hand, smile, and turn back to my desk while he re-joins the group. The Andersons leave, and Niall turns to look at me with a huff. I frown, knowing he probably thinks I’m even more incompetent now than before as he storms back to his office.
Quickly, I look down at my keyboard, trying not to give him any attention. I know he’s angry with me, but there’s nothing I can do about that now.
Aiden strolls over, and my eyes meet his with a slight frown. He gestures a kiss toward me as I exhale and manage a smile back.
“Aiden!” Niall yells.
Aiden rolls his eyes, making me chuckle, then he ambles off toward his father’s office, probably for another earful about my complete and utter incompetence.
Come work at O’Connell Finance, they said.
You’ll be great at it, they said.
Not freaking likely!
Niall slams the door behind Aiden, making Brielle and me jump. Instantly, Niall is yelling at Aiden, and I wince knowing I’m the cause, yet again. “For fuck’s sake, Aiden, how hard is it to hand out coffee? That’s twice she’s fucked up today! You say you’re in love with her? Well, your standards must be pretty fucking low, son, if you’ve fallen for that. If she doesn’t clean up her act, she’s gone. Do you understand me? I swear to God, if you don’t deal with her, then I will.” I tense all over. “The Andersons have the potential to be one of our biggest clients, and she chooses to screw up Robert Anderson’s coffee in such an important meeting. She may very well have fucked this up for us today, and that’s on you. If we lose the Andersons, it’s your fault. Do you understand me, boy?”
I sit at my desk and hang my head. Dammit! I knew Niall would be pissed. Poor Aiden’s taking the brunt of it all.
I shouldn’t be here.
I’m not good at this type of work.
I don’t belong in this world.
Niall hates me.
It’s not simply that he’s a grumpy old man, it is pure and simple hatred for me, and it runs deep.
I can’t hear Aiden’s response. Normally, he yells back at his father, but with tensions running high, I can’t hear anything.
Suddenly, Aiden walks out of his father’s office with his head down. His nostrils flare and his fists are clenching while his face turns completely red in anger.
Niall pokes his head out of his door. “You know I’m right, Aiden,” he yells across the room, then slams the door shut. I jump with the force of the action as Aiden continues to his office, slamming his door in return.
I bite my bottom lip in apprehension, but I know what I have to do.
I need to quit.
Perhaps I can go back to ADF if they’ll have me.
Aiden needs a new personal assistant, one who has his father’s approval. I can’t let this be the environment Aiden is constantly working in, not when he’s had the stress of being in jail.
I steady my shoulders as I stand, then walk to Aiden’s office and knock on the door.
“What?”
I open the door to see him on his sofa, his head buried in his hands. Seeing him defeated like this rips my heart to shreds. I walk over, exhaling heavily as I sit next to him.
“I know what I have to do,” I tell him with conviction.
He looks up at me, tilting his head. “What do you have to do?”
“I’m going to try and get my job back at ADF. It’s obvious I suck at this type of work. Your father clearly detests me, and I—”
He interrupts me by abruptly kissing me, and it’s like all the tension and worry escapes my body the instant his lips caress mine so tenderly. The chaos I’ve been surrounded in for the last few moments evaporates, and right now, Aiden’s the only thing on my mind.
When his lips leave mine, he exhales, bringing me back to this reality. “Stop it. You’re doing great, and I’m very happy with your work. The old bastard simply wants to make my life a misery, so he’s taking it out on you.” He runs his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry you had to hear that, a-fucking-gain. I feel like all I do is apologize for him. You have to know it’s not how I feel. I can’t even imagine how you must be feeling right now.”
“Like shit.” I snort out a laugh.
He winces and looks at me with saddened eyes. “Please, don’t leave. I love having you here, and if you go, Father wins. He’s trying to manipulate us both so we end up giving in. I can’t… no, I won’t, give up on us. I love you too much to let this affect our relationship, and believe it or not, you are doing well. So what if you got a coffee order mixed up? That shit’s not the end of the world. The Andersons didn’t even care about it. Don’t take anything Father says seriously, Jeni. Stay here with me, and we can get through this together.”
Tears well in my eyes, but I can’t hold them back. I bury my head into my hands as I softly cry. Aiden places his arms around me and holds me tightly to his chest. “Please don’t cry.” He strokes my hair and kisses the top of my head. “He isn’t even worth one of your tears.” His comfort begins to ease my mood as he caresses my hair, then he hands me a tissue from the coffee table.
“I’ll stay for now. But I don’t know how much more of this I can take. I’m emotional all the time, and it’s just not me. I’m not like this, Aiden.”
He kisses my forehead. “I know, and I understand. Trust me, I’ve been getting this my whole life. Somehow, I’ve become immune to his taunts, but when it involves you, it’s a whole new level of pain.” He wipes a tear from my cheek with a tissue, places his hand under my chin, pulls my face up in front of his, and looks into my eyes. He moves in to kiss me, but we’re disrupted by a knock at the door.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but Mr. Anderson is on the phone for you,” Brielle informs us quietly, as she peeks through the door.
“That’s quick. I bet they’re going to pass on the deal. I’m sorry.” I slump back on the sofa.
He kisses my forehead again, then walks over to his phone. Aiden turns from partner back into business mogul while I sit on the sofa trying to compose myself.
“Mr. Anderson…” Aiden watches me as I pull my shit together and wipe my face.
