Her Charming Secret

by Sam Ayers

  Twenty minutes later, Jo saw Aiden walking towards his office, running his hand through his hair. Is the meeting over already?

  She was about to go and ask if he was all right. His appearance though impeccable was haggard and tired.

  Jo stopped when she saw the CEO, Nicholas Reid walking towards Aiden’s office. She sat down again and through the glass window she could see them having a very serious conversation. It looked like Mr. Reid was saying something and Aiden nodded his head. The door opened and he walked out with Aiden.

  “Go home and take rest. Why don’t you meet Gabe?” asked Nicholas.

  “Dad, I’m fine. Trust me. I’ll go home but I’m not going to the hospital,” Aiden said.

  Hospital! Was he sick?

  “Well it’s up to you, Son. Call me if you need something. Or should I ask Lynn to stop over after work?” Nicholas’s voice was filled with concern.

  “No, Dad. Please don’t tell Mom. I’ll leave now. Bye,” Aiden opened the door to his office again.

  “Alright, Aid. Take rest and I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodbye,” Nicholas waved to his son and left to join the meeting again.

  “Are you alright, Aiden?” Jo asked before he entered his office.

  “Yes, I’m fine, it’s just that my headache made me lose concentration during the meeting and Dad decided if I couldn’t concentrate anyways I should just go home and rest,” he sighed. “You can leave when I leave. So thanks for all the hard work.”

  Jo left the door open as Alex walked in; he wasn’t smirking as he always did. His face was stern. This was the first time she saw Alex acting this way.

  “Didn’t I tell you to go to the hospital this morning? Why can’t you do as you’re told?” Alex asked in a stern tone. Aiden lowered his face. Alex had a look on his face that said he was serious and that was surprising, what with him always goofing around.

  “Aren’t you supposed to be at the meeting?” Aiden asked. Jo glanced between the two cousins and thought that it would be better if she left them both alone for a while.

  “Excuse me, I’ll be outside,” she said to Aiden.

  “Jo, wait. Please,” Alex spoke. “I need some help. Uncle Nick allowed me to leave so I could get you home in one piece,” he said as he turned towards Aiden.

  “I’m not a kid, Alex. I’m going home alright! You need to be at that meeting. It’s important, dude. Go back,” Aiden groaned.

  “Fine, go home and give me a call. I have some work and I need Jo’s help,” Alex said.

  “I’ll help. Please, Aiden. I don’t have any work here; I checked those files you asked me to and mailed the clients, too. I can help Alex,” she said looking at Aiden.

  He nodded. “It’s up to you. I’m going now. Bye.” Without a second glance he walked out of his office.

  Jo heard Alex sigh deeply. “Sorry, that was necessary. If you will follow me, I’ll show you what I need help with,” Alex said and he walked out too. She followed him silently, wondering all the while about how her new boss was faring.

  * * *

  Aiden had been asked to leave the meeting just because he couldn’t concentrate, something that had never happened to him till date. He was immensely proud of the fact that he was seen as one of the most professional people out there, and to be dismissed like that had been utterly embarrassing! To top it off, he worked with his family and now Alex had gotten into the concerned older brother mode and wouldn’t stop till he knew that Aiden had gone to the doctor. The last time Aiden remembered something similar happening was when he had just woken from coma and people had walked around him on eggshells, concerned that even the slightest mistake might trigger something irreversible in his brain.

  Though he knew they meant well, the fact that they all made him feel like he was sick with a terminal disease rather than memory loss had hurt him even though he understood what they might have been feeling. Deciding that a strong cup of coffee was the best short term remedy he would have for his ever-present headache, he stopped at a café and walked in, only to see someone very familiar standing in line looking at the menu.

  He stood behind her and whispered, “Hey, Stranger.” His mood lightened up in a second.

  “Ah! Aiden?” Adele turned around in shock and mock-punched his shoulder lightly. “Don’t do that again,” she scolded and hugged him. He hugged her back, wondering why she wasn’t at work.

  “Hey Ady, sorry but I just couldn’t resist,” Aiden grinned.

  “What are you doing here? It’s the middle of the day. Why aren’t you at work?” She asked him.

  “I can ask you the same question . . . And dad sent me home.” Aiden sighed. “According to him, I was distracted at the board meeting and I had to leave,” he sighed.

  “Oh! That’s bad. Are you feeling alright? Maybe you should see a doctor,” she said as they took their seats.

  “You know what? You are the third person today who has told me to visit the doctor,” he moaned.

  “It’s because we care for you, Aid. We love you and we want you to be alright. Please meet Gabe.” She begged him. “I think this is serious. Even that day at dinner you had a spasm. You can’t hide it from everyone, Aiden. I think you need help.”

  Aiden sipped his coffee quietly. The fact that they all thought there was something that was wrong with him that he needed help annoyed him so much, but he wouldn’t tell her that. Annoying as it was, they were family and Adele, his sister whom he loved so much, if he could avoid her ever crying he would gladly jump off a plane for her. He just couldn’t hurt her. To see her face scrunch up with tears that she would definitely try to hide was something he wanted to avoid at all costs.

  “What a surprise, the Reid twins are here?” Aiden turned towards the familiar voice coming from behind him. Oh no! Not him. Please let it not be Gabriel. Aiden groaned and dropped his head in his hands. Gabe walked towards Adele and kissed her lightly, and sat down next to her.

  “Hi, nice to see you too,” Aiden said. Adele was just smiling at him.

  “Hey, aren’t you supposed to be at work?” Gabriel asked turning towards Aiden.

  “Taking a break,” Aiden said. Gabe raised his eyebrow at the way Aiden was acting and shrugged. He turned towards Adele and they had one of those mind conversations that no one else was allowed into.

  Finally Gabe turned towards Aiden and asked, “What’s wrong, Aiden?”

  “I’m fine,” Aiden answered and sipped his coffee again.

  Gabe frowned. “I have known you long enough to know that’s not true,” he said.

  Adele nodded, “Yes, he isn’t . . . he has been having those headaches frequently these days.”

  “Thanks,” Aiden muttered, glaring at her.

  She stuck out her tongue and replied, “You’re welcome, Twin.”

  Aiden just knew from the look on Gabriel’s face that he was going to be listening to a really long lecture about his own safety and so he decided to hightail it out of there while he still had a chance.

  “I have to go, guys. Have work to do. See you later,” Aiden called, kissed Adele’s cheek and shook hands with Gabe. He wasn’t going to give them a chance to stop him. Not this time. He literally ran, as fast as possible.

  “Bye Aidey,” Adele waved. He waved back and walked away.

  After the long drive, Aiden was home at last. He took a shower and heated the pasta that his mom had sent over earlier in the day and hummed in appreciation. His mother was an awesome cook and her dishes could improve the worst of worse moods.

  After the dinner, his phone started to ring; he groaned seeing the name that flashed on the caller ID.

  Pierre Devereux

  Oh! No, by now he would have found out about his headache and would be next in the long list of people that had asked him if he was feeling alright.

  “Salut Grandpa,” Aiden said.

  “Salut Aiden. Comment ça va?” He spoke in his thick French accent.

  “Ça va, merci. How are you? How is Grandma?” A
iden asked.

  “I’m gud. And zo iz your Grandmère. Zank You,” he said. “Whatz do ze pople know aboutz ze French. We are ze always gud.”

  Aiden was quiet for a minute because he was thinking about the French being ‘always good’ part that Pierre said.

  “Aiden, are you zere?” He asked. “I wantz to azk you somethikg.”

  “Go ahead, Grandpa. What is it?” Aiden asked him.

  “Adelynn zold me zhat you are notz well. Ven willz you be fine? Comez to ze Paris, you willz ze French pople and feel betterz,” Pierre said and by the tone of his voice Aiden could just imagine him puffing out his chest in pride.

  “I’m fine, Grandpa. And I don’t need to see the French people to get better,” said Aiden.

  “How zare you zay that! Ze French are the anzwerz to all ze problemz,” he said.

  “Are you trying to say that the French have answers to all the problems?” Aiden grinned.

  “That iz whatz I zaid. Don’tz ze interruptz me whenz I talkz of ze French.”

  Knowing that once he started to rant, he could go on forever, Aiden tried to halt the long-winded speech that his grandpa was about to start. “Grandpa, it’s getting late and I had a long day at work. Can I talk to you tomorrow?” Aiden asked. Praying that for once, his grandfather would say yes.

  “Hokay. I callz again. And ze French ’re ze best pople. Toujours. Bonne nuit,” Pierre said.

  “Bonne nuit, Grandpa,” Aiden said and cut the call.

  Looking at the time, Aiden thanked God that the day was finally done. It had been a long and tiring day. He hoped that his grandfather wouldn’t call the next day. Not that he didn’t love his grandfather – he did – but when he started his French talk then he never allowed anyone else to speak. Deeming it far too late to still be up, he slid into bed and closed his eyes hoping for a peaceful dream, but he couldn’t sleep. “Not again,” he groaned. Just as he had given up hope of ever sleeping peacefully his eyes they felt heavy and he felt himself go under a thick blanket of sleep. And for the first time in a long while he didn’t think about the girl from his dreams…

  - Chapter 4 -

  Conversations Misunderstood

  Jo heard Aiden sigh as he shuffled through the last set of documents he needed to look over today. It had been an extremely long day and now around six in the evening she could see his shoulders sagging from fatigue. If there was one thing that Aiden Reid was, he was both a workaholic and a perfectionist, and while that helped the company profit, he almost had no thoughts for himself. She wondered if she should get him coffee.

  Suddenly, he called Jo to come near his desk and she quickly did. When he was this worked up, he usually got a little angry if things didn’t work his way. That was one thing that she had learnt working in the last three weeks, but he was a good boss otherwise.

  “Make arrangements for us to fly to Paris at the end of this month.”

  Jo nodded before she caught up with what he was saying. “Wait, what? Us?” she asked.

  He looked at her like she was stupid for even asking that and before she could tell him what he could do with himself, he said, “Of course, since you have worked with me all these weeks, you know the details well enough that if I need someone to look over the deal along with me, it would be you.” His logic sounded good to her and she couldn’t do anything but nod.

  * * *

  Just as they were finishing up for the night, Alex walked in without as much as a knock.

  “Hey, Aido. Hi, Jo,” he grinned.

  “You know, you should learn how to knock. It’s that thing you do with your hand hitting the door lightly,” Aiden scowled at him.

  Alex just waved it off. “Whatever . . . Anyhow, I came here to ask if you want to go out for drinks? We haven’t been out in a long time and you’re acting like an old guy, Aido . . . live a little!”

  Aiden shook his head. “No, I just want to go home and crash . . . you know better than everyone that it’s been a tough week, Alex,” he sighed.

  “Exactly! That’s why you need to relax, at this speed you’re going to combust, Aido.”

  Aiden seemed to be searching for reasons to say no, but then he looked at Jo and smirked. She got a sinking feeling in her stomach – her boss was handsome, she would have had to be blind to say otherwise, but when he got that smirk on his face it meant that he was going to do something she wouldn’t like.

  “Okay, I’ll go, but only if Jo goes along too.” He smiled.

  Jo’s eyes widened before they narrowed. He knew she would say no, so he would leave. Just as she opened her mouth, Alex pulled her hand into his and, looking into her eyes, he said, “Please, Jo dear, do this for me or my workaholic cousin will die working – do you really want to be responsible for his death?”

  She looked at Aiden and he gave her an innocent smile; sighing, she cursed, wondering what she was getting into before nodding.

  “Alright, but I want to bring a friend along,” she said. While Aiden just nodded, Alex’s grin grew and Jo felt herself grow weary. “What?” She asked him.

  “Oh nothing, darling, you call as many of your lovely friends as you want. After all, since you won’t give me the time of the day, maybe I’ll get lucky with one of your little friends.” He grinned wriggling his eyebrows; she just rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop herself from smiling. Alex was like a little kid – only way more perverted.

  “Alright, text me the details. I’ll meet you around 8, is that okay?” she asked as they exited the building. He nodded and waved goodbye when they came to where their ways parted. She sighed, wondering what she had got herself into again while wondering if Abigail was free tonight, because otherwise she didn’t know whom to take along with her.

  Walking into their apartment, Jo saw Abigail ironing clothes while singing off-key to some song playing on her iPod and jumping all around the place. When Jo cleared her throat, Abby looked around with a grin and pulled her to dance along with her, not in the least bit embarrassed that Jo had caught her grooving in shorts and a camisole. Rolling her eyes, Jo switched off the music and asked, “Hey, are you busy tonight?”

  Abigail grinned at Jo, twirled her and asked, “Why? Are you going somewhere? Is it a date, Joey?”

  Laughing, Jo shook her head as Abby let her go. “No . . . Aiden and Alex asked me to go out with them and I really don’t want to go with them alone, so will you please come?”

  Abigail shrugged. “Sure, why not? But only if you let me dress you up.” Jo groaned.

  “Fine!” Jo muttered even as Abby pushed her towards her room.

  An hour later, Jo stood looking at the mirror. She was wearing a dark blue top with tight black jeans and black knee-high boots. While Abby had forced her into wearing this outfit, she put her foot down for accessories, going only for a silver chain with a small star that her mother had given her, and a blue wristwatch. Jo had to agree she looked good. The outfit bought out her eyes and she had done her hair in loose curls so it looked more natural. Looking at Abby, Jo couldn’t help but gape. She wore a light brown dress that fell to her knees, gold stilettos, gold bangles, and gold and brown eye shadow that made her eyes look more golden than brown.

  “Alright, let’s go. It’s 7:15 already; you did say we have to be there by 8.”

  Jo nodded and they walked out pulling their coats on and locking the apartment before calling a cab.

  * * *

  Alex stood near the bar with Aiden, waiting for Jo and her friend. As he looked at the wristwatch again, he felt Aiden go still and, looking up, felt the wind knocked right out of him. There, walking towards them was Jo. Aiden stood there, staring at the vision walking towards him. Even though she was in jeans, she stood out from girls who wore the smallest outfits possible, just by her attitude. He ran his eyes appreciatively over her, wondering how he had missed seeing her beauty the first time they met.

  Alex let out a wolf whistle and grinned at Jo. “My, my! Someone is looking H-A-W-T.” He smirked at Aiden, w
ho was glaring at him. Ignoring his cousin, Alex continued, “So, Jo, I thought you were bringing a friend along.”

  “Yeah, she had to take an important call, so she is out.” Jo smiled. She caught Aiden staring at her and blushed, looking down to pull imaginary lint off her top.

  Alex looked from Aiden to Jo and back to Aiden, his smile growing into a wolfish grin. “Look who’s getting all shy!” He smirked, staring at Aiden and Jo, who were both blushing lightly. He was about to tease Aiden when his words literally stopped. He watched, speechless, as a stunning lady walked through the door. With innocent brown eyes and the most seductive pair of kissable lips, the girl looked like an amazing living contradiction. Her nose was red from the cold, and for the first time in his life, Alex Reid, the player, found someone who looked beautiful and adorable all at once.

  Alex stared as the girl headed towards them. Turning, he saw Aiden and Jo deep in conversation, and was startled when he turned around to find the girl right in front of him.

  “Hi!” she said, looking at them. Alex moved closer and smirked. “Well hello, beautiful. What is a pretty lady like you doing here all alone? Can I buy you a drink?”

  “Hello to you, too, and sure, but aren’t you here with her?” the girl asked, looking at Jo, who was grinning widely as she stood next to a very confused Aiden.

  “Oh, no! That’s my mom and he’s my dad!” Alex grinned. He turned towards Jo and Aiden and nodded sadly. “They had me when they were really young, and I couldn’t just leave them at home, could I? They gave up their lives to raise me, and they deserve to have some fun.”

  Aiden mock-punched Alex. “Alexander Reid! Behave yourself!”

  Alex grinned and put his arm around Aiden’s shoulder and said, “Look! He’s such a strict dad. Can’t you see the resemblance? The same hair, the same eyes.”