by Sam Ayers
“Ashton, who is this?” she asked Ash, who sat next to her showing Abigail a funny picture of Alex.
“That’s Aid. He was strange back then. Weird and uncool.” Ashton chuckled and turned away. She placed the picture on the table and walked in daze towards Aiden, who stood near the kitchen with Aubrey. Jo touched his arm and he turned towards her with a concerned look in his eyes. Aubrey immediately caught his hand tightly.
“Is everything alright?” Aiden asked.
“I don’t think I’m feeling well. I’m going home.” Jo sighed, lowering her face so she wouldn’t have to meet his eyes.
“I’ll take you home,” he said, grabbing her hand.
She shook her head and replied, “No, I’m taking a cab. You know I’ve a meeting with the publishers tomorrow, it’s a little stressful.”
“Take a day off, baby,” Aiden said, kissing her brow before pulling her into a hug.
“I will!”
Jo said goodbye to everyone and was about to leave when Abigail called her. She decided to go with Jo when she saw the stress on Jo’s face and how strange she was acting. After the girls left, Aiden plopped on the couch near Alex, wondering if Jo wasn’t happy with him anymore and their relationship was coming to an end soon. A sudden feeling of emptiness drained all the happiness he felt, and he missed the concerned look Ashton and Alex sent his way.
* * *
The next morning had Aiden shuddering with a foreboding feeling. Somehow he felt extremely negative vibes, which were further confirmed when Adele called up to say that she felt like something really bad was going to happen. All through his drive, he couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease, further cementing his belief that things were not right. When he walked into his office, the strangest of things caught his eye. There, right on Jo’s desk was a single black rose, complete with thorns, placed on a note.
He was so lost in his thoughts, wondering who could have sent her a black rose, that he didn’t feel Alex’s presence behind him.
Alex cleared his throat. “Ahem! Is everything okay, Aido?”
“Who could do this?” Aiden asked as he picked up the flower. “Jen, can I see you in my office now?” He turned around and spoke to her in a serious tone before walking away. Alex followed him quietly.
“Yes, Mr. Reid,” Jen said once she was standing in front of his desk.
“Who delivered this flower and the note? I want to know the details immediately. Find out where it came from,” Aiden said, looking out of the huge glass window.
“Yes, sir,” Jen answered and left the office.
“Read the note,” Alex said as he sat on the chair.
“But it’s hers.” Aiden sighed, but pulled it open and read it out loud.
Dear Josephine,
Roses are known to be red, the color of love. An emotion that most humans foolishly believe is worth everything. You know it’s wrong, don’t you? Well if you don’t, I’ll give you a clue. Think your never-ending love will survive if I cross your path?
Oh well, here’s a black rose from a black heart. Hope you get what it means.
Love,
R.K.
“Wow! What a crazy love letter!” Alex muttered, raking his hand through his hair.
“Sounds more like a threat,” Aiden stated, looking at the note in disbelief. “What if it’s a stalker? What if she has been hiding him all along?”
“Possible. She must be scared to tell you, but those initials . . . why are they so familiar?” Alex asked, picking up the note to read it again.
“Black heart, black rose . . . and R.K.? Who are you, R.K.?” Alex sighed as he tried to figure it out. “Wait, Aiden, I think I know.”
“What is it?”
“R.K. can only be one person. Richard Knight! Black heart, black knight. It fits perfectly!”
Aiden shook his head. “Why the hell would Knight write to Jo?”
“Remember that day at Foresters Falls? She got a call from a guy called Richard. What if he’s the same one? She acted weird when she heard his name, right?”
Aiden had to admit that Alex was making a point. He had solved this mystery in minutes. He had to agree that all evidence pointed to the fact that Richard was the same R.K.!
He nodded. “His voice had the same arrogance when I first spoke to him.”
“Dude, we got a problem! If he’s threatening her and she isn’t telling you the truth, there’s gotta be a connection. Why the hell is he talking about her love? Clearly he’s talking about you!” Alex stared at Aiden, a wave of uneasiness washing over him. Was Aiden in some kind of danger?
“Listen, here’s what we can do. We’ll leave after lunch. First we’ll talk to Jo and find out the truth, then we can confront Knight,” Aiden said.
“Yes, we can do that, but now let’s go find out where this note came from. I know just the person who can help us.” Alex smirked and asked Aiden to join him in his office. His friend, Dylan, had connections, and they found out that it had come from Richard Knight’s office, as they had guessed, and it was in his own handwriting. Aiden was still shocked to see what was going on and he made his way towards his office in a daze.
When he opened the door, he was taken aback to see Richard Knight himself sitting on the chair near his desk.
“What are you doing here?” Aiden asked him without offering any pleasantries.
“Good morning, Mr. Reid. I was waiting for you,” Richard smirked.
Aiden sat down on his chair, trying to stay calm in front of Richard. He felt a surge of anxiety sitting in front of this smug man; all his instincts were screaming at him to punch the guy, and he wanted to leave right away before he did something he would regret.
Richard pointed towards the paper on his desk. “Looks like you read my note,” he said, “But it wasn’t meant for you. I guess your girlfriend wouldn’t mind you reading her messages. Do correct me if I’m wrong.”
“What do you know about Josephine?”
“Oh, a lot more than you know about her, actually. I did have a chat with her before; maybe she didn’t get the message right. Aiden Reid, stay away from her. I’m telling you this for your own good.”
“Oh really? Is that a challenge?” Aiden frowned at him.
Richard got up and adjusted his wristwatch before replying, “A challenge it is!” He walked towards the door and opened it. “Do me a favor. Stay away from Josephine, or I’ll destroy you!”
He tipped his imaginary hat and walked away, leaving Aiden dazed and confused about what he had just said.
- Chapter 28 -
Memories Of An Ardent Love
She wouldn’t do this to me . . . It’s absurd! Jo wouldn’t lie to me!
The words kept repeating in Aiden’s mind as he tried to concentrate on his work. He completely and utterly trusted Jo and knew that Richard had been trying to get him riled up. Aiden decided to forget what happened that morning and move on; only when he heard a knock on the door did he realize that he was still at his office and there was no time to sit idle.
“Come in,” he called, and Jen walked in, looking a little tense.
“Mr. Reid, the Chairman has called a meeting and he has asked you to join him in the conference room.”
“Now? Was there a meeting scheduled for today?” He opened his phone to check his calendar, but there was no reminder about a meeting. “It’s not in my diary.”
“No, sir. The Chairman just called an urgent meeting. The Vice President will be there too,” she replied.
Alex is also going to be there? Aiden thought. William never called a meeting without prior notice. He sighed and nodded. “I’ll be there in a minute. Thank you.”
Jen nodded and stepped out. Aiden got up, straightened his tie and walked to the conference room. When he opened the door, he was stunned to see Richard sitting there along with Joseph Knight. Alex sat on the opposite chair, looking a bit nervous.
“May I come in?” Aiden asked to get William’s attention; he was reading a fi
le. Placing the file aside, he said, “Please come in, Aiden. Have a seat.”
Aiden sat next to Alex and looked at Richard, who was smirking at them.
“I assume Nicholas wouldn’t be joining us.” Joseph stated, his voice cold and stern, making a chill run down Aiden’s spine.
“No, Joseph. He is in New York this very minute,” William replied.
“Well then, we can proceed with the meeting. William, two years ago you mentioned in an interview that a relationship between employees was not acceptable in your company.”
Aiden stared at him in horror as he spoke. “Does that rule count for everyone? Even your family?” Joseph asked.
“Of course, everyone is treated the same here. Why do you ask about that now?” William asked, confused. He looked at Alex, who was just as confused as he was; but Aiden was glaring at Richard, which made him even smugger. Aiden was usually the sensible one; for him to be almost openly hostile was strange.
“Richard would like to show you something,” Joseph smiled and asked Richard to continue.
“Would you mind if I use the projector?” Richard asked William, who shook his head and asked him to carry on.
He switched on the projector, connected his laptop and opened a folder. He looked at Aiden one last time and smirked before putting on a slideshow.
The minute the slideshow began to play, Aiden’s heart skipped a beat in horror and shock. He sat there, stunned at the pictures that were being projected before him.
Every single one was of him and Jo; hugging, kissing, holding hands while walking or just cuddling and laughing. It was from their dates – each and every one of them. Two pictures bothered him a lot; the first one was taken in a park on the other side of the town where Jo sat under a tree with his head on her lap. The photo had expertly captured him pulling her head down and kissing her passionately. The second was at Niagara Falls where he had had his doubts about a photo being taken; now he knew that he had been absolutely right. The pictures left no room for doubt. Clear and enlarged, it was pretty obvious that the couple in the picture were Aiden and Jo. William turned and looked at his nephew, shocked.
Alex, meanwhile, was lost in his own thoughts regarding the pictures. This was obviously a set-up. The photographs were professionally taken, and he had absolutely no doubt that someone had been secretly spying on Aiden and Jo for a really long time. Now he knew that the photographer had been hired by Richard. But he still couldn’t figure out why Richard had it out for Aiden. It had something to do with Jo, but the question was what?
“Mr. Knight, this still doesn’t prove anything,” Alex spoke. “What our employees do has nothing to do with you.”
“Of course, Alexander,” Joseph replied. “However, I would appreciate it if you understood how delicate a matter this situation is.” He pointed to the photos. “I would care less if this was just about a mere employee.”
“Joseph, I don’t understand what you are trying to say,” William spoke loudly.
Richard spoke to William. “Excuse me, sir. The situation here is about your family and ours.”
Aiden, Alex and William stared at him in surprise. Where did his family come in this matter?
“I beg your pardon?” William said.
Richard looked at Aiden and spoke, “The business deal between our companies is very profitable, but you tried something severe that ensured that this deal would easily land on your side. I didn’t realize that the great Aiden Reid, whom everyone praises, uses such underhanded methods.”
Before Aiden could say a word, Alex spoke, “Richard Knight, it would be beneficial right now if you didn’t speak in riddles. We weren’t the ones who approached you for the deal; we were never interested in the first place. Either you speak clearly or leave at once.”
“Alex!” William raised his voice in warning.
“Save it, dad! I speak to this person as the Vice President of this company and I’ve every right to. This guy has been blackmailing Jo by sending stupid messages, and now he shows a few pictures trying to prove something?! No, dad, this won’t happen in my presence.”
“You are accusing me after what your cousin has done?” Richard asked him incredulously.
“Oh really? It’s Aiden’s fault, now? Please enlighten me!” Alex glared at him.
“With pleasure! Your cousin has been having an illicit relationship with Josephine for a mere business deal!”
“What?” Aiden spoke for the first time, his face filled with confusion and curiosity.
“You used Josephine to get your hands on this deal!” Richard raised his voice and glared at Aiden.
“Whoa! Stop right there! USED HER? Are you out of your bloody mind?” Alex shouted. “Why the hell do you bother about what happens with her?”
“Because she is my daughter,” Joseph said, calmly. “And yes, Richard cares deeply for her because he is her brother.”
“Half-brother,” Richard corrected him.
“Brother?” Aiden muttered.
“Yes. Wait, she didn’t tell you about me or our father?” Richard asked in surprise.
Aiden shook his head. He sat there, stunned, as Richard glared at him. Jo wouldn’t have hidden such a huge truth from him, would she? Even as he contemplated the amount of truth in their relationship, he heard Richard say, “You are a vile creature. You used my innocent sister! You disgust me!”
That was it; Alex snapped, he got up from his chair, stalked towards Richard, pulled him by the collar and punched him in the face. Everybody was shocked, and Alex punched Richard again. William recovered first and pulled Alex away, but then he threw himself on Richard and punched him again, looking completely satisfied when he heard a crunch that signified that he had broken Richard’s nose.
“SECURITY! Escort this man out of the building!” Alex yelled, enraged. Wiping his hand on his trousers, he stormed away towards his office.
William shook his head in disgust. He saw Richard walk out before two guards came up and he was escorted out. Joseph, looking resigned, said, “William, we will talk again when everyone has calmed down.”
He then followed his son out, and William went back to the conference room to see Aiden watching the pictures again, his face unreadable and his eyes filled with confusion and pain.
“I never expected this sort of behavior from you, Aiden. I’m really disappointed. As your boss, I’m suspending you for two weeks. Josephine will no longer be your secretary when you come back; she will be Alex’s P.A. starting from tomorrow. You may leave.”
Aiden nodded and walked away, his mind roving with questions. Jo hadn’t been truthful to him. What if she had helped Richard with this plan? How had the photographer known their exact location? Did she inform them, too? Could he trust her when she hadn’t trusted him? What were lies and what was the truth? Had he been played? Many such questions arose regarding every aspect of their relationship. He walked towards his office in daze, feeling completely humiliated and disgusted by how their secret was revealed.
Without any conscious thought, he opened his MacBook and typed a long letter, printed it and signed his name on it.
Then he walked out to William’s office and knocked the door.
“Come in,” William called. He wasn’t surprised when he saw Aiden there, and he asked him to take a seat.
“Sir, what I have done has caused a lot of trouble to everyone, so I’m here to rectify my mistake,” Aiden said, placing the envelope on the desk. William pulled the letter out and read it, only to be shocked by what was written on it.
“Are you sure about this, Aiden?”
“Yes, sir. I apologize for my carelessness,” Aiden said before walking out.
His head held high, but his heart was broken into pieces.
Aiden didn’t waste another minute; he got into his car and went to the publishing house where Jo was. When he reached, he called Jo.
“Hi, Aiden!” she exclaimed.
“Jo, I’m waiting outside. I want to meet you now;
can you come over to the park at the end of the street?”
There was something in his voice that had her on edge, but it didn’t look like he would talk over the phone. Feeling that something was very wrong, she said, “I’ll be right there. Love you.”
He didn’t reply, instead he cut the call. Jo wondered if she had done something to upset him. Quietly, she excused herself and made her way towards the park. It was a special place; they had come here before, spending the whole evening just seated under the tree with his head on her lap. It was one of their best dates and one of her favorite memories.
She walked in to see him standing near the same tree where they sat before. He had his back to the tree and a grim expression on his face. She couldn’t help but frown at how lost he looked, and she wondered what had happened. Putting on her best smile, she made her way towards him.
“Hey, Aiden,” she called and threw her arms around his neck. He wrapped his arms around her and sighed deeply. When she pulled away, she noticed the painful expression on his face. “Are you alright?”
Aiden nodded and pulled away. He sat on a bench and patted the seat, asking her to sit next to him. When she did, he spoke, “Do you love me?”
Jo smiled. “Of course! Why are you asking that all of a sudden?”
“Then why don’t you want to marry me?” He didn’t look at her as he spoke, but there was a slight quiver in his voice that sent a chill down her spine. She sighed. “Aid, we spoke about this before; you know I’m not ready yet.”
“Really? Is that the reason? Or wait, I guess I know. You got carried away while acting and ended up confessing, and I thought that you loved me and like a fool believed every single word you said and asked you to marry me!”
“What are you talking about? What act? I love you and you know that!”
Aiden turned around to see her face filled with shock. “Just stop pretending, Jo! I know the truth. I know you were just playing me. I can’t believe I fell for your act. You must have had quite the laugh – laughing at poor gullible Aiden who is so in love with you that I actually proposed when you weren’t even really in love with me!”
