by Natalie Ann
“Well, the guy you were measuring with your hands, Tim—in case you forgot his name—no longer works here, so there’s not much we can do about that. The other two are employed and we’ll be talking with them. But that isn’t why you’re here,” Ella said.
“Then why?” Abby asked.
“I wanted to see if you’d be truthful,” Cade said, “but since you’ve been lying all along, it didn’t surprise me that you didn’t answer. The reason you’re really here is this.”
Cade picked up the remote on the table and turned to the TV on the wall and hit play.
There on the screen was the entire five minutes proving Abby made the whole thing up. As Aiden watched, he felt his face fill with embarrassment. Seriously, he held his hands up in surrender like a wuss rather than tossing her across the room like Ella suggested. Not that he would, but it had merit the more he saw this.
“You can’t hear what is being said,” Abby said. “See, I fell when I leaned over.”
“Your lips fell into mine?” Aiden asked, stunned that she was still holding onto this story.
“Very well,” Ella said, reaching for the remote. “Let’s listen in.”
Aiden didn’t know the conversation had been recorded. Ella and Cade didn’t tell him that. What jerks.
“Have you seen and heard enough?” Cade asked after they listened to it.
Abby wasn’t looking so calm now. “Fine. So I came on to Aiden. He’s giving it to that slut in the kitchen. She’s getting all sorts of private lessons now. She hasn’t even been here that long. I’ve been here for two years busting my butt. Why can’t I cash in a piece of that pie?”
“You’ve never known me to do that with anyone,” Aiden said. “Yet you just assumed it with Nic and decided it was your turn?”
“I don’t know what you do or have done in the past. There’s always talk. You know that. But it was pretty obvious with Nic. She kept trying to deny it, but the more she did, the more I saw right through it. So what? It happens everywhere. You’re not the first and neither is she. I just wanted in. It’s the only way to get ahead.”
“Women like you give the rest of us a nasty name,” Ella said, disgusted.
“You can’t just go around recording things,” Abby said. “There has to be some law about that.”
Cade laughed. “Trust me, there isn’t. Our business, our properties, and our rules. Besides, you signed a consent that you were aware there were cameras on the property watching and recording.”
“Only those at the doors and the entrance,” Abby said.
“No. If you read the whole document, it states that there are multiple cameras on all Fierce properties that are rotated at all times. The ones you see are the only ones that stay stationary.”
“What do you want from me?” Abby said, crossing her arms.
“Well, like I said two nights ago, you’re terminated. I want you to pick your stuff up and get off the property,” Aiden said.
“Ella has your final paycheck ready. This is a document that states you understand why you’re being terminated and that you will not attempt to sue Fierce for sexual harassment of any kind. Of course, I guess you could try if you want, but we know it’s all recorded so good luck getting anyone to take your case. Let alone finding another job in this industry in Charlotte after that.”
Abby picked up the pen in front of her. She signed her name, pushed the chair back, and held her hand out to Ella for her check. “I don’t have anything here,” she said, turning to leave. Brody was standing in the hallway when the door was opened and escorted her out.
“Why didn’t I know there were cameras rotated all over the property?” Aiden asked Ella.
“I told you all there were multiple cameras on site at all times.”
“But we didn’t know they rotated,” Cade said. “I didn’t know until Ella showed me yesterday when you walked in. And why didn’t you say it recorded our voices?”
“First off, Aiden,” Ella said, “it was just your lucky day the camera was in your office that week. It hadn’t been the week before. The security team comes in early on Sundays and puts them where I tell them to. Second of all, I’ve never listened in on any conversations. Ever. I don’t have the time or the patience for it. I completely forgot about it myself until the owner of the security company reminded me and showed me how to pull up the old footage when I called him. As for you guys being told, you were. When Mom and Dad decided they wanted to up security and sat in on that meeting, they explained it all. But the problem is, you guys tune everything out that doesn’t concern you.”
“Why does it seem like Ella knows more than any of the rest of us?” Aiden asked Cade.
Aiden watched as she narrowed her eyes. “Didn’t you just hear me say you were both told?”
“Don’t ask me. I think she has some secret pact with Mom and Dad and now I believe she is spying on us all,” Cade said, grinning.
She stood up in a huff. “Get over yourself. I’ve got more important things to do than worry if my brothers are getting cozy with someone.”
“Don’t be jealous,” Aiden said, smirking at her now.
“Get out of here. Both of you. I’ve got work to do. And Aiden…” He stopped when she called his name. “Fix it with Nic. I like her. I need more women in this family knowing you guys don’t even listen half the time. The sides need to be evened.”
Epilogue
“That’s just crazy,” Nic said after Aiden had finished telling her everything. “Do you think Ella has seen us sneaking kisses in places?”
“I don’t know,” Aiden said. “I can’t worry about that right now. I guess we should be glad it hasn’t been more than kisses.”
He didn’t want to believe his sister would do that. Part of him really thought Ella was too busy to care or even watch the cameras until she was told to. She was the one who fought tooth and nail against having them in her office; nor did she want to deal with the security company on it. It was their parents who pushed that issue. Regardless of her complaints, he remembered that part of the conversation and how annoyed she was it was falling into her lap.
“What’s there to worry about?” she asked.
“I’m not worried about a thing,” he said. “Nothing other than your reaction to us going shopping today. Even then, it’s not a bad thing.”
“Shopping where?” she asked.
“We’re going to get your camera.” He held his hand up. “You aren’t going to argue either. That is an order from my mother. She told Ella to make it work, but be sure you get it this week. I’ve got to finish up making Thanksgiving Day dishes for Cade’s promos and we need the pictures. I’ll be cooking, and you can figure your camera out.”
“I don’t know what I want though. It takes time to figure things like that out.”
“You can’t tell me you don’t know what you want,” he said, not believing that. When someone wants something bad enough in life, they search it out until they find it and then they hold on until they can make it theirs. That was what he was going to do. Find a way to make Nic his. “If money wasn’t a consideration then.”
“I don’t have that luxury, Aiden. Even as a payroll deduction, I’d be paying for it for years.”
“If you want to argue with my mother because you couldn’t pick one out today, then go right at it. But make sure you tell her that I tried but failed. No way I’m getting in trouble.”
He didn’t think she’d fall for it, but she actually did. “Fine. I’ll look around and make sure we get something so that Cade can do what he needs.”
“Perfect. One more thing,” he said, taking her hand. “We’re going downstairs and telling everyone that we’re in a relationship. And that you’re moving in with me.”
“Oh really?” she said, smiling at him. “Maybe I don’t want to move out of my room. Maybe I like living with my grandparents.”
Crap, he didn’t think of that. “Do you want to move in with me?”
She giggled
. “Maybe. I guess it makes sense. I mean, it would help since I told Stacy and a few others downstairs that the rumors were true. That you and I have been dating. You don’t think it’s too soon though? To move in together?”
“When it’s right, it doesn’t need a timeline. Besides, what better way to seal the deal than to let you use my home kitchen?”
“Now I know you’re serious,” she said, jumping up and hugging him hard. He took her hand and placed a key in her palm. “What’s that?”
“I thought since you’ll be out of work before me tonight, you wouldn’t mind going home and packing a few things, then being at my place when I get home.”
“I’ll be waiting for you. In the tub.”
It seemed like his wait was finally over.
***
A week before Christmas, Jolene walked into a cafe downtown, found who she was looking for and pulled out a seat.
“Are you sure it’s okay to be seen in public now?” Theresa Moretti asked Jolene.
“Not an issue. Between you and me, I think Aiden is going to propose to Nic on Christmas morning. I mentioned to Aiden the other day about inviting you and Vinnie for dinner that day. He seemed thrilled.”
Theresa started to rub her hands together. “I can’t believe it worked. They won’t find out, will they?” she asked, looking around nervously.
“No way. My kids would never think I was sneaky enough to pick out their mates. Let them think they figured it out on their own.”
Theresa laughed. “Nic wouldn’t be happy if she knew.”
Jolene laughed, then waved her hand for the waitress to come over and take their orders. “Nothing to be upset about. All we did was put them together. The rest was up to them. Can I help it if I thought they’d hit it off?”
“Don’t you find it strange though?” Theresa asked. “All those years ago you used to come in and you’d always say how much Nic and Aiden would have in common. Nic was barely in junior high. Aiden going off to college.”
“Like I’ve said for years, I know my kids better than they will ever give me credit for.”
To be continued…for Mason Fierce.
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The Road Series-See where it all started!!
Lucas and Brooke’s Story- Road to Recovery
Jack and Cori’s Story – Road to Redemption
Mac and Beth’s Story- Road to Reality
Ryan and Kaitlin’s Story- Road to Reason
The All Series
William and Isabel’s Story — All for Love
Ben and Presley’s Story – All or Nothing
Phil and Sophia’s Story – All of Me
Alec and Brynn’s Story – All the Way
Sean and Carly’s Story — All I Want
Drew and Jordyn’s Story— All My Love
Finn and Olivia’s Story—All About You
The Lake Placid Series
Nick Buchanan and Mallory Denning – Second Chance
Max Hamilton and Quinn Baker – Give Me A Chance
Caleb Ryder and Celeste McGuire – Our Chance
Cole McGuire and Rene Buchanan – Take A Chance
Zach Monroe and Amber Deacon- Deserve A Chance
Trevor Miles and Riley Hamilton – Last Chance
The Fierce Five Series
Brody Fierce and Aimee Reed - Brody
Aiden Fierce and Nic Moretti- Aiden
Love Collection
Vin Steele and Piper Fielding – Secret Love
Jared Hawk and Shelby McDonald – True Love
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