Darling, Thanks For Stabbing Me

Chapter 32

“Hey man! How did you… know I was here?” Grayson asked Aiden skeptically setting aside to let him in.

“It doesn’t matter; what does is how long you know Iris?” Aiden turned to face him.

“What do you mean? Iris?” Grayson felt his throat dry. He laughed nervously closing the door behind him and walking past Aiden towards the kitchen.

“She isn't Iris. Haven’t she told you yet?” He continued pulling out some beer cans and lasagna before heating it up.

“You think I was born yesterday Gray? She is Iris. My Iris and I know that for sure. Why you didn’t tell me you met her?” Aiden gritted through his teeth grabbing his arm and turning him over to face him.

Grayson sighed loudly before stretching the silence that was intolerable. Should he just tell him? Will that be okay?

The oven beeped interrupting his monologue and turned to open it. While he served them the meal, Aiden couldn’t help but wonder what their relation was. He was afraid thinking what if Grayson was the one who had been helping her; will that mean Iris like him?

Can that happen?

No! She has always loved me and I don’t think she will let it go just like that.

“What makes you think she is Iris? As far as I know; I met Sunny Walker and not Iris Reider.” Grayson studied him intently.

Aiden could feel his jaw clench. How could he even ask such a ridiculous question knowing well that he has practically grown up with her?

“I saw it Gray. I saw her scars from the wounds on her stomach. She even have that birth mark on her nape like Iris and don’t tell me that could be a co-incidence!” Aiden let out his frustration as he breathed deeply to calm himself.

Grayson’s eyes popped out. Don’t tell me they were in a relationship again.

“Now, will you tell me how long have you known each other and why not tell me before?” Aiden asked again.

Before he could have answered, Aiden pointed out his finger at him and gave him an intimidating look.

“Don’t dare to lie to me Gray. You know I can be a f*****g bastard if I had to. So, I want only the truth from your side.”

Grayson was reluctant but he knew his business can be ruined in a snap of a finger. He had just started and reached heights but Aiden was an old player. He had connections, strings and ways to do business ruthlessly whereas Gray was on white business without anyone’s involvement.

“I met her few months back. It was purely coincidental but I would still say that she is Sunny. I get it, you saw things which makes you believe that she is Iris but not for me. Sunny is different from Iris and that is the reason I didn’t tell you. Also, I feel there are things that I needed to know Aiden before I could have told you about her.” Grayson couldn’t help but raise his voice with every word.

“If she is Iris then why is she trying to hide from you? Why didn’t she come back to you rather than working in a coffee shop? She surely would have contacted you considering the love between you guys, then why none of these happened?” Grayson asked pushing his plate aside. He was glaring hard at Aiden who seemed shocked.

Aiden felt guilty. He could feel himself softening understanding what Grayson wanted to say.

“I… It’s entirely my mistake. I made her feel unprotected, unsafe and endangered.” Aiden gulped to swallow the lump which formed in his throat.

He then told him everything about that night along with the threat received by Derek. Grayson was smart to connect the dots and realize that Derek was in love with his own sister. He had doubted it long back like Dylan but couldn’t voice it out thinking it was ridiculous.

Grayson couldn’t take it anymore and walked towards Aiden before landing a good punch on Aiden’s handsome face, taking him aback.

He punched again as Aiden tried to stand and retaliate.

“If things were out of control, you could have asked for my help!” He spoke between his punches.

Aiden was trying his best to block the hits but failed as Grayson was quick. His lip busted and it was bleeding but Grayson didn’t pay attention to it.

“I always thought she was too good for you. I can’t believe I let her go just like that. I should have tried for once, just a chance to prove that it was me made for her.” Grayson still grabbed his blazer and was about to hit him again.

The whole place was a mess. The chairs fallen, the table cloth pulled to one side making the bowls resting at the edge and Aiden’s crisp shirt, wrinkled.

When he heard Grayson confess his feelings for Iris; Aiden couldn’t hold back and successfully held his wrist which was about to punch him in the stomach.

“You mother ef**r. You dare dream about it? You knew she has always belonged to me and you filthy asshole call yourself a friend when inwardly you are fantasizing about my fiancée. You, bastard!” Aiden now twisted his wrist and hit him straight in his face; punching his nose.

Grayson bled but Aiden couldn’t control himself back and repeatedly hit him before he became a bloody mess. The door bell rang making him stop and stare at Grayson with disdain and huffed.

The door was opened by Aiden when Erik entered the apartment with Linda. They gave him questioning looks but he ignored them walking again towards Grayson. Even though he was angry but he still was a little grateful for looking up for his Iris. He doesn’t know why but he was relieved that she was safe under him.

He helped Grayson stand while threatening him.

“Don’t cross your line with her Gray. I am warning you that it won’t end well and I don’t want to lose a friend for this at least.” Aiden straightened his suit and walked away.

“Attend him first.” He commanded to the others as he stormed out of the apartment.

Linda ran and found Grayson bleeding; she screamed while Erik searched for the first aid kit. They were cleaning his face and attending to his injury when Grayson narrated what actually happened skipping the part where he confessed his feeling.

He sounded like a jerk to himself when he replayed it inside his head. I shouldn’t have lost my cool.

“That’s not cool. What should we do now when he already has found about her reality?” Linda panicked.

“The plan must go on. It doesn’t change anything, does it?” Erik reasoned.

They knew it won’t but Linda was worried about Iris more than anything. She could tell Aiden wasn’t any angel but a devil. He can be very persuasive and she hoped that he wouldn’t do anything to hurt Iris this time.

***

Iris was working hard in the company because she needed to draw a strategy to bring the company back on its track. Secondly, she saw how the others behaved towards her.

For them she was much younger, naïve and inexperienced. She was just a girl born with privileges and she needed to prove them wrong.

She failed to notice the time when two light knocks were heard on her door. Before she could have answered; the door opened and Derek marched inside tailed with Alan.

“Are you planning to stay the whole night?” He asked with authority in his voice.

She was deeply indulged in her work with a frown on her face. Her lips tightly sealed as she leaned a little to the screen. Her fingers dances wildly on the keyboard and few baby strands covered her forehead making her appear a true dedicated employee.

He noticed her black formal shirt paired with white trouser, making her look sexy with that bold red lipstick. He preferred her without make-up but even with that, she looked amazing.

“Huh?” she finally looked ahead towards the clock and stretched herself while closing her tabs and shutting down the lapy. She turned sighing loudly and saw Derek who looked enchanted by her beauty.

Suddenly she laughed hard till her sides ache. Derek was clueless and saw her laughing through tears.

“What’s so funny?” He asked trying to process everything that happened in past two minutes.

She tried to answer but her laughter increased instead. Her phone rang as she saw the caller ID but didn’t stop from laughing. She showed it to Derek, it was from Aiden.

“What is it?” Derek asked annoyed. What was so funny that I missed?

“You… You and Aiden. Remember?” She tried to stop but guffawed.

“Oh god! I can’t help but relive that moment every time I see either of you.” She was holding her sides which were aching.

Derek mocked her and huffed. “f**k Off!” he mentioned it to her.

Alan on the other hand tensed. He knew what they were talking about because he was the one to have drafted the contract between the two stating that Derek agrees to cancel the previously signed contract and promises to never use her family as a tool against her. He won’t dictate her life and all decision will be hers.

There were few more clause and saw the reluctance of Derek to let her go. He suspects something weird from the way Derek watches her. It’s like he was so in love with her but could that even be possible?

“And why do you need a secretary when he couldn’t perform his basic duties like reminding you of the time?” Derek gave her an annoyance look which managed to cease her laughter.

“Who says he didn’t? Well, it was upon my order that he didn’t disturb me.” She wiped her tears away after clearing her throat and faced Alan.

“That reminds me… why are you still here? It is past your office hours Alan.” She asked while placing the laptop in the drawer and stood to lock all the drawers.

“How can I Miss? It is my duty to ensure that you are safe and you have all you need.” Alan tensed.

It was unlike him to leave a girl alone behind in the almost empty company. Who knows what could happen? And she is so pretty and beautiful; he didn’t have a heart to leave her.

“You needn’t do that Alan. I prefer you stick to your schedule because I can handle myself. Please don’t expect me to raise your salary for that because I am sorry but I—” Iris felt guilty for making him stay so long but she was interrupted by him.

“You needn’t be sorry for this Miss. It isn't my nature to leave a young woman all alone in this empty place. It is my duty as a man and your secretary to ensure that. I don’t expect anything in return miss.” Alan explained quickly.

Iris was amazed and so was Derek. He was pleased to hear that but a small part of him warned about Alan. His gentlemanly behavior and handsome face could sway any woman; he can only hope, not his Sunny.

“That’s… so sweet Alan. Thanks a lot. Now, you may go. I will leave as well.” Iris beamed at him and blushed.

“Yea, I am here so you may go now.” Derek patted his back in appreciation of his thought.

You are the reason of my reluctance to leave madam behind.

Alan wondered before nodding and leaving, watching his boss walk towards the door.