Secretary with benefits

chapter 7

The night of the event started with lots of buzz of excitement going on. Olivia stepped into the lavishly decorated venue dressed in a black dress that hugged her curves in the right places .she wanted to make an impression today not just as Aiden 's secretary but as a professional .

As she walked around the ballroom, she received glances that didn't go unnoticed, within minutes she was socialising with the elite.

Across the ballroom , Aiden spotted her

his gaze darkening as he noticed a particular executive lean a little too close whispering something that made Olivia laugh.

He strided over putting his hand on Olivia 's back, offering a tight smile ,he Interrupted the conversation ." Mr Whitman, Olivia and I need a moment "

"Sure" he smiled glancing between them sensing the tension.

"Aiden! "Olivia voice was a mix of shock and irritation. "what was that about?"

He looked at her ,his expression unreasonable. "I could ask you the same question" he raised his brow

"we are at a networking event , I am ...... networking" that you as what you wanted right ,she crossed her arms.

He clenched his jaw taking a step towards her, "networking doesn't mean allowing someone to invade your personal space "

Olivia narrowed her eyes , "he wasn't invading my space ,he was just being polite which I see no problem with unlike you right now"

"polite?! the way he was looking at you was not polite " Aiden growled slowly.

"oh and how exactly was he looking at me Aiden?! her tone challenging "or is there something else you want to say "

Aiden’s eyes flashed. “You think this is jealousy?”

“Yes, I do,” she shot back, unyielding. “Because you’re acting like I belong to you.”

“Maybe you do,” he said, voice barely a whisper but filled with meaning.

She stared at him, momentarily taken aback before composing herself. “Aiden, I’m here as your employee. I have every right to speak to people without you hovering over me.”

He took a deep breath, struggling to keep his voice calm. “I’m not ‘hovering,’ Olivia. I’m protecting what’s mine.”

Her eyes narrowed, voice sharp. “What’s yours? I think you need to remember where we are and what this is.”

“What this is?” he repeated, voice rising just enough to turn heads. “Do you even know what this is, Olivia?”

“You’re my boss, Aiden. That’s what this is,” she said firmly, though her voice wavered slightly.

His expression softened, but his gaze remained intense. “Is that really all this is to you? Just a job?”

Olivia hesitated, her defenses cracking just a little. “It’s… it’s complicated. But that doesn’t give you the right to act like you own me.”

Aiden’s jaw tensed, frustration clear in his eyes. “I don’t like watching you with other men, alright? Especially men who think they have a chance with you.”

She folded her arms, raising an eyebrow. “And how exactly would you know that? Did he tell you?”

“Please,” he muttered, scoffing. “I can read the signs.”

Olivia let out an incredulous laugh. “Aiden, you can’t control who I talk to. This isn’t your personal kingdom.”

“I’m not trying to control you,” he insisted, his voice softening. “I just… I don’t want to see you getting hurt.”

“Hurt?” she repeated, genuinely baffled. “By what, a simple conversation? Aiden, I can handle myself.”

“That’s not the point,” he replied, voice laced with frustration. “It’s not about you handling yourself. It’s… I don’t want anyone else getting close to you.”

She shook her head, exasperated. “That’s not your decision to make, Aiden. I’m not yours to control.”

The words hit him hard, and he took a moment before responding. “Maybe not. But I care about you, Olivia. More than you realize.”

Her eyes softened for a brief moment, but she quickly masked it with defiance. “Then you need to trust me enough to make my own choices. If you can’t, this… whatever this is, won’t work.”

Aiden exhaled, glancing away before looking back at her, his expression conflicted. “So what are you saying?”

“I’m saying that you either need to let me do my job or stop putting me in these situations where you think you can dictate who I talk to.”

Aiden fell silent, clearly processing her words, but his expression remained stormy. After a tense moment, he took a step back, his voice cold. “Fine. Do whatever you want. But don’t expect me to stand by while you make a fool of yourself.”

Her eyes flashed with hurt and anger. “Is that what you think? That I was making a fool of myself?”

He hesitated, regret flickering across his face. “No, I just… I don’t want people thinking they can take advantage of you.”

“Well, maybe you need to start respecting me enough to realize I’m not some damsel in distress.”

They stared at each other, the air thick with unspoken words and unresolved tension. Finally, Olivia broke the silence, her voice barely above a whisper. “Maybe I should just leave. Seems like we both need some space to think.”

Aiden’s expression hardened, though his eyes betrayed a hint of vulnerability. “Fine. Go ahead. But don’t expect me to just… forget about this.”

She didn’t respond, simply giving him one last, defiant look before turning and walking away, leaving him standing there, alone, amidst the crowd.