Date The Boss

6 - Flirting With A Stranger

Everything went business as usual after the little scene at the counter involving Niara's ex and former friend. Aiden had so many questions in his mind. There was a lot he wanted to know about the two people that upset Niara that day.

"Why does that woman hate Niara so much? Is it true that the guy still loves Niara ? Does Niara still love him? Why is Xander's hair weirdly stiff? Why does the rude woman act so barbarically?"

He would probably never know the answers to all his questions. He didn't mind except for the one that involved Niara's feelings. What was important to him that time was her smile and his second chance with her.

He thought of ways to get closer to her but he feared she might get irked off by him again and not get another chance. She might think he was taking advantage of the favor he did for her so he decided to wait a little bit longer.

She, on the other hand, also kept thinking about what happened as she went on with her duties, especially Aiden. She remembered the box of roses and the note that he gave her, now safely kept in her locker. 

"Well, he did say sorry. At least he knows that he was insolent and shameless. Maybe he really didn't mean to be that way. Maybe that's not how he's really like. Could there really be more to him than what I initially thought as a typical pretty boy who thinks he can claim the entire world with his good looks?" She wondered.

She knew she had to thank him somehow for saving her from that embarrassing scene earlier but she really doesn't know how plus she wasn't exactly Miss Congeniality to him.

She didn't mean to be rude to him or always snap at him but being around him made her feel inexplicably scared: heart-racing, stomach-knotting, can't-stop-thinking-about-him scared and she tends to strike back at the things that scared her.

Growing up, she had low self-esteem and always kept to herself. Being the youngest of three girls, she lived in the shadows of her much prettier, much smarter and much more talented sisters.

Niara retreated to the comfort of her own company when she was younger and only recently came out of her shell while she was in college with the help of her trusted childhood best friend, Mark. Even then, she was never really good at socializing with people let alone flirting with a stranger so when she met Aiden and started feeling what she felt around him, she got scared like hell.

But after that day, she knew she should stop attacking him and actually try to get to know him so on her lunch break which luckily was also his, she walked up to him.

"Uhm... Aiden." Niara called as he was walking to the back of the kitchen. "Uh... I mean... Sir Aiden."

He turned to her and smiled. "Niara! Are you okay now?"

"Yes, Sir. I'm okay. Thanks to you." She said.

"It's nothing." He answered. "Also, just call me Aiden."

He noticed how she wrung her hands and avoided his gaze but though she appeared nervous, she still bore that quiet grace she always had.

She nodded in response to his second statement. "About that..." She started. "I was wondering if we could have lunch together. Uhm... I know a place. My treat... uh... you know to thank you. It's nearby. We can get back in time before our lunch break ends."

"Lunch? Date? f**k yes! Anywhere. Even if we don't come back here." He cheered in his mind and then out loud he said, "There's really no need to do that, Niara. I helped you without expecting anything in return."

The disappointed expression on her face made him want to kick himself in the balls so hard. "But..." He was quick to add that before she walked away from him again.

She looked at him closely and he felt like drowning in her beautiful eyes. "I'd love more to treat you out to lunch. THAT can be your thank you."

"How can that be my "thank you" if you're paying?" She asked.

"Just the chance to spend some time alone with you is thank you enough for me." Aiden said sincerely as he stared directly into her eyes.

She blushed and tucked her hair behind her ear then smiled a little smile that almost melted his heart. "Okay then."