CHAPTER |16
1036 Words
Aiden's POV
The morning began badly, and by noon the entire office already felt the pressure. I had barely entered the conference room before I knew someone would lose their job.
Three department heads stood before me, each holding reports that should have been correct before reaching my table.
They were not.
The figures from the Hayden Group case were still affecting too many parts of the company, and after losing thousands because of delayed legal handling, I had no patience left for carelessness.
I dropped the report on the table. "This was submitted to me as complete."
No one answered immediately. The silence only made my anger sharper.
I looked directly at the first manager. "Did you read this before sending it?"
He swallowed. "Sir, I-"
"It is a simple question."
"Yes, sir, but-"
"But what? You approved numbers that do not match the legal file."
The second man quickly spoke. "We planned to correct it before-"
"Before what?" I cut in coldly. "Before another mistake costs this company more money?"
No one spoke again.
The third woman tried once. "Sir, it was an internal delay-"
"It was negligence."
The room stayed still. I opened another file and placed it beside the first.
"Three errors in one week wrong legal summary delayed approval missing signatures."
I looked at each of them slowly. "I do not pay people to guess their work."
The first manager lowered his head. "Sir, please give us another chance."
I had heard that too many times recently. "Human resources will handle your termination today."
All three looked up at once and the woman spoke first. "Sir-"
"You are dismissed."
The words came flat, no raised voice this time, sometimes quiet was harder. They left one after another, each face carrying shock by the time the door closed, the room still holding the weight of what had happened.
Luke entered two minutes later, careful as always when my mood looked obvious and placed another file down.
"You have the board call in thirty minutes."
I nodded.
He hesitated then said, "Sir... was firing all three necessary?"
I looked at him. "Do you disagree?"
"No, sir."
"Then do not ask."
He nodded quickly and left.
I returned to my office after the call, but my concentration was bad. The legal file remained open before me, yet my mind kept shifting elsewhere.
To the hospital room.
To Amarahh asleep with bruises on her face to the way Ava and Liam had looked relieved when she returned.
I shut the file harder than necessary; this was exactly what I did not need.
Distraction.
I forced my attention back to work until my office door opened without warning. Only one person entered my office that way.
Ethan.
He walked in smiling like someone who had no serious problem in life.
He spread his arms immediately. "You look worse than when I left."
I leaned back in my chair. "You came back from another country just to insult me?"
He laughed and dropped into the chair opposite mine. "I came back because someone has to remind you life still exists outside contracts and lawsuits."
He looked rested, tanned slightly, and far too pleased with himself.
"You enjoyed yourself," I said.
"Very much."
He grinned wider. "Food, beaches, no meetings, no angry shareholders, and very beautiful women."
I gave no reaction that only encouraged him. "You should have come."
"I had work."
"You always have work."
He looked around my office dramatically. "This place is making you older."
"I am busy."
"You are miserable."
I almost replied but chose silence. He studied me for a second then his tone changed slightly. "You still look like you haven't slept well."
That sentence landed too close to the truth so I reached for another file. "I did not invite therapy."
He leaned forward. "Good because I did not come for that. You are leaving this office tonight."
"No."
"Yes."
"Ethan."
"You are going clubbing."
"I have no interest."
"You need air, noise, alcohol, and one night without staring at documents."
"I am not twenty."
He smiled. "Exactly why you need it more."
An hour later, against my better judgment, I found myself agreeing.
Mostly because I wanted one night where my thoughts would stop circling around business losses, hospital rooms, and a nanny who had somehow unsettled my house more than I expected.
The club was loud the moment we entered it was full already. Music everywhere lights low people moving like none of them carried responsibility outside those walls.
Ethan looked immediately at home. "You remember how this works?" he asked.
"I regret coming already."
He laughed and disappeared into the crowd almost instantly. I stayed near the bar first.
One drink became two.
Then more conversation came from women who recognized my face or simply recognized money.
I did not care enough to stop any of it. One woman stayed longer than the others. Dark dress, confident voice, no unnecessary questions.
By midnight, I let the night continue because it required less thinking.
The hotel room later was exactly what I expected: temporary, empty, and easy to leave.
By early morning, I was already back in the car driving home. The alcohol remained heavy enough that my head felt dull.
I entered the house quietly, expecting everyone asleep but near the staircase, someone stood already awake.
Amarahh.
She held a glass of water in one hand.
The loose morning light from the hallway caught her face before she quickly lowered her eyes.
For one second, neither of us spoke.
Then I noticed what she must have seen clearly, my shirt partly open, lipstick still near my collar, alcohol obvious enough before I even spoke.
Her eyes lifted briefly, then moved away again, no judgment, no expression that somehow annoyed me more than if she had reacted.
"What are you doing awake?" I asked coldly.
Her voice stayed careful. "I came to get water."
I nodded once the silence remained then I stepped past her. "Then get it and sleep."
My tone stayed hard even though I knew it did not need to.
She moved slightly aside. "Yes, sir."
I walked past her without another word and headed upstairs.
- Writer
