1
Shoes in hands, shirt sticking to the part of his body from sweat, Aiden rushes into his father-in-law’s dressing room.
He falls on his knees and drops the shoes in front of his father-in-law’s feet.
“Is Harper ready?” His father-in-law asks his mother-in-law.
“She should. We can't afford to be late tonight,” she says. “If the owner of the Vicholas group is really coming tonight, we are the luckiest family on earth.”
“Tell me about it,” Aiden's father-in-law steps into the shoes.
“It's all thanks to Wesley when you think about it. Just imagine he didn't inform us of this opportunity. Such a kindhearted young man,” Aiden's mother-in-law adds.
Still on his knees, Aiden knows the message his mother-in-law is trying to pass across. That he's the poor wicked man holding on to her daughter but Aiden doesn't say anything.
He's already been through a lot of s**t in a day, all he wants now is for them to leave the house so he can have a bit of solitude.
“Let me go get Harper, honey,” Aiden's mother-in-law says. On her way out, she steps on Aiden's hand with her long heel, walking off like his hand is some f*****g floor.
Aiden grimaces a bit.
“Make sure to lock the door as soon as we are gone. If there are any things for you to do, do them before we come back. I don't want to come back and see my room disarranged like this.”
Aiden bows his head. “Alright, sir. Have a nice time.”
His father-in-law doesn't reply before he goes out.
Aiden gets on his feet and starts to arrange the room. The earlier he does all he has to do, the better. There are tons of things to do in the kitchen.
“Aiden!” His wife snaps by the door.
Aiden bites on his lower lip before turning around to face her. “Anything you want me to do?” He smiles.
She walks closer to him. Without warning, she places her lips on his.
Aiden's eyes widen at first. To his damn surprise, he finds his tongue following his wife's. His hands pull her closer to himself. He knows he shouldn't be doing this.
He's a f****d up man, yeah. His brain knows this is the last thing he should be doing but he can't bring his body to stop.
Seconds later, his wife slowly pulls away from him, resting her head against his.
Aiden's hand is still around her waist, out of breath just like his wife.
As if remembering where they are, Aiden jerks away from her. His wife's expression drops but she quickly covers it with a flippant look.
“You're just as turned on as I am,” she mutters. “I can't figure out why you'd agree to this silly thing.”
“Love cannot pay the bills,” Aiden says.
“Of course. It can't. And that's why I'm going on a date with the mysterious head of the Vicholas group if we manage to see him tonight.”
Aiden nods. “You have to do this so that your parents won't think I'm going against—”
“Shut it right there,” she snaps, the veins on her head visible now. “When are you ever going to stand up to yourself? Do I have to teach you every damn thing?!”
“Come on, babe…” Aiden walks closer to her. “We can't go against your parents. Come to think about it, we're still living under the same roof.”
“Did I ever tell you I can't afford a house of our own? When will you be a f*****g real man for goodness sake?”
“We'll discuss this later. Go ahead, your parents are waiting for you.”
Harper looks at her husband and tears gather in her face. Where the hell is the Aiden she married two years ago? The kind of guy that doesn't give a damn about anyone, the guy who stands up for himself before anyone else?
She turns around in her red short highly revealing gown. Tears fall off her face. Does this have to happen to her?
She married Aiden because she was in love with him! f*****g in love with him even though he looks poor. Who the hell cares about money with a man with a compelling face as Aiden's and a damn intelligent brain?
But these days, he's been nothing other than a f*****g lamb who does what her parents tells him to do without ever complaining.
Back in the room, Aiden shakes his head again for the hundredth time to keep the crazy images in his head off.
He arranges his father-in-law’s bed.
He's about to set the vacuum cleaner to work when his phone rings.
It's his f*****g sister-in-law calling.
Aiden hisses before answering the call. “Hi, Hannah. How are you today?” He asks with as much sweetness as he can manage to pretend.
“So Harper is going to be free from you today. I can't wait for her to come visit me with her new boyfriend in school.” Shs laughs. “Anyway, my cologne is almost finished. Get me a new one and bring it to my hostel before the end of tomorrow. If you try what you did last time, I swear you're going to pay for it.”
Then the line goes dead.
Aiden stares at the phone. Laughter escapes his lip. What insult can be more than this? This f*****g high schooler is ordering him around like he's her servant?
His phone rings again. This time, it's a private number.
He answers the call but doesn't say anything.
“Sir, you have to be here tonight.”
Aiden goes out of the room. “Why?”
“Because…sir, you really have to be here.”
“You haven't answered my question.”
“Actually…one of the companies that partners with us needs your signature. There's a new contract, something like that.”