Chapter 5
1079 Words
Aria went down to the security post to share the food among the men who were very grateful to her. She sat on a bench in the garden with a box of toast and scrambled eggs for herself.
If her efforts were being wasted,she might as well have a taste of it too.
She sighed deeply and felt exhausted from what she had to go through alone. She took a bite and sobbed quietly at the same time. She allowed the breeze to blow through her hair and felt calm after a while.
Her intercom buzzed as soon as she was back to her office.
“The boss wants to see you”, Ana said.
She went up with zero energy and walked past Ana without sparing her a glance. She pressed the button this time and was allowed in. She hid her feelings and wore a neutral look. She wasn't going to let them have a taste of victory.
“Who ordered you this morning?” Asher questioned her without looking up from the documents he was signing.
“Ana said it was your order,so I obeyed” she replied at once.
“Then the food we ate,who ordered that?”
“I have no idea Sir”
Asher buzzed Ana to come in.
“Care to explain what happened this morning?” Asher asked Ana,this time leaving what he was doing.
“Well I told Aria to prepare breakfast for our team and the guests”she replied confidently.
“On whose order?”
“I told her yours because I figured you would agree with me” Ana replied whilst maintaining her confidence.
“Who ordered the food that was served?”Asher asked firmly
“I did Sir”
“Why?”
“It seems she was taking too long and our guests were hungry,I was only being proactive” Ana defended herself.
“Then you should have informed Aria not to bother,since you've been proactive,don't you think? Asher asked and got no response. “Common sense dictates that Ana and on that note you would apologize to her for wasting her time.
He said to the ladies' surprise. Ana was surprised he would ask her to apologize to Aria because this isn't the first time she would act on his behalf,why now? What's different?
Aria was surprised because she thought he wouldn't bother himself with matters like this especially when it concerns her and his beloved secretary.
Ana carried herself at the company as the only person Asher relates with the most hence earning her a name among the employees- the beloved.
WOW,Ana marveled, well, I apologize,my bad, she apologized to Aria with a full blown attitude which Aria found amusing.
Apology accepted,Aria replied trying to hide the triumphant smile that was beginning to form on her face.
Asher noticed that and was inwardly grateful for returning a smile to her face. Although he still couldn't understand why he did that. Normally,he would have let it slide and looked away but there was something about Aria that couldn't just be ignored.
The incident was soon forgotten but Ana still couldn't get past it, it fueled her hatred for Aria, the fact that she had to apologize was something she couldn't wrap her head around.
Asher toned down his attitude towards Aria a notch,he became careful with his words and actions whenever she was around,he still couldn't understand why he was automatically changing for her. Maybe it was the time she spends with him while he's eating or the fact that he enjoys her meal,he couldn't pick a reason.
Rain poured in torrents on a busy night in New York,everyone had already gone home except for Aria who stayed back to prepare her inventory for the month. She had just finished preparing dinner for Asher and his friend Jordan,who came visiting.
“Just in case he fires you, please come to me,I've got an opening”, Jordan said with a smile after eating. He enjoyed his meal and thanked Aria for it.
“What a gentleman” Aria thought to herself as she went out with the plates.”I guess opposites really do attract” she said referring to Jordan's gentlemanliness and Asher's coldness.
She looked up to see his office's lights on and wondered if he had forgotten to switch it off or he was still inside. She asked the security officer on duty to confirm her doubts and he told her he was still inside,only his friend had left.
Aria went back to check on him,hoping she would be able to talk to him about him rejecting beans and peas and also out of curiosity,she pressed the button and Asher wondered who could still be around. He allowed her in and looked around for anything she might have forgotten ‘again’.
I don't think you forgot anything here,Asher said, staring at the picture frame in his hand.
Oh no,I didn't,I was actually on my way out when I saw your lights on so I came back,she said, clutching her bag tighter to herself nervously. “Why are you sitting on the floor?” She asked surprisingly and he seemed to have cried a little.
She sat beside him,his shoulders were shaking,his head was bent and his long legs were stretched on the floor. He was crying.
Aria was shocked to see him like this,she never knew he was capable of being emotional. The ice cold Asher Grey was crying in front of his nutritionist. Aria wasn't sure of what to do but patted his back like a baby repeatedly and she wondered who the girl in the picture was.
Asher stared at Aria deeply, his heart racing, his hands itching to pull her into his embrace. He wanted to hold her and not let go,he wanted to have her all to himself.
Without breaking eye contact,he cupped Aria’s cheeks with both hands, tracing her lips with his thumb.
Aria’s body went into a frenzy,she had no idea what was going on, she wanted to stop him but her heart says otherwise. Her body was responding to his touch,she was ready to do his bidding. Their faces were a few inches away from each other,they could hear each other breathing.
With his eyes,he asked for permission.
With her eyes,she granted it.
Their lips were locked as rain continued to pour all over New York,giving birth to a love story between them
- Writer
