CHAPTER ONE
Columbus' crisp and cool weather in September was a killer. Yet the rising and setting of the day were complimented by the autumn breeze.
Stephanie Hunt got up first thing in the morning and prepared breakfast, it was going to be her first day at In-tech, the place of her dreams and where she has always wanted to work.
“I can ask my grandson who works there to help you get in. My child”. Grandma Tia said.
“ Really grandma?” Stephanie's face beamed with excitement.
“You saved me from that drunk driver, you're too good my dear and that's the little I can do to repay your kindness”.
“Thank you Grandma Tia”. Stephanie hugged Grandma Tia on the hospital bed.
Stephanie arrived at the company and she entered her office, sitting in the leather executive chair, she breathed a sigh of relief and closed her eyes. Stephanie remembered she had to report to her Unit boss in his office so he could brief her about the company's vision and expectations.
She hadn't met him before but she knew he was Grandma Tia's grandson.
“ Yes, come in”. The voice replied from inside the office. Stephanie straightened her skirt and took a deep breath before entering the office.
“ Good morning, can I sit?”. She said, smiling.
“ Morning, yes you can”. The man replied not looking at her face, while he scrambled amongst some pieces of paper.
The man was attractive and carried himself with an air of aloofness.
Though he had a sour face which gave a warning feeling of ‘Don't mess with me’.
“ You should go through this and get familiar with everything in there”.
He handed a file of papers to Stephanie, and within a split second he was back staring at the computer in front of him.
“ Alright ser”. Stephanie replied, standing up from the chair.
“ You can call me Aaron”. He replied, looking straight at Stephanie eye.
“ Okay, Aaron”. Stephanie, dragged her feet and geared towards the door but suddenly stopped in her tracks .
“ Thank you for putting a word for me Aaron”. She said, balancing the glasses properly on her nose.
“ Grandma Tia, said you were a good girl and you saved her life. I don't expect anything less than good”. Aaron replied with his head still buried on his computer.
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5:00pm came and it was the end of her first day at In-tech, Stephanie didn't see Aaron throughout the remainder of the day, and there was no point checking on him to know if he was still in the building.
Stephanie was an average girl that was prudent with money, even though she made decent money from her previous jobs, she would always spend wisely and save a large amount of her income. She bought a mini cooper recently and gave her electric scooter to her college neighbor.
Stephanie got into her car and checked herself in the mirror before driving out of the company parking lot. She remembered that Grandma Tia will be discharged tomorrow from the hospital, so she decided to take a stop at the hospital to check on her.
Stepping into the hospital and coming into the ward, she could see a figure in Grandma’s Tia room, maybe it was one of the nurses she thought, opening the door she met a tall attractive man whom she had seen earlier.
“ Oh Aaron, look she's here”. Grandma Tia said with excitement.
“ Hi GrandmaTia , I just stopped by to check on you before heading home. But I can see you have a visitor. So i’ll just check back later ”. Stephanie replied, still standing at the door.
“ Don't be silly, come on in”. Grandma Tia, replied signaling for her to come in.
Aaron, who had been silent all through shifting his body as Grandma Tia, signaled for Stephanie to sit beside her on the bed.
“Stephanie, this is my oldest grandson Aaron. He's a 32 years old man and can't get himself out there. Although he's not the warmest person he's attentive and considerate. You saved my life, and we've known each other for four months now. Trust me I won't recommend a bad man to you”.
According to Grandma Tia, her eldest grandson had no luck with the ladies despite hitting thirties, and Grandma Tia was worried about him.
Stephanie had assumed that he must be too picky or maybe he's just a coward that couldn't bag a lady for himself.
After all, being an executive officer at In-tech means he would be comfortably rich and now that they’ve met outside work premises she realized that she was wrong with her assumptions.
Stephanie switched her gaze from Grandma Tia to Aaron, his face cold and profound without saying a word. Stephanie knew that Grandma Tia had two sons and each gave her three grandsons. Since a granddaughter was missing in her life she sought company with Stephanie .
Although with her cheek rosy, Stephanie openly stretched her hand forward.
“ Hello, Mr Hamilton. I'm Stephanie Hunt”.
Aaron's cold gaze scanned Stephanie from head to toe. Grandma Tia's voice bolted Aaron out of his continuous gaze .
“ Aaron please”. He returned the handshake.
Through his actions and looks, Stephanie was able to agree with Grandma Tia’s statement that Aaron might be callous but his heart was in the right place.
Although they were strangers, Grandma Tia had mentioned to Stephanie that she could move out of her place and move into an apartment that Aaron owned and paid for in full. She said that to reassure Stephanie that she's in good hands and that, so their relationship might become stronger and better as she had wanted.
Grandma Tia left them alone to continue their little discussion, she watched them with her heart beaming with joy. Stephanie had been good to her and she thought she would be the best woman for Aaron.
Aaron urged Stephanie. “ Ms Hunt, you can still change your mind if you don't want to go through this. It doesn't matter what my grandma says. Relationship is a huge commitment, and not to be taken lightly”.
He was hoping Stephanie would change her mind and have a second thought, because he had no intentions of being in a relationship with a woman he had just met.