As I sat across from Aiden at the dinner table, his imposing presence seemed to fill the room, casting a shadow over our conversation. His dominant demeanor sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn't help but feel a knot of tension forming in the pit of my stomach.
"Why did you do that to France?" I asked, my voice tinged with frustration and confusion. "What was the point?"
Aiden's response was infuriatingly nonchalant, his dismissive tone only serving to fuel my irritation. "I was bored," he said with a shrug, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "I wanted to entertain myself."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. How could he treat someone's feelings so callously, as if they were nothing more than a game to pass the time? The casual cruelty in his words made my blood boil, but I forced myself to stay calm, unwilling to let him see how much his actions had affected me.
"You are a freak!" I stated.
"Praise me later let's discuss our project." Aiden responded.
"Wait! did they this close the details?" When did that happen?
"Oh well if you could drag your attention away from that France you would know regard the email an hour ago." Aiden said with a serious face looking directly into my eyes.
"Whatever." I couldn't help but roll my eyes.
"You roll your eyes again and again maybe you will find your brain." Aiden's Remark was enough to feel the urge to make his nose bleed.
"You can kill me later let's discuss our project first." Aiden added, clearly reading my thoughts.
As we delved into our discussion about the upcoming business project, I couldn't help but admire Aiden's sharp intellect and innovative thinking. His suggestions were bold and forward-thinking, pushing the boundaries of what I had previously considered.
"What if we approached it from this angle?" Aiden suggested, his voice confident and persuasive as he outlined his idea.
I nodded, intrigued by his proposal. "That's an interesting perspective," I replied, considering the implications of his suggestion. "But what if we also incorporated this element?" I added, offering my own input to further refine his idea.
Aiden listened attentively, nodding in agreement as I elaborated on my suggestion. "I see what you're saying," he acknowledged, a hint of excitement in his voice. "That could work really well in conjunction with my idea."
As we continued to exchange ideas and strategies, a sense of collaboration blossomed between us. Despite our competitive nature, there was an undeniable synergy in our partnership, each of us pushing the other to new heights of creativity and innovation.
By the end of our discussion, I felt a surge of excitement for the project ahead ignoring the fact that it's with Aiden. However I was confident that we could create something truly remarkable.
"And I didn't forget what you did with France." Last words of tonight must be my me, for me.
.........................
The next day, just as I was settling into my morning routine, my phone buzzed with a message from Aiden. "I'm coming to pick you up in 10 minutes," it read, the words sending a jolt of surprise through me.
"What?" I exclaimed aloud, staring at the screen in disbelief. Aiden was coming to pick me up? Without any prior warning or explanation?
Quickly composing myself, I typed out a response. "Why are you coming to pick me up?" I demanded, my fingers flying over the keyboard as I tried to make sense of his sudden decision.
His reply came almost immediately, and it was infuriatingly dismissive. "Just be ready," he wrote, his tone brusque and impatient. "I'll be there in 10 minutes."
I felt a surge of frustration welling up inside me. How dare he assume that I would drop everything and comply with his demands without question? And why was he being so vague about his reasons for wanting to see me?
As I finished getting ready, I couldn't shake off the feeling of irritation that had settled over me since Aiden's abrupt message. Who did he think he was, just assuming I would drop everything to accommodate his whims?
With a determined huff, I made up my mind: I wasn't going to let him dictate my plans. I had no obligation to follow his orders, and I certainly wasn't going to be at his beck and call.
Stepping downstairs to join my family for breakfast, I was taken aback to find Aiden already seated at the table, chatting amiably with my mother.
"Good morning, Amelia," my mother greeted me with a smile. "Aiden was just telling me about your upcoming business project. It sounds fascinating!"
I forced a smile, trying to hide my frustration. "Yes, well, we'll see how it goes," I replied curtly, shooting Aiden a pointed look.
Aiden merely grinned in response, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Your mother is lovely company, Amelia," he remarked casually. "I hope you don't mind me dropping by unannounced."
I clenched my jaw, struggling to keep my composure. "Actually, I do mind," I replied through gritted teeth. "I have plans today, and I wasn't expecting guests."
Aiden's grin widened, undeterred by my obvious annoyance. "Oh, don't be like that, Amelia," he said with mock sympathy. "I'm sure your plans can wait. Besides, it's not every day I get to spend time with such charming company."
I felt my frustration boiling over, but before I could respond, my mother intervened with a smile. "Nonsense, Amelia," she said cheerfully. "Aiden is welcome here anytime. Why don't you two go out and have some fun together?"
I gritted my teeth, shooting Aiden a glare that could have melted steel. "Fine," I muttered through clenched teeth. "But this is the last time, Aiden. I won't be bullied into spending time with you again."
Aiden's grin only widened, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Of course, Amelia," he replied smoothly. "I wouldn't dream of forcing you to do anything you didn't want to do. Now, shall we go?"
With a resigned sigh, I nodded. After all, as much as I hated to admit it, there was a small part of me that couldn't help but be intrigued by what he had in store.
Another crime committed by Aiden, I thought bitterly, adding to the ever-growing list of reasons why I couldn't stand him. It seemed that no matter how hard I tried to keep him at arm's length, he always found a way to worm his way into my life.
As we stepped outside, I couldn't help but notice the sleek, black luxury car waiting at the curb, its polished exterior gleaming in the sunlight.
Aiden flashed me a smug grin as I approached, his charm oozing from every pore. "Impressive, isn't it?" he remarked, gesturing towards the car with a flourish. "I thought we could travel in style."
I rolled my eyes, resisting the urge to scoff at his ostentatious display. "Whatever," I muttered, sliding into the passenger seat with as much dignity as I could muster.
As we pulled away from the curb, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over me. Aiden's driving style was nothing short of reckless, his foot heavy on the accelerator as he weaved in and out of traffic with a confidence bordering on arrogance.
I gripped the armrest tightly, my knuckles turning white as I tried to suppress the rising panic in my chest. "Could you slow down a little?" I ventured, my voice trembling with a mixture of fear and frustration.
But Aiden merely chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he glanced over at me. "What's the matter, Amelia? Afraid of a little speed?" he teased, his tone laced with a hint of mockery.
I gritted my teeth, fighting to keep my composure as we hurtled down the highway at breakneck speed. Aiden's dominant personality seemed to fill the car, his confidence bordering on arrogance as he reveled in the thrill of the chase.
As the tension between us reached a boiling point, I couldn't help but wonder how I had gotten myself into this mess. Aiden's charm and charisma were like a magnet, drawing me in despite my better judgment. But as I glanced out the window at the blur of passing scenery, I knew that this intimidating car ride was just the beginning of our tumultuous journey together.
"Are you trying to get us killed?" I finally blurted out, unable to contain my panic any longer.
Aiden let out a laugh, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Relax, Amelia," he said casually, as if we weren't barreling down the highway at a hundred miles per hour. "Where's your sense of adventure?"
I shot him a withering glare, wondering how he could be so nonchalant in the face of imminent danger. But deep down, beneath the fear and frustration, I couldn't deny the thrill of adrenaline coursing through my veins. Maybe, just maybe, there was a part of me that enjoyed the exhilarating chaos of it all.
His easy confidence and devil-may-care attitude could get me killed.
As we neared our destination, I couldn't shake the feeling of anticipation that bubbled within me. Despite the chaos of the car ride, there was an undeniable chemistry between us, a spark of something that I couldn't quite put into words.
As we pulled up to the curb, Aiden turned to me with a mischievous grin. "Well, that was fun, wasn't it?" he remarked, his tone playful yet tinged with something deeper.
I rolled my eyes, unable to suppress a small smile despite myself. "Fun isn't exactly the word I would use to describe it," I replied dryly, though there was a hint of amusement in my voice.
Aiden chuckled, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. "Agree to disagree," he quipped, his gaze lingering on mine for a moment longer than necessary.
As I'm about to exit the parking area, ready to put the encounter with Aiden behind me, his sudden grip on my arm catches me off guard. My initial instinct is to pull away, my muscles tensing with the urge to break free from his hold. But then I see it's Aiden, and everything changes.
We're standing close, closer than we've been in a long time, and I can feel the heat radiating off his body, igniting a flurry of conflicting emotions within me. Is it irritation? Hesitation? Frustration? What else it could be.
Aiden's proximity sends my heart racing, each beat echoing in my ears like a drum of anticipation. It's infuriating how he always manages to get under my skin, to push all the buttons to make me feel uneasy, alive, anxious, brave, nervous, adventurous and unsettled all at once.
He leans in close, his breath warm against my ear, and I can't help but stiffen at the sensation. He knows this, of course he does. He knows that this simple gesture makes me nervous, that I don't want it and that's why he does it.
And then he speaks, his words a whisper in a language I don't recognize. Is it French? Spanish? Or something else entirely? What did he even say?
"peut-être que tu as un aimant et, par coïncidence, je suis fait d'acier" he murmurs.