Chapter 51 Fifty - one

Chapter 51 Fifty - one
Clearing my throat after a moment to kill the awkwardness between Aiden and me, I inquire politely, "So... are you here for anything else, or did you simply come to surprise me with your peace offering this morning?"

He licks his lips, grinning with amusement. "Uhm, not quite, but that was my first priority though," he teases.

I shrug casually, smiling in return. "Okay. Now that we've gotten that little misunderstanding out of the way, we can go back to being regular colleagues."

He hesitates, a hint of displeasure flickering across his expression, but then he replies, "Sure." He pulls out the file tucked under his arm and brings it up. "I was hoping to see President Sorrentino. Is he in? There's something I need his signature approval on."

I shake my head, "No, he hasn't come in yet." Then I pause, glancing at the file in his hand with curiosity. "But you can leave the documents with me. I'll give them to him when he gets here."

"You sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure."

"Okay." He smiles gently before placing down the file, and I pick it up, keeping it aside in one of the drawers.

I lift my gaze back to him, another awkward silence stretching between us as we maintain eye contact. There's something inexplicable happening in the atmosphere right now; I can't wrap my head around it. But I seem to keep losing myself in Aiden's gaze. It's strange, especially considering this was the same guy I thought stared at me like a creep just yesterday.

Yet, there's something entirely different about him this morning. Yesterday, I didn't get the chance to properly take in his appearance. As I stare at him now, I realize he's actually very handsome. His brown hair is styled to perfection, and his hazel eyes gleam occasionally, especially when he smiles. He has a perfect set of white teeth and a very charming grin, might I add.

A knot of guilt twists in my chest as I admire the man, but then Lorenzo's image flashes across my mind.

I frown, wondering about the reason behind that.

Is this adultery?

I'm not cheating on him because I think another man looks attractive, am I?

Shaking off my weird thoughts, I avert my gaze from Aiden, tired of the eye-contact game or whatever the hell that was just now.

I try to refocus on something else while telling him in a casual tone, "If that's all, I'll let you know when he receives the file..."

"Can I take you out to lunch later in the day?" Aiden's abrupt request has my heart skipping a few beats.

My spine stiffens, disbelief parting my lips. I pause momentarily before darting my gaze at him, trying to decipher the audacity behind his words just now.

I thought he was kidding, but the serious expression on his face tells me he's not. And that fazes me.

I scoff, an amused smile tugging at my lips as I ask skeptically, "You... want to take me out to lunch?"

"Yes..." he answers boldly, elaborating with a warm smirk, "A gesture to solidify the start of our friendship."

I chuckle, shaking my head. I can't believe this. While his intentions seem pure, I don't think Lorenzo would be pleased that I went out to lunch with another man, much less his own employee.

He almost glared daggers through my skull this morning because I forgot to wear my ring. Imagine what he would do if I agreed to go on this lunch date with Aiden.

He wouldn't even care that we're just friends. I think this is the main reason he warned me about always wearing my ring—to avoid situations like this.

While I find Aiden's request sweet, I also can't help but wonder where he got his audacity. I mean, why would you ask your boss's wife out on a lunch date?

He has no idea what that man—my husband—is capable of when he's provoked.

Hoping to caution Aiden and let him know this isn't such a good idea, I sit up and clear my throat, subtly raising my hand to flash my wedding ring in his face.

He catches on to what I just did, but that doesn't deter him regardless. "I'm well aware you're married, Liora. But it's just lunch between two friends..."

"I don't think that's a good idea," I tell him. It's not because I don't want to honor his request. He seems like a genuinely nice guy with his thoughtful little gesture, but this is too big of a risk.

The last thing I want is to provoke Lorenzo. I know agreeing to this will undoubtedly provoke him. Funnily enough, I'm not even doing this because I care about Lorenzo's feelings. If anything, I'm concerned for innocent Aiden, who has no idea how mentally deranged and possessive the husband of the woman he's asking out to lunch is.

Disappointment floods Aiden's hazel orbs, and he forces a small smile. "I understand. You don't want to upset the boss."

I wince. "Yeah, something like that."

He nods curtly, hesitating. Heaving a sigh, he winks. "Well, let me know whenever you change your mind... I would really like to know more about you."

"Any reason why?" I ask, intrigued.

His eyes bore into mine. "I find you fascinating, Liora... That's not a bad thing, is it? That I find you interesting..." He trails off.

Holding his intent gaze, I'm unsure of what to say. Sure, it wouldn't normally be classified as a bad thing to find a lady you just met interesting. But I'm a married woman. Not just a random married woman—I'm married to his boss. How can you find your boss's wife fascinating?

Aiden seems to be overstepping with his bold, flirty confessions, and I'm genuinely starting to feel worried on his behalf.

Speaking up after a moment of silence, I disregard what he just told me. "Have a great day, Aiden. I've got to get back to work." I reach for my mouse, pretending to keep my focus on my computer in front of me.

Yet, from my peripheral vision, I notice him sigh with resignation before nodding briskly.

"Catch you later," he says finally before turning to leave.

Once he's out of sight, I lean back in my chair, letting out a heavy exhale as I try to process what the hell just happened.

It seems crazy that I only just met him, yet I feel this really strange connection to him. It didn't last long, though, but it brought back memories of the first time I met my ex-boyfriend, Zayn Weston. I had felt this connection, and then boom, a few months later, we started dating.

That obviously won't be the case with Aiden, but it feels slightly nice to have this kind of warm connection after such a long time.

And no, I have never felt this way toward Lorenzo. I fucking hate the man. But with him, it's an entirely different chemistry I can't fathom. It's nothing soft. If anything, it's too heated, too volatile, too deeply rooted in our resentment toward each other and nothing short of sensual tension.

It's hard to decipher what I actually feel for Lorenzo, but my feelings are mostly dominated by the hatred I have toward him.

Clara's voice disrupts my thoughts.

"Morning." She halts in front of my desk, glancing sideways as she points in the direction Aiden just left. "Did I just see you having a conversation with Aiden Preston?"

Dismissing the thoughts I was having, I sit up, my brows knitting with confusion. "Huh?"

Clara asks again, her voice calm yet concerned. "Were you talking to Aiden just now? The CIO?"

Although I'm not sure why she's asking, I nod affirmatively regardless. "I was."

She drops her hand, astonishment marring her face. "You serious? What were you two talking about?"

I frown with displeasure. "He came to hand me some documents for my husband. Why are you asking?"

"He brought you coffee too," she points out, her eyes catching the cup on my desk.

I reply, clearing my throat awkwardly, "He did."

Returning her gaze to me, a soft smile touches Clara's lips as she hesitates, as if unsure of how to tell me what's on her mind.

Eventually, she comes up beside me and says, "I don't mean to be a busybody or come across as controlling, as you're probably thinking I am right now..."

She's right about that. But if she's claiming not to be a busybody, then what exactly is the meaning of this interrogation?

My expression must give away my curiosity. Clara holds my shoulder, shaking her head at me with disapproval as she adds, "Aiden is a no-go, Liora. I'm not just saying this because you're married and you shouldn't be flirting with other men every now and then."

I find her words offensive, annoyance coursing through me as I stare at her.

But Clara explains further, "But I'm just trying to caution you to be wary of him. He's not really the sweet guy you've probably presumed he is. And you're definitely not the first woman in this building he's approached with coffee in the morning to say hello." She tsks. "He's full of shit."

Something churns in my chest. Disappointment? Confusion? Annoyance?
I don't even know.

But I'm surprised to learn that Aiden isn't the man I thought he was.

However, I wonder what's behind Clara's warning.

Who really is Aiden Preston?