Chapter 11

The ride home was a very quiet one. Even John could tell the air was tense. The way she stopped so abruptly, one will think his button burnt her. Part of him was grateful that she did because he wouldn't have and that would have caused their friendship because he didn't know if he was ready to go into a relationship and knowing how girls are with the "what are we now?" question. He knew she had her reasons for stopping but when he saw her put a scarf around her shoulders to cover the exposed part of her back, he knew her major reason for stopping so suddenly. It was the statement he made yesterday. She remembered. Who wouldn't? That was a terrible thing to say. He should have been careful with his words. If only he had the drink she wanted, she probably wouldn't have gone out and yesterday's argument wouldn't have happened.

You were jealous that she was having a harmless conversation with another man. Have you asked yourself why you are so defensive and possessive about someone who is not your wife or girlfriend? You even had her followed like you were monitoring a cheating wife. His inner voice said. He had been avoiding this question but how long was he going to run. He didn't think he would be able to sweep what happened under the carpet. He knew they had chemistry, she did too. Maybe it was time to discard the "she is like a sister to me" mentality. It was just an excuse to control himself around her.

"Thanks, Aiden, I enjoyed myself."

"Rachel I know the major reason you stopped was because of what I said last night. I even felt more ashamed of myself when you wrapped yourself with a scarf. It was dumb of me to say so. I wish I could take it back but it's too late. I hope you don't go around thinking every mans aim is to have a one night stand with you anytime you are dressed in a similar style."

"I won't. Goodnight."

"Hey wait. I would be travelling tomorrow for work purposes and I won't be back till next week," he said.

"Oh ok. Have a safe trip."

He wasn't too happy with her response but he let it slide.

She had thought over it through the night and was able to conclude that she was going to move in with her friend before he gets back. Her friend Grace had always wanted her to come and stay with her. She would be so pleased to hear the news.

The rest of the week was a very hectic one for her because on Monday she had to sort most of her clothes especially the ones she never had the chance to wear. Most of them she sent to the less privilege and the rest she gave to her friends. By Friday, she had finally packed all her things and moved in with her friend Grace. She still didn't have the nerves to tell Aiden she had moved. He didn't need her anymore. He was seeing a therapist and he had already started putting things in place in his company so her absence wouldn't be felt. The whole of Saturday and Sunday she used to revise for her exams coming up.

She was glad to move in with Grace because she finally felt what it was like to have someone to talk to. She told Grace the summary of everything that transpired between her and Aiden and she advised that she completely forget about him because rich and famous men would use girls like her and finally settle for someone of their social circle.

It was so strange for Rachel not to pick his calls or call him seeing that they had settled their dispute. He was finding it hard to concentrate through his meetings and she was the cause. Why couldn't he get his mind off her or their little cosy moment on his yacht? He would call his butler and ask him to put her on the line. He quickly adjourned the meeting and dialled his butler's number once he was inside his office.

"Hello Fred, I would like to speak with Rachel. Can you please put her on the line?"

"I am sorry sir, she's not around."

"Please tell her I called when she returns."

"That won't be possible sir because she doesn't stay here anymore and she also dropped her resignation letter."

"Wait! What? What do you mean she moved out? I have only been gone for ten days and everything has gone haywire. Oh, you mean she packed back to her quarters?"

"No Sir. She has moved out all her belongings out of the premises except her car which she requested I give you the key when you get back. "

It was all sounding like a Script to him. Rachel move out? To where? Who was she staying with? Why would she move out and not let him know? Was this about the incident in the yacht or she finally had the last straw after the outburst. He apologised. Move out and move in with who? What if she had saved enough for her apartment? Why would she move out of the house without telling him? Even if she wouldn't notify him as friends at least she could have told him as her boss. All his life, they had lived in the same place. What would it feel like not to have her around or the satisfying feeling he gets knowing that she was driving in?

"Would that be all sir?"

"Yes," he said as he ended the call.

He immediately rang his assistant.

"Inform Matt to prepare the Jet for tomorrow we are travelling back home."

"But sir you still have meetings for the signing of the new branch. Your schedule for return isn't until next tomorrow sir."

"Do you want to lose your job?"

"I will inform Matt immediately sir and clear your schedule for tomorrow."

"Clear it for the rest of this week."

"Yes sir."

His plane touched down at exactly noon which meant he could still meet up with Rachel before she closed for the day. He needed answers and answers he was going to get. He wasn't too happy about the convoy which was going to cause attention but right now he didn't care.

She was wondering what got the attention of the whole school because it wasn't too long left for the library only to come back and see people whispering and some staring at her. Just as she was about to ask from someone what was happening, she saw Grace running towards her.

"You didn't tell me it was Aiden James! He is way hotter in person I mean you've been living under the same roof with him and you aren't carrying his child? Ok so maybe that was extreme but I might be sending you back."

"In-person you mean he is around? And please tell me you are joking? What happened to 'forget him. Men like him just use girls like me.'"

"Of course I was joking but he is outside the school and he requests your presence, my lady."

"This is cannot be good," she said.

"She followed Grace who was leading her to his precise location."

"Aiden what are you doing here with your convoy. Can't you see you are causing a scene? If this ends up on the front pages of the newspaper, my life is over."

"I like the way you say my name when you are angry. But guess what? I'm also angry. And you asked for the scene. I don't care if it makes it to the newspaper! We need to talk. Let's go home."

"Home? I no longer live there and please Aiden can you do something about the convoy?"

"Which is the reason I'm here. The only thing that can be done to dismiss the convoy is you coming along with me."

"Fine."

Thank God she had a cap on. The whole scene would be viral before night and she would be the topic of the school's discussion. The school's queen bees will be hovering around her tomorrow like they've been friends since childhood. The convoy was what gave him away. He had been to her school and no one even knew he was famous.

She insisted they talk somewhere else order than the house so now they were heading to a restaurant. The veins popping from his forehead and the look of lack of sleep on his face made her feel guilty for moving out without telling him.