Chapter 147 CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEVEN: THE MAN OUT.

Chapter 147 CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-SEVEN: THE MAN OUT.
ZARA
Aiden is in the parking lot of the office when I get down, and he is absent-minded. I don't think I had ever seen him like that. Wasn't he excited for our date? 
"Hey," I tapped on the window. He looked up from his phone at me and then slipped it into his pocket before getting off. 
“I am sorry, something from work," his voice was barely a murmur as he kissed the side of my face. I blinked and pressed my lips into a thin line. 
“Is it something serious because we can cancel our date if you have to go?” I said. 
He grabbed my side and shook his head. “Leo can take care of this," he said, and I nodded slowly. “Tonight is about you and me." 
He said it, but his tone was off. I couldn't help but think there was something he was hiding from me. 
“Come on, let's go spend your money, sugar mommy," he said, kissing my cheeks again. He guided me towards the car and pulled it open for me. 
“After you, my lady," he bowed. 
We promised each other we were not going to keep secrets again. Whatever it was, I had to learn to trust him and wait. I was sure he would tell me as soon as he sorted through whatever it was. 
He helped me put on my seatbelt and started the car. “So where does my lovely lady want to take me to?” 
I pretended to think, stroking my chin. My phone’s ringtone replaced the simmering silence between us. I looked to him, and he gestured for me to take it. 
“I am sorry," I whispered as I pulled out the phone and answered the call. “Hello, Daddy?" 
“Hey Kiddo? What are you doing tonight?” 
“Aiden and I were about to head out for dinner. Is something wrong?” 
“Can I have you over at the house? For just a few seconds. I have something to show you." 
“Sure. I am sure we can swing by," I said to Aiden, who was staring right at me. 
“See you." 
The line beeped dead, and Aiden started the car. “After we go see Dad, then we go for our date." 
"Right," he said with a nod. 
Dad was waiting at the door for us with Mom flaked out by his right. They both had a huge grin on their faces as if they had gotten the best news of their lives.
“Mom? Dad? What are you both doing out here?” I asked as I got out of the car and walked to them. 
Mom broke free from Dad's side and came to me. She hugged me and patted my back. “I am so proud of you." 
“For?” I asked, amused, as she held me in place. 
“I am just so proud of you." She pulled away and cupped my face. She smiled warmly, and my chest fluttered. I had never lacked family, but this felt like a full-circle moment for me. 
“I heard how you handled those old school men on the board today," Dad said, trailing behind Mom. He had the same smile she had. 
“Is something going on? Something I should know about?” I asked, tilting my head with confusion. 
"Shall we go in?” he asked. I turned to Aiden and waited for him to catch up before we walked into the house. 
Mom had tea and snacks waiting. “Go on, Damian," she nudged his side after serving the tea for us all. 
“This would be out tomorrow, but I want you to know first." 
He handed a closed file to me. I took it from him. My fingers were trembling against the hardness of the cover. All the possibilities of what that folder could be hiding are running through my mind at lightning speed. 
“Go on, open it," Dad urged me. I flipped it open, and on the first page were bold letters. 'APPOINTMENT OF THE CRAWFORD CHAIRMAN’ 
Underneath that, my name. ‘ZARA CRAWFORD KNIGHT’ 
“Dad?” I said. My voice tone had changed completely, and now I already sounded like a shaky mess. I sniffed back the tears that were threatening to fall. My vision blurred as I blinked back multiple times. 
I had worked so hard for this moment. Many people assumed just because I was the heiress, it was always going to be mine, but I knew how hard I had to work for it. 
“Are you serious? Are you sure?” 
“Never been more sure of anything before." He tapped his thigh. 
I threw myself in between them and pulled them closer. “Thank you, Dad. Thank you, Mom." 
“You deserve it, sweetie." Mom pulled my cheeks playfully. 
I waited for Aiden to speak, but he looked like he was lost. I cleared my throat, and he looked at me. 
"Congratulations, Zara. You truly deserved it." 
‘That was all? No, I am proud of you. Why did he look so fraught? Was the thought of my career advancing so foreign to him? Why was he acting like this was not the good news it was?’ 
I shook off his thought from my mind and decided to focus on the happiness in front of me. 
“What do you say I cook you dinner tonight? To celebrate your promotion?” 
Aiden didn't seem like the man I knew. Maybe a night out was not going to be a good option for us right now. 
“I think that's a fantastic idea," I said, fiddling with the cold metal that suddenly felt heavy against my skin. 
If he couldn't make peace with the truth of my rising in my career, how could we be together? This was the one thing I wanted, and yet, his acting like this made it feel wrong. He didn't bring the promotion up, and neither did I. We drove in silence until we were at the house. 
“I would get started on dinner. "Why don't you freshen up?” he asked, taking off his jacket as soon as we got in. 
I took the jacket from him and kissed his cheeks. "Right," I said with a nod as I walked away. 
I didn't spend as much time as I would have in the room. I took off my makeup and went to the kitchen. My step faltered at the door when I heard his conversation. 
“I need you to find everything out and not just these tiny pieces of irrelevant information." His voice was tense. Too tense to ignore. 
"Look, Rylan is currently roaming free now, and who knows what he could be planning? It means my wife’s life could be at risk, and you are saying you would get to it soon?” 
“If you don't do something about it soon, you'll be finding another job at Sunrise." He took the phone to his ear and slowly turned to me. 
My mouth was slightly open as I waited for him to explain. He ran his finger through his hair with his eyes shut. 
“How much did you hear?” 
“Rylan is free, and you decide not to tell me?” 
“Zara, I was just…” 
“Trying to protect me?” I asked, and he nodded slowly. I scoffed. I knew he was right, but still, the thought that I wouldn't have known about it if I didn't eavesdrop like this was devastating. 
Did he not trust me enough to tell me? 
“I didn't want to spook you without the right information, so I…” 
“Do you not trust me?” 
“Hey, hey, hey." He moved to me so quickly I barely saw how. He grabbed my shoulder strongly and shook his head. “I trust you, but above that trust I just want to make sure you're fine.” 
“I am fine, Aiden, but you can't hide this from me." 
“You are right. I am sorry."