No good thing lasted forever. Josie's week-long stint at my house was over, and now I was stuck to cooking my own meals, which I was quickly realizing was a completely different experience now that I was rich. Or at least, not broke. I could eat pasta every single day and still not be on the streets, which was interesting and cool when I noted it for the first time. I'd started the coffee first thing in the morning, keeping the jar of pasta sauce out of the fridge and putting water on boil. With eyeliner only on one eye yet, I poured the boiled pasta into the pan with sauce covering it with a lid so I could finish getting ready and get to work on time. Aiden was a total stickler for the rules, and being late was an absolute crime in his eyes.

He must have been a fun kid in kindergarten.

My breakfast was usually accompanied by the morning news, just so I could keep track of what's in the business world, but I couldn't see the newspaper kept out at my doorstep this morning. Strange. Washing down my toast with some coffee, I walked over to Aiden's house so Josie could give me the morning papers.

That's what neighbours are for, right?

When I rang the doorbell, I didn't prepare for the possibility that Aiden might open the door, which is what made me choke on my spit and inevitably launch into a coughing fit. Great job, Thea.

In my defence, I really wasn't ready to see him half-naked. And while I had known Aiden to keep incredibly fit, I had not imagined this level of fitness where I could see the stiffness of his abs despite the half apple hanging from his mouth. Jesus, just how defined he would look right after a workout?

Focus, Thea.

Newspaper.

My mouth was half dry as I tried to speak, making Aiden clench his jaw in frustration. He clearly didn't like being kept waiting.

"Um, I just wanted to... I had to ask if you, uhm," wow, I was a fucking mess, "Newspaper." I finally managed to spit out, hoping he would get the hint.

Aiden raised a brow before retreating into his home, leaving the door open. Was I supposed to follow? Was I supposed to wait here? Waiting was the safer option. You wouldn't want to go to the lion's den voluntarily.

Also, I wasn't sure if I would have spectacular self-control given his current state. It was only now that I was observing how I had shown up at his doorstep, wearing Harry Potter shorts and a grey robe over my green bralette. At least I had eyeliner on both eyes. I wanted to fuss about my appearance, and I wanted to make an effort to look better, but I remembered that the best time I had ever spent with Aiden was wearing an old sweatshirt and shorts with holes in them. He'd seen through all of that and decided that I was worth investing in.

It only quietened my fears for a moment, before he returned, without the apple and with the newspaper. Much to the relief of my nerves, he had put a shirt on, buttoning the top few spots only, enough to be considered decent.

"Thanks," I managed to say, turning to get back home and get ready.

"Thea!" He stopped me in my tracks, "I'll be taking you to a meeting today. After lunch."

I nodded. I liked meetings with Aiden's clients. I had to take notes during the meeting and type them out as soon as I came back to the office, which was always easy. The best part was the places we'd go to and the food we'd eat. Last week, I had a croissant so good I almost moaned. Good thing I always ate in Aiden's car and not in front of the clients. My mind wandered to how Aiden would react to me moaning, until I remembered I sounded like a 'cat in pain' according to someone.

Yep, holding moans in forever.

"Thea," he stopped me again, "if possible, wear a dress."

It was my turn to be confused, before realization struck me, "Oh, is he the sleazebag from the port?" Aiden had been talking about this port guy for the whole week, having intense discussions with his COO, Mr Langley and the CFO, Mr Ridgely in all his spare time. I had been rigorously taking notes through most of the meetings, even though most of the sentences always ended around women, legs and creeps.

Aiden nodded, gauging my reaction. I couldn't say no, really. While many would consider this unethical, this was simply using a secret weapon to defeat an enemy. I could manage something for the asshole to look at.

"Sure. Anything else?"

He shook his head, going back in his house and I to mine, looking for an outfit. I settled on a red dress finally, with a square neckline and essentially no back at all, only held together by knots of strings. To make it more work appropriate, I put a black jacket over it. Feeling like I hadn't done enough, I added a delicate necklace, attracting more attention to my chest in the nicest way possible.

I decided the dress was a bit much for public transport, and I might have to take a cab instead. Unfortunately, surge pricing was at its peak, making me pull my hair. This wasn't fair, really. I shouldn't have to pay all that much for such a short distance. What a predicament dresses put us in.

Wait.

Aiden was the one who put me in this predicament. He'll have to pull me out. I made sure I was completely ready before ringing his doorbell again, this time finding Josie on the other side. On seeing me, she gasped, "Oh, you look like a woman on a mission." There was a twinkle in her eye that made me laugh, she really thought I was on another mission altogether.

"Is Aiden still here?"

"What is it now, Thea?" Aiden emerged in the hallway, stopping in his tracks when he saw me. "I wanted to distract him, not fucking kill him." He said, taking a full look at my attire, jaw clenching. Oops, I guess I'd overshot.

"I didn't want to take any chances," I shrugged, showing my jacket to him anyways.

"What brings you here?"

"I need you to drive me to work because I can't take public transport looking like this."

"Take a cab."

"It's not good for the environment. I'm basically doing you a favour by reducing your carbon footprint." I rolled my eyes. He had murder in his eyes, but I liked getting a rise out of him for some reason. It was fun to see him losing any small argument with me. I had three jars on my bedside table, where I noted everything down.

I was keeping all the business stuff I learned from Aiden in a large jar that I liked to call the TIP JAR. Funny, I know.

The smaller jars were just small moments of my life that I was grateful for, and the times I'd won some silly arguments with Aiden. So far, my victory jar had considerably small amounts of paper, but I fully intended to cram it before I finished my internship.

"I'm leaving in 5, meet me in the parking lot." I considered an unwilling victory better than a flat-out refusal, so I skipped along to my house, ensuring everything was locked before rushing downstairs. I'd put on my jacket in Aiden's car, accidentally hitting his face, and by the looks of it, Aiden was just waiting for a chance to retaliate. We were close to Steele Park, and I hurriedly asked him to pull over, confusing him.

"Don't you think it'll be awkward if I step out of your car? Anyway, half the office seems to think I'm sleeping with you."

Aiden raised a brow, "And that rumour is bad because...?"

"Because in three months' time, when I finally get the seed to start my business, I don't want people to think it's because I give good blowjobs. I want it to be because I earned it."

Aiden considered my words before pulling over, allowing me to get off.

"I don't pay all that money just for blowjobs," he said as a parting, irritating the heck out of me. If Aiden was insinuating something I'd be kicking him in the nuts. But he'd made it pretty clear he didn't want to sleep with me. What the fuck was with all these words?

"Thanks for bringing me," I quipped, shutting the door with more force than intended. He drove off into the park, while I adjusted my dress, looking to see if anyone from the company had seen me emerge from Aiden's car. Finding no familiar faces, I walked to the office feeling relieved slightly.

"Woman, is it your birthday or do you have a lunch date?" Lydia had her eyes narrowed on me as I walked in, checking me out from head to toe.

"My birthday is next month," I told her, "And this is for the meeting I have after lunch."

Lydia pouted, "Are you seeing someone?"

"Nope." I didn't want to elaborate. But Lydia had questions and she was just as persistent as I was if not more.

"You should get this outfit on the 'gram at least and see the likes pour in." She suggested. We made promises for her to help me get a good shot during lunch, and we started on the day's work. I was supposed to be highlighting key areas of a document to make it easy for Aiden to read as if he was a literal child. But I had gathered in the last week that Aiden never gave a task for the heck of it. Every little thing had some lesson behind it.

Determined to work on my lesson today, I knocked on his door, the pile of documents highlighted and ready to go.

"Come in." His sound was muffled, so I let myself in, putting the folder on his right, as he always asked me to.

"What next?"

"Call Emerson and Ridgely here, stay and take notes." Ugh, I hated taking notes in his office. I'd have to roll my chair in because Aiden refused to let me move one of the chairs at the coffee table inside his office and then as soon as the meeting would be over, I had to roll it back outside so I could type out the notes. It was frankly inconvenient and super annoying but the one time I'd complained about it, Ridgely had made sure I remembered I was just an intern, and the lucky ones must not complain.

Ridgely was an apple off the most rotten tree.

I made the calls and rolled my chair in, an absolute disastrous chore to do in heels, frustrated that Aiden wouldn't even bother helping even when he clearly saw me struggle with the door. Bitch. I knew chivalry wasn't his strongest suit, but damn.

"Let the door remain open." Aiden instructed just as I was going back to close it, "They must be here soon."

Sure, I had just turned and started to walk over to Aiden's desk when I heard a sharp intake of breath, head turning to find Jason at the door, hands in his pocket, staring at me.

I'd finally managed to swallow the discomfort rising when Aiden chastised him, "Watch yourself, Emerson."

"Sorry," he backtracked immediately, taking a seat. I shot Aiden a grateful look, to which he nodded so shortly, anyone would have missed it. Ridgely came in next, stopping short at my appearance for a second before seating himself. His eyes darted uncomfortably between Aiden and me, before settling on the boss, and I was slightly uncomfortable but at least proud that I'd dressed for the occasion and delivered. The man at the port stood no chance.

I took notes diligently, hands not stopping for a second unless it was to turn the paper. The pens in Aiden's office were heavy, signifying their quality, but they clearly weren't designed to take notes. These were the "I sign important documents in my spare time" pens. Not "Write for three hours straight at lightning speed" pens.

They finished their work about fifteen minutes after lunchtime ended, making me groan almost. I'd have to ask Lydia to type up these notes while I quickly ate lunch under my desk and be ready in time for the meeting.

No luck. As soon as Jason and Ridgely left, Aiden stood from his chair, straightening some invisible crease on his shirt before buttoning his suit.

"Grab your things, we'll leave in 10."

Fuck me.

I collected all my stuff and rushed out of the office as fast as my heels would take me, letting Lydia know so she could be prepared. While she pushed aside her work to made sure his file and paperwork were in place, I grabbed my bag and speed walked to the washrooms, trying to make it in time. I fixed my lipstick and sprayed some perfume again, shrugging my jacket on so I could walk out of the office in peace. I'd leave it in Aiden's car when we arrived there.

I picked up three pens from my desk, lighter ones so my fingers wouldn't fall off. Dumping everything in the small shoulder bag I would be carrying, I checked in with Lydia once, who gave me the green light.

"I've called for Aiden's car, but just take a minute before you get there. You know how he is." Lydia warned. I nodded. I prayed the elevators took longer than necessary, or that Mary would have something to say. Anything to make Aiden wait. Just last week, he'd lashed out at a poor guy for not bringing his car to the front, and I had been witness to a grown man being brought to tears.

Whatever this thing was that Jason was talking about, better be sorted soon before Aiden lost his entire company's faith like this.

Aiden emerged from the office looking immaculate as ever, a stoic look over his face, "Are you two quite done?"

What on earth were we even doing?

Lydia handed me over the files we needed for the meeting, all labelled and neatly stacked, and I took my own sweet time trying to find a comfortable grip on them. When I could feel Aiden was at the end of the rope, I stood upright, "Shall we go?"

Lydia blew me a kiss, and I smiled back at her before skittering off to follow Aiden, who was already at the end of the hallway. Jesus. Mr Long Legs really needed some lessons on consideration.

Luck was favouring me, and the elevators were on the third floor, taking their own time to arrive. Luck was really on my side when we ended up bumping into Jason in the lobby, and he gently reminded me to get the fuck out of there whenever I felt uncomfortable. The business was business, but my safety was more important. With a kiss on my cheek, he let me go, and I could feel Mary's glare on me as I walked out of the building. Much to my relief, Aiden's Mercedes was waiting for us, engine running.

I smiled gratefully at the staff, knowing Aiden wouldn't say a kind word to them in all his life. The city flashed in front of us, and Aiden wove through the traffic with ease, the engine purring in delight. I could get used to being driven around like this. We stopped at another fancy-schmancy place called Mercado. The restaurant had an outdoor seating area, where our client would be, and Aiden and I intended to get out of there as soon as we possibly could.

"Do you have an emergency word?" He asked as I was taking my seatbelt off.

I looked up, jarred and confused.

"I'm not above using some cheap tactics to get business done, Thea. But if that man does anything over the line, you have to let me know. It's one thing doing business with a slimy man, and another entirely to be associated with a fucking creep."

We got out of the car, and I was comforted by the fact that Aiden had my back. Even if he had put me in a strange position, he would take me out when it became too much for me. The valet took his car away and we walked in, Aiden spotting our prospective partner first.

He was probably in his late fifties, with salt and pepper hair and a beer belly to sell the description. His skin had a lovely golden tan, one that would take hours to appear, perfected just enough to make him look moderately outgoing. His face was riddled with laugh lines, and I knew this man had never enjoyed his business as much as he'd enjoyed his business trips.

"What's the safe word, Thea?" Aiden gritted his teeth as we approached his table. He still hadn't seen us coming.

I thought I'd mess around with him a little because my nerves were making me incapable of calming down. "Puppies."

"Very well, let's go then." Aiden nodded curtly, studying my face for any hesitation.

"Let's go!"