For her, it’s a drop in the bucket; she barely notices the way it shifts our whole demeanours. But shift our demeanours it does. Aiden’s spine is straightening out and my eyes are widening as I attempt to keep it together.
‘Wow, thanks, Evie,’ Aiden replies, taken aback.
‘Yeah, thanks so much,’ I say, watching him closely.
There’s a joyfulness in his smile– a genuine excitement and appreciation for what Evie’s just offered. It is touching really, or at least it would be if he was going to be on the project to receive it. But he said he’s leaving today, so he must be putting on an act for someone. I just don’t know if it’s for Evie or if it’s for me.
‘I’d say we’re done here. Everyone agree?’ Evie asks, casually reaching for her phone.
‘Totally,’ Maxwell says, clearly trying to think of something cool to say.
‘Perfect. Maddison, I’ll finalise my notes and send them with Aiden next week. From here, it’s go, go, go.’
And then she flounces out of the room. Maxwell and Pippa finally snap out of their trances in time to trail after her withwords of affirmation and ‘helpful’ suggestions, and Oliver asks if we have everything under control before leaving my soon-to-be-ex-partner and I to pack up our presentation.
‘You know she never gives out bonuses like that,’ he says, still giddy from the news.
He turns to look at me– to celebrate, or at least exchange a smile, but I can’t shift past the act he’s putting on.
‘What’s wrong?’ he asks, smile still inexplicably wild. ‘A bonus not on your list for today?’
He waits for me to smile, laugh, roll my eyes, simply do something, but my face is frozen into something far more serious. I don’t have time to waste on his little jokes. Last night was the first full night of sleep I’ve had since the day he walked through that door, and it was entirely down to the fact that, after today, I would only have to see him in fleeting moments fromafar.
‘You said you’d give it up. Tell her you were done with this.’
He scoffs. ‘That was before I knew there’d be a bonus. You can’t expect me to walk away from that.’
‘I can. You promised.’
And whiny as it may sound, I stand by every word. He can’t go back now. I was promised an Aiden-free life and that is what I deserve.
‘You can’t be serious.’
He looks entirely unfazed, the corner of his mouth curling, lifting higher as my chest tightens. My head is spinning just thinking about working with him again, let alone being by his side for the next six months.
‘Are you laughing?’ I ask.
‘Yeah, I’m laughing at the fact you think I’d give up my first chance at some real money for you.’ He shakes his head in disbelief. ‘When Evie gives out bonuses, she is very generous. One guy in the team paid off his car with his bonus last year.Another girl used hers for a deposit on a house. If you can’t firm working with me for a little longer, thenyoucan back out.’
A snort of derision leaves me before I can help it, catching Aiden’s complete attention, but I stay tall. If he thinks this project could even get off the ground without me, then he is sorely mistaken.
‘Problem?’ he asks.
‘I just think it’s ridiculous that you believe that’s even an option.’
‘Exactly! Because you wouldn’t give up the money either. No one in their right mind would.’
He gestures for agreement. He thinks we’re on the same page, but he could not be more wrong.
‘No. Well, yes. But I was focused more on the fact you believe that you’d be able do this without me,’ I say.
‘You think I couldn’t?’
‘I know you couldn’t. If I had let you go last night, we wouldn’t have evenhada pitch to give this morning.’
He scoffs louder this time, not even daring to hide it between his snide little comments and brisk eye rolls. ‘You haven’t changed at all. Thought you were better than me then and still believe you’re better now.’
‘I don’t think I’m better than you.’ I’ve never thought I was better than him. If anything, he was notorious for acting likehewas better than me.
