CHAPTER 14
Aiden
"If a second chance is what you want, then prove to me that you deserve it."
Mia’s words play on repeat in my head. Her truth is pressing against my skull like a vice.
“Boss, you got time?” Jolene asks as I walk into my office on the second day of the year.
I usually like to start the new calendar year with a bang—but right now I have a stress headache combined with a hangover and a broken heart, so the only banging that’s taking place is in my head.
I’m hoping the ibuprofen I took with my coffee will kick in before my first all-hands meeting in a couple of hours.
The lights in my office seem harsher than usual. I set my bag on my desk and take a moment.
“Good morning, Jolene. Happy New Year.”
She walks in after me and shuts the door.
That’snota good sign. Usually, she leaves the door open. We’re a boutique firm, small, and we don’t have much formality.
I unpack my laptop as I wait for her to say whatever she needs to.
“There’s a rumor that your wife left you because you’re having an affair with Diana Valentine,” she blurts out.
My hands still just as I’m about to press my laptop onto its docking station.
I set it in and turn it on.
I clear my throat, and take a seat. I set my bag on the floor as I think about how to respond to her.
“Aiden?” she urges.
I look at her. I can see the disappointment and hope warring inside of her.
Jolene has been my EA for a decade, since I started working at Winter Financial. We’ve grown up in the business together. I attended her wedding. She attended mine.
Over the years, she’s had two children, and I went to the hospital to see them hours after they were born. Jolene’s wife is not exactly a friend, but we know each other well enough that she can call me to ask why Jolene is upset when she won’t talk to her about it.
We’re the same age and have always had an honest and professional relationship, for the most part. I also think of her as a friend.
“Miahasleft me.”
Gasping, her face falls. “No.”
Jolene is fond of Mia, very much so; whenever my wife comes to the office, she brings cookies and snacks, like she does with her kids at Little Luminaries.
Jolene shakes her head. “I thought…I thought she got busy and stopped coming when you took over as CEO. But?—”
“I’m not having an affair with Diana,” I say, cutting her off, but it tastes like a lie.
I might not have fucked Diana, but I was spending more and more time with her. I used tolook forwardto spending time with her. I took attention from my wife and gave it to Diana. I kissed her. Sure, she may have initiated it, but I kissed her back, even if it was for a moment, I did.
“And?” She can see there’s more.
I lean forward, rest my elbows on the desk that used to belong to my grandfather and then my father. How proud I was when I moved into this office! How happy I was! Mia had helped me celebrate at home with Dom Perignon, which we took to bed, which I drank from her breasts and….
“But…we kissed, and Mia saw it.”
