Aidan regards me through narrowed eyes, hands still firmly on his hips, and irritation fizzles inside me. One minute he’s Mr. Nice Guy at Marco’s, all too happy to chat to me and acceptmy blowjob, and now he acts like I’m a major inconvenience, someone he’d hoped never to see again. It’s bad enough I’m stuck in this job against my will, but I don’t know how I’ll tolerate it if Aidan turns out to be an asshole, too. I can’t resign myself to complete misery for the foreseeable future. I need to havesomemodicum of control in my life, somehow, even if I have to take it for myself.
I pull a strand of hair over one shoulder, examining the ends with a sigh. “Maybe I should tell Dad what happened,” I suggest casually. “I’m sure he’ll understand why we can’t work together once I explain.” Then I turn and grasp the door handle, as if to head from the room.
Aidan’s hand lands above my head, shoving the door closed again. I turn to glance up at him from under my lashes, his scent wafting over me. A warm, spicy cologne with notes of cedarwood and a hint of pencil shavings. I remember it from Marco’s.
“You’re not going to do that, Cupcake.” The word seems to slip from his mouth by accident, because he scowls, replacing it with, “Iris.”
“No?” I ask innocently.
He looms over me, one hand still on the door above my head. My heart stumbles as his gaze maps my face, lingering on my lips. I watch him swallow, his Adam’s apple sliding up and down his throat, and I want nothing more than to drag my lips over it. Doesn’t he see we could havefunworking together? His gaze bores into mine, and for a second, I think he’s imagining the same thing, but he leans away, shaking his head.
And then completely calls my bluff.
“I’ll speak to him myself,” Aidan mutters, pushing past me through the door. My pulse scrambles as I hurry after him, wondering what, exactly, he’s planning to tell my father. He wouldn’t really tell him about the restroom at Marco’s, would he?
But the minute we get to Dad’s office door, Aidan holds up a hand. “Wait here.”
“What?” I ask, incredulous. “I’m not—”
“Wait here, Iris.” Then he steps into Dad’s office, closing the door firmly behind him.
I scoff in disbelief. It’s one thing for my father to speak to me like that, buthim? Who the hell does he think he is?
Pressing my ear to the door, I listen to the low rumble of Aidan’s voice through the wood.
“I can’t work with her, John.”
“And why’s that?” my father responds. I hold my breath, wondering if I should go in there myself to put an end to this, to stop him from telling Dad the truth, but my feet are rooted to the spot.
You know what? Fuck it. Let Aidan tell him. He’ll only incriminate himself. Besides, my life is already in the toilet. I have nothing left to lose at this point.
But Aidan doesn’t elaborate any further. “I just… don’t think we’re a good fit.”
Dad sighs. “What’s she done now?”
I clench my hands into fists. I’ve only been here for ten minutes, but my father’s first assumption is thatI’vedone something wrong. Of course.
“Nothing,” Aidan admits. “Not yet, but…” He lowers his voice, and I have to press my ear harder to the wood. “I’m not sure she’s up to the job.”
That’s it. I’ve had enough.
I burst through the door, scowling at him.
“Iris!” Dad says, irritation pinching his brow at the intrusion.
But I’m glaring at Aidan. Howdarehe say that? He at least has the decency to look a little shamefaced.
“What’s going on?” Dad demands.
I turn my palms up. “He’s being completely unreasonable.”
Dad nods. “I agree.”
I choke on a disbelieving laugh. That might be the first time my father and I have ever agreed on anything.
Dad’s gaze swings to Aidan, impatient. “Unless you can give me a good reason why she can’t be your assistant, Brooks, I expect you to make it work.”
Aidan’s mouth opens and closes for a moment, then he rakes an agitated hand through his hair. “Fine,” he bites out.
