Love Me? The Trust Me? Trilogy (8 page)

"I'm so sorry." He makes his way to me, while I continue to look down. I feel him swing my chair around, and he pulls me up from my seat. He drags me by my hand into his office and shuts the door. I can't look at him; tears are welling in my eyes.

"Baby, I know you overheard all of that. Please know that I'm not going to leave you because he wants me to."

"He thinks I'm a slut."

"Jeni, you and I both know that's not true. Don't even go there."

"Maybe I should go back to ADF. It would make life easier for you, and maybe for your father as well."

"No, I want you here with me. He'll have to learn he can't always have everything his own way."

A tear falls down my cheek.

"No, Jeni, no, please don't cry because of him. It breaks my heart to see you like this. He isn't worth your tears." He gently wipes them away with his thumb. "I love you so much. You. Are. Not. A. Convenience. You're the reason I exist. My life revolves around you, and I see a bright future for us with you by my side. I won't have him tear you away from me."

"I thought I was fine with his taunts and abuse. I've been coping with it fairly well, but that really hurt. Comparing me to a prostitute and saying I'm a distraction." Tears continue to flow. "Aiden, what if he's right? What if I am distracting you from your job? Your job is very important to you, and it's not fair. Maybe I should leave, and—"

"
Stop!
Just stop! You're not going anywhere, and you're certainly not a distraction. You help me to be a better man than him. Trust me, if you leave, then that
will
distract me. Anyway, if you leave, then I'm going with you. I've had enough of his
crap
."

I exhale and move in to embrace him. "I'll stay, but no more kissing in the elevator and definitely no more being late for work."

"Deal." He runs his finger along my cheek, where my mascara has run.

"Guess I better go clean myself up."

He kisses me on my head and lets me go. "I'm in love with you, Jeni. Don't you ever forget that, and I'll do anything for your happiness, even if that means leaving the family business and my Father behind."

I gulp and walk out of his office and to the bathroom. Brielle is in the boardroom, setting up. I walk past her, and she smiles at me sympathetically. I smile, letting her know that I'm fine. I walk into the bathroom, look in the mirror, and see my reflection. I don't look too bad considering. I stand with my hands on the basin, staring at myself. Is this what I want? Alistair picking on me for the rest of my life with Aiden? Maybe he'll warm up to me once he gets to know me better? I'm sure he'll like me eventually, right? I stare aimlessly into the mirror asking myself questions that I have no answers to, I know one thing for sure; I can't let him walk away from his family and his work. I know he loves them both, and I know he loves me, but that's too big of a sacrifice. Brielle comes in and touches me on the shoulder.

"Hey, are you alright?"

"Yes, it's hard getting used to your father hating me so much."

"He doesn't hate you. I'm sure he doesn't. He wants Aiden to be like him, and thank God, Aiden sure as heck doesn't want to be like father. I, for one, couldn't stand another one of him running around."

I laugh and she puts her arm around me. "Look at it this way; he wants what's best for Aiden. He doesn't care who he hurts in the process. In his mind, he's molding him to be the best he can be and to follow in his footsteps. Father was always going to make him vice president. He wanted Aiden to
want
it and to work that little bit harder for it. Father has a really bad way of showing how much he cares about him. I'm not defending him in any way, not at all, just trying to make you feel a bit better by understanding how his mind works. Father is very complicated. I'm not sure even Mom really understands what makes him tick. I do know that Father only has Aiden's best interests at heart."

"Thanks, Bree."

"You're welcome. Oh, and don't tell him he was always going to get the vice president position. He would pitch a fit if he found out."

"Secrets safe with me."

"We better finish getting the boardroom ready, or Father will have an aneurism."

I laugh as she walks out of the bathroom. I move into a stall to use the toilet. I start to think of when my period is due. I'm sure it should've started by now. It's a bit odd because I'm always so regular, but with all the stress, I'm sure maybe that has affected it. I finish and wash up.

I make my way to the kitchen to check that the coffee machine is working and to pick up the biscuits and other nibbles for the Andersons to snack on in the boardroom. I take them from the kitchen to the boardroom, where Brielle is placing folders with the O'Connell Finance logo on the front cover on the table in front of each chair. I guess it must be an information folder or something.

"Will they be here at ten?" I ask Brielle.

"Yeah, the meeting is due to start in about five minutes." She frantically rubs off what's on the smart board, while I place the items in the middle of the table, spreading them out evenly so everyone can reach something to eat. I hear the elevator chime; five suited businessmen walk into the foyer. There's a woman with them who is dressed in a skirt and white top. Aiden and Alistair greet them by shaking their hands in turn. Brielle gestures for us to leave the boardroom. I walk out with her, and we head back to our desks. I watch them head into the boardroom and shut the door.

"We have to go in there in about five minutes or so to take their coffee orders."

"Five minutes. Got it." Nerves start to invade my body; I want to make a good impression.

My phone rings. "Good morning, O'Connell Finance, Mr. O'Connell's office, Jeni speaking."

"Hi, honey, it's Callie. How are you finding it there?"

On hearing Aiden's mother's calming voice, I relax. "Hi, Callie, it's good. There've been a few minor settling-in issues, but other than that, all is going well. How are you?"

"I take it the minor settling-in issues are to do with my husband? Take no notice of him, sweetheart. He's a grumpy old man who doesn't know how to behave himself."

"Thanks, I'll try to remember that. Did you want to speak to Aiden? He's in a meeting at the moment; I can get him to call you back."

"No, that's fine, honey. I rang to talk to you actually."

"Oh!"

"I'd like to have you both over for dinner next weekend to arrange Aiden's birthday."

"Oh yeah, that's coming up soon. Is it the
twenty-second of March?"

"Sure is, sweetheart. If you're both free next Friday night, would you like to come over so we can discuss the details?"

"Sure, sounds good, what time would you like us there?"

"Straight after work, if that suits."

"Sure, see you then. Thanks. Do you need me to bring anything?"

"No, sweetheart, just bring yourselves. I'll provide the rest."

"No worries. See you then, bye, Callie."

"Bye, sweetheart."

I hang up the phone and Brielle walks to my desk. "We better get the coffee orders now."

"Do we write it down or something?"

"Nah, I'll remember them."

I shake my head at her, amazed that she can remember eight people's coffee orders. Yes, two are her brother and father, but that still leaves six orders that she doesn't know. We walk to the boardroom, knock on the door, and Alistair waves us in.

"Everyone, this is my personal assistant, Brielle, and some new girl." He waves his hand around, pretending as though he doesn't know who I am. I inhale sharply and look at Aiden, who is shaking his head subtly with a frown.

"Hi, would anyone like tea or coffee?" Brielle asks confidently. They give her their orders, and I try my hardest to remember them, but I get lost half way through. Thankfully, Bree is so good at this. We excuse ourselves from the room and head down to the kitchen area.

On the way, Brielle wraps her arm around me and whispers in my ear, "Remember, he's a grumpy old man. You're the newest person here, so he's taking it out on you. Don't take it personally."

Bree makes the coffee. I make Aiden's, because I know how he likes it, and it's the only one I can remember. We each take a tray and proceed to the boardroom; I try not to spill it. Brielle walks into the boardroom backward, opening the door with her ass; she's done that before, I can tell. I follow, trying to do the same thing, spilling one of the coffees; luckily, it's Aiden's. I awkwardly enter the room and place the tray on the table next to Bree's. We start to hand them out, one by one. I place the first one in front of a larger man; he's probably in his fifties and definitely looks grumpy, a bit like Alistair. I place the next one in front of the lady, who is frantically taking notes. Alistair is talking in what sounds like a foreign language because I can't understand any of it. The next coffee is placed in front of a young and scrawny, but good-looking, guy, who looks totally out of place. Maybe he's an apprentice or something. He smiles at me, and I smile back at him.

The first man takes a sip of his coffee and nearly spits it out.

"There's no sugar in this."

"There's sugar in this one. I think ours might have gotten mixed up, hun," the young apprentice says.

Immediately when he speaks, I realize that I've mixed up Mr. Anderson's coffee, the client leading this meeting.
Oh no
. I look at Brielle, not knowing what to do.

"Sorry, Mr. Anderson, we'll make you a fresh cup immediately."

"No need, Brielle. James is my son. I don't mind swapping coffee with him."

I can't help but feel a sense of relief when he says it; maybe he isn't as grumpy as he looks. I hand Aiden his coffee and mouth,
sorry,
while handing it to him. He mouths,
its okay,
and rubs his fingers against mine when he takes the coffee cup from my hand. I take in a deep breath and walk out of the room, followed by Brielle.

We walk back to our desks. I collapse into my chair and look over at her, horrified. "Oh my god, Bree, I'm so sorry."

"It's your first meeting. I did the same thing when I started. Don't worry about it. Mr. Anderson didn't seem to mind, so no harm done. It's fine, don't stress." She tries to reassure me unsuccessfully.

I look into the boardroom and see Aiden sipping his coffee, looking at me. He smiles, and I frown in return. He shakes his head and smiles again, and this time, I smile back. He winks and turns his attention back to the smart board. Even though he can't actually talk to me to make me feel better, a smile and a wink says it all.

The meeting finishes, and the Anderson clan all walk out of the boardroom, laughing, joking, and looking like the deal may have been struck.

"Thanks, Alistair and Aiden, we'll be in touch." Mr. Anderson shakes Alistair's and then Aiden's hand.

Mr. Anderson's son strides over to me, gives me a wink, and offers his hand while thanking me for the coffee. I shake his hand, smile, and turn back to my desk while he rejoins the group. The Andersons leave the office using the elevator, and Alistair turns to look at me and huffs. He storms back to his office; I look down at my keyboard, trying not to look at him. I know he's angry with me. Aiden walks over, and I look up at him with a frown. He gestures a kiss towards me. I exhale and fake a smile back at him.

"
Aiden!
" Alistair yells.

He rolls his eyes, making me giggle as he walks off toward his father's office.

Chapter 5

Alistair slams the door, making us jump. Instantly, we hear Alistair yelling at him. I wince at the sound, knowing I'm the cause,
again.

"
For fuck's sake,
Aiden, how hard is it to hand out coffee? That's twice she's
fucked
up
today
! You say you're in love with her? Well, your standards must be pretty
fucking
low, son, if you've fallen for
that
. If she doesn't clean up her act, she's gone; do you understand me? I swear to God, if you don't sort her out, then I will. The Andersons have the potential to be one of our biggest clients, and she chose to screw up Robert Anderson's coffee. She may very well have
fucked
this up for us today. It's on you. If we lose the Andersons, it's your fault. Do you understand me, boy?"

I sit at my desk and hang my head, sighing. I knew he'd be pissed. Poor Aiden is taking the blame for it all. I shouldn't be here. I'm not good at it. I don't belong in this world. Alistair hates me. It's not simply that he's a grumpy old man. Its pure and simple hatred for me, and it runs deep.

I can't hear Aiden's response. He normally yells back at his father, but I can't hear anything. Aiden walks out of his father's office with his head down. He looks angry. Angry at me I bet.

Alistair pokes his head out of his door and yells across the room.
"You know I'm right, Aiden!"

He slams the door shut and Aiden continues to his office slamming his door.

I know what I have to do; I have to quit. Perhaps I can go back to ADF if they'll have me. He needs to find a new personal assistant, one that his father approves of. I feel my bottom lip start to quiver when the realization hits me. I stand up, walk to his office, and knock on the door.

"Come in."

I open the door to see him on his sofa, his head buried in his hands.

I exhale, walk over, and sit next to him.

"I know what I have to do."

"What do you have to do?"

"I'm going to try and get my job back at ADF. It's obvious I suck at this, and your father clearly detests me, and I—"

He interrupts me by abruptly kissing me. When his lips leave mine, he exhales. "You don't suck at your job. You're doing great, and I'm very happy with your work. He wants to make my life a misery, so he's taking it out on you. I'm sorry you had to hear that again. I feel like all I do is apologize for him. You have to know it's not how I feel. I can't even imagine how you must be feeling right now."

"Like
shit
!"

He winces and looks at me with saddened eyes. "Baby, please don't leave. I love having you here, and if you leave, father wins. He's trying to manipulate us both so we end up giving up. I can't, no, I won't, give up on us. I love you too much to let this affect us, and you're doing so well here. So what if you got a coffee order mixed up? It's not the end of the world. The Andersons didn't even care about it. Don't take anything Father says seriously. Stay here with me, and we can get through this together. Please, Jeni, please don't leave me."