Chapter Two
This is so bad, he thought as he punched away angrily at his phone, I don’t know what’s worse right now. Fighting with Greta or the fact that I can’t get Mina out of her mind?
He decided that while what he felt for Mina could in no way or form be curbed, his actions could be. Also, Greta on her period was the worst nightmare he’s ever had to deal with. It was almost as if she’d become drunk in a rather sober way.
Almost as bad as mother, he mentally sighed, Just almost.
Women made him wary. He didn’t wish for anyone to get him wrong, he loved women and appreciated them where they showed competency. He admired his work force made up of mostly hardworking and intelligent women and paid in equal money to his male workers, and with excessive respect to them all. He protected them like any other, and treated them fairly as they deserved to be. But when the women closest to you are so capable of manipulating you to their own needs, it becomes hard to break through barriers that build up after realizing what was being done to you. And that was the case with him.
Aaron had done the most courageous thing in his life and called the authorities on her. She had been caught in the mortifying act and there was no way out of it. And it wasn’t the only case she would be convicted of. She couldn’t handle the shame and charges. Too much and too many.
She committed suicide.
He was only 17 then, and it horrified him. He could do nothing to convince himself that he was not responsible. He had her blood on his hands. And, after all, he was her mother. How could have he done that to her?
No amount of therapy got him through the guilt, but he knew it wasn’t his’ and that he had no reason to feel it. His father had said nothing on the matter, but only held him the night it all unfolded. And he cried, apologizing constantly. For not being brave enough, strong enough, adept enough a father to have done the same to protect him.
“I failed to protect herself,” he’s sobbed, begging for forgiveness, “but the worst thing I ever did was let it happen to you.”
“It was never your fault, dad,” Aaron had whispered, “It’s over now, yeah?”
The news that his dad was remarrying had sent him stumbling back in his chair hard and knocking off the coffee table onto the ground into splinters, wood and glass, and even the chocolate on it, really. He couldn’t believe his father found a woman he could trust. A woman who he could allow to love him.
“Son, she is amazing!” he’d hollered into the phone that day, “You’ll love her, really. She’s absolutely wonderful!”
And meeting her was phenomenal in itself. She exuded so much love and warmth, it sent his head reeling with panic and constant questioning. He’d hesitated when she came in to hug him, and she acknowledged it graciously.
“I won’t force you,” she’d smiled, unoffended, “Don’t feel bad for it, all right?”
He let her hug him the third time they met up. It was for brunch. He’d almost cried. And she told him he should so he couldn’t hold back the waterworks. He’d felt so much lighter, and a lot better in the head ever since.
But Greta Morgan was continually disrupting that peace of mind. He loved her, though. And she needed him. He couldn’t bring it in himself to leave her, even though he understood that he should. But there was so much they were involved in together. Against a common enemy. And she was a useful resource. He felt guilty for his ulterior motives, but his life had been ruined in one way and he could not allow another. He had his father to think of, and the Empire his forefathers worked so hard to build. He wouldn’t let a little scuffle involving such a huge crime get in the way of it all. And he was still trying so hard to escape, even though he wasn’t guilty of anything. He knew that.
But the matter at hand was what needed the most attention, and he knew sending Greta bouquets and chocolates would not help. He didn’t understand what she wanted, though. He gave her all a woman could ever want. All the attention, all the affection.
But she was demanding something he would not dare force or convince himself into. And there had been multiple times he’d been on the verge of leaving her for it, and had outright threatened to disappear. She’d always go back crying and apologizing to him later.
Sex was sacred to him, and not something he was willing to give to anyone unless he felt it. He would never allow himself to be abused again to scar him from the experience of it.
She felt unwanted and unloved. He offered to send her on a spa day. It seemed a necessity as they had to be at his father’s wedding soon. That suggestion seemed to work a bit, and so he called for his secretary to arrange it. He obediently followed through orders, leaving his boss one less thing to worry about. A weight lifted off of Aaron’s chest.
But then another one settled as he entered his office. A nice one, really. The one he felt around his mother-to-be, only a bit cooler that offered the kind of comfort that spread everywhere.
He felt safe.
His office is one place he never allowed anyone but his secretary into. It was his safe space, but Mina was an exception since he made him feel even safer in her presence. It was astounding, and scarier to accept. But she made it easier.
He felt drawn to her in so many ways, and felt it too strongly to even put into words. His sensitive soul held a spot for poetry and this was the one time he got stuck trying to write it. Writing about her. He would be doing injustice to her if he tried to recreate her in art. In his art, anyway. He had a lot to learn about his muse. He could make no mistakes.
She was standing before one of his own writings and designs. His father had loved it so much so, he got two copies printed and framed, and put up in either of their offices. This particular one was very recent, after he’d met Heidi Willows, and the words signs of healing. It was a beautiful blend of French and Latin.
Mina stood in casual wear, black leggings and a grey oversized hoodie with sleeves rolled up to her elbows. Her white sneakers were dusty at the bottom with left over mud and sand from a most probable jog. A pair of golden Beats rested around her neck. She read his work in awe as he came up behind her to read it, too. He had to admit, he felt it as one of his best works yet.
“Have you ever considered publishing a few of your poems?” Mina asked, unable to tear her eyes away from the piece. It filled Aaron with pride to have garnered her approval. Something he’d so often wished from Greta. But he didn’t feel confident enough with her to show her anything. A brutal truth he’d come to accept was that she was pretty racist unless she felt something was exotic about it. Language wasn’t on the list.
“I understand the French, but do translate Latin for me,” she demanded while jumping lightly on her toes as she pointed to the piece, the curiosity hyping her up. She looked at him expectantly, and Aaron’s heart never melted so fast at someone. Not an adult, at least. She was a child in her best form, and it was a gift to see it preserved so well.
It led to an intricate discussion about so many things. And she knew so much about culture, history, languages, and just…everything. It amazed him so much. And he knew they would never have a thing to no talk out.
She was multilingual, her number of languages growing. She currently spoke ten with staggering fluency and beauty. She was a feminist, and spoke passionately for victims of crime regardless of their gender. A huge advocate for the underprivileged, most of her projects revolved around eco-reliable and eco-friendly homes for them that made people independent of unaffordable paid resources in areas where basic sources of energy such as light and water was readily available. She actively funded and promoted animal rescue shelters. She was also a black belt in Kung Fu and Tae Kwon Do, an avid reader, and collected shells to make crafts out of. She sold live made portraits on the streets for a year to raise money for her university, along with earning through gigs with her former band. And she made a lot from sheer talent.
She had a heart she felt was not large enough, that she wasn’t trying hard enough, and that she wasn’t doing much. There was so much left for her to do. It was as if she couldn’t get enough of life.
He continued to listen to her over coffee with an open heart and mind about patriarchy and male privilege, and child abuse. And he said nothing to object because he understood. But what made him feel safer was how she acknowledged men in the light of such matters. Toxic masculinity. Male victims. Bias towards women in certain aspects of law and society. Privileges both seemed to abuse and attitudes she actively unlearned to be more sensitive and empathetic.
He could see that Heidi’s influence had shaped Mina into a person too ahead of her time. She was so ahead in her knowledge of science, religion, and all that the world had to offer.
“How do you get the time for all this?” he chuckled, “It’s amazing how you know so much.”
“I read!” she exclaimed giddily.
“Any recommendations?”
And she was off again. He could only smile at the sight. He hadn’t smiled genuinely until Heidi came into their lives. And now he had this bundle of joy to add to it.
Mina had been coming to his office regularly as per his request. She was good to spend leisure time with, and refreshed him. She made for an amazing friend and it felt a pleasure to open up to her. He’d never talked so much in his life until she came. It was as if he had years of pent of discussion rushing out in floods. And she was a very attentive listener, light brown eyes wide and vibrant in wonder against her milk coffee complexion, pink lips shaped into a delicate ‘o’.
And for once in his life, he felt satisfied with where he was.