Chapter Nine
The morning was quiet, but Mina’s insufferable brain wouldn’t stop replaying what had happened the previous night. And she kept wanting it to happen over and over again but she was already so embarrassed by it that she didn’t care comment on it.
Aaron was at the stove, cooking for her like he’d said he wanted to. The kitchen filled up with the smell of pancakes, sausages, and hash browns. Mina’s mouth was watering already, and her stomach rumbled occasionally from hunger.
She didn’t have to wait too long. There a steaming plate in front of her soon enough, along with an equally hot body next to her digging into his serving. He was in briefs and an old band t-shirt. It was nice to see him this way, laid back and casual. All she’d ever seen him in was a suit until last night.
She picked at a slice of strawberry on her pancakes and plopped them into her mouth, a blend of sweet and sour goodness exploding in her mouth. She had to hold back from finishing the fruit off first, wanting to enjoy it with the pancakes. Mina had to admit, Aaron was a far better cook than she ever was.
“You like it?” Aaron asked.
“Yeah,” she agreed, “this is really good.”
“I could make you more later if you’d like?”
“This is a lot for me,” she admitted, “but thanks, though.”
And they fell into silence again, made awkward by Mina’s shyness. She refused to meet his eye all day, refused to acknowledge what had happened last night, if Aaron hadn’t known her any better, he would’ve felt hurt and thought she hated it and was regretting her decision. But he knew she was just embarrassed since she was inexperienced.
Aaron quickly finished up his plate, “I need to leave soon, so make yourself at home here. I asked Tyra to come here and help out in getting your stuff arranged in a studio at the back. It’s large enough for all your belongings.”
Mina only nodded as she stuffed her mouth with a sausage. Aaron sighed and got up, towering over her. He grabbed the edge of her stool and turned it around. Her head fell even lower and he gently held her chin and made her look up at him. He rolled his eyes, trying to contain his laugh. She still wouldn’t look at him in the eyes. Her pupils darted elsewhere and all over the place, to anywhere but him.
“Mina, sweetheart, look at me,” he demanded gently, “Hey, over here.”
Her eyes finally settled over his with difficulty, and her face was immediately set aflame. He grinned at her, leaning forward to capture her lips in a soft peck, “There’s more to where that came from last night, so stop shying away from me, okay? I haven’t even started.”
He leaned forward and sucked at her neck, biting the skin there playfully before moving away and heading off to his room to get ready.
Mina let go of the breath she was holding, feeling the ghosts of his touches over her body again. She wanted him to hold and pleasure her again so desperately, she was getting wet just by the thought of it. But she knew she had to garner some self-control because sexual activity was not the only thing she was given the time to do in a day. Her blueprints still needed a lot of work and the concept designs weren’t complete yet.
Aaron had the security tightened all around the premises of his residence and office. Also, he’d called in another meeting with Tyler.
“I warned you, Aaron,” he sneered at him, “You think it’s that easy to get away from me?”
“And yet your men failed in their mission,” Aaron deadpanned, “Don’t make me take measures your sister doesn’t want me to, Tyler. You know I still care for her. Don’t be responsible for making me hate her. It would break her heart, wouldn’t it?”
“You bastard!”
“And you’re any better?” he growled at the blonde, “You tried to hurt Mina and you think you’re any better? What did you hope to achieve? That I’d go running back to Greta after you’ve taken her out of the picture? That’s not how it works, Tyler.”
“Greta left everything for you.”
“I made her leave nothing. I know better than to ask someone to do something of the sort. She chose it for herself. She knew what kind of a person I am yet blatantly and repeatedly went against her ideals and values.”
“And you think Mina won’t?”
“She’s like-minded,” Aaron announced proudly, “She and I have a lot more in common than Greta and I ever could.”
“Aaron, you don’t understand,” Tyler growled, but there was some sort of desperation in his voice, “she’s heartbroken.”
Aaron knew something was off. Something was very off, and it wasn’t Tyler.
“Why do you want me to be with her so bad?” he asked carefully, “Tell me the truth. Is she in danger?”
“You know I care a lot about her little sister,” he said, “I can’t stand to see her this way.”
“Has your involvement in the underworld made her a target in any way?” Aaron demanded.
Tyler stood silently staring him down.
“I spent her life keeping her safe,” he started, but Aaron knew something in him looked defeated, “there’s no way in hell anyone could lay a hand on her.”
And with that, he turned around and left, flanked by Aaron’s security. As soon as the door closed, he produced his phone from his pocket and dialed Greta. It wasn’t long before she picked up. Her voice came tired and sleepy. She’d most definitely just woken up.
“Hello?”
“Greta, it’s me. Are you doing okay?”
There was fumbling in the background as if she’d been startled he’d actually called, “Huh? Oh yeah, definitely, I’m great!”
“Good,” he sighed, “because we need to talk. Can we meet up in the evening? Around seven maybe? I’ll pick you up.”
“Sure, sure!” she said giddily, and Aaron wished her hopes weren’t so high. He would hate to crush her any further. As if the guilt haunting him regarding her brother wasn’t enough, he didn’t want to feel responsible for her either.
“Great, I’ll see you then,” he said, “Bye now.”
“Bye,” she said, but she hardly finished before he hung up on her and got down to paperwork. He had a lot to complete and was hardly relaxed enough for it. He hoped Mina was okay at home, comfortable and safe. He knew she was very capable of handling herself in dangerous situations, but it didn’t mean she had to be in them at all. Ever.
Evening dragged along past the paperwork, random meetings and phone calls. He called Mina every now and then to see how she was doing. He knew he couldn’t be paranoid or it would suffocate her. His past made him realize how much acting a certain way could affect the other person. His mother’s paranoia really did suffocate him. He never had sleepovers, never went over to another person’s house to hangout, never went out, and never left the school premises. It got better after she died and he went to university, but the guilt and the feeling that she was still watching left him a nervous wreck. When he’d decided to become at the age of 13 defiant, she’d become extremely violent. And no one knew.
He had vowed not to become his mother. He had vowed not to become violent, paranoid, and restrictive. And with therapy, he had done pretty well and was leading a good adult life.
Turning the wheel of his car, he parked into Greta’s driveway and gave her a call. He didn’t bother going to the door and ringing the bell, lead her to the car and open doors for her. He couldn’t let her think he’d let her off and that she still had a chance.
Greta stepped out the front door looking prettier than usual. She was putting in extra effort and he sighed in disdain. Seemed like she already had her mind set to take him back. He looked at her as she stood there in a black, knee length one shouldered number and red heels. He could see her bright red lipstick from where he sat. Her golden jewelry was simple and glimmered in the porch lights. Was she waiting for him?
He groaned and rolled his windows down, “I don’t have all day, Greta. Get in already.”
She seemed surprised, almost shocked as if she would faint any moment. Aaron did his best to hold back from repeatedly smacking his head against his steering wheel. His impatience with her didn’t surprise him one bit. Maybe because she’d almost come close to hurting Mina.
But she did hurt her, he thought vehemently, she took the safety of her own home away.
It sent the blood rushing to his head and he had to take deep breaths to calm himself down. She walked towards the car hurriedly and got in, and he was glad she wasn’t dumb enough to expect him to open the door for her.
“Where to?”
“Someplace quiet,” he huffed, “We need to have a serious discussion, and not while I’m driving. Are you tapped right now?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Liar,” his voice dropped dangerously, “You think I wouldn’t be able to tell after all those years spent with you? Get rid of it right now.”
She huffed indignantly and got out of the car, rushing back inside and returning within 5 minutes. And they were off. He got a whole restaurant wire tapped and reserved for this. She would not get away easily.