Submit to Me

29- Aaron *

What the fuck? Did I hear this psycho bitch right? Did she just accuse Sloane of being a tramp? And did she just tell me to run, that Sloane would ruin my life like she did her husband's life?

What's that supposed to mean?

"Excuse me?" I angrily hissed, setting my mug of coffee on the table beside me a little harder than I wanted to, causing the coffee to splatter all over the table. I've worked way too hard to get Sloane to where she is today. I don't need this stupid broad to ruin her, bringing her mindset back to where she was when she returned to Chicago. I stepped closer to Chloe, groaning, "What did you just say?"

A mischievous grin formed on Chloe's lips as if she was about to start another war between us. "You heard me." Her eyes wandered from me to Sloane, still smiling like the fucking devil, as she added, "You both heard me."

"Aaron," Sloane whispered, her hand resting on my backside. "Just ignore her."

Hell fucking no.

Not for one second will I ignore the bitch that was the root cause of Sloane's depression and the end of Sloane's and my friendship in high school. Fuck that. I snapped my head around, causing Sloane to step back when I growled, "No. I won't ignore her. Had Chloe not done what she did to you and me, we wouldn't be where we are now. Not to mention, I refuse to allow her to degrade you and call you names that you and I know aren't true."

With pleading eyes, she begged, "Please, Aaron. Chloe's not worth it. Let's just leave."

"No," I stated firmly, returning my eyes to Chloe. This bitch needs to be put in her place.

Chloe laughed, shaking her head. "Wow, Aaron." Aiming her finger at Sloane, she said, "Are you seriously fucking that slutty piece of trash?"

Her remark had me instantly clenching my fists. I wanted to take my frustrations out on something but knew that would be wrong of me to do, and no matter how much they angered me, I would never hit a woman. Instead of making an ass out of myself in front of Sloane and my sister, upsetting Mariah in the process, I said it like it was, "The only trash I see in this building is you."

"Aaron," Mariah scolded.

"Don't worry, Mariah. I won't do anything in your place of business," I assured. "The only thing I'll be doing is taking the trash to the curb—where it belongs."

Chloe laughed, then diverted her eyes to Sloane as she said, "Do you want to tell him, or should I?"

"Tell him what?" Sloane answered, nervousness in her voice as if she knew what Chloe was trying to get Sloane to admit to me.

"Look. I don't know who you are or what your beef is with my brother and his girlfriend, but whatever it is, it doesn't need to be brought up here. You need to leave. Now," my sister hissed, rounding the counter and immediately grabbing Chloe's elbow when she approached her.

"Get your hands off me!" Chloe shouted, snapping her elbow out of Mariah's hold while guiding Chloe to the door.

"You're an adult. Act like one. So, until you grow up and have stopped bullying people you don't like, you're eighty-sixed from this place." Mariah opened the door, waving her hand toward the parking lot, saying, "When you've grown up and become a decent person, you can return. Paul Walker once said, 'Remember that no matter how cool you think you may be, you're not cool enough to look down on anyone...ever.' So keep that word of advice in mind before you ever think about returning here."

Mariah shoved Chloe out the door and then faced us after it closed, a look of disgust, her eyes showing she had questions.

"Sorry you had to deal with her like that," I sincerely apologized, relieved nobody else was in the building besides my sister's employees, embarrassing her in front of her clueless employees. "She's been a rotten bitch since she was a teenager."