Conflict of Interest (Book 2 of Unfinished Business)

Prologue

"So how's the west coast treating you? Ready for school?" I ask my little, but not so little brother.

Trent rolls his eyes at me, smirking. "It's the PNW, Kat. How else do you think it is here? Of course it's raining right now, but what else can you expect? But at least the traffic is better here than over there in New York."

I chuckle and I have to agree with him there. I'm skyping him at my new office since I'm literally on the opposite side of the country from him. "Very true. Wish you could be here though. It sucks that you're so busy."

Trent's face falls a bit, and he sighs. "Yea, I know. But I needed to get back here. I can't leave the office here unattended for a long time. I just need to make sure everything is going on smoothly here. But I'll visit for your birthday for sure. You only turn twenty-three once," he jokes.

"Oh shut up."

He laughs. "Sorry sis. But all jokes aside, I'll be there for your birthday. I honestly don't know how you managed the business while in high school. Here I am, half-way through my college career, President of the company, and I'm already getting gray hairs!"

I smile. "You'll do fine. At least of you're just in charge of that sector. I have the corporate level to deal with." I look at the time and see that I have to cut my call with Trent. "Hey, I need to go now. I'll talk to you later."

Trent smiles. "Ok, Miss CEO. Love you sis. Tell mom and dad I say hi."

"I will. Love you too. Bye!" I end the call.

Momentarily, I slump in my chair. It's been a long morning, filled with meetings since I called for a short day today. Leaning back up, I start to sort through the papers on my desk, looking for ones that need my immediate attention, or the ones I can look through later.

I'm so immersed in getting things done, I don't even hear my door open, and I jump when I see a paper plane land right in front of me. I smile, thinking back to the time a paper plane crossed my path. This was back in Italy almost five years ago.

Flashback...

"Yea? Well maybe next time, you should watch where you're going," I say breathlessly.

Aiden smirks. He stands before me: blue polo, black jeans, hair trimmed, and I think he got more muscular. His gray eyes are shining with amusement from my last comment. I'm still obviously in shock.

"I should have known. Of all places, I should have known you would be here."

"What are you doing here Aiden?" I ask.

His expression goes straight again, no longer smirking. His hands come up, pushing my shades up to settle on my head. "Looks like you got my plane," he eyes down to my hand, at the now crumpled paper I'm clutching.

"Why are you here?" I demand, my voice coming back to me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not mad to see him here. I was just caught by surprise.

He looks straight into my eyes. "You left. Not even saying good-bye. Not even telling anyone where you were. I woke up, hoping to see you after I was release from the hospital, and I was told that you basically disappeared. I freaked out, thinking that someone kidnapped you, but I learned that you just went away for personal reasons."

"I had to leave," I told him.

"I searched for you. Your family wouldn't say where you were. I figured you'd come here, so I started here a few months ago. Obviously, I had no luck. Then a few days ago, when I had a meeting at your parents' building, I heard your father talking to your grandparents. They were speaking in Italian, and I heard your name. I knew they were talking about you, so I came back here."