The Reluctant Heiress (A Christian Romance Novel)

Chapter 28: The life of a CEO

Monday came. Telly felt exhausted from the last week that went by. And today, she needed to wear a different hat. That of the CEO. She thought that Rachelle was right, there is a blessing in seeing both sides of the coin, but it was also exhausting just trying to be consistent with one persona when you've taken the other personally fully the past days. Whew! She was hoping she won't blow it away that day.

As she was having her breakfast, she almost forgot that it was cleaning Monday for Mrs. Williams and Aiden. And after spending personal time with Aiden last Saturday, suddenly she didn't know how to act in front of him.

"Hey Telly!" Aiden rushed to her side. "How was your weekend?"

"It was good," she answered with that automatic smile on her face. And her mind raced to remind her of what happened with them last weekend. 'Oh yeah, I am your big sister!' "How are you little brother?" As soon as the words came out, she regretted it.

"Little brother?" he snapped, brows furrowed and a serious look on his face. He had thought about that the whole weekend which he thought ruined their 'date' so hearing it from her again this day was too much. "Is that how you still look at me?"

Telly was surprised at the sudden forthrightness. "Well," she faced her raising her eyebrows and crossing her arms on her chest. "If you look up to me like your big sister, you then are my little bro!"

Aiden covered his face and took a deep breath. He faced her, held her firmly on her shoulders as he said, "'You inspired me' is different from looking at you as my 'big sister'. What I meant was you are my inspiration and you are that unreachable star for me."

Silence. Goosebumps came all over her ski. And as she stared back at him, it's as if all the world around them has turned black except for his handsome face. "Now do you really look at me as your younger brother?" Aiden finally broke the silence.

That was a loaded question! But she thought, they were already old enough to face the fears of rejection if that was the case or face the joys of being honest with each other.

"Honestly, yes," she replied. And Aiden dropped her hands from holding her shoulders, looked down and sighed deeply. But she held his chin up close to her face, "But it all changed last weekend." His eyes lit up! "You're starting to grow on me!"

He smiled the biggest smile. "Well, that's a good start," he said in an almost whispering voice as he leaned closer to her. "I can take whatever small hope I can have."

"You've grown so much," she almost whispered, and didn't realize she shed a tear which he gently wiped.

"Why are you sad?"

"I'm just full of emotions lately, so many things going on," she sighed. "And I can't believe someone as wonderful as you have fully bloomed right in front of me and I almost missed it because I was so full of myself."

Aiden ran his fingers on her forehead to gently flip back the hair that was covering her face. He smiled as he said, "I give you full permission to watch me every single second."

He winked at her. She chuckled and they laughed together.

"Conceited!" she said as she poked him on his side.

"So will you come this weekend again and maybe spend better time together?" he asked.

She thought for a second, started to say no, but wanted to say yes. "No," she replied. "Sorry, there's a lot of things going on at the hotel right now, I think they need me."

Aiden smiled. "I understand," he replied. "But who said I can only ask you for a date in New York. Will you go out with me, maybe tomorrow night?"

"I'll clear my schedule for you Mr. Aiden Williams!" she smiled.