Aiden ✔️ NOW PUBLISHED!

58

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I look around Avery's shoulder, desperate to find an escape. "Excuse me," I say but a sly grin adorns his face.

He tilts his head, studying me. "Don't move. There's so much more my hands can teach you." He smirks and my stomach drops.

My head shakes, "I think I've had enough for today. This is wildly inappropriate. I have a boyfriend." I remind him with a stern voice and he just chuckles.

"Your little boyfriend isn't here, though is he? I'm sure I can show you a better time." I almost laugh at the audacity but I'm too scared.

He continues, his accent becoming heavier as he raises his voice to a poisoned tone. "Oh, come on you've been flirting with me since you came, why do you think I hired you with no experience? You were practically begging for it with that dress you wore here for your interview." He leans further in and the cold metal counter against my back makes me shiver more.

I look around the room hoping to see one of the girls, but to my dismay, I remember that when I came in no one else was here.

I smile back at Avery, his body relaxes. Then I swiftly knee him in the balls. He doubles over and falls to the ground, I rush outside and onto the busy sidewalk. I look around for Howard and slightly smile when I see him already walking my way, in a hurry.

Standing in at an intimidating height, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding when he gets to me. "Howard." I cry and throw my arms around him. He is stiff and doesn't return the gesture until I sob into his chest. I can tell he isn't used to comforting an upset woman because he stares at me in confusion when I step back. "Can we go home?" I ask and he looks me over again. The act is fatherly, not so much of a bodyguard. He looks worried for me.

"Why?" He asks with a skeptical tone, his thick eyebrows bunching up.

I think for a moment, my crying fit wasn't a good idea. "I got sick and it made me upset?" I lie but he laughs before gesturing to the phone in my shaking hands. "Call him."

"No." I want to laugh, thinking of how bad an idea that is. But my entire body is shaking from what just happened.

Howard shrugs, "I will then." He states while pulling a phone from the inside of his jacket. I sigh before hesitantly dialing his number from my phone.

While it's ringing I look over at Howard, "I'll get you for this." I tell him while I narrow my eyes, he just laughs at me. Then, he surprises me by placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder while I wait for Aiden to answer.

"Hey, gorgeous," Aiden says and I can't contain my heavy emotions anymore, I begin to sob into the phone.

"Hey, Woah. Babe? What's happening?" I hear him getting more frantic as I try to collect myself to speak. "Are you okay?" His voice stern, I take a deep breath.

"Yes. I'm fine." I say quietly, "Howard made me call you."

I hear the confusion in Aiden's voice. "Why?" He asks, his tone clipped. "What happened?"

"Nothing happened." I state and Howard speaks up, "Speaker." Howard says and I try to cover the phone with my hand so Aiden can't hear. It's too late because I hear Aiden's voice booming through the phone.

"Emilia what the fuck is going on. Why did he say, speaker? Put the damn phone on speaker!" I press the button, flipping Howard off with my free hand.

"I'm here, boss." Howard says as he looks at the phone, ignoring my rude gesture.

"What happened?" Aiden asks and I want so badly to hang up the phone, I didn't want to bother him with this mess.

"She flew out of the front door in tears, I figured you'd want to stop by and see what happened. She wanted me to take her home and not tell you." Howard informs him and I throw my head back like a defiant teenager.

"What the fuck? I'm already on the way, I'll be there soon." He growls into the phone and my body tenses.

**

When Aiden pulls up, he takes one look at me before he makes his way toward the bakery. I chase after him and pull his arm. He reluctantly stops outside the door and takes my face in his hands.

After a deep breath he says, "You can say whatever you want but I already know someone in there hurt you. Who was it? Your boss?" He asks and I sigh, "Or was it a co-worker or customer?"

I hesitate and look away, he holds my face more firmly as he speaks. "Either you tell me what the fuck just happened or everyone in this building is getting fucked up." His face is red and his breathing is heavy.

"You're going to be mad," I say in a quiet voice.

"Why?" He says, trying to stay calm I can tell but he's failing.

"Avery is a man." I tell him.

He shakes his head, "What? I already fucking know that Emilia. Tell me what happened!" He growls and I bow my head in embarrassment. "Now!" He yells and I flinch, he's never raised his voice to me.

"He... well..." I stutter and he strokes my hair. "Baby, please." He coos and I take a deep breath in.

"I didn't want to tell you about Avery being a man because you didn't need to worry." I wipe away fallen tears. "I wanted to show you it wasn't a big deal but things changed when I got in this morning. I was rolling dough, then he came up behind me and helped." I say and see his body go rigid.

I continue, "He leaned against me and at first it was odd but then..." I trail off. He grabs my shoulder. "Then what Emilia?" He asks in a serious tone.

I lean in and say quietly, "He pressed into me and I could FEEL him on me. Like he was-" Aiden cuts me off with a finger to my lips. He looks evil as he steps back one foot away from me.

Aiden's face contorts before he begins to laugh, manically.

I don't have the strength to stop him as he throws the door to the shop open and walks inside.

"Where?" He demands and I don't want to mess with him right now so I gesture to the door of the kitchen.

"Stay." He states and I don't listen. When I follow him, he stops and places his fingers on the bridge of his nose to hide the annoyance. He places his hands firmly on my shoulder.

"Emilia, I need you to stay." He says through his teeth and I shake my head. He continues, "No. Absolutely not. You fucking lied to me. You lied about your boss being a man, and now look what happened. You fucking stay." I don't argue as he pulls out a chair and gently pushes me down like a child. I cross my arms.

Before he walks away, I look at him with pleading eyes, "Don't kill him." I beg, not wanting anymore bloodshed.

Aiden just looks back at me with his maniacal smile before opening the kitchen door. I bury my face in my hands.

♥️

See y'all tomorrow!

Since I posted two chapters today and one yesterday, I'll probably only post one chapter tomorrow. Don't freak out on me lol we're almost done and I want to enjoy seeing your reactions, I'm being selfish but I've spent countless hours and sleepless nights writing this book, I deserve a little selfishness lol :)