After the Business Trip

Chapter 22

A/N:  Here is another chapter and I hope you enjoy it.  

Ae POV

I drag my feet through the front door and I nearly collapse as soon I shut the door. This day has been one of the most tiring and exhausting days that I've ever had. Don't even get me started in on how everyone kept asking me about that stupid engagement. Ugh....

I force myself to stumble to the couch before I fall onto it exhausted, both physically and mentally. I don't know if I could talk to my parents even if I wanted to. My mind wants to rest and not think of any of this.

I drop my bag beside the couch before I plop my body down. I roll over and flop my arms back and across the top of the couch. I lean my head back and I take a deep breath. I hope tomorrow will go better. If Earth has anything to say about it, I should have a better day tomorrow. Plus, I don't think that the staff will forget, that quickly, about my little explosion today. When I left the office, I got the impression that several were afraid to say anything to me. That maybe going a little too far, but as long as I don't have to hear anyone talking about that stupid engagement, then I'll be fine with it.

I hear the front door open, but I don't move.

Pete's soft voice fills my ears and instantly calms my mind. "Ae, did you have a rough day? Was it that bad?"

Without looking at him, I shake my head. "It was a rough day, but it had nothing to do with my job. Well, a little bit did." I sit up strait and look at him. "Thanks to my parents and that stupid article, everyone in the office knew about that silly engagement. By the middle of the afternoon, I couldn't take it anymore. I kept getting asked about the engagement, about my supposed fiancé and when the wedding was going to be. I had stated several times that I had no intention of marrying that girl, but they just wouldn't listen. So around 3pm when another co-worker came up to me and tried to ask about it, I exploded. It was not one of my finer moments."

Pete dashes to me and sits down next to me. "Ae, you didn't lose your job over it, did you?"

I smile and shake my head. "Luckily, no. Actually, the owner, Earth, told me to tell you hi. He also said that he would support me going forward and if I need any help with my parents or that girl and her family, he said to let him know."

Pete nods his head. "I didn't say anything when you told me what company that you were going to work for, but I was glad that you were going to work for a family friend. Earth is like an uncle to me, and I think he considers me a nephew or maybe even a son. When I was younger, he did go to several school functions with me when I was supposed to go with my father. My teachers knew that my parents were divorced and that my father wasn't around, but Earth made sure that I never felt like an outsider. The kids didn't know that Earth wasn't my father."

Even though I just met Earth and have only talked with him for only a short period this afternoon, I can see him doing that for Pete. I could see the love that he has for Pete and his family when he was talking.

I smile and reach out with my hand. I slowly caress Pete's cheek. "Who wouldn't want to help protect you? You are so kind and caring. Oh, did I forget to say gorgeous?"

Pete slightly blushes and lowers his head as he snuggles up against my side. He fiddles with the hem of my shirt. "Ae, stop teasing me."

I wrap my arm around his shoulders and softly chuckle. Pete doesn't even know how cute he is, but I love it.