Page 44
14
MISERY LOVES COMPANY
I wake up bright and early. It is a couple of days after the first day of trial. I don’t want to see Aiden this morning. Not because he did anything wrong. It’s just that I would prefer not to see anyone.
Today is a day that I wallow in self-pity every year. I want to crawl into a hole, never to be heard from again. But work must get done. I’m hoping I can get it done early then drink and eat my misery away.
I quietly get dressed so as not to disturb Aiden. I opt out of wearing a suit today. I throw on jeans and a Purple Rain t-shirt with a pair of Nike sneakers. I fix my hair into a bun. I cannot be bothered with my hair today. I mean, I still look cute, just not as glamorous as I usually look with my suits.
I tiptoe through the department. Aiden is fast asleep on the couch, tangled in the sheets. I take a moment to watch him as his naked chest rises and falls. When he slightly shifts, I hold my breath, hoping he does not wake up. When the coast is clear, I exit out the door and slowly close it.
When I get to the office, I start working on Aiden’s case. I have been spending time re-doing my notes ever since all my stuff for the case was stolen. At this point, it seems as though I have everything prepared. Prosecution has finished presenting their case, so I am just working on my questions for the witnesses who I will call to the stand.
I work for the next two hours. When I am almost done, Aiden teleports right in the middle of the office, his back towards me. He spins to see me already staring at him with confusion.
“What the fuck, Joyce.” Wow, that’s the first time he has called me by my first name. I should’ve recorded that. I so have to tell Yirah about this.
“What?”
He glares at me, annoyance radiating from him. “Don’t I always walk with you to work?”
“Yeah?” I reply, not understanding what his issue is.
He blinks, then tilts his head back to look at the ceiling, giving me a great view of his neck. Something about a man’s Adam’s apple just screams manly. I should probably ask him about Adam and Eve. Were they real? Cause if that’s the case, I have a strong theory of what really went down. I think Adam ate the apple first, then gave it to Eve and had her take all the blame. Hence, the Adam apple in men’s lying throats. However, I shove my thoughts aside—for now—and focus on Aiden.
Still looking at the ceiling, he whispers, “If there was a God to pray to, I would pray for patience.”
I laugh for the first time today. “You need a whole lot more than patience.” He looks down to me, his face set in annoyance.
“Yeah. Because of you, I probably need therapy too.”
I shrug. “Not everyone can handle all that I am.” I turn my attention back to my computer. He walks up to my desk and takes a seat.
“A lot of stuff has been happening at Eden and when you left the apartment, I got worried,” he admits.
Without pausing from my typing, I mutter, “I’m just not in the best mood today.”
He leans forward. “Why is that? I have to admit, your mood isn’t how it usually is. You’ve barely dished out much attitude.”
“I don’t want to talk about it. I just wanted to get work done and go home.”
There is silence for a moment. Aiden stands abruptly and announces, “We are going out.”
I look up at him with confusion. “Going out? What do you mean?” My heart starts to speed up. I contemplate the possibilities of what he means, but then shake off those thoughts. It’s Aiden. He does not mean more than what he usually says. Also, why is my heart speeding up? I barely tolerate him. Or do I? Shit. Can you blame me? He’s hot, and can speak in complete sentences.
The bar is in Hell after all
“We are going out into the Living World. I am going to take you to places you’ve never been before.” I know one place I’d like to go, and we don’t even have to leave this room to go there. I mentally slap myself at my dirty thoughts. He is off limits. I’m his attorney.
I roll my eyes. “I’m busy with work, Aiden.”
“And I'm sort of your boss. What I say, goes. So, let’s go.”
“Aiden, I don’t—”
He walks around the desk until he’s at my side. “Get up, Joy.” He raises a brow. “Or I’ll lift you up.” We stare each other down until he moves towards me.
“Okay, okay.” I jump out of my seat. “I want to change my outfit though.”
