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CHAPTER11
Second Thoughts~Olivia
I wokethis morning to find Aiden had left and headed down to the convention. He had a late breakfast sent up to the room. I had no idea how he knew what I craved, but all my favorites were laid out under a nice silver dome. I devoured the buttery eggs, crispy bacon, and sweet fruit. It had been so long since I had food that tasted this good. My daily breakfast consisted of stale cereal, burnt toast, and sometimes a danish from the café.
Aiden assured me last night that I didn't have to attend the convention and I could spend my day exploring. I took that as my cue to head to the pool and catch up on the book I was reading. A few hours passed, my skin turned a shade darker, and my inner thighs begged for aloe vera and baby powder. Although I had the entire day to myself, a small part of me wanted to check Aiden's calendar and make sure he didn't miss any important emails. It was an odd feeling, letting him use my mouth and bathe me but also being worried about his calendar. He took his phone but left his tablet on the desk in the suite. His text messages and calendar were synced to all of his devices so that he would never miss a reminder.
I slipped on a pair of dark denim jeans and a nice blouse. The weather at the resort reminded me of those perfect summer days in June, full of sunshine, low humidity, and a fresh breeze. Slipping my feet into a pair of leather-strapped sandals, I turned to grab the door handle when the chime of his tablet halted me in my tracks.
I grabbed it off the desk and unlocked it. Tapping my finger on the email app, my eyes went straight to the string of unread messages in bold. I was able to answer two of them, but the other two seemed urgent, with a sharp tone. I clicked out of the app, and the messenger app's notification button stole my attention. I usually kept my nose in his email and ignored his missed calls and messages, but his attention toward his electronic devices seemed to have tapered off since we were on a business trip. My feelings about Aiden seconds before I read the text message were a cocktail of confusion, desire, and something else I couldn't put my finger on. But, after reading the text, the only thing that flowed through me was confusion and embarrassment.
I checked the time stamp, and whoever Jenny was sent this message over 4 hours ago. Aiden hadn't replied. My mind raced, wondering if he saw it and, if he did, was he purposely not responding. Annoyed that the corners of my eyes prickled with tears, I blinked and clicked the tablet off. Stepping outside the hotel room, the cold air of the vents sent a wave of goose bumps scattering across my skin.
I made my way toward the convention, but my mind was in a fog. I never asked Aiden if he was in a relationship; now, I regret it. Maybe I wanted to believe that he wasn't, due to how he treated me, kissed me, and praised me. I followed the herd of people into the elevator and found a place in the corner near the back. A man and woman were the last to get on, and they reminded me of Aiden and me, and a thought that never occurred to me before popped into my head. Was I just another notch in his belt? Another secretary to woo with luxury, fuck, and then dump.
The elevator chimed, and we all filed out. The hotel's lower level was littered with bodies as I had imagined. I followed the signs for the convention and walked through the canopy of masculine cologne that lingered in the air. One thing about Aiden, he stood out. His towering height, paired with his muscular frame, and sleek steel gray hair, made him an easy target. After ten minutes of walking in what felt like an endless circle, I spotted Aiden chatting with a man. I started toward him and then slowed as my emotions went haywire.
I shifted to the side, but it was too late, my figure had already caught his eye, and he turned. I tried my best to keep my responses clipped, but somehow my hand ended up in his, and now he had me captured in his strong, hulk-like arms.
"Ollie…" he whispered in my ear, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood.
His words caught me off guard, and heat crept under my skin. Why did I like the nickname he gave me so much?
I didn't reply and continued to pry at his arm. He didn't care that a few eyes landed on our awkward situation or that I felt like an insect stuck in a spider's sticky web. But although the whole thing was awkward to an outsider, being in his grasp gave me comfort, and that was what hurt the most. My appetite had increased for how he treated me and knowing that I might mean nothing to him was like a punch to the gut. We finally moved on to another vendor, and his grip released.
"I'm going back to the suite," I said as I pressed the tablet into my chest.
He watched me walk around him, letting me get a few feet before following in my direction. The bottom of his leather loafers sounded off the concrete floor, his pace picking up with each step. The elevators came into view, and I was sure he was going to stretch his hand and grab my arm, but he stopped when a low voice called his name. I continued to the elevators, refusing to turn around until I was standing in front of them. He stopped to talk to a man but made sure to slice his gaze over to me every few seconds.
They exchanged more words, including my name, and they both looked in my direction. They started over toward the elevators, and I turned my back and fidgeted with the tablet. Apparently, this guy's name was Dylan, he owned a tow company in Stonebridge, and he hadn't seen Aiden in years. Trying my best not to appear annoyed, I slammed my finger on the elevator button. The elevator doors chimed, and they said their goodbyes.
His hand found my waist, and he guided me into the elevator, slamming me against the wall. "Why is my baby girl so upset?" His warm breath tickled the peach fuzz on my cheek, sending a sheet of ice cracking down my spine.
I reverted my gaze to the floor and locked them on his shoes. He clipped a finger under my chin, and I sliced it away. My defying movements did nothing for him but turn him on. Low growls seeped off his tongue, and a knee-buckling smirk spread across his lips.
He caged his arms on both sides of my head and lowered his forehead to mine. I shouldn't want to kiss him, but I did, and I hate myself for it.
"If you don't tell me what's wrong, then I will have to use force."
His words made my eyes shoot up, and I found myself pushing at his chest as tears teased the corners of my eyes.
I released a shaky breath and dropped my hands to my side. "What?"
"I don't like secrets, so either you tell me, or I'll be forced to spank it out of you or worse." He lowered a thumb to my lips and separated them as he slid it inside. "Fuck it out of you."
My stomach went from slightly knotted to turning flips as we approached the suite door, but my back hit the wall before I could swipe my keycard, and his lips crashed onto mine.
