30. "I saw what I needed to. Your hands in his."
I sat in Aiden's big and comfortable leather chair, watching Netflix on his iPad while waiting for his return. After a while, I got tired of constantly looking at a screen and decided to put the iPad back in his drawer.
Leaning back in the chair, I stared at the ceiling, my thoughts aimlessly wandering until my phone rang. It was Andrew.
"Hey." I answered.
"Hi, Aysel. How are you?" He spoke, a hint of concern in his voice.
"I'm good. How are you?"
"Where are you? We're genuinely concerned about you at this point."
"I'm sorry I haven't been in touch, but I'm doing just fine." I assured him.
He inhaled deeply. "Are you sure? I have a feeling you're hiding something."
"No, no," I denied instantly. "Everything's fine. I'll be back at the hospital soon."
He sighed. "We really miss you. Even Dr. Bailey misses you."
My ears perked up. "Dr. Bailey misses me? No way."
"I swear! Not that she has clearly worded it, but she has been comparing the other junior doctors to you saying stuff like if Dr. Aysel were here, we wouldn't have this problem."
I laughed incredulously. "Wow, this is shocking. I hope she realises my worth now."
"She already has," he affirmed, before taking a short pause. "Come back fast, Aysel. Work isn't the same without you."
Sadness washed over me. "Yeah, I miss working. I'll be back soon."
"Hey, also, there's something very important that I need to talk to you about." He said, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
My curiosity piqued. "Yes?"
"It requires us to be face to face." He said.
"Andrew, I can't meet you right now." I said apologetically.
"Please? Some time tonight? I won't take much of your time. It's just... it needs to be said." He pressed.
"You're worrying me..."
"No, no, don't worry. It's nothing bad. I just... need to talk to you..." he said nervously.
I chewed on my bottom lip. Aiden wouldn't let me out of his supervision. Plus he wasn't fond of Andrew. "Okay, I'll see what I can do..."
"Great!" His voice filled up with hope. "Let's meet at a restaurant tonight. I'll text you the details."
I sighed. "Okay. I'll see you then."
"Great. Thank you, Aysel. I'll see you tonight." I could hear the excitement in his voice.
"Okay, see you." I replied before hanging up.
The next hour I sat wondering how I would convince Aiden to let me go out with Andrew.
As I sat immersed in those thoughts, I heard the door push open, and in walked Aiden bearing his infamous impassive expression.
However, his face relaxed when his eyes met mine before his lips lifted up into a small smile.
"Enjoying my chair?" He asked.
My lips stretched into a smile as I nodded. "It's very comfortable... I used your iPad for Netflix by the way."
He nodded, running a hand through his silky dark brown hair as he walked up to me. "Did you miss me?" He asked in a low tone, igniting flames of passion inside me as he gently cupped one side of my face with his big hand and stroked my cheek with his thumb.
"Not really," I teased cheekily. "How was the meeting?"
"It was fine," He replied, reaching out for some papers on his desk before sitting on the chair on the opposite side of the desk with a pen in his hand. "We'll leave in a few minutes."
I cleared my throat, studying his face. "I need to... say something."
"Hmm?" He hummed as he apparently signed the papers in his lap.
I bit my lip, searching for words. "I need to go out tonight for dinner... with a friend."
His head snapped up as soon as the words left my mouth, his eyes darkening. "What friend? You can't even go to work and you want to go out for dinner?"
My eyebrows scrunched up. "It's important."
"More important than your safety?" He countered, irritation and disapproval coating his tone.
I sighed. "It won't take long. I need to go. We have something important to discuss."
"What's so important?" He interrogated, agitation flaming up his eyes, a frown settling over his forehead.
"I can't tell you." I deflected.
His frown deepened. "And who is this friend?"
"Stop acting like my dad, Aiden." I huffed annoyedly.
He glared at me. "I'm only looking out for you."
"You don't have to," I argued. "I'll be fine. I'm going out, and that's final. I'm not looking for your permission." I gave him my final verdict.
We had an intense staring contest for the next couple of minutes until he let out an irritated sigh and returned his attention to the papers in his lap.
"Tell me the friend's name and you can go." He spoke as he signed the last paper.
I swallowed. "Eva." The lie fell out smoothly from my lips.
His jaw was tense as he rose from the chair and gestured me to follow him. "Fine, but I'll come with you."
"What? No!" I objected immediately, as we walked out of his office. "We need to have a girl to girl conversation, Aiden. You can't be there."
He sighed in annoyance, falling silent once again as we stepped into the elevator.
"Aiden?" I pressed as he gave no reply for the next few seconds.
"Thirty minutes max." He spoke, the words coming out in the form of an intense command.
"Fifty." I argued, frowning slightly.
He sighed to show his irritation yet again. "Fine. Fifty." He grumbled under his breath.
I smiled victoriously.
"But Samuel will take you and bring you back. If you're not back in fifty minutes, I'll be coming for you." He commanded.
"As you say, sir." I said playfully.
His dark eyes darted towards me for only a second before returning to the elevator doors just as they dinged open.
As we stepped out, I allowed my impulsive behaviour to take over and intertwined my arm around his.
He looked my way for a moment, surprise flashing in his eyes before he intertwined the fingers of his hand with mine.
Despite the lingering eyes of his curious employees.
———
Aiden's eyes scanned me from head to toe as I stood dressed in a turtle neck top and jeans with a scarf around my neck, all ready to go out. "I still think you should reconsider going out." He said, somewhat hoping I would change my mind.
"I'll be fine," I assured him for the twentieth time, turning to get my purse. "Stop worrying so much."
"I can't lose you too." He mumbled, the vulnerability in his voice making me stiffen.
I turned around to meet his sad eyes. He quickly concealed the emotion that he thought made him weak. "You're not going to lose me. I promise."
He cleared his throat. "You can go on one condition."
I sighed. "What now?"
"Give me a kiss."
My heart fluttered at his demand, heat rising to my cheeks. "You're unbelievable."
"Or don't and stay here."
Walking up to him, I put my hand on the back of his head and stood on my tiptoes to place a kiss over his lips, before moving away. He caught me by the arm and pulled me back towards him, startling me.
"That's not a kiss, that's a peck." He murmured, his voice seducing me to the point where I wanted to stay back and let him have his way with me.
I gulped. "I'm not experienced in that department, unlike you."
He smirked before pressing his lips to mine without warning, devouring them like there was no tomorrow. I moaned into his mouth, running my fingers through his luscious hair as his tongue provocatively explored my mouth. Then he pulled back, leaving me as a hot, breathless and desperate mess.
His eyes alight with lust and need seemed to swallow me in. I want to stay here with him.
Andrew needs you. He said it's something important. You have to be there for your friend.
As I worked on catching my breath, I let him run his hand up and down my back as he refused to let me go.
"W-when I come back, let's..." I cleared my throat. "Let's... um... continue... from here..." I uttered shyly, my cheeks reddening.
Flames of desire and a tinge of amusement sparked up in his eyes. "Come back to me fast." His voice was low and hoarse.
I nodded. "I'll be back soon."
He pressed his lips to my forehead, before unwrapping his arms from around me. "Be careful."
"I will." I assured, standing on my tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
My stomach churned strangely as I walked out of the room and down the stairs. I wondered if it was because I was going out on my own while it was a threat to my safety or because I felt bad about lying to Aiden, or perhaps because something very bad was waiting to happen.
I greeted Samuel when I sat in the car and told him the address of the restaurant where I was going to meet Andrew.
We soon arrived at the destination.
"I'll be waiting out here for you, whenever you're done." He told me.
"Okay, I won't be long." I replied before stepping out of the car.
Stepping into the restaurant, I was relieved to see that it was busy. The more people around, the less risk of something bad happening. I spotted Andrew sitting at a table in the corner and walked up to him.
"Hey," I greeted. "Sorry I'm late."
His face eased up into a smile when he saw me. "Hey, Aysel!" He greeted back enthusiastically, standing up and pulling my chair back for me.
I laughed, sitting in. "Thank you. That wasn't necessary though."
"You know I'm ever the gentleman." He grinned, taking his seat.
"That you are." I grinned back.
"Thank you for coming." He said gratefully.
"No problem. What is it that you wanted to talk about?" I got straight to the point.
He scratched the back of his head. "Should we order first?"
"Actually, I can't stay for long. I only came because you said it was important. Also I'm not hungry." I told him.
"How about an appetiser?" He offered.
I shook my head. "I'm totally full." I lied. All I knew was that I had to go back before Aiden decided to come looking for me, and if he saw me with Andrew, he would surely create a scene.
"Oh okay then..."
"What did you want to talk about?" I asked again.
His face displayed nervousness, and he seemed to be searching for words.
"You're scaring me." I said, tapping my foot on the ground.
He laughed nervously. "No, don't be scared. Sorry, Aysel... I just... I'm really nervous, but I need to say this. I've held it in for five and a half years now."
I gazed at him curiously. "What is it?"
He looked into my eyes, swallowing. "You're... uh.. you and Eva are my only friends."
I snickered softly. "Yeah, so?"
He gulped. "You're my best friend, Aysel..."
I smiled in response.
"I really value you... I feel like I can be myself around you... you're the prettiest and kindest person I have ever met..." he continued.
My smile grew. "Are you trying to make me cry?"
He laughed softly, shaking his head. "I don't intend to ever make you cry."
"Awww," I gushed. "Well, Andrew, you're an amazing person and human. You're the only guy I feel comfortable around." Plus Aiden now.
His eyes lit up. "I'm glad you think so... Aysel... I... I want to tell you that... that I... I really respect and admire you. Not just your looks, but your character. I love your work ethic and the kindness with which you treat people."
I smiled thankfully at him. However, I still could not understand why he could not have said any of that over the phone. Still, I waited for him to continue.
"I guess I better get straight to the point..." he said.
I nodded, looking at him intently as I waited for him to speak.
"Aysel, I... I like you." He uttered.
I blinked, before laughing. "I like you too, Andrew."
He stared at me in surprise. "You do?"
I laughed. "Yes, silly."
Relief and joy simultaneously washed over his face. "Aysel, I can't tell you how happy I am!"
I giggled. "What?"
"So would you do me the honour of being my girlfriend?" He asked enthusiastically.
I blinked slowly at him for a few seconds, before bursting into laughter. "Andrew, you're so funny... seriously though, what's the important thing you wanted to tell me?"
His smile slowly faded. "I... I just..."
My smile fell too as I processed everything. No, it couldn't be.
"Andrew, you're not actually—"
"I'm confessing my love for you, Aysel," he acknowledged. "I'm in love with you. I have been all this time. Ever since we first met in the first week—"
"Andrew, no!" I cut him off, panicking. "I'm sorry, this..." I could not believe that was happening. I watched as the light in his eyes died along with the excitement that had briefly graced his face.
I sucked in a breath. "I'm sorry, but I... I've never thought of you that way and I never can. What we have is beautiful, but it's simply platonic. We're just friends, we can't be more than that."
The broken look on his face pained me. It was still incredulous for me that he was actually in love with me. How I wished he would say he was joking.
"Aysel," he reached out to hold my hands on the table. "Please give me a chance. I'll do everything in my will to keep you happy...."
My gaze travelled around to make sure we weren't attracting attention as his pleas became more desperate. My body froze as my eyes met familiar ones watching me from a distance, filled with disappointment and dismay.
Damn it.
I pulled my hands out of Andrew's hold and stood up in a hurry. Seeing me stand, Aiden turned towards the exit and started walking out.
"Aysel!" Andrew's voice was a plea.
"Andrew, I can't!" I exclaimed. "I only like you as a friend, nothing more... I have to go. I'm sorry."
As soon as I spoke the words, my feet picked up pace as I strode to the exit. To my relief, Aiden was standing on the sidewalk outside a few feet down the street. He hadn't left.
"Aiden!" I called to him breathlessly.
He turned around, his emotionless eyes meeting mine in the hollow dead of the dimly lit street.
"I hope you had a nice night with Eva." He said coldly, his eyes just as cold, hooded and emotionless.
I swallowed. "Aiden, I just—"
He held his hand up, causing me to halt. "I was right, wasn't I? You like him. Just as much as he likes you."
"No!" I denied instantly. "You're misunderstanding this."
He stepped closer, a menacing glare in his eyes. "I saw what I needed to. Your hands in his." He spoke the last part through gritted teeth, the coldness in his voice causing a chill to run down my spine.
"You're misinterpreting this," I asserted. "He's my friend. That's it. We have a very platonic relationship."
"Is that why you lied to me?" He asked, a betrayed look on his face that broke my heart.
Damn. I shouldn't have lied to him.
"Aiden, I'm sorry. I just—"
He held his hand up again, stopping me. I watched his eyes turn cold again. "You're free to go with him. Let him protect you and take care of you."
My heart broke when he said the words. Swallowing back the lump in my throat, I spoke, "I don't want to go with him."
"That's what you've been saying for so long! That you'd rather live with Andrew! That you'd have him come get you! That you're more comfortable and feel safer with him!"
My heart shook at his outburst.
That was not how I had imagined the night to end.
Andrew was not supposed to confess his feelings that were completely unknown to me.
Aiden was not supposed to walk in like that.
I was meant to go home to him to continue where we had left off, like I had promised.
I had imagined ending the night wrapped up in his arms.
Not with him being disappointed in me.
And definitely not with blood pouring out of his body yet again.
Not long after his outburst, a gunshot sounded in the dark.
I wished it could have been a missed shot.
I wished I wouldn't have had to witness the sight of blood.
His blood. Or the sight of his body stumbling to the ground, right before the arms of a stranger wrapped around my waist, pulling me to an unfamiliar body.
____________________________________________________________________