Chapter 33
Mia
Isit in Aiden’s office, waiting for him, legs crossed, nerves tight.
His office is devoid of him. Everything is gone. There are some books on a shelf and his leather bag is sitting on his chair. I know he packed up everything and set it in the home office. He told me. He showed me.
“Maybe you’ll keep the job,” I told him, worried about him, hating that this was happening.
“I don’t want the job,” he replied simply. He looked at the home office and smiled. “You set this up just perfectly, Mia. I think I’m going to try and work remote when I start a new job. I think I’ll like that.”
I look at my watch. He’s at the board meeting, and I’m seething. They are taking away what he built. I feel terrible, knowing it’s because of me. Jolene told me that this has nothing to do with me, but I can’t help how I feel. If I’d been a good wife….
The door opens.
I shoot to my feet as Aiden walks in.
For a moment, I search his face, afraid to see heartbreak, disappointment. But all I see is peace.
“Mia.” He opens his arms, and I walk into them. “Fuck, but I’m happy you’re here.”
When he holds me, I know I belong…with him.
“I’m free,” he murmurs into my hair. “And I have you. That’s all that matters.”
I close my eyes and hold him tighter, breathing him in. He smells like cedar and clean linen and something solid—something home.
There’s a knock at the door, followed by the click of heels.
Jolene stands behind Diana, poking holes in her back with her eyes. “I told her you were busy but she wouldn’t listen.”
“Aiden, you left before we finished our conversation,” Diana snaps.
She walks in like she owns the place, which technically, she does not. She only works here.
You know who does own part of this place? That would be me!
Her hair is perfect, her dress tailored within an inch of its life. But her smile falters when she sees me.
“Ah, Mia.” Her lips flatten. “Didn’t realize you’d be here.”
“I could say the same,” I reply smoothly. “But then again, snakes always turn up after the dust settles.”
She flushes, but keeps her tone amicable. “Aiden, I hope we can work together civilly from here on out. For the company’s sake.”
Aiden wraps his arm around my waist. “I’m not working with you, Diana. I’m leaving this company in your hands. Have fun.”
“Charming,” she says, trying to hide her smirk. “Well, as CEO—”
“Acting CEO,” I interrupt, stepping forward. “Let’s not pretend it’s permanent. Because, as one of the largest shareholders, I will see to it that your time here is cut short.”
“What?” The irritation mingled with panic in her tone is all things beautiful.
Aiden glances at me, amused, impressed. “Mia—”
“You got this job by manipulating people and crawling over the man who built this place.” I look Diana dead in the eye. “You may have won today, but don’t get comfortable. I’ll make sure your reign is as short as it is undeserved.”
“You don’t have that kind of power,” she scoffs.
“Oh, she does.” Aiden pulls me to him, my back against his chest. He rests his chin on my shoulder. It’s decidedly unprofessional, but he’s not employed here anymore, so who gives a crap?
“Between Aiden and I, we own half of Winter Financial.”
Katya walked me through everything, and even forced me to read a couple of the annual reports. Apparently, I have to learn about money so I can protect mine.
Like I care!
“And it doesn’t matter what it costs—you won’t stay here for very long,” I warn.
She doesn’t know if I’m bluffing.
Hell, I don’t know if I’m bluffing.
But I’m furious at what Nelson and Diana have done to Aiden. He sacrificed so much to make this company profitable, and now they’re kicking him out.
The gall.
Just then, Nelson appears in the doorway. His scowl could curdle milk.
“Your soon-to-be ex-office is very popular,” I remark sarcastically.
Aiden goes stiff, but he doesn’t let go of me.
This is the betrayal that stings the most. I know it. He may be done with his family, but he still expected better from his father.
“You’re still here?” he asks Aiden, disdain dripping from every word.
“Nelson, how are you? Probably not great.” I pull away from Aiden. “Considering you just fired the one person who fixed all your fuck ups.”
I hear Aiden’s low chuckle. “Slow down, tiger.”
“Nelson, you’re a piece of work,” I say emphatically, ignoring Aiden. “You used your son like a pawn for your ambition. You sacrificed his marriage, his well-being, and his sanity just to keep control. But he’s free now. And I promise you—sooner or later, Winter Financial will be free of you, too.”
“You think owning shares makes you powerful?” Nelson sneers.
“Yes.”
“Aiden, get out and take your bitch with you.”
Oh, hell no.
I walk toward Nelson, rest a hand on his shoulder, and before he can even open his mouth, I drive my knee squarely into his nuts.
“Don’t you dare call me a bitch again.”
The shock on his face is almost comical—frozen, wide-eyed for a beat—before he crumples, collapsing to his knees with a high, broken squeal.
“Oh my God!” Diana shrieks.
“Fuck me,” Aiden blurts out, caught between disbelief and laughter.
Jolene bursts into the office, cheeks flushed, eyes flicking around the room. She halts in the doorway, stunned. “What happened?”
“Nelson tripped,” I lie smoothly, without an ounce of remorse.
“I’ll have you arrested for assault,” Nelson wheezes, clutching himself.
I place a hand on my chest, flutter my eyelashes. “Me? I didn’t do anything. I was just trying to help you up.”
Aiden is shaking, laughter threatening to spill.
“I saw what you did,” Diana snaps, stepping forward.
“Saw what?” Aiden shoots back, grinning. “The old man stumbled. Happens at his age. And let’s not forget how Mom actually assaulted Mia in public with witnesses. She may have dropped the charges, but it won’t take much to pick them right back up.”
Diana helps Nelson to his feet. He’s pale, bent, his hands cupped protectively over his groin.
“I’ll get back at you for this,” he croaks.
I wave a dismissive hand. “Promises, promises.”
As Nelson hobbles out with Diana propping him up, Jolene crosses her arms, glaring at me.
“You did not just knee that man in the nuts when I wasn’t looking.”
“I….” My hands fly to my cheeks, wide-eyed. I glance at Aiden, dazed, like I can’t believe myself. “Did I actually do that?”
Aiden beams with unmistakable pride. “You sure did, baby.”
That’s it—our composure cracks.
Aiden chuckles first, Jolene follows, and then I completely lose it. Soon, we’re doubled over, laughter echoing off the walls until we’re wiping our eyes and gasping for air.
Jolene straightens, still snorting. “While you were having all the fun, I talked to Huxley. I start Monday.”
I step forward and wrap her in a hug. “You’ll be amazing. Keep him in line.”
She pulls back and glances around the office, her expression softening. “I’ll miss this place.”
“You’ll miss Aiden as a boss,” I tease, tilting my head toward him.
She grins wickedly. “I know. But I’ll get Huxley’s chaos and limitless espresso martinis. I’ll survive.”
Aiden leans back against his desk, palms braced on either side, his shoulders finally loose.
He watches us, a small, quiet smile tugging at his mouth.
It’s the look he wears when the people he loves are safe, when the storm has passed, and he can breathe again.
That rare expression of quiet satisfaction, like having us here, laughing, is all he’s ever wanted. My heart warms, seeing him at peace.
“You ready to go?” I ask him.
He pushes off the desk, and shrugs one shoulder. “Been ready for days, baby.”
His gaze sweeps the office, lingering on everything. He takes a deep breath. “You know, when they say, ‘When one door closes…’”
I nod.
He smiles in satisfaction. “Sometimes you have to get a hammer and nails to make sure that motherfucker stays shut.”
I hold out my hand to him. He takes it instantly, his fingers warm and steady around mine.
“Let’s go,” he says. There is no hesitation in his voice, just strength.
Together, we walk through the front doors—for what we’ll only realize later is the very last time.
The glass panes catch our reflection as we pass: two figures, hand in hand, moving forward. We don’t look back. We don’t need to.