Chapter 27
When I walked back into the office that morning, it took everything I had to keep a straight face and be as blank as possible.
It wasn't so much that I wanted to torture him, even though I did, a little, it was just that I didn't want him to know I had seen the show just yet.
He wasn't going to get off so easily so soon.
I got him his usual coffee and muffin and went over the day with him. I kept it strictly business. I didn't call him Aiden, and I didn't smile. It was hard. I could see his guilt, I could see that he was hurt, and all I really wanted to do was make him feel better.
The day dragged with the approach I was taking.
Eventually, lunch time arrived, and Aiden hadn't left his office all day.
I headed out to Wagamama and bought him back the same food we had eaten on our first lunch together.
When I knocked on the door and walked in, he was still sitting on the sofa.
He hadn't moved from there in hours; he had a face like thunder.
I set the food down on the table in front of him.
“I thought you could do with some lunch.”
“I don’t have much of an appetite.” He snorted.
“Self-pity doesn’t suit you,” I blurted out before I had a chance to think about what I was actually saying.
“Excuse me?” He actually looked surprised.
“You heard me.” There was nothing else I could say. I turned and walked back out of his office and closed the door.
I sat down at my desk with a sigh. Aiden Munroe was the most infuriating man I had ever met. I opened up the website of a florist’s that he had me use from time to time. I picked a large bouquet of red roses with a simple card and an equally simple message. I typed the message into the box.
I saw it. I’m proud of you.
Ellis xox
Hit 'Submit', and arranged for a delivery for later that afternoon, late enough that I could escape before they arrived, but not so late that Aiden wouldn't be in his office to receive them.
By the time five p.m. arrived, Aiden was still in his office, everything was reasonably quiet, and the delivery was due in half an hour. I decided it was the perfect time to leave him to his misery. I packed up my things and headed home for the day.
* * *
Next morning, I got to work and did what I always did. I took Aiden his coffee and muffin, and opened up his diary on the iPad and went over the day's appointments and meetings. Today, I smiled. I still called him Mr Munroe, but things went reasonably well.
The day after, I started the day the same way again. Things relaxed, and I let them. I wanted things to get back to how they had been before the night we went to dinner. I wanted him to feel good around me again.
The next day, I called him Aiden again. I looked at his expression when I did. He stared; that predatory look had returned. I bit my lip. Damn .
I brought him in the lunch he had asked for. He smiled at me; a full grin. "Will there be anything else?" I smiled back.
He opened his food and breathed in the smell. "Just one thing."
I looked at him questioningly.
"Can we talk about what happened on the TV show that night?"
My eyes opened wide in surprise. "Oh. Umm."
"You saw it, right?"
He knew I did. I looked at him.
"You heard what I said."
A statement of fact, not a question. He stood up and walked over to me. He took my hand in his. "Please, Ellis." I looked at him and I couldn't take it anymore. I felt like I had tortured him enough, and when he touched me, I couldn't resist. I pressed my lips against his and pulled him against me.