Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I’M BORED
Sorinah
“Aldrich looks a little too cozy with that woman,” Dinah snarked, her tone laced with judgment.
Sorinah rolled her eyes, the gesture sharp and dismissive, her frustration simmering just below the surface.
She refused to take the bait. When she’d told Dinah about her situation with Aldrich, she’d been explicit, her voice firm as she laid down the boundary with her meddling middle sister: the peanut gallery was to stay silent.
However, Dinah couldn’t seem to rein in her tongue; her words spilled out like popcorn from an overfilled pot, each one chipping away at Sorinah’s carefully maintained composure.
The Rowland sisters, along with little Anaya, were having a girls’ night at Nakinah’s Toronto residence, the air thick with the scent of cinnamon buns and the low hum of their chatter.
They were supposed to watch a movie, but Nakinah had wanted to watch the live charity dinner the Chapman family chaired in the Netherlands. Ambrose and Aldrich were in attendance.
Aldrich was accompanied by a family friend.
He looked phenomenal in a navy bespoke suit that hugged his frame with tailored precision.
Sorinah was secure, or at least she told herself she was, about the stunning woman on Aldrich’s arm.
Her long legs and raven curls cascading down her back gave off an aura of effortless glamour, as though she’d just stepped off a high fashion runway.
Sorinah reminded herself that the woman, Aria, was the sister of Aldrich’s friend, whose fiancé was deployed overseas.
Logically, Sorinah had no reason to feel unsettled.
But the way Dinah kept harping on about the woman was like a pebble in her shoe, an irritant that chipped slightly at Sorinah’s armour, exposing the raw, unspoken vulnerability beneath.
God.
Okay. She had eyes. Aldrich and that Aria woman looked good together.
Their silhouettes complemented each other in a way that made Sorinah’s chest tighten.
The woman favoured Flavia, her dark hair and sharp features echoing a resemblance that only deepened Sorinah’s unease.
Her arm had been tucked in the crook of his when they walked into the dining hall, their steps in sync.
Sorinah was 95% certain he was being a gentleman—but that nagging 5%, fuelled by Dinah’s commentary, gnawed at her.
Sorinah clenched her jaw, biting back the urge to snap at Dinah, to explain herself just to quiet the noise in her own head. But no. She would not give Dinah the satisfaction of seeing her flustered.
Nakinah caught Sorinah’s eye roll and stepped in, her voice steady, a quiet anchor in the rising tension.
“Enough, Dinah. Let it go,” she said, her tone firm yet calming.
“Would you stop it, Dinah? Aria is a friend of the family, and Aldrich is doing her a favour while her fiancé is deployed,” Nakinah explained, trying to defuse the situation.
“Oh, I see,” Dinah responded skeptically, her words directed at Nakinah but her gaze raking over Sorinah with a hint of suspicion. “I just think they look overly friendly.”
Sorinah mentally flipped off her sister, then took a bite of a cinnamon bun.
Mm. So good. She refused to explain to her sister that Aldrich had invited her to the event, but she had a meeting in the morning that she couldn’t miss.
The Vice-President of the Carner company unexpectedly reached out to her for a meeting.
After what happened in Spain with Veto, she thought the door to working with them was closed.
“Ms. Rowland? We regret that our last negotiations with your company fell through and weren’t handled more professionally. We would like to revisit your proposal if you are interested,” he had explained.
“Veto Panger said Carner wouldn’t be interested in pursuing the proposal,” Sorinah had explained.
“Veto Panger is no longer with Carner, and other executives are interested in vetting your services,” the response clarified.
Two buying executives were flying out for an unexpected meeting with her—an opportunity she couldn’t pass up, despite its suddenness.
He was home while she was in Toronto, accompanied by stunning Aria instead of her. He had checked if she minded Aria joining him, and Sorinah had insisted it didn’t matter. She had to stand by her decision; she wasn’t a jealous woman.
Her phone chimed, and she picked it up, expecting a text from Mars. Instead, it was Aldrich. His message instantly eased her mind; he was thinking of her.
DH
I’m bored.
She glanced at the broadcast streaming on the charity’s website, where the Dutch host delivered an impassioned speech.
She texted back quickly.
What does that have to do with me?
Sorinah watched as Aldrich flipped his phone over, a faint smile tugging at his lips, his eyes gleaming with mischief even from afar.
DH
If you were here, I wouldn’t be bored.
Poor Baby, you’ll live.
DH
You don’t sound sorry.
She scoffed at the message, the audacity of this ridiculous man making her bite back a laugh as warmth spread across her cheeks.
“What do you think is so important that Aldrich has to be on his phone?” Dinah asked, her tone laced with curiosity, her eyebrows arched as she leaned closer.
OMG. Would you stop texting like you have no couth while that man is speaking?
DH
You’re watching me live?
Aldrich looked around, his gaze seeming to find the camera, his posture straightening as he turned directly towards it and winked, clearly taunting her with a cocky grin that seemed to mock her even through the screen.
Oh fuck! She’d slipped up. He was never going to let her live this down. His smirk was insufferable, his pride practically radiating through the screen like sunlight off polished steel, sharp and unrelenting.
When she looked up, Dinah was openly peering at Sorinah’s phone screen, her expression amused, a knowing glint in her eyes. “Oh, never mind. I think I know what’s so important.” She practically sang the words, her voice dripping with knowing humour, as if she’d uncovered some great secret.
Great, she’d been caught twice. Just her luck.
Sorinah decided she’d ignore both Dinah and Aldrich entirely.
Well, she’d still talk to her sister, but she was determined not to acknowledge that she and Aldrich were texting, her annoyance mixing with reluctant amusement as she fought the urge to roll her eyes.
Sorinah set aside thoughts of Aldrich and his text, choosing instead to focus on the rare opportunity to spend time with her sisters.
It had been too long since the three of them were all together in the same city, and Dinah had switched to her best behaviour, steering clear of Sorinah’s personal life.
This allowed Sorinah to relax and truly enjoy the moment.
They stopped watching the charity event and switched to an action comedy, sharing Rowland nachos and several scoops of ice cream in a sugary frenzy.
By the time Sorinah left for home, she was in a buoyant mood, riding a sugar high.
Aldrich was asleep when she returned, and she didn’t want to wake him after his late night.
After her shower and nighttime routine, she was surprised to receive a call from Aldrich.
“Hello, Kitten,” he greeted her.
She suppressed the flutter of warmth his voice always seemed to stir in her. “Don’t you ever sleep?” she asked, putting him on speaker.
“I did sleep, I just woke up,” he replied.
She could hear the faint traces of sleep lingering in his tone. “And I just got to bed,” she said, yawning. After a quick mental calculation, she added, “You’re up way earlier than usual.”
“Ambrose and I are flying to Toronto in an hour. Surprise.”
That was news to her; she wasn’t supposed to see him for another week.
He explained how Ambrose decided he couldn’t wait to get back to Nakinah and Anaya, so Aldrich decided to be accommodating and have their monthly meeting in Toronto.
She didn’t admit it, but she was grateful to her brother-in-law.
Spending extra time with Aldrich would be welcome.
“I know how excited you must be to have me in town for a week. Especially since you were watching me live tonight.” His voice was teasing and taunting as it came through the phone’s speaker.
She would never live this down. “It was Nakinah. She wanted to see Ambrose,” Sorinah blurted out. She felt like a snitch but felt the need to defend herself.
“Sure, it was.” He did nothing to hide his sarcastic tone. “I’ll message when I land. Pencil me into your schedule. I’ll let you get some sleep and head to the airport.”
The following evening, Sorinah wasn’t just happy for Aldrich’s impromptu visit; she had a reason to celebrate.
She had thought her meeting was preliminary, with the executives from Carner just prepared to listen to her proposal.
She’d been pleasantly surprised. It went beyond her wildest expectations.
They were professional and prepared, presenting her with a contract that would lead to more opportunities.
Mars was still away at his science conference, and Sorinah was in the mood to celebrate. It wasn’t like her to spring surprises on Aldrich, but God, she felt good.
A part of her hesitated at the bold step she was taking by surprising him at his Toronto residence.
Having a meal ready for him felt too domestic, and she almost talked herself out of it.
But it didn’t have to be a big deal. Aldrich pampered her and surprised her all the time.
Her returning the favour wasn’t a federal case.
God, she hoped he didn’t tease her about it. He probably would. Maybe she shouldn’t do it. Her thoughts ping-ponged until she decided to go for it. Things had been going well between them. The last thing she wanted to do was sabotage their situation by overthinking her every action.