Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
DO NOT MAKE ME REGRET IT
Sorinah
The office at Velkomst was months from being ready, so Aldrich was still working from his office at his house in Toronto.
Although Sorinah was very annoyed with him, she couldn’t help but smile at the thought that they now shared a home together.
She’d never lived with a partner before, and the quiet comfort of his presence in their shared routines felt unexpectedly comforting.
However, she pushed that thought aside as she approached his office, her steps deliberate and her expression determined.
Aldrich was wrapping up his day soon, and she wanted to catch him before he left, her nerves tightening at the thought of the conversation ahead.
They needed to have a serious discussion, and she didn’t want the chance of Mars overhearing it.
Her concern for privacy sharpened her focus.
Aldrich was disconnecting cords from his laptop that connected them to monitors as she reached his office. She tapped on the door frame, her knuckles light against the wood, her gaze scanning the room for any sign of distraction.
“Hey,” she called, her voice steady but laced with a hint of tension.
He was all smiles as he stood and met her at the doorway. His arms wrapped around her in a warm embrace, his familiar scent of cedar and faint cologne enveloping her.
“Hello, Kitten, this is a surprise.”
She pulled away, needing the space to collect her thoughts, her hands lingering on his arms for a moment before she stepped back. “I stopped by because we needed to talk.”
His tone was playful. “Oh oh, that sounds ominous.”
She took another step back, her expression softening slightly as she tried to ease the tension in the air. “It doesn’t have to be, but it’s serious.”
He lifted an eyebrow, and his playful demeanour shifted into something more solemn as his expression turned serious. “If you say so. Let’s sit and talk,” he said, his voice carrying a faint sigh of resignation as he gestured towards the small seating area in the office’s corner.
“I think we should close the door,” she suggested, her voice hesitant as she glanced around, unsure if Bernard was still nearby.
He agreed and strode over to close the door with a quiet click, the sound amplifying the sudden intimacy of the space. They sat on chairs in the nook of his office by the window. Aldrich didn’t speak; he simply leaned back into his chair, his expression neutral as he waited for her to begin.
Sorinah took a deep breath, her hands clasped tightly in her lap as she tried to steady her nerves. There was no way to ease into this conversation. “I can’t believe I’m asking this, but did you assault Albert?”
Aldrich shrugged, his nonchalance jarring against the gravity of her question. “He had it coming.”
Sorinah blinked, momentarily taken aback by his casual admission. Well, she guessed she should be grateful that he didn’t try to deceive her.
“How could you do something like that?” Her voice was sharper now, her frustration evident in the way she leaned forward slightly, her fingers gripping the edge of her seat.
“Albert went too far, and I let him know I didn’t appreciate it. End of story.”
For a brilliant man, she had no idea how he could be so dense. Sorinah shook her head, her disbelief morphing into irritation.
“Wrong, not the end of the story. Do you know he could have brought charges against you?”
Aldrich’s demeanour remained unbothered. “For what? It’s my word against his.”
“This is serious—he could have had you arrested.”
“I guess he could, but instead, he came running to you. Why do you think that is?” Aldrich’s tone was pointed, his eyebrows raised as if challenging her to answer.
“I’m not stupid. You think I don’t know Albert tried to get close?” She shook her head. “But I shut him down. I handled it, just like I talked him out of bringing charges.”
Aldrich shook his head. “I would have handled it.”
“Besides, what he was really upset about was your refusing to let him into Mars’ party.”
“So?” Aldrich fired back, his voice rising slightly, his calm facade cracking for a moment as his irritation showed.
Sorinah’s jaw tightened, her annoyance flaring at his dismissive response.
Again, no denial. They discussed how to handle Albert, and they decided that allowing her to deal with him would be the best course of action.
She knew how to manage Albert and wasn’t putting up with his bullshit.
Their interactions were strictly about Mars or nothing.
“You shouldn’t have banned him without discussing it with me first,” she insisted, her tone firm as she held his gaze, unwilling to back down.
Aldrich’s posture went rigid, his shoulders stiffening as a thunderous expression took over his features, his jaw clenching tightly. “Well, I’m sorry for overstepping.”
“That isn’t what I meant. I’m just asking you to let me handle Albert.”
Something in his eyes shifted, a flicker of vulnerability briefly softening his stern gaze before it hardened again. “Absolutely.” Aldrich raised his hands as if surrendering, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth.
“Don’t be upset,” she chided.
He was quiet for a long time, his silence heavy as he stared at a point on the wall, refusing to meet her eyes. When he finally spoke, his voice was tight, the words forced out through gritted teeth. “I want us to avoid running into situations in which it’s unclear where the other stands.”
She blinked at him in confusion, her brow furrowing as she tried to process his sudden shift in tone. She didn’t know where this conversation was heading, but she didn’t like it; a knot of unease formed in her stomach.
“Especially where co-parenting is concerned. Maybe we should think of a more formal agreement, so everything is laid out.”
Sorinah’s eyes widened, her hand instinctively moving to rest on her stomach as if to shield their child from the tension in the room.
He couldn’t be serious—they had been making plans for their child’s future together.
She had never felt closer to him or anyone else, for that matter.
All she was asking was that he be hands-off and allow her to handle Albert.
“I think you must have misunderstood,” she hedged, her voice softer as she tried to defuse the tension.
“That is exactly what I’m trying to avoid. Maybe we should draft a co-parenting arrangement so I don’t overstep.”
“Co-parenting arrangement?” The words felt foreign, wrong, and she couldn’t hide the hurt in her voice.
“Yes, have it all in black and white so I know when I can step up and be the man in my household that sends a clear message to anyone trying to interfere with my woman and my child.”
This wasn’t at all how she saw this conversation going.
Aldrich was pissed—that was obvious from the way his fists were clenched in his lap, the tension radiating off him in waves—but worse, he was hurt.
The last thing she wanted was to hurt the man who had been so patient with her.
She knew he had bitten his tongue where Albert was concerned, and she had taken that for granted.
Sorinah swallowed hard, her throat tight as she realised she couldn’t continue to take his patience for granted.
It seemed like Aldrich was all out of it where Albert was concerned.
Which meant she should have handled this conversation better.
If Aldrich had lost his cool, there must have been a reason.
She thought of everything he had done for her, how amazing he had been during her pregnancy.
He’d taken care of her in ways she hadn’t even known she needed.
Even when he wasn’t in town, he ensured she had everything she required.
Meals and shakes designed to nourish her and the baby were delivered without fail.
The housekeeper had been upgraded from part-time to full-time, taking the household chores off her plate completely.
He’d done what he promised. “Lean on me. Let me take care of you, all you have to do is grow our little one,” he had told her, his voice gentle and reassuring, his hands warm on her shoulders as he reassured her.
It had taken a lot out of her, but she had allowed herself to let Aldrich into her life and home.
She had been so much the better for it. It had been difficult to reclaim the parts of her that Albert had destroyed, and she would be damned if she allowed Albert to take any more from her.
He would not be coming between her and Aldrich.
Sorinah took a deep breath, rubbing her stomach. She met his gaze, her expression softening.
“I’m sorry.” Sorinah reached over to caress his hand, her touch light, her gaze holding his as she tried to steady her nerves.
She could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on her, the air thick with unspoken tension.
“I haven’t gone about this discussion the right way.
I didn’t mean to make you feel like I don’t trust you to handle this.
It just feels like Albert is my mess to clean up because I brought him into my life, and by extension, our life.
I should have asked for your side first.”
Aldrich listened, his expression unreadable at first, but she could see the tension in his jaw easing slightly as she spoke.
His shoulders, which had been set in a rigid line, relaxed just a fraction, and she knew he was processing her words.
Once he finished telling her about the interaction, she was surprised he had stopped at only hitting Albert once. Albert was being a disgusting creep.
“Albert’s access to you has to change. I know you can handle Albert, but I’m more comfortable if we can handle him together.
” Aldrich’s tone was firm yet gentle, showing his support as he reached out to brush a strand of hair away from her face, his touch grounding her.
“We’ll set boundaries so he can’t intrude again, and I’ll stand by you every step of the way. ”
Sorinah felt a wave of relief wash over her, the tightness in her chest loosening as she nodded. “Well, he shouldn’t need to talk to us at all. I spoke to Mars earlier, and he’s finished trying with his dad. At least for now.”
“I’m never going to be the man who stands by and lets anyone harm you or the people and things you love the most. I will step in and fuck them up. Do you understand that?”
His tone was firm, almost fierce, and Sorinah felt a shiver run down her spine at the intensity in his voice.
She believed him—every word—and it both reassured and unsettled her.
The protective edge in his voice was both thrilling and a little terrifying, but it made her feel safe in a way she hadn’t expected. “I do.”
“Let’s get home and get you fed.” He got to his feet, helping her stand and pulling her into an embrace, his arms warm and solid around her. She leaned into him, breathing in the faint scent of his cologne. He kissed her forehead, the gesture tender yet possessive, as if staking a silent claim.
“Thank you for being so patient with me.”
“You didn’t make it easy.”
“Dick Hole!” She pulled back slightly, narrowing her eyes at him, though the irritation in her voice was softened by the hint of a smile. The nerve of the man. She didn’t care if it was true.
“But every moment has been totally worth it.”
“I love you, Aldrich,” she finally confessed out loud, the words feeling both vulnerable and liberating as they left her lips. She watched his expression soften, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
He hugged her a little tighter. “Yes, I know, and I love you.”
Aldrich pulled back and took her hands, his gaze steady and warm. “Now that you are ready to confess your undying love for?—”
“Do not make me regret it.”
“Never, Kitten.” He winked at her. “What was I saying?” The playful glint returned to his eyes as he snapped his fingers. “As I was saying, now that you’ve declared your love for me, does that mean you’re ready to make it all legal and shit?”
“I dunno, depends.” She narrowed her eyes as if she were pondering the world’s biggest equation, enjoying the way his eyebrow quirked in response to her teasing. She could feel the undercurrent of excitement building between them, a mix of humour and something far more serious.
“On?” he inquired.
“You got a ring?”
She shouldn’t have been surprised, but she was a little when he nodded, his expression uncharacteristically serious. The air felt charged, and she could hear the faint sound of her own heartbeat in her ears. “Yes.”
“Well, I’d have to see it first.”
He released her hands. “Hold on then.” He opened his briefcase and took out a dark blue box, the simple action sending her heart rate speeding up. This could be happening. She could smell the faintest trace of leather from the briefcase, could feel the cool velvet as he placed it in her hand.
He popped the lid.
“Oh my god, there’s a ring in there,” she exclaimed in surprise, her hand moving to cover her mouth as she stared at the four-carat square-cut diamond that sparkled against its simple platinum band.
Its elegance was undeniable, a perfect balance of sophistication and timelessness that took her breath away.
The light caught the facets of the diamond, sending tiny rainbows dancing across the walls, and she couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotion as she admired the exquisite craftsmanship, realising the thought and care he had put into choosing it.
His sarcasm pulled her out of her admiration. “Yes, I’m aware.”
“You got me a ring?” she asked, astonished, her voice barely above a whisper as she looked up at him, her eyes wide.
“Yes, I figured eventually you would stop escaping commitment, and I’d be there waiting.” He bopped her on the nose, a teasing gesture that broke some of the tension, though his smile was warm and genuine. “Do you like it?”
She nodded, unable to get words past the lump in her throat. It was perfect—simple and exactly what she would have picked for herself. They had never spoken about it, but he got the ring right.
“Good.” He slipped the ring onto her finger, his touch steady, and she couldn’t help but marvel at how natural it felt. The metal was cool against her skin at first, but it quickly warmed, as if it had always belonged there. “We need to look at a calendar and pick a date.”
Hell, Aldrich had gotten everything right. It was the perfect way to propose. No fanfare, just getting to the point. She could taste the sweetness of the moment, could feel the weight of the ring as a promise of everything to come.
Of course, she’d marry her impossibly amazing dickhole.