I could feel the guilt itch at me when he mentioned the people that worked for him. How many people would lose their jobs because of this? I, of all people, knew what a job meant and how hard a good one was to find.
"I’ll think about it," a smile spread on his face. "But," his smile started to fade, "I would look for another option, Aidan." I rubbed my face with my hands. "Honestly the marriage thing isn’t too much to take on, though, I am not a fan of marriage. However, the kid thing…I mean…bringing a kid into a fake marriage or marriage of convenience, knowing that by the time they are three or whatever, they will no longer have that family dynamic, well, that’s just sick." I shook my head.
He sighed heavily, rubbed one hand over his face before slipping his long fingers through his hair.
"But, you will think about it?"
"I said I would," nodding with my response.
Chapter Nine
An Agreement
Aidan
It had been two weeks since the flowers and the conversation. I had really thought about what he was offering, but every moral fiber of my being was at war with the fibers that told me that I was an idiot to not do this. I even had a girl’s lunch with Phoebe and Celia just to talk through the whole thing. They, however, only told me what they would do, not what I should do.
Knowing that I had to tell Aidan my answer soon, I decided to call him after I got out of class. I would much rather handle this over the phone than in person because I just can’t go through another plea session from him.
"Hey Lilli," he answered quickly.
"Uh…" I gulped "Hi."
"I’m guessing that you’ve made a decision?" he sounded weary, like he knew what was coming.
"Uh, yeah..." I sighed. "Aidan, I am so sorry, but I just…I can’t. I just…I can’t." I forced out a breath that I didn’t realize I was holding.
He was quiet and didn’t say anything for a few minutes. I started to get nervous but then he spoke.
"I understand," he said flat and low. I tried to apologize again but he cut me off. "Thank you for considering it."
"I’m sorry and I hope that you find someone that this will work with." We said goodbye and hung up.
~
Another two weeks passed and I'd not seen or heard from Aidan, not that I expected it. My last exam was finished and I had a month off from school before the next semester started. If one of my job interviews didn't come through, I would have to drop out of college before the semester picked up.
My phone vibrated in the middle of one interview and I tried to pretend that it wasn’t my phone making the noise. I’m not sure the interviewer bought my bad acting skills. Once I was shown out with the promise to ‘let me know either way’ I started back toward the apartment.
I remembered the call and pulled out my phone. It was Harry, my father’s best friend. I quickly listened to my voicemail, all he said was to call him but he sounded upset. I rushed to call him.
"Lilli?"
"Harry, what’s happened?" Storefronts began passing by me in a blur.
"Lilli calm down. It’s just that—"
"Just what, Harry? Where is Donald?" Sobs began wracking my chest.
"He’s in the hospital, Lilli." He cleared his throat uneasily.
"Please tell me it’s not—"
"Lilli, it’s his coronary arteries." Harry got silent when he heard me sobbing through the phone.
"I’ll be there tomorrow." Quickly hanging up, I sprinted to the apartment. Along the way I called Dixon, Celia and Phoebe.
~
Aidan
She told me no. What the hell am I going to do? How am I going to stop the loss of our family company, of securing the future of our current employees?
Viola kept trying to get me to go to different events but I just didn’t feel like it. Finally, she won out and I accepted an invitation to one of her many charity organization galas.
Doing my family duty of greeting and mingling, my attention was drawn by a tall, dark haired woman who was clearly looking me over. I had never seen her before but she was gorgeous. Her black hair barely met her shoulders yet framed her perfect, fair complexion. I hadn’t realized that I was walking toward her until I was about two feet away. Closing the distance, I introduced myself and she offered me her well manicured hand. I kissed the knuckles.
"It’s a pleasure to meet you," I smiled.
"Oh, the pleasure is all mine." She smiled seductively, my body immediately interested.
"I don’t believe we've met before" Turning my charm up one more level, "I am sure I would have remembered you."
She smiled coyly.
"Well, I don’t usually come out to these things; however, a friend of mine convinced me it would be worth my time." She paused and looked me over. "I’m beginning to believe she was right." She winked.
"Who is your friend? Perhaps I know her." I was curious as to whom she was associated. A brief moment of nervousness flashed in her eyes before she composed her face.