Chapter 022

22.

And then slowly, hands began to rise. Aiden's eyes scanned the room, his gaze piercing as he counted the votes. Finally, he nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. “It seems the majority is in favor of Samantha as CEO. Let's get to work, shall we?”

The room erupted into a flurry of activity, with directors and partners scrambling to congratulate Samantha and begin implementing her plan. Aiden watched with a sense of pride and satisfaction, knowing that he had played a crucial role in supporting Samantha and securing her position as CEO.

Samantha looked at him. Who exactly was this man and what power did he wield to make her earn support this easily? She had thought Mrs. Thompson would be the one to save the day since her father had told her that if she had Mrs. Thompson by her side, she would win over the rest. Her father never made mention of Aiden, and he was the one who turned the game around just now.

“Samantha,”

She felt a tap on her shoulders and turned around to see Mrs. Thompson behind her with a smile on her face.

“It's not appropriate for a lady to zone out in a meeting she hosted, you know.” she had a teasing tone to her voice and Samantha bowed apologetically.

“I'm sorry, Mrs. Thompson. Forgive my manners.” she rubbed the back of her neck.

Mrs. Thompson's eyes went to Aiden, who was talking with some of the directors, who wanted to walk their way into his company by being friends with him. A small smile graced her lips as she watched him, and she turned to look at Samantha, whose eyes were also in that direction.

“I shouldn't blame you for being distracted, though. After all, the distraction is quite a sight to behold.” she winked at Samantha, who immediately knew she was referring to Aiden.

She suddenly looked at Mrs. Thompson, convinced that the woman had gotten the wrong idea. “Err… It's not what you think, ma. I just-” she tried to explain but Mrs. Thompson chuckled.

“I was just teasing you,” she said and Samantha sucked in a breath. She didn't know the woman had this side to her. “I loved your presentation today. Your father made the right choice by giving you the company. I'm happy to be a part of the company's future, and I can't wait to see what we can accomplish together.”

Samantha smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Mrs. Thompson. “Thank you, ma. That means a lot to me. I'm glad to have you on board.”

Mrs. Thompson nodded and turned to leave, but not before casting a glance at Aiden, who was still engaged in conversation with the directors. “And don't worry, dear. I'm sure you'll figure out soon enough why Aiden is so… influential.”

Samantha raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Mrs. Thompson's enigmatic comment. She watched as the older woman walked away, her mind whirling with questions. Who was Aiden, really? Did she miss something in her research? She thought she knew everything about him, but turns out there was more.

As the meeting drew to a close, Samantha made her way over to Aiden, who was now standing alone, his eyes fixed on her with an intensity that made her heart race.

“Thank you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I don't know what I would have done without your support today.”

Aiden smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “You need to stop thanking me by using those formal tones, Samantha. At this point, your business is my business, so look at like we're in this together.” Aiden finished, his voice low and smooth.

Samantha shrugged her shoulders. The dude sure had his way with words. She wanted to ask him some questions, but she kept it to herself.

Aiden checked his wristwatch. “Let's have lunch together.”

Samantha quickly shook her head. There was no way she was having lunch together with him. “Sorry, I have a lot of things to do today, so I can't have lunch with you.”

“Are you trying to avoid me by burying yourself in work?” he asked, his eyes narrowing as he walked closer to her.

Samantha stepped back, but he didn't stop coming close. “No, I'm not. And stop that, there are people here.” she warned him, her voice coming out in a whisper.

Aiden looked around. “I don't think so.” he sneered, and she looked to see that the conference room was indeed empty. Even Seth and Linda were nowhere to be found. A smirk formed on Aiden's lips when he saw the helpless expression on her face.

“Still, you have to stop-” her words were cut off when her back met the wall and Aiden's face was inches away from hers. He tucked one hand in his pocket while the second was placed firmly on the wall beside her head. The look he gave her made her heart race and as much as she tried to say something, she couldn't form any words.

“You can't avoid me, Samantha. I told you before that if I want something, I get it, and right now, I want you to have lunch with me.” he drawled, his eyes never leaving hers.

Samantha tried to push him away. “I'm not like other ladies, who you can command and make do whatever you want. I decide whether or not to have lunch with you, and if I refuse, there is nothing you can do about it. You might be used to having things your way, but you can't try that with me.” she managed to speak even though she was slightly flustered.

Aiden smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. Now this was the Samantha he knew. “This is more reason why I want you, Samantha,” he whispered against her skin, giving her goosebumps. “You can resist as much as you can, but it won't be for long. Sooner or later, I'm going to break down those walls you built around yourself.” he moved away from her, and she could finally breathe.

She glared at him. “I'd love to see you try then.” she sassed and turned to walk away, but he held her hand.

“Where do you think you're going, Missy? We haven't had our lunch.” he stated and didn't wait for her to say anything before leading her out of the hall.

*

The employees murmured among themselves as Aiden walked past them, holding Samantha. Some had smiles and fluttering looks on their faces, while others watched with sheer jealousy. Aiden was the country's sweetheart, who had won most handsome bachelor and most eligible bachelor awards multiple times in a row. No one had been able to beat him yet.

He was known for his charming smile, piercing blue eyes, and chiseled features. And now, he was walking out of the conference room with the new CEO, Samantha, hand in hand. The rumors were already spreading like wildfire — Aiden had finally found his match. Samantha was uncomfortable because of the stares but Aiden cared less.

As they walked out of the building, Aiden's sleek black car pulled up to the curb. He opened the door for Samantha, and she slid in, trying to ignore the fact that he had won in their argument. She had thought no one would be able to make her back down so easily, but Aiden was doing just that in different ways. She couldn't help herself whenever she was around him, and no matter how tough she wanted to be or look, she always melted in his presence.

Aiden got in beside her and started the engine, his eyes never leaving hers.

“So, where are we going for lunch?” Samantha asked, trying to break the silence.

“I know a place,” Aiden said, his voice low and mysterious. “You'll like it.”

Samantha raised an eyebrow but didn't press the issue. She was already feeling trapped, and she didn't want to make things worse.

As they drove through the city, Samantha couldn't help but steal glances at him at intervals. She kept wondering the kind of man he was, and why he made her feel things even Nathan hadn't dared to make her feel, no matter how much she loved him.

He turned, and she looked away immediately, pretending to be looking out the window. Aiden smiled and returned his attention to the road.

They finally arrived at a small restaurant tucked away in a quiet corner of the city. Samantha was surprised. He was rich and yet, he chose somewhere as reserved as this to eat. Given his handsome features and wealth, she felt he would be someone who would proudly flaunt his money and good looks, so the whole world would see. She didn't expect him to be this down to earth, or was he doing this for her? Was he pretending so he could get on her good side?

Aiden was about to get down from the car, but she stopped him. “Um… I think we should go to a bigger restaurant if that's what you want. You shouldn't act simple because of me.”

Aiden snickered and moved his face close to hers. “I'm not a people pleaser, Sam,” he said, and she cursed under her breath. Even her name sounded ethereal coming from his lips. “I prefer a nice meal with a spectacular view away from the prying eyes of the public. Don't you?” he blinked at her, and she cleared her throat.

“I… uh… yeah,” Samantha stuttered, her heart racing at the proximity of their faces. Aiden chuckled and got out of the car, opening the door for her. She slid out, her eyes fixed on the restaurant. It was small, but elegant, with a beautiful garden and a stunning view of the city skyline.

Aiden led her inside, where they were greeted by the owner, a friendly old man who seemed to know Aiden well. They were shown to a cozy table by the window, with a breathtaking view of the city.

As they sat down, Samantha couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She was trapped, alone with Aiden in this intimate setting. She tried to focus on the menu, but her eyes kept drifting back to him, his piercing blue eyes and chiseled features making her mind swirl with different thoughts.

“So, what do you recommend?” she asked, trying to distract herself from her weird thoughts.

“Their seafood risotto is remarkable,” Aiden said, his eyes never leaving hers. “And the wine list is impressive.”

Samantha nodded, trying to play it cool. “Sounds good to me.” she smiled slightly. She looked composed, but her mind was in chaos. She felt like she was on thin ice with the way he was staring at her.

“How's your headache?” he asked, and she suddenly recalled that her head was about to burst a few hours ago. The pain had subsided even without her realizing it.

“I feel much better.” she replied, a bit surprised. Her headaches were terrible and didn't usually go away that easily. Maybe spending time with Aiden made her ease up a bit, even though she hated his guts.

Aiden just nodded. Their order came, and they dug in, the silence between them was a comfortable one. Samantha couldn't help but steal glances at Aiden, who was savoring his food with a look of pure pleasure. She felt a flutter in her chest, her mind racing with thoughts she couldn't quite grasp. Why did she feel so drawn to him, despite her initial reservations?

As they finished their meal and prepared to leave, Aiden reached across the table and took her hand. “Did you enjoy your lunch?” Samantha felt a jolt of electricity run through her body, her heart racing at the touch of his skin.

“I… did,” she stuttered, trying to pull her hand away. But Aiden held tight, his grip firm but gentle.

“Don't pull away, Samantha,” he whispered, his voice low and husky. “I like holding your hand.” Samantha felt a flush rise to her cheeks, her mind reeling with confusion. What was happening to her? And why did she feel so powerless to resist Aiden's charms?

Aiden led her to his car, his hand still holding hers, and opened the door for her. She got in, and he closed it before going over to his own side and starting the car, driving out of the premises. Samantha sighed. She never got this sought of treatment from Nathan.

She began to ask herself.

Was this how it felt to be loved and treated like someone special?