Chapter 028

28.

Aiden tapped his feet on the floor numerous times as he awaited Samantha's reply to his invite. He would glance at his phone every second and Seth just sat, watching him.

"No reply yet?" Seth asked.

"It's been fifteen minutes. What's taking her so long? She read it and refused to say anything." he ruffled his hair.

"Be patient. Maybe she tapped on the message by mistake and hasn't glanced at her phone to see it." he tried to comfort Aiden, who just looked away.

After two minutes, he stood to his feet. "If she isn't going to reply to my text, I'll just have to meet her face to face and get the answer out of her." Just as he was about to take a step, his phone beeped. He quickly checked it and his face lit up at her reply

"She said yes!" he exclaimed happily, did a dance and turned around, walking out of the office with the car keys twirling in his hand.

Seth wondered if it was a proposal because how can a man like Aiden be so happy because a lady accepted his invite to a dinner date? Ladies fight to even get a glimpse of him, so what was all these? He just sighed and returned his focus to what he was doing.

*

Aiden got home and freshened up. He wore one of his most elegant suits, styled his hair to perfection and headed out. Just as he got into the car, his phone rang and he saw his mother's name flashing on the screen.

He turned the car's Bluetooth on and connected the call, driving out immediately.

"Hello, mum,"

"Aiden, Mia is stranded at the airport. Can you go pick her up?" The woman exclaimed from the other end.

"Why am I the one who is supposed to pick her up? What happened to her driver?" he asked.

"Her car broke down and there's no way he can get it done in time. You know how she is. You have to go pick her up."

"Mum, I'm busy. I'll tell Seth to go pick her up."

"She insisted that you be the one to pick her else she was going to starve to death. Just pick her for this night. It's not going to kill you, you know? And she will be staying at your house for the meantime."

"What!" The call ended before he could say anything else and he frowned. "Fuck!" he hit the steering wheel.

He texted Mia, who gave him her location immediately. He went to Samantha's house first and met her stepping out of the house. He got down from the car and approached her, a smile on his face as he gushed at how beautiful she looked in that white gown.

"You look stunning." he stretched out his hand and she took it.

"Thanks. You look nice too," she complimented.

He gave her an appreciative nod. "Shall we?" he asked and she nodded.

"Have fun!" Linda waved at them. He opened the car door for Samantha and she got in before he took the driver's seat.

"I'll be picking my cousin up from the airport. Her chauffeur's car broke down and she is a bit stranded. She might actually join us for dinner tonight. I'm so sorry, I wanted this dinner to be just the two of us but-"

"It's okay, I'm fine with it." Samantha answered, it wasn't like she wanted to go for this dinner in the first place. She felt that it would be cool to have his cousin around, at least he wouldn't bring talks about their engagement up.

Aiden was shocked. "You aren't mad?" he asked and she shook her head.

"Not at all. She has been in a flight all day, so she must be famished. I'm completely okay with her tagging along."

Aiden smiled. "Thanks,"

He headed for the airport immediately and Mia, whose eyes were fixed on the road, recognized his car immediately. He got down from the car on sighting her and Samantha's gaze followed him as he strode to where she stood.

When Samantha saw the girl, she was stunned. The lady was gorgeous; what was she expecting from a family with a Greek god like Aiden? Of course beauty runs in their family. She had black shoulder length hair and a very cute stature. Samantha was a lady, but she had to admit that this lady was pretty.

Mia hugged him and planted a peck on his cheek, much to Samantha's shock. She wondered if this girl was his real cousin or something else was going on between them. Or was this how they greeted each other in their family? She asked herself not to bother. Whatever he did was none of her business.

Aiden helped Mia load her things into the trunk of the car and opened the car door for her to get in. She entered and wasn't quite pleased to see another woman in the car.

Aiden got into the car and she couldn't help but ask. "Who is this lady?"

"Oh, this is Samantha, my finacèe." he introduced, shocking both Mia and Samantha. Mia was shocked because she couldn't believe Aiden had a finacèe. What about her? Samantha was shocked because she didn't expect Aiden to call her that.

Mia faked a smile. "It's nice meeting you sister in law. I'm Mia, I hope we get along."

"It's my pleasure." Samantha gave her a small smile.

The drive wasn't quite as Mia kept engaging Aiden in conversations. She would talk about how she had said she'd marry Aiden when she was little and other topics that made Samantha uncomfortable.

They arrived at the restaurant and Mia thought Aiden would open the door for her but was shocked when he opened the door for Samantha instead. She got down from the car, taking a closer look at Samantha. The lady was indeed beautiful and she felt threatened. She wasn't going to allow anyone to take Aiden away from her.

She had come here after graduation because of him, and no way is she letting him go.

Aiden got a text and turned to her after reading it. "Your driver said the car's fixed. He wants to pick you up."

"I'm famished, Aiden. How about after dinner?" she pouted.

Aiden nodded and held Samantha's hand as they walked into the restaurant. They were given a table and their orders were taken. Mia didn't fail to notice how Aiden was staring at Samantha. No one needed to tell her that this woman had her cousin in her palms.

Her fists tightened under the table and she tried to control her anger. The food arrived and the waiter bowed before leaving.

Samantha couldn't help but notice Mia's eyes on her, but whenever she looked up, Mia would mask her glare with a smile.

"Aiden, your Fiancèe is so beautiful. I thought I was the most beautiful lady in the world, but she just beat me." Mia blinked at Samantha with a dreamy expression on her face.

"Oh please, I'm not that pretty. You're gorgeous, Mia." Samantha complimented her.

"I know, but you're more beautiful. Aiden never settles for less," she chuckled and Aiden smiled. "Why don't we make a toast to the start of a wonderful friendship?"

"Sure," Samantha replied.

"Don't worry, I'll do the honors," she smiled and took the bottle of wine. She poured into Aiden's glass cup and proceeded to pour in Samantha's glass cup.

"Oops!" she exclaimed as the bottle slipped from her hands, falling on the table and splashing its contents on Samantha's white dress.

Samantha gasped.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! Fuck I'm so clumsy!" Mia exclaimed.

Aiden quickly took the bottle and held Samantha.

"Let me help you clean up," she offered but Samantha declined.

"Don't worry about it. I need to use the restroom," she slipped away from Aiden and walked away, leaving her handkerchief on the table.

Aiden looked at Mia, who sighed. "I'm so sorry. I had no idea," she bit her lower lip.

Aiden just shook his head.

"I'll go give her the handkerchief," she said and took it, rushing at Samantha.

Samantha stepped into the restroom and looked at her ruined gown. "How to fix this?" she stared at it as she wondered what to do. This was a white gown and the wine stains were very evident. There was no fucking way she'd be able to use water to fix it.

The door opened and Mia walked in. "Sister in law, you forgot your precious handkerchief," she said, her tone dripping with malice as she gave the handkerchief to Samantha, who took it.

Samantha raised an eyebrow, noticing the difference in her tone, but she chose to ignore it. "Thank you," she forced a smile and turned to turn the tap on, soaking her handkerchief into it and wiping her body.

"You're welcome to leave Aiden alone. I know you feel nothing for him." she spoke up and Samantha turned to face her, her brows creasing.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm just saying that you should leave Aiden alone. I know you don't love him, so why are you still keeping him? How did you even become his Fiancèe? You are nowhere near his league." she scoffed, her voice laced with contempt.

"I don't know where this is coming from, but you're disrespecting me, Mia." Samantha said, her expression turning cold.

"So what? Do you think I'm happy seeing Aiden all over you when he should be mine instead?" she snapped and Samantha blinked.

"Wait, did you spill this wine on me deliberately?" she asked.

"Maybe I did, maybe I didn't." Mia smirked with her arms folded.

"Why would you do that?"

"It's simple and crystal clear. I don't want you anywhere close to Aiden. I want him and I will do anything to have him even if it means stepping on the heads of everyone to achieve my goal. Consider this my first warning. You don't want to see how dangerous I can be if I don't get what I want," she threatened in a low voice and moved back, smiling at Samantha sweetly. "Happy cleaning, sister in law!" she waved her goodbye and walked out.

Samantha blinked. Did this shit actually happen just now?