Chapter 11: The father’s Demand

Elliot's POV

Aiden told me to go home after work because he was going to dinner with his father alone. I argued that I should come since Richard wanted to meet me but Aiden said it would be better if he talked to his father first.

My apartment felt too quiet. I tried to watch TV but could not focus, I tried to read but the words did not make sense. All I could think about was Aiden sitting across from his father getting yelled at because of me.

I checked my phone every five minutes even though I knew Aiden would not text during dinner. He was probably sitting in some huge dining room in Richard's mansion eating fancy food while his father lectured him about ruining the family reputation.

By eight I gave up pretending I could do anything productive so I just sat on my couch staring at my phone.

Nine o'clock came then went, still nothing.

At ten I started really worrying. How long could one dinner take? Maybe Richard was making

Aiden stay longer to prove some kind of point. Maybe they were fighting, maybe Aiden was in trouble and I was just sitting here doing nothing.

I texted him "Are you okay?" then immediately regretted it because what if his phone went off during dinner and made things worse.

I stared at my phone waiting for the three dots that meant he was typing back but they never came.

Eleven o'clock. My leg would not stop bouncing. I got up then paced around my apartment which was only like ten steps from one wall to the other. My place was tiny compared to what I grew up in but it was mine and I loved it except for right now when it felt like a cage.

I thought about calling him but that seemed like a bad idea. If the dinner was going badly a phone call would just make it worse. If the dinner was going well then I would be interrupting. Either way I would look desperate and clingy which was not what Aiden needed right now.

Midnight hit and I was lying in bed staring at the ceiling when my phone finally buzzed. I grabbed it so fast I almost dropped it.

"We need to talk tomorrow," Aiden's message said. That was it, no explanation or details. Just those five words that made my stomach twist into knots.

I typed back "Okay" because what else could I say. He did not respond after that.

I could not sleep. I just lay there staring at the dark ceiling thinking about all the terrible things Richard might have said. All the ways this could go wrong.

All the reasons Aiden might want to talk which probably meant he was going to fire me or worse tell me we needed to stop whatever was happening between us.

My phone lit up again around one in the morning but it was not Aiden. It was another message from an unknown number. "Time is running out. Your father is losing patience."

I deleted it without responding because I was tired of getting threatened by everyone. My family, Vivian, Random people who worked for my family. Everyone wanted something from me and I had nothing left to give.

The next morning I got to work early because staying in my apartment was driving me crazy. The office was empty except for the cleaning crew. I made coffee then sat at my desk pretending to work while really just watching the elevator doors waiting for Aiden to arrive.

He walked in at seven thirty looking exhausted. His suit was perfect like always but his eyes had dark circles under them. He saw me then walked straight to his office without saying anything. A few minutes later he texted "Come in and close the door."

I got up on shaky legs then walked to his office. He was standing by the window with his back to me.

"How did it go?" I asked after closing the door.

"About as well as expected," he said without turning around. "My father wants you fired."

My heart sank. "Okay."

"I told him no," Aiden said then finally turned to face me. "He did not take it well."

"What did he say?" I asked.

"He said I was being reckless," Aiden said while walking to his desk. "That the rumors are damaging the company reputation. That you are a distraction I cannot afford."

"Maybe he is right," I said quiet.

"He is not right," Aiden said firm. "He just wants control like he always does."

"So what happens now?" I asked.

Aiden sat down in his chair then rubbed his face with both hands. "He threatened to call a board vote of no confidence. If he can convince enough board members that I am unfit to lead they can remove me as CEO."

"He would do that to his own son?" I said shocked.

"He would do anything to maintain control of this company," Aiden said. "I have known that my whole life but I guess I hoped maybe this time would be different."

"I should resign," I said. "Before this gets worse."

"No," Aiden said standing up fast. "That is exactly what he wants. He wants to control who I work with and who I spend time with and every decision I make. I am not giving him that power."

"But if you lose the company because of me," I started to say.

"Then I lose it," Aiden interrupted. "But I am not firing you just because my father demands it. I already told him that."

"What did he say?" I asked.

Aiden looked away. "He said if I do not get rid of you within a week he will cut me off from all family resources. No more access to the family accounts. No more support from his connections. Nothing."

"That is insane," I said.

"That is my father," Aiden said. "He thinks money solves everything. That threatening to take it away will make me fall in line like I always have."

"But you did not fall in line this time," I said.

"No," Aiden said while looking at me. "I did not."

We stood there staring at each other. The air felt heavy between us.

"Why?" I asked. "Why are you risking everything for me?"

He opened his mouth then closed it. Whatever he wanted to say got stuck in his throat. Finally he just shook his head.

"Go back to work Elliot," he said. "We will figure this out."

I left his office more confused than before. Aiden was willing to lose his family money and possibly his company just to keep me around. That had to mean something but I was too scared to think about what.