Chapter 12: The confession (part one )

Elliot's POV

My phone buzzed at six in the evening just as I was packing up my desk. Aiden's name appeared on the screen with a message that made my heart race. "Come to my penthouse tonight. I will send you the address."

I stared at the message for a full minute trying to figure out what it meant. Aiden never invited anyone to his home, he kept his personal life completely separate from work. But now he was asking me to come over which felt like crossing some invisible line we had both been careful not to cross.

"Okay" I typed back even though my hands were shaking. A second later his address came through along with "Eight o'clock."

I went home to change because showing up in my work clothes felt wrong somehow. I put on jeans and a plain black shirt then changed into a different shirt then changed back because I was being ridiculous.

It was just Aiden's apartment. We were probably going to talk about work. The address he gave me was in the nicest part of Manhattan where doormen wore uniforms and everyone looked rich. I felt out of place the second I walked into the lobby.

"I am here to see Aiden Blackwood," I told the doorman. He checked his list then nodded toward the elevator.

"Penthouse. Top floor."

The elevator ride felt like it took forever. I watched the numbers climb higher while trying to calm my racing heart. When the doors finally opened I stepped into a private hallway with only one door.

I knocked twice then waited.

Aiden opened the door wearing jeans and a gray sweater which I had never seen him wear before. He always wore suits, seeing him in casual clothes made him look younger and more human somehow.

"Come in," he said while stepping aside. I walked into his penthouse which was exactly what I expected. Everything was clean and modern with huge windows showing the city lights.

The furniture looked expensive but not comfortable like nobody actually lived here.

"Do you want something to drink?" Aiden asked. I shook my head because my throat already felt tight and adding liquid seemed like a bad idea.

"Why did you want me to come here?" I asked. Aiden walked to the windows then stood there looking out at the city with his hands in his pockets.

"Because we need to talk somewhere private," he said. "And the office has too many eyes."

"Okay," I said while staying near the door because sitting down felt too permanent.

He turned to face me. "My father called again today. He is not backing down about the board vote."

"When is it happening?" I asked.

"Next week," Aiden said. "He has been talking to board members trying to convince them I am unfit to lead because of you."

"Then I will quit," I said again because it seemed like the obvious solution. "I will resign tomorrow and this all goes away."

"It does not go away," Aiden said while walking toward me. "Because even if you quit the rumors will not stop. The damage is already done according to my father."

"So what do we do?" I asked.

"I do not know," he said and for the first time since I met him he sounded lost. "I have spent my whole life doing what my father wanted.

Building this company the way he demanded. Keeping my personal life nonexistent because relationships were distractions and now he wants me to fire the one person who actually matters and I cannot do it."

My breath caught. "What?"

"I do not want to fire you Elliot," he said while stopping right in front of me. "I know I should. I know it would make everything easier but I care about you more than I should. I cannot pretend anymore that this is just professional."

My heart was beating so loud I could hear it in my ears. "Aiden."

"I know this is inappropriate," he continued like he could not stop now that he started. "You work for me. There is a power dynamic. Every HR handbook in the world would say this is wrong.

But I do not care anymore because watching you walk around the office every day knowing I cannot have you is driving me insane."

I should tell him. I should tell him right now that I am not who he thinks I am. That I come from money just like him, that my real name is not exactly Elliot Hayes. That everything he thinks he knows about me is partly a lie.

But the words would not come out because I was terrified.

"Say something," Aiden said quietly. "Tell me I am crazy. Tell me this is a mistake. Just say something."

"You are not crazy," I said and my voice came out rough. "I feel it too."

Something changed in his eyes. They got darker and more intense, he stepped closer until there were only inches between us.

"Then what do we do about it?" he asked.

"I do not know," I whispered because my brain had stopped working. All I could think about was how close he was and how badly I wanted to close the distance between us.

"Elliot," he said my name like a question. His hand came up then stopped halfway like he wanted to touch me but was not sure if he should.

I could smell his cologne. I could see the small scar above his left eyebrow that I never noticed before. I could hear him breathing.

We stood there frozen with inches between us. Neither of us moved or backed away. We just stood there wanting the same thing but too scared to take the first step.

"If we do this everything changes," Aiden said.

"I know," I said.

"The board might vote me out," he added.

"I know," I said again. "But do you care?"

He looked at me for a long moment. "No. Not anymore."

His hand finally moved to touch my face. His fingers were warm against my skin. I stopped breathing.

"Tell me to stop," he said. "Tell me this is a bad idea."

But I could not say it because it would be a lie. This probably was a bad idea. This would probably end badly but right now with his hand on my face I did not care.

"I cannot," I whispered.

He leaned closer. My eyes started to close. His breath was warm.

Then his phone rang.