Chapter 6: Shared secrets

Elliot's pov

I spent my whole lunch break at my desk trying to redo the work Vivian destroyed. My new laptop arrived from IT about an hour, after the meeting so I immediately started pulling up backup files from the cloud.

Some stuff was saved but not everything which meant I had to recreate half the reports from memory.

My stomach growled loud enough that the person at the desk next to mine looked over but I ignored it. I did not have time to eat because Aiden needed these reports by end of day.

I kept typing numbers into spreadsheets while my brain felt fuzzy from stress.

Around one thirty my phone buzzed again, so I grabbed it expecting another creepy message but it was just a notification about a software update.

I put it back down then kept working because I could not afford to get distracted right now.

I was so focused on my screen that I did not hear Aiden walk up until he was standing right next to my desk. I jumped a little then looked up at him.

"You did not go to lunch," he said.

"I had to finish this," I said while gesturing at my laptop. He looked at my screen for a second then back at me.

"Come to my office," he said then walked away before I could argue. I saved my work quick then followed him because when Aiden Blackwood told you to do something you did it.

When I got to his office he was setting down two bags of food on his desk.

"Sit," he said while pointing at the chair across from his desk. I sat down slow because I did not understand what was happening right now.

"I cannot have my assistant fainting from hunger," he said then pulled out containers of food. There was pasta, salad and breadsticks from that expensive Italian place down the street.

"You did not have to do this," I said even though I was already staring at the food like I had not eaten in days.

"Eat," he said, then handed me a fork. I took it because arguing seemed stupid when there was food right in front of me.

We ate quiet for a few minutes. The pasta was so good I almost forgot about everything else that happened today. Aiden ate slow like he was thinking about something heavy.

"My father never let me have friends growing up," he said suddenly. I looked up from my food surprised because Aiden never talked about personal stuff.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Exactly what I said," he replied while pushing pasta around on his plate.

"He told me friends were distractions. The only people I was allowed to spend time with were business contacts or kids from other rich families who could help our company someday."

I put my fork down because this felt important. "That sounds lonely."

"It was," he said then finally looked at me. "Every birthday party was really a networking event. I never had a real friend until college when I finally got away from him."

Something in his eyes looked hurt in a way I had never seen before. He always acted so cold and perfect but right now he just looked tired.

"I am sorry," I said because I did not know what else to say.

"Do not be sorry," he said. "I am telling you because I want you to understand why I am the way I am.

People think I am cold but really I just never learned how to be any different."

My chest felt tight because I understood that feeling more than he knew. Growing up in my family was like living in a museum where everything looked perfect but nothing was real.

"I get it," I said quiet. "I also grew up feeling trapped."

He looked at me real careful. "What do you mean?"

I had to be careful here because I could not tell him the whole truth but I could give him something real. "My family had these expectations for me.

They wanted me to be a certain person and live a certain life but that person was not me. So I left."

"That takes courage," he said.

"Or stupidity," I said then tried to laugh but it came out wrong. "I am still not sure which one."

"Courage," he said firm. "Running away from money and comfort to find yourself takes guts."

I looked down at my food because his words made my throat feel weird. Nobody ever called me brave before, most people would call me ungrateful or foolish for leaving my family.

"Thank you," I said.

"For what?" he asked.

"For the food and for not firing me after what happened today," I said. He shook his head.

"Vivian was out of line," he said. "She has been out of line for a while now."

"Why do you keep her around?" I asked then immediately regretted it because it was not my business.

"Because she is good at her job when she is not being vindictive," he said. "But I am running out of patience with her."

We finished eating while talking about work stuff which felt easier. He asked about my progress on the reports, I told him I was about halfway done. He nodded then said to take my time because quality mattered more than speed.

When I stood up to leave he stood up too then walked me to the door. I grabbed the handle but before I could open it he reached past me to hold it closed for a second.

"If she bothers you again tell me," he said real quiet. His hand was right next to mine on the door.

"I will," I lied for the third time today.

He looked at me like he knew I was lying but did not push it.

I went to pull the door open but our fingers brushed against each other. It felt like touching a live wire.

My heart was beating so loud I thought he could probably hear it. His eyes looked darker than normal, the air between us felt heavy like right before a thunderstorm.

Finally he stepped back so I could open the door. I walked out fast because if I stayed one more second I might do something stupid like kiss him.