Chapter 3. Aiden King, My Last Hope

AURORA'S POV 

"With what money?" I sighed. "And don't even think about offering me another loan. I'm just going to say no."  

Annabelle worked as a club promoter at one of Boston's most popular club. She was incredible at her job, bringing in high-paying clients that made the owners ecstatic, but she wasn’t rich. Plus, she was saving up to help fund  the club's upcoming renovation project so she could become a partner.  

"If you’re too proud to take money from mey your own sister, no less you should ask Sandy for a loan," Annabelle said, her voice filled with frustration.  

"The Kings have more money than they know what to do with. Sandy wouldn’t even notice it missing. She’d lend it to you without interest, and she knows you’d pay it back eventually."  

"I can’t," I said, shaking my head.  

"Why not?" Annabelle placed a slice of pizza on a paper plate and walked back to the couch, setting it in my lap.  

"Eat, Aurora. You’re so thin, Mom thinks you have an eating disorder."  

"I don’t," I said, frowning.  

Annabelle rolled her eyes. "Girl, I know.  

You were devouring Cheesecake Factory meals with margaritas not even a year ago. You’re just stressed. Snap out of it and ask Sandy for the money!"  

"Are you crazy?" I waved the limp pizza in the air. "She just told us she’s pregnant. She doesn’t need my drama."  

Three days ago, during our usual takeout night, Sandy had announced her pregnancy. Ariella and I squealed with excitement, while Sandy and Annabelle just watched, waiting for us to calm down.  

"So what?" Annabelle said. "She can be pregnant and still lend you money. Women multitask."  

"She’ll worry, and I don’t want to be that needy friend."  

"It’s only a few thousand dollars."  

It was really three million dollars, but Annabelle didn’t know that. And that was why I couldn’t ask Sandy.  

"Then think about this," Annabelle pressed. "If asking Sandy feels weird, go to Aiden King. He’d give you the money. Sure, he’d enjoy making you beg for it, he’s as infuriating as he is handsome but you’d leave with what you need."  

Why didn't I think about Aiden sooner?. After the suite incident years ago, my friends and sister had demanded details. I told them most of the story, the important parts. I left out the part where I told him I loved him and then cursed him. No point in sharing every little detail, right? Over time, I’d almost forgotten him. Almost. The memory of him saving me had faded.   I supposedly fell in love. Got married. Almost got divorced but Aiden remained single and as far as I knew, he hadn’t been in a serious relationship since the day he rejected me at Sandy and Henry’s wedding.  

Eight months ago, the same week Thomas disappeared, Aiden took over Royal Pipelines Enterprises, his father’s oil company, becoming CEO.  

Right then, I realized that Aiden King was my best chance at the money.  He didn't give out free favors  and could keep a secret. He loved watching people squirm.  

He had saved my life once before and I'm sure he’d do it again. Three million dollars was nothing to him. He’d give me the money just to watch me awkwardly pay him back in tiny monthly checks.  

I’d even take back the ridiculous curse I put on him.  For the first time in months, I felt a spark of hope. Not because of the pizza, but because I finally had a plan.  Aiden King was going to save me. Again. This time, I just had to play my cards right.  

TWO DAYS LATER

"Sorry, sweetie, no chance you’ll be seeing Mr. King today," the assistant said with a smug toss of her platinum ponytail. She looked like a dominatrix doll in a bright pink vinyl dress, her strong perfume thick enough to knock someone out. Her fake smile and sharp eyes warned me to stay away from her boss.  

I had come straight to Royal Pipelines after work, hoping to talk to Aiden King. Sandy told me Henry, who worked at the company, would be leaving early to take her to a doctor’s appointment. I didn’t want him to see me and tell our friends.  

When I arrived, Aiden’s assistant, Carrie, made a big show of pouting into the phone.  

"Hello Mr. King, it’s Carrie Brandy," sorry to bother you, but Miss Aurora Knight is here without an appointment. She says it’s urgent but won’t give me any details."She hung up and turned to me with a sour look.  

"Mr. King can’t see you today."  

"Tell him I’m not leaving until he does," I said, trying to sound calm.  

She sighed and repeated my words into the phone. When she hung up, she slammed it down.  

"He says he’s in a meeting that’ll last hours."  

"That’s fine. I’ll wait."  

Two hours passed. The lobby was sleek, with gold accents and TV screens flashing stock prices. Carrie sat at her desk, tapping her nails loudly, looking annoyed.  

"I need to use the restroom," she finally said, grabbing her makeup kit.  

I looked up from the oil and gas magazine I was pretending to read. "Oh? Need help? I teach kids, so I’m used to accidents."  

Her glare was deadly. "Don’t go anywhere unless it’s back to the trailer park. Or hell."  

She stormed off, her heels clacking like a warning.  

As soon as she left, I rushed toward Aiden’s office. It wasn’t hard to find—it was the biggest one. Through the glass door, I saw him and another man deep in conversation. The other man, tall and blond, had his back to me.  

I didn’t hesitate. I pushed the door open.  

Aiden didn’t even look at me.  

The blond man spoke in a smooth British accent. "Stocks are up, but the media still hates you."  

"Get to the point," Aiden snapped. "How do I fix it?"  

"Short of changing your personality? No clue," the blond man said with a smirk.  

"Try harder, or I’ll throw you out myself," Aiden growled.  

The blond sighed. "You fired nine percent of management and drilled in the Arctic. People don’t like you. The people you fired told the press, and now the company’s a mess."  

"I’ll donate money. Sponsor something," Aiden muttered.  

"Too late for that. You’ll need to sacrifice more."  

Aiden frowned. "I won’t fake a happy life for some people with electric cars."  

"Mr. King?" I cut in, my voice louder than expected.  

Both men turned to look at me. The blond looked amused, while Aiden seemed completely unsurprised.  

"You’re interrupting," Aiden said coldly.  

"Sorry, but I need to talk to you. Privately, please."  

"No."  

"It’s important."  

"Not to me. Which Steele sister are you? The loud one or the annoying one?"  

I clenched my fists. "Aurora. The annoying one."  

"What do you want?"  

"To speak in private."  

"This is Mr. Devon, my lawyer. Just talk."  

The lawyer smirked, clearly entertained. "I’ll leave you two to it," he said, gathering his papers. "Have fun, King."  

The moment he left, Aiden leaned back in his chair and flipped an hourglass.  

"You’ve got five minutes. Go."  

I spilled everything . From Thomas's debt and the threats.  Aiden listened without a word, then nodded. "You explained all that in under three minutes. Impressive."  

The door suddenly burst open, and Carrie rushed in, wide-eyed. "Mr. King, I told her not to"  

"Leave," Aiden snapped.  

"But"  

"Get out before you get fired for your incompetence" he ordered. She fled immediately.  

"You just threatened her," I said, shocked.  

"Implied," he corrected. "Now, why me? Why not your friends?"  

"I don’t want to ruin those friendships. This is business."  

"Why not Daniel Sterling?"  

"He’s scarier than you."  

Aiden smirked. "And your useless husband? Where’s he now?"

“I don’t know. If I did, I’d have chased him to the ends of the earth,” I said. “Made him pay for what he did.”

“How are you planning to pay this money back?” Aiden ran the back of his hand over his sharp jaw.

“Slowly.” The truth tasted bad in my mouth. “I teach pre-K, and I also babysit and tutor first and second graders. I’ll work hard until I pay you back every single dollar. I promise.”

“Your promise means nothing. I don’t know you. So here’s my last question—why should I help you?”

What kind of question was that? Why do normal people help others? Because it’s the kind thing to do. But Aiden King wasn’t normal or kind. He didn’t follow the same rules.

I opened my mouth, trying to think of a good reason.

“Thirty seconds, Aurora,” he said, tapping the hourglass, watching me closely.

“Because you can?”

“There are endless things I could do with my money.” He yawned.

“Because it’s the right thing to do!” I said loudly.

He picked up one of the papers on his desk, flipping through it.

“I don’t believe in right or wrong.”

“I don’t know what that means,” I said, my ears burning in shame.

“Right and wrong are the same to me,” he said calmly. “I don’t live by rules or beliefs.”

“That’s the saddest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Really?” He looked up from the paper, his face cold. “The saddest thing I’ve heard is about a woman whose husband disappeared and who might get hurt or worse.”

“Exactly!” I pointed at him. “Yes! See? If something happens to me, it’ll be your fault too.”

My lip shook. But I didn’t cry. I never did.

He tossed the paper to the side.

“First of all, I already told you—I don’t have a conscience. Second, if anything happens to you, it’s because of your choices and your dumb husband. I’m not part of your bad decisions.”

“Marrying Thomas wasn’t a bad decision. I married for love.”

It sounded weak, even to me. But I wanted him to know. To know I wasn’t just sitting around missing him all these years.

“All middle-class girls do,” he said, looking at the hourglass. “Not very impressive.”

“Aiden,” I said quietly. “You’re my only hope.”

My only other choice was to run away. Leave my family and friends. Leave everything I knew, loved, and built over the past 26 years.

He fixed the tie under his vest.

“Here’s the truth, Aurora. I don’t give anything unless I get something back. The only difference between me and that loan shark chasing you is that I grew up rich and had chances. I don’t hand out free help. So unless you tell me what I get in return for the three million dollars you want, I’m saying no. You’ve got ten seconds.”

I stood there, my cheeks hot, my eyes burning. My whole body tense. A chill ran down my spine.

I wanted to scream. To hit him. To fall on the floor and cry. To fight and punch and hurt him like no one before.

“Five seconds,” he said, tapping the hourglass again. His eyes sparkled. He was enjoying this. “Give me your best offer, Aurora Knight.”

Did he want my body?

My pride?

My soul?

I wasn’t going to give him any of that. Not for Thomas. Not for Aiden. Not for anyone.

The last seconds slipped away like the life slipping out of Auntie Tia’s body.

He pressed a red button on his desk.

“Have a nice life, Flower Girl. Whatever’s left of it.”

He turned his chair to face the window, picking up his papers like he was done with me.

The glass door behind me burst open. Two huge men in suits came in and grabbed my arms to drag me out.

Carrie stood by the elevators, leaning on the wall, her face full of pride.

“Not every day security takes out the trash. Guess there’s a first time for everything,” she said, flipping her hair and laughing loudly.

I rode my bike back to my house holding back tears the whole way. My last and only chance just disappeared.