Chapter 017

Aiden's POV I pushed myself away from Ava's grip, my eyes wide with shock and confusion. "What did you do that for?" I demanded, my voice laced with a mix of emotions - anger, frustration, and a hint of vulnerability. Ava's expression was cautious, her eyes darting back and forth as she searched for the right words. "You were feeling a little tense, so I thought..." she trailed off, her voice barely above a whisper. I cut her off, my tone sharp and dismissive. "No, I told you to leave me alone and that I was fine." I felt a surge of irritation at her disregard for my boundaries. Ava's face fell, her eyes clouding over with concern. "I know... but I had to do something. You were becoming too aggressive with me." Her voice was laced with a hint of fear, and I felt a pang of guilt for my behavior. But I pushed the feeling aside, my anger and frustration taking over. "And I would get even more angry if you don't leave my office right now," I retorted, my voice rising in anger. Ava's expression changed, her eyes flashing with defiance. "Oh, come on, Aiden, don't tell me you didn't enjoy it. You didn't even pull back from the kiss." Her voice was laced with a hint of seduction, and I felt a surge of desire that I quickly suppressed. I thundered, my voice echoing off the walls of my office. "It's Boss to you from now on, you get that?!" I felt a wave of anger and frustration wash over me, and I knew I had to regain control of the situation. Ava's face paled, her eyes widening in shock at my outburst. "Oh, please..." she started to say, but I cut her off. "Ava!!" I yelled, my voice making her flinch. "I'm sure you still like your job, right?" I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm. Ava's expression changed, her eyes narrowing as she realized the implication of my words. She flinched, her face pale, as she nodded hastily. "That's what I thought," I said, my voice cold and detached. "Now pick up these first aids and get the hell out of my office." I watched as Ava hastily gathered the first aid kit and made a quick exit, her face set in a mask of disappointment and frustration. As she reached the door, I called out to her. "Ava?" My voice was cold and detached, and Ava stopped in her tracks, her back still turned to me. "Yes, boss," she replied, her voice low and subdued. I felt a surge of satisfaction at her obedience, but it was quickly replaced by a pang of guilt. "Nothing happened here, do you get that?" I said, my voice firm but controlled. Ava's voice was barely above a whisper as she replied, "Yes, boss." Before leaving I raked my hair backwards in frustration, feeling like I was at my wit's end. What have I done? I wondered, thinking about the tense encounter with Ava earlier. It seemed like everyone was against me today. The rest of the day dragged on interminably, each minute ticking by at a glacial pace. As the day finally drew to a close, I couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. There was now an awkward tension between Ava and me, and I knew I had to be careful. I couldn't afford to let my emotions get the better of me, not with Hailey in the picture, and certainly not with Ava, my secretary. I trudge wearily through the front door of my mansion, feeling drained after a long day. My maids greeted me with their usual courtesy, relieving me of my luggage as I made my way upstairs. As I reached the top of the stairs, I thought it would be nice to check in on Hailey before retiring to my office. But as I pushed open the door to her room, I was taken aback by the sight that greeted me. Hailey was sitting on the bed, her body shaking with sobs. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her face was streaked with tears. In her hands, she clutched a dusty old brown journal, its pages dog-eared and worn. "Hailey?" I called out softly, my tired voice filled with concern. "What's wrong?" I asked, my heart sinking as I took in the sight of her distress. Hailey's eyes locked onto mine, and I saw a flash of pain and sadness there. "I remember, Aiden," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I remember." My eyes widened in shock as I rushed to Hailey's side, wrapping my arms around her in a gentle embrace. As I held her, my mind was racing with different thoughts, each one colliding with the next in a chaotic jumble. Was this a good thing or a bad thing? I wondered, my eyes darting back and forth behind her as I tried to process the implications of her recovered memories. As I held her, I could feel her body shaking with sobs, and I knew that I had to be strong for her. I had to be the rock that she needed, the safe haven where she could find comfort and solace. But as I looked into her eyes, I couldn't shake off the feeling that everything was about to change.