06|Something More Than Just Blank Stares.

"We lose ourselves in the things we love and we find ourselves there, too."

Aiden's pov.

{On the day of the meeting.}

I sit up in bed. My head is aching but my mind doesn't just shut down.

I'm going to meet her in less than twelve hours. Why would she says yes to this deal?

Cause she doesn't care about you anymore and she moved on unlike you.

She does care about me and I know her damn well. I've been preparing for this since Saturday and I'm still nervous.

Questions keep popping up and they just make me crazy than I already am.

What would she think of me?

Would she be as nervous as I am?

Would she still hate me after six years?

Will she talk to me?

Did she really move on?

Does she know why I left her?

The questions don't stop . As much as I want to see her, I'm scared of how she'll react.

It's five am and I'm still awake. How could I even sleep , knowing that I would be facing her in exactly eleven hours?

And I even know that Jackson or Ricky wouldn't force her into this deal which means she took the decision.

I haven't met Ricky ever since I left. What would he think of me?

I decide on having a hot water bath. Atleast I can try sleeping after that .I can't go to my office looking like a zombie.

I get off my bed and walk straight into the shower. I stand under the shower while thinking of the possibilities of what would she react like when I see her.

Her beautiful face clouded my mind. I'm really happy to finally see her but I do not want to be the reason for her smile to fade away .

I'm not sure if she gives a real smile anymore and if she doesn't then I know that I'm the reason.

I turn of the shower and wrap a towel around my waist. I put on a pair of shorts and walk back to bed.

I lay down turning on the air conditioner. I yawn and cover my self with my blanket.

Her beautiful face comes to my mind as the flood of sleep washes over.

×××××××××××××

The knock on the door wakes me up from my sound sleep. "Who is it?" I ask loudly.

"Aiden it's nine o'clock. Get ready or you'll be late," my mom says and I look at the time.

I get off my bed and stretch . Maybe today wouldn't be so bad after all.

Keyword is 'maybe'.

I walk into the bathroom to brush my teeth. I wash my face since I already had bath and walk out.

My clothes were already kept aside for the day. Grey suit with a white shirt and a matching grey trouser.

I wear my clothes and take the watch Bree gifted me . It's more like my lucky charm.

Walking back into my room , I find my shoes near the couch and put them on.

Taking my phone, I leave my room just praying for the day ahead.

Mom wasn't there in the living room not kitchen. I walk into the reading room.

"Mom?" I call her as I open the door.

She's sleeping on the couch. She probably slept while reading a book. I sight and walk towards her.

I kiss her forehead and remove the book from her hands. Before I could walk away , her hand clutches mine.

I look at my mom's worried expression and stop.

"What is it mom?" I ask her .

"No you tell me Aiden. What's bothering you? " she asks me curiously.

"It's nothing. Just worried about work," I lie to her.

"You wouldn't be up all night because of work." She reasons out.

"Mom I'll explain everything later," I say giving in cause I know she's not going to give up till I tell the truth.

"Why can't to tell me now?" She asks.

"Maybe you wouldn't like the person who's related to the topic," I tell her as I let go of there hand.

"Why don't you just forget her?" My mom asks in an irritated voice which angers me.

"We've had this conversation before mom and just don't understand why you don't like her. She's the one who saved your life and what did you people do? You ruined the one best thing I had in life. " I point out at her with my anger rising.

"I...I'm..." I stop my mom from speaking .

"Believe it or not I still love her and I was awake all night because I was thinking of her . We're meeting her company for a bussiness deal." I inform her and storm out of the room.

What was wrong with her?

Should I call it concern?

Nah.

Why does she get so angry and frustrated or rather nervous when I talk about Bree?

"Aiden!" My mom shouts and I stop dead in my tracks.

"I don't want to talk about it , mom." I say sternly.

"You can't talk to me like that!" My mom's yells at me.

I turn around to face her and stand right in front her.

"Like what, huh? I should've spoken to you guys like this when you asked me to leave her!" I shout at her with my anger rising inside.

I can't take it anymore . What did she ever do to them?

"Listen Aiden..."my mom starts but I cut her off.

"I'm done listening to you." I state sternly and storm out.

The driver was waiting for me with the car door open wide for me to get in.

I get into the car and my driver shuts the door. I take deep breaths while trying to let out all the anger and stress.

Why?

Cause you chose to listen to your parents even when you knew that it wasn't the right thing to do.

Yes, that sounds like me.

"The whales coffee shop ," I say and the driver starts the the.

My head is aching badly so some caffiene might help before it gets worse.

My phone starts ringing and I take it out of my pocket. Cole.

"Good morning, " I say as I pick the call.

"Morning Aiden, " he greets me with a cheerful voice.

"Look who's in a good mood," I say rolling my eyes in frustration.

I'm definitely not in a mood to listen to all his rants about meeting Jackson and Bree.

"Of course I'm in a good mood cause we're meeting the dream woman today," he says and my fists ball up in anger.

"Cole I'll talk to you in office, "I tell him and wait for an answer.

"Okay. " He says and I could imagine him grinning.

I hang up and throw the phone onto the seat. I hated it when he spoke about her cause it was always about how she looked.

She's the sexiest woman alive .

She's too hot .

I agree but that doesn't mean I like it when some one else talks about the girl I fell for.

I'm going to meet her today. I'm representing this project and there is a one hundred percent possibility that she might represent her company which means we would have to work together.

Alright , so isn't that perfect?

The car stops snapping me out of my thoughts. I look out to see the small boarding :

"THE WHALES COFFEE SHOP "

It's a small yet peaceful place. Not much of paparazzi around which was why I like this place.

I get in and a flash on my face makes me groan internally. I ignore all the camera flashes and walk inside the small shop while my bodyguards waited outside for me.

I walk up to the counter and look at the blonde haired boy. His name tag read 'Mark'.

"Hey Mark, could I have an expresso?" I ask him.

"Yeah sure. Please take a seat." He says with a pleasant smile which I return.

Looks like a school kid. I walk up to a booth and take a seat there.

My thoughts wander of to her beautiful face.

How many times a day do I think of her?

All the time.

I don't know whether this deal is going to end up good or bad.

Will she even care to talk to me?

I wouldn't be surprised if she chooses not to.

The sound of the cup and saucer touching the table stop me from thinking.

I thank the kid for my coffee and he nods with a smile before getting back to his work.

I sip on my coffee as I look out of the glass window. It looks so peaceful and good here.

Looking around the small café , I continue to sip on my coffee. Wooden flooring my a cream colour ceiling and wooden tables.

The bar stools positioned next to the counter. I finish my coffee and stand up .

I walk up to Mark and pay him for the coffee while giving him a tip.

I walk out to find more paparazzi and sigh. My bodyguards lead my way and I quickly get into the car.

"My office, " I tell my driver and he quickly takes off while my bodyguards follow us in a car behind.

I look at my phone which reads 10:30 am. I shove it back into my pocket before looking out of the car.

I was becoming a nervous wreck by every passing second. If she just gives me another chance maybe I can tell her how I feel about her.

I'd take another chance, take a fall, take a shot for you

And I need you like a heart needs a beat, but it's nothin' new.

Get those stupid thoughts out of your head Aiden. She's not letting you in again and why would she wait till you tell her the truth?

My inner voice continues to remind me things I've forgotten. Why would she even wait till I tell her the truth?

I never waited for her when I left her all alone. She would rather ask me to fuck off than let me in.

My company building comes into view and I shake away all the thoughts.

My car comes to a halt in front of the building and I grab my phone while waiting for my driver to open the door.

He opens my car door and I get out. The paparazzi was stopped at the main gate for which I'm thankful.

I walk into the building and all my employees greet me and I nod with a smile while greeting them back.

I walk into my office and close the door behind me. I unbutton two buttons and take a seat .

I search for aspirin and I finally find it. I swallow one with a glass of water placed on my table.

A knock on the door interrupts, "Come in."

Mr. McCallister enters my office with a bright smile.

"Morning Mr. McCallister, "I say smiling.

"Good morning Mr. Waters, " he greets me and I direct him to take a seat.

"I spoke to Mr. Adams and they've finalised the deal with our company. After today's meeting , we'll have another one tomorrow where you and the person representing their company would talk into the details," he informs me and I control my urge to groan.

"Okay thank you for covering up for me," I say and he smiles.

"Is Cole here yet?" I ask him.

"I don't think so," he replies and I nod.

I type out my password on my laptop and open my mail box. "I forwarded the agreement to your mail." He informs me.

I check it out and nod indicating that I've got the mail.

"I've got to sort out all the project requests we've got," Mr. McCallister says and stands up.

"Okay," I say with a smile and he leaves.

I curiously apart reading the agreement so that I could find out who's going to be representing the company.

There is no fucking name mentioned here. Way to go.

I sight in frustration and close my mail. My door opens and Cole comes into view.

He's got a great timing. Alright that was sarcasm if you didn't understand.

He takes a seat with a huge grin plastered across his face. He's dressed up in a white armani suit.

"Cole don't start," I say before he could start blabbering about Bree.

"Okay," he says still grinning.

"You're behaving like a kid in high school." I point out and he lets out a laugh.

"Come on Aiden. Don't deny it cause that girl is really worth having boys wrapped around her finger, " Cole says.

Okay, I wouldn't deny it.

"Whatever Cole. We've got work to concentrate on, " I tell him and stand up.

I walk up to the shelf of files and take a few important ones before walking back to my desk.

It's going to be a hard day at work.

×××××××××××××××××

I enter the company building. Not mine but hers. I keep taking deep breaths as I follow Cole.

Don't be a coward.

I'm not being a coward . How do expect me to stay cool when I'm going to meet her in a few minutes?

I stop debating with my self and concentrate on where I'm going. The hallways were covered in blue with beautiful designs on it.

The marble flooring made it the office stand out. I continue to walk with Cole and see a reception desk which was different from the one at the entrance.

Next to it was a well designed door with a name plate on it.

Bree Adams

My heart skips a beat but I maintain my posture. A lady with blonde hair and dressed up in a skirt and blouse comes out of the room.

I could see her facing the wall and before I could see anymore the door closes. I take a look at the woman and frown.

Stacey.

She realises that I've seen her and looks away with a guilty expression.

What the fuck is happening in here?

Stacey is working for Bree? I'm confused right now like I was never before.

We walk into a conference room where our meeting is going to take place.

It's going to be fine Aiden.

I keep telling myself as I walk. I look around to see the two men I haven't seen ever since I left her.

Jackson and Ricky.

They both stand up with a smile. I look at Jackson who's eyes were fixed onto mine.

He looked away instantly and then my eyes landed on Ricky. My best friend.

He looked happy but sadness was clear in his eyes. Feeling the guilt inside me , I look away.

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Grayson, " Jackson says looking at Cole.

"It's to nice to meet you Mr. Waters, " Ricky says stretching his hand for a shake hand which I take.

"It's nice to meet you too, " I greet him back with a doubtful smile.

Jackson comes up next with a bitter smile. Nothing that I didn't expect.

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Waters, " he greets me and it felt so weird when both them called me with my first name.

"It's nice to meet you too Mr. Adams," I say and Jackson pulls me into a friendly hug.

"Stay away from her," he whispers into my ear and backs off with a fake smile.

Stay away from her.

His words keep playing in my mind. He had every right to hate me after what I did.

We take our seats and the other officials enter the room while I try to avoid the hateful stares from Jackson and Ricky.

Where is she?

I think to myself. As much as I didn't want to face her , I still wanted to see her.

Meeting Jackson and Ricky didn't go well and not that I didn't expect that . I don't want to imagine the situation while confronting her.

I hear the door open and then shut for the last time and look up.

"Don't let me interrupt , just continue with the meeting, " she says directing her hand for the officials to sit back.

My heart beats at an incredible rate as I look at her. She looks just as beautiful like she did the last time I saw her or rather more beautiful.

Her long curls that fell over her shoulders as she walked to her seat. She's dressed up in a beautiful blue formal dress.

I meet her gaze she stays frozen. Her glassy eyes that created a wall from me were emotionless.

For a second I felt like she was showing all the emotions that I dreaded to see in her.

Sadness.

Hurt.

Anger.

Fake smile .

She looks away . At this moment, I realised something. Something I never expected even though I knew her.

She never moved on.

Those words keep playing in my mind while I try to concentrate on what the officials were saying.

The anger I've seen in her wasn't against me but it was against herself.

It felt like the first time I've seen her in high school. It was just a second but it felt like I've seen the past six years in her eyes.

"You've got to sign here," the official says .

"This is the agreement between both the representatives of the two companies. " He informs me and I nod before signing.

He takes the agreement from me and looks at it before talking , "Ms. Adams please sign the agreement, "he says and my eyes flicker to her .

She's going to represent her company. She nods and takes the agreement. She gives me an emotionless look with a fake smile plastered across her face.

She's learnt to give a promising smile to unknown people now. She takes the pen and starts signing the documents.

Something catches my eyes .

The promise ring I gave her. I look at the locket hanging from her neck . The one I gifted her.

She still has them. It was like the pain I've ignored in the past six years was rushing to me all at once .

Looks like there's a decision that I've got to take now.