Chapter 4: Aiden's Temper

ARTEMIS POV

The rest of the weeks were just a blur of activities. Me, trying to keep up with the lies and Aidan being grumpy as ever. We even had to pretend for the camera.

It wasn’t what I bargained for and being in front of stubborn paparazzi was beginning to tell on me. Every click of the camera gave me paranoia.

Aidan had told me not to worry that it would still stop but I was getting wary. I was a small-town girl and wasn’t used to all this glamor and paparazzi. It wasn’t funny at all. The other part of this deal that made me uncomfortable was having to sleep on the same bed with Aidan. It wasn’t so before, I had my room but his father had insisted on it.

I peeled my eyes open now watching Aidan sleeping. Even with my resentment I couldn’t help but admire how perfect he looked. In his sleep, I couldn’t find the cynical circles around his eyes. He looked young and at peace, and his hair. I had always wondered how they were so black, like midnight. They cascaded his face and I reached over and touched it.

“You should have included this in the agreement,” he said with his eyes closed and I let out a yelp and turned my back to him. I couldn’t look at him, he had caught me touching his hair. Was he also aware that I had been watching him since?

“Cold feet?” He said behind me and I summoned all my courage and turned back. I made a face and scowled.

“There was a bug in your hair” I lied and he raised a brow. His green eyes up close sort of swirled, holding me in a trance.

“Bug? In my house” he said and I rolled my eyes.

“I meant to say fly,” I said and he shook his head. He rolled on his back and put his hands behind his head.

“What do you care?” He said and I nodded. He was right. What do I care? I slid away from the bed and clutched the robe around my body. It had taken me massive courage to even share a bed with him. He sat up and my eyes flickered to his abs.

“Today we are attending a conference. I want you to follow me because Father ordered it.” He said and I gave him a haughty stare.

“You're a daddy’s boy. You can’t even say no. He controls you” I said and he scowled. He looked furious.

“Say that again and I’ll...”

“You'll do what Aidan? Show some balls and stop being a dick, you boss me around but you can’t face your father,” I seethed. Aidan's green eyes could have lit a match the way he looked at me and I didn’t care.

“He is my father. I give him that respect,” he growled quietly and I let out a cruel chuckle.

“You’re a coward. Hiding in the name of...”

I was slammed into the nearest wall suddenly, my face pressed into it. Aidan grabbed my arms and pinned them behind my back.

“Let me go” I protested but he didn’t. I could feel him against my buttocks and it made me feel weird.

“Don’t ever call me a coward,” he growled. The anger in his voice was scary and I shivered.

“Fine, fine, you’re hurting me,” I said.

“I don’t care. I could kill you and tell Father you died, ending all this,” he whispered in my ear. Did he mean that? Reminds me not to cross him in the morning.

“I am sorry,” I said and he pushed back from me taking his warmth with him.

Immediately I turned. I slapped him hard, I would have slapped him again but he grabbed my hands and pinned me to the wall again, this time facing him.

“I can break you,” he hissed and I shot him a defiant glare.

“I like to see you try Mr Creek,” I said. Those green eyes burned maliciously even more before his hands loosened from my wrist.

“Get dressed, take a shower. We will be heading out soon,” he said with an air of finality and I shook my head.

“I am not going anywhere with you,” I said stubbornly and he growled.

“For the love of God, just do something I say for once in your life!” He yelled.

“I am keeping your end of your deal, keep to your freaking OWN!” He yelled and I flinched. He was right somehow, I nodded stormed into the bathroom, and shut the door. I let the warm water run down my body and soothe my skin. I stared at myself in the mirror and almost didn’t recognize myself. My hair had grown longer—elegantly. My old-looking nails were done and looked neat. No trace of the freckles that used to be on my face. My gray eyes looked sharper.

Was this what comes with the perks of being rich?

“Hurry the hell up!” Aidan's voice came from the other end of the door and I jumped. I suddenly felt like he could see me naked and I wrapped my arms around my breasts.

“Go Away!” I yelled back. I heard footsteps retreating and the clink of a lighter and I sighed. Sometimes I wish I smoked.

I stepped out of the shower, for an hour just to spite him. I wanted him to leave but there he was, Sitting on a couch, watching me step out of the bathroom only in my towel.

“I thought you’d leave by now?” I put my hand on my waist. Aidan's green eyes roamed my body before settling on my face.

“Get dressed and let’s go,” he snapped.

“Gosh, you’re so grumpy. How do women cope with you?” I asked and he shrugged.

“I am rich and two, I am good in bed, they know I’ll give them a good time,” he stood.

“Now hurry up, Daymon’s waiting for you downstairs,” he said and walked away.