Chapter 5: First Kiss

ARTEMIS POV

I was lost, stage five lost. I had no clue of anything. The large office with the tainted glass that showed an impressive view of the city suddenly felt like a cage. I was seated beside Aidan.

Daymon stood behind us, I could tell he had a gun because the face-off going right here was scary and I didn’t even have a clue why Aidan brought me.

“Mr Creek. I have come up with a proposal. One I hope you like,” he said and Aidan cocked his head to the side, making his dark hair fall and giving him those Greek rogue looks.

“I don’t always like your proposals, Hernandez. Let’s see what’s on the plate,” He said and Hernandez's gaze rested on me.

“Is that your wife?” He asked. Aidan didn’t look one bit bothered. He lounged in his chair and shrugged.

“Not yet. We fuck a lot. Quite a lot, she should be pregnant by now. Don Carlo needs a grand heir,” he said and I blushed furiously. How was he able to say that without choking? Now that he mentioned it, silly images filled my head and I shook it to clear them out.

Hernandez took his gaze from me as soon as Aidan said that and he grinned at Aidan.

“How is she in...”

“Don’t!” Aidan's voice held an edge like he was going to deck Hernandez any moment he got.

“We came here to discuss business, not my girl,” he said and my heart stopped.

Even though that wasn’t true, it felt so real, so right, so good. My girl

Aidan nodded to Daymon who handed him a file. Aidan tossed them to Hernandez.

“Sign there, Hernandez,” he said and Hernandez gave him a deadly stare. “What is the paper?” he asked and Aidan grinned.

“I have come to claim back what belongs to the Creeks. Sign that and your ranch in Brazil becomes ours. Men are outside ready...” he let the statement hang in the air. For the first time in this meeting, Hernandez looked afraid, he leaned forward.

“Look Aidan, I know I did your family wrong in the past. I messed with billionaires and your family too but I promise it won’t happen again, that ranch is all I have,” he pleaded.

Aidan scowled and clenched his fist in annoyance, he growled.

“I don’t care, sign the freaking papers Hernandez.” He said and I sighed. I felt bad for Hernandez even though I know he must have done something to annoy Aidan that much.

“Can’t you forgive him?” I blurted out before I could think and Aidan froze. He turned to me and raised a dark eyebrow.

“Who asked you to...”

“Shhh,” I placed a finger on his lips. “I am ‘your girl’ and I think you are overdoing this,” I said sensually and he calmed down. His green eyes flickered to Daymon and Daymon snatched the file off the table and tucked it into his suit. Aidan gave me a stare that told me he’ll deal with me later.

Aidan placed his hands on the table and stood, he gave Hernandez a nod.

“You’re lucky man, next time she won’t be here to save you,” he said and I stood up.

“I’ll be here, right here by his side. I ain’t going nowhere, Hernandez. He won’t hurt you I promise. Keep the ranch. I am sure Don Carlo won’t mind one ranch out of the thousands he has gone,” I said and Hernandez nodded thankfully.

If death was a personality then it certainly was in Aidan’s eyes. They looked so dark and malicious. I was scared but I was glad I did the right thing. I was sick of him doing things he shouldn’t bother doing in the glory of his father’s name. Aidan grabbed my hands and dragged me to a closet. He shut the door and slammed me into the wall.

“How dare you? No one interrupts me during business,” he seethed and I shrugged, giving him a smirk.

“I begged you not to come, didn’t I? Consider it a punishment” I said and Aidan grabbed my neck tight.

“You are pushing me, testing me. You have no idea what I can do,” he rasped and I glared at him.

“What? Smile for daddy?” I taunted and his hand landed firmly on my waist.

“I can blow your brains out and leave your body here,” he said seriously and I blinked. That didn’t sound like he was joking.

“But you won’t do it,” I said, taking a fifty-fifty risk. His hands reached behind his waistband and my heart raced.

He smiled suddenly, catching me off guard. He folded his arms instead.

“Impressive. I won’t do that. You’ll make a good wife, Artemis, goddess of the moon,” he said. I paused, only my mother called me that. It had been a while since I had forgotten what it sounded like to my ears. I suddenly blinked back tears. Gosh, I miss her, I miss my father.

Aidan noticed this and suddenly his eyes softened. He stared at me, just watched me and I cried. I didn’t even cry when they died but now the hurt and pain and grief hit me in full force.

Aidan brushed away my hair from my face gently and I wrapped my arms around him as I sobbed into his shoulder.

“I miss them,” I said. I didn’t know if he knew what I was talking about but he nodded.

“I know,” his lips brushed my forehead which made me shiver. “I know,” he repeated, which made me cry even more. He just held me in his arms, his fingers stroking my hair. That’s when everything changed. I leaned back and stared at him, then at his lips.

I leaned forward on my toes and captured those succulent-looking lips in mine.