AidenThe sharp chime of my Rolex marked the end of my patience. Almost noon. This conversation needed to end now."You don’t know what I want," I said, my voice steady but tight with frustration. "But I’ll tell you what I don’t want: to become heir to the Kesington Group."A soft knock interrupted me. Samantha, my secretary, peeked through the door, her hand hovering awkwardly in the air as if asking permission to exist. I waved her off, and she vanished as quickly as she’d appeared, her retreating steps as if she was already eager to escape the tension radiating from my office.On the other end of the phone, my mother’s sharp inhale was audible. Her tone was as frigid as ever. "You’re becoming more like your father—a spoiled brat. Opportunities like this don’t fall into everyone’s lap, and you’re treating it like a game."I clenched my jaw. "I’m tired of repeating myself to you. You don’t know the first thing about running that group. You can’t even manage your own affairs."Her scof
Nelly“And I’ve never met anyone like you,” Danielle said with a mock scoff, weaving her fingers through my hair. Her smirk caught my reflection in the bathroom mirror, light and teasing. I couldn’t even muster a response to match her energy. My thoughts were tangled, disjointed, and her reaction to my half-told story wasn’t helping.“Seize the opportunity and willingly drown in love,” she added with an exaggerated flourish.“What does that even mean? We just—” I stopped myself with a sharp sigh, pressing my lips together.“Oh no, you’re not dropping that sentence halfway.” Danielle’s hands stilled, and her eyes narrowed on my reflection. “Spill. The. Tea. Now.”“What do you want from me?” I asked, slumping forward, defeated.“The whole story! You’re holding back, and I need details. Come on, Nelly, I’m listening, no judgment.”I side-eyed her, unimpressed. “You were judging the second I opened my mouth.”“That was moderate judging. My bestie suddenly catching the attention of a billi
Aiden“Did Nelly ask for more than the usual three days off?” Rose’s voice broke through the silence as she handed me my bag.I tried to sound casual, even though I’d been wondering the same thing. “Why?”“She’s just… taking more time than she was supposed to. Young people these days,” she muttered, her tone sharp.I chuckled,. “You hired her, though.”Rose raised an eyebrow. “I expected her to be different from the rest, given how she presented herself. But no, she’s just like everyone else—she won’t follow the rules.”I leaned back against the doorframe, keeping my tone light. “Maybe it’s time you became a little flexible with your rules.”The instant Rose’s eyes met mine, I felt the weight of her gaze like daggers. I quickly added, “I’m just concerned you’re raising your blood pressure too much. That’s not good for you.”“What’s not good for me is a tyrant employee.” Her voice hardened. “I should issue her a warning.”“She hasn’t been out there for almost a month,” I pointed out.“
NellyMy eyes fluttered open, and everything came rushing back in a dizzying wave—last night’s chaos.No reprieve. The memories hit me hard: my stupid giggles, Aiden’s strong arms lifting me into the car, and the relentless teasing I’d unleashed on him with Danielle egging me on. What a mess.Then came the worst part—the moment we got home.Flashes of me, sloppily flirting with Aiden, as Danielle’s words echoed in my head. Oh, dear Lord, the humiliation.I darted a glance around the room, scanning for any signs of someone else’s presence. The coast seemed clear. Slowly, I sat up, taking in my surroundings, and my stomach sank. My eyes widened in realization—this was Aiden’s room.Panic bubbled in my chest as I tried to piece together how I’d ended up here. My gaze dropped to myself. My clothes were gone. Just my bra and panties remained.“I told Danielle I wasn’t going to dress like this yesterday,” I muttered, my voice shaky and tinged with regret. Please, God, don’t let last night h
AidenI watched as Nelly walked toward me in the garden. Her smile seemed genuine, and if I didn't know any better, I would have believed she was happy to play the role of my pretend fiancée. But the quick glance she gave me—followed by an even sharper turn away—was evidence enough. She couldn't bother to look at me for more than a second."I'm so sorry it took me so long to get ready. I hope everything has been entertaining," she said to Zayn's wife, offering a polite side hug as they exchanged pleasantries. I caught the way she subtly flashed the ring my assistant had hurriedly fetched. She showed it off with practiced ease before settling into a seat just a few feet away from me. For some reason, that distance made me uneasy."The ladies aren't going to pay us any mind now. Seems like they've found something interesting to talk about," Zayn said as I finally joined him.As long as Nelly didn't slip up in front of Zayn's wife, I could relax. I offered a polite smile. "Looks like the
NellyI had never been as amused, entertained, and infuriated as I was now.“What is this?” I asked, glaring at Aiden’s assistant sitting across from me. Now that I thought about it, he looked exactly like he had with Eva—all corporate polish, carrying the air of someone who had plenty to say but chose silence instead. I suddenly wasn’t so eager to hear what this was about.“Mr. Aiden mentioned you both reached an agreement yesterday, hence the... aftermath.” He gave me a polite smile, as if that would soften the blow.I let out a humorless laugh. “An agreement? Is that what we’re calling it now? He ambushed me in front of his guests and decided I was his fiancée. What aftermath are we talking about?”“I didn’t mean to sound negative. I only meant there’s more to discuss. Mr. Aiden prefers to handle this privately, but he’s busy all week. He asked me to inform you that you need to keep up the act for a week. In return, he’s offering the best compensation package for the role.”I blink
Nelly“It’s official. No one in this house loves me,” I announced, letting my voice carry through the apartment.A chorus of responses echoed from different rooms. “How?”I rolled my eyes, smirking at the synchronized concern. “Because I’m still jobless! How is that not total chaos? And I can’t go back to that creepy part-time gig.”“Trust me, no one wants to see you here every day either,” Liam called out from the far end of the hallway. His room was the farthest from mine, but his sarcasm cut through the distance with ease. “I’m using every connection I have to pull some strings for you, princess.”I sighed, flopping back into the plush couch, staring up at the ceiling. “No thanks, but if there’s a way to sell my degree on eBay, I’m all for it.”Steve’s voice chimed in, always ready with unsolicited advice. “And that’s why you all should’ve chosen a useful ma—”Before he could finish, a collective shout echoed through the house.“Shut up, Steve!”The united force of our voices sent
Aiden "Thank you, Mr. Aiden, for gracing this occasion. The students loved it—it’s a dream come true for most of them," the Dean of Student Affairs said, stretching out his hand with a wide grin.I shook his hand, my gaze straying momentarily to the small crowd of students gathered nearby. Even while trying to stay discreet, they couldn’t hide their excitement—some were blowing kisses, others snapping pictures from every angle they could find.It was almost funny to be here now, considering how tedious the last two hours had felt while I gave a speech I hadn't exactly been thrilled to deliver.I managed a polite smile as I shook the dean’s hand, noticing out of the corner of my eye a young photographer—maybe a student intern—trying to capture the moment. He was practically contorting himself, adjusting his camera over and over, looking for the perfect shot of me and the dean. The poor guy had been at it for hours, and judging by his furrowed brow, he still wasn’t satisfied.The dean
NellyI had never been as amused, entertained, and infuriated as I was now.“What is this?” I asked, glaring at Aiden’s assistant sitting across from me. Now that I thought about it, he looked exactly like he had with Eva—all corporate polish, carrying the air of someone who had plenty to say but chose silence instead. I suddenly wasn’t so eager to hear what this was about.“Mr. Aiden mentioned you both reached an agreement yesterday, hence the... aftermath.” He gave me a polite smile, as if that would soften the blow.I let out a humorless laugh. “An agreement? Is that what we’re calling it now? He ambushed me in front of his guests and decided I was his fiancée. What aftermath are we talking about?”“I didn’t mean to sound negative. I only meant there’s more to discuss. Mr. Aiden prefers to handle this privately, but he’s busy all week. He asked me to inform you that you need to keep up the act for a week. In return, he’s offering the best compensation package for the role.”I blink
AidenI watched as Nelly walked toward me in the garden. Her smile seemed genuine, and if I didn't know any better, I would have believed she was happy to play the role of my pretend fiancée. But the quick glance she gave me—followed by an even sharper turn away—was evidence enough. She couldn't bother to look at me for more than a second."I'm so sorry it took me so long to get ready. I hope everything has been entertaining," she said to Zayn's wife, offering a polite side hug as they exchanged pleasantries. I caught the way she subtly flashed the ring my assistant had hurriedly fetched. She showed it off with practiced ease before settling into a seat just a few feet away from me. For some reason, that distance made me uneasy."The ladies aren't going to pay us any mind now. Seems like they've found something interesting to talk about," Zayn said as I finally joined him.As long as Nelly didn't slip up in front of Zayn's wife, I could relax. I offered a polite smile. "Looks like the
NellyMy eyes fluttered open, and everything came rushing back in a dizzying wave—last night’s chaos.No reprieve. The memories hit me hard: my stupid giggles, Aiden’s strong arms lifting me into the car, and the relentless teasing I’d unleashed on him with Danielle egging me on. What a mess.Then came the worst part—the moment we got home.Flashes of me, sloppily flirting with Aiden, as Danielle’s words echoed in my head. Oh, dear Lord, the humiliation.I darted a glance around the room, scanning for any signs of someone else’s presence. The coast seemed clear. Slowly, I sat up, taking in my surroundings, and my stomach sank. My eyes widened in realization—this was Aiden’s room.Panic bubbled in my chest as I tried to piece together how I’d ended up here. My gaze dropped to myself. My clothes were gone. Just my bra and panties remained.“I told Danielle I wasn’t going to dress like this yesterday,” I muttered, my voice shaky and tinged with regret. Please, God, don’t let last night h
Aiden“Did Nelly ask for more than the usual three days off?” Rose’s voice broke through the silence as she handed me my bag.I tried to sound casual, even though I’d been wondering the same thing. “Why?”“She’s just… taking more time than she was supposed to. Young people these days,” she muttered, her tone sharp.I chuckled,. “You hired her, though.”Rose raised an eyebrow. “I expected her to be different from the rest, given how she presented herself. But no, she’s just like everyone else—she won’t follow the rules.”I leaned back against the doorframe, keeping my tone light. “Maybe it’s time you became a little flexible with your rules.”The instant Rose’s eyes met mine, I felt the weight of her gaze like daggers. I quickly added, “I’m just concerned you’re raising your blood pressure too much. That’s not good for you.”“What’s not good for me is a tyrant employee.” Her voice hardened. “I should issue her a warning.”“She hasn’t been out there for almost a month,” I pointed out.“
Nelly“And I’ve never met anyone like you,” Danielle said with a mock scoff, weaving her fingers through my hair. Her smirk caught my reflection in the bathroom mirror, light and teasing. I couldn’t even muster a response to match her energy. My thoughts were tangled, disjointed, and her reaction to my half-told story wasn’t helping.“Seize the opportunity and willingly drown in love,” she added with an exaggerated flourish.“What does that even mean? We just—” I stopped myself with a sharp sigh, pressing my lips together.“Oh no, you’re not dropping that sentence halfway.” Danielle’s hands stilled, and her eyes narrowed on my reflection. “Spill. The. Tea. Now.”“What do you want from me?” I asked, slumping forward, defeated.“The whole story! You’re holding back, and I need details. Come on, Nelly, I’m listening, no judgment.”I side-eyed her, unimpressed. “You were judging the second I opened my mouth.”“That was moderate judging. My bestie suddenly catching the attention of a billi
AidenThe sharp chime of my Rolex marked the end of my patience. Almost noon. This conversation needed to end now."You don’t know what I want," I said, my voice steady but tight with frustration. "But I’ll tell you what I don’t want: to become heir to the Kesington Group."A soft knock interrupted me. Samantha, my secretary, peeked through the door, her hand hovering awkwardly in the air as if asking permission to exist. I waved her off, and she vanished as quickly as she’d appeared, her retreating steps as if she was already eager to escape the tension radiating from my office.On the other end of the phone, my mother’s sharp inhale was audible. Her tone was as frigid as ever. "You’re becoming more like your father—a spoiled brat. Opportunities like this don’t fall into everyone’s lap, and you’re treating it like a game."I clenched my jaw. "I’m tired of repeating myself to you. You don’t know the first thing about running that group. You can’t even manage your own affairs."Her scof
Nelly"Rose said to take care of the bottom part of the fridge," Lilian called out, giving me a quick wave as she stepped out the door. I waved back distractedly, glancing at my phone. The time blinked: 4:00 PM. The estate began to quiet down as the other employees trickled out.I watched Lilian disappear down the yard, the faint hum of a cars engine fading into the distance. The estate was still again, morphing back into what Aiden probably considered a "home." I could see his point: the place felt like a bustling office during work hours, crowded with strangers coming and going. But for me, the silence left behind wasn’t peaceful—it was isolating. I wished I could leave with the others, and not feel this constant weight of expectation pressing down on me.Maybe it was because I hadn’t even been paid yet.I unlocked my phone and opened my calendar, scrolling quickly to the end of the month. A grin spread across my face when I realized there were only four more days until payday. Relie
AidenI wiped my hands on my joggers and shut the shed door with a firm click. The air carried the earthy tang of sweat and livestock, a reminder of how deep I’d thrown myself into the morning’s work. My clothes reeked of cows, and I made a mental note to clean up downstairs before getting ready to meet Liam and Derrick.The day had been satisfying in its quietness. Busy, yes, but it was the kind of work I didn’t mind—work I’ll chose. Still, I couldn’t pretend I didn’t need Rose’s team to manage the house. It was a trade-off I wrestled with: I needed their help, but not their constant presence. Letting them work on their own schedule, then leave, struck the right balance. Not that they annoyed me, but solitude was the kind of peace I’d earned after dealing with people all week.Well, except for Nelly who is now rooted here. The thought of her lingered, curious and unwelcome. When had she left Cooper Oak? Couldn’t have been this morning—I’d been up with the sun, tending to the livestoc
NellyAs soon as my heart steadied from the shock of Aiden’s flirty expression—his face far too close for comfort—I shook my head and strode away as fast as my legs could carry me. What the hell was that about?Aiden was supposed to be the guy who avoided people, not the type to make hearts race against their will. And for heaven's sake, why did he always seem allergic to wearing a shirt in his own house? My cheeks burned just thinking about it. My thoughts churned as I rounded the corner, trying to banish the memory of his piercing gaze.But then, my heart nearly stopped.There she was. The blonde woman from last night. Her sharp, blue-eyed glare locked onto mine the instant I noticed her, and I froze like a deer caught in headlights.She didn’t stop. Instead, she marched toward me, her heels clicking with purpose. I scrambled to the side, pressing myself against the wall as she brushed past me without so much as a glance.Straight to the kitchen she went.And then, it began.“I knew