My lashes fluttered slowly, and I found Zion on top of my bed beside me, staring down at me. It was morning, and he had woken up before me, which rarely happens. Last night, I had spent hours reading until it was way past my bedtime. This was one of the side effects of sleeping late and turning your alarm off, thinking you’d wake yourself but not be able to.
“Mommy, wake up,” he said, placing his hands on my shoulder and shaking me.
“I’m up, I’m up.” I pulled myself up and sat down, my head aching a little, and I rubbed my temple to ease the pain and discomfort.
“Let’s get ready, mommy.” He said this and got out of bed, running out of the room.
And that’s how my day began.
After dropping him off at school a little later than usual, I had one thing in mind: going to see Aaron. I wanted to tell him about the mysterious children’s book I got at the bookstore, which spoke of his curse of power. It was weird that Aaron didn’t call all morning, even though he had seen the missed calls on his phone. It was unlike him, and I didn’t want to jump to conclusions.
I called in a favour with Lionel to help me pick Zion up when school closes in case I would be unable to do that. He said he had a less busy day as the art gallery had promised to review his submission and get back to him, and he was now at home doing nothing.
Despite the traffic on the road that led to Aaron’s place, I reached it an hour later. I had little luck because Ivan told me he had left the house early to go to the office for an important business meeting, which would start at eight.
He asked what I wanted to meet him for and if it was something he could deliver, but I smiled at him and shook my head. As noble as his offer was, he wouldn’t understand what it was about. I needed to find Aaron myself and deliver my message.
I had never been to Hart’s company since it officially opened in the States. I didn’t know how to get there, but after inputting the address into my location finder, I followed the directions.
I drove over to the Hart Company and parked my car in the parking lot. I raced into the building, my legs taking me as fast as they could, while my hands clutched down on the books in my hand.
According to Ivan’s direction, Aaron’s office was on the fifth floor of the building, so I got into the elevator and pressed the fifth floor.
I realized how underdressed I was as soon as I stepped into the company. I was wearing a pair of black jeans and white round-neck polo. My hair was in a neat ponytail, and I had no touch of makeup on my face. I didn’t dress poorly, but this wasn’t the place to be dressed in simple clothes. It was an office environment, and everyone wore corporate clothes.
I didn’t dress up for a formal meeting, and in my defence, I didn’t think I would have to come to the company in search of Aaron. I had hoped to meet him at home, but luck was not on my side. Things happen, and they are sometimes beyond our control. This was one of those things, and it couldn’t wait. I wished I could become invincible, which would seem better. Or for the ground to open up its mouth and swallow me.
I walked over to the secretary’s front desk, and the red-haired woman glanced up at me with an expression so formal I felt out of place.
“Good morning. I need to see Aaron Hart.”
“Good morning, ma’am. Mr Hart is in a meeting. Do you have an appointment with him?” The woman with the name tag, Ruth Sandler, asked.
I shook my head, glancing around, when I noticed a few eyes on me. “I am his girlfriend, and I need to speak to him. It’s kind of important.”
If she believed the things I just said, it didn’twasn’t reflected in her expression, as she still stared at me like someone unknown. “He’s in a meeting, and unless you call him, I can’t guarantee you will see him, ma’am. I cannot interrupt, either. That could get me fired.” She simply replied, “If it’s really important, perhaps you could call him and tell him.”
I’ve tried, but either he’s not with his phone or trying to ignore me. I doubt the latter was the case, though.
“Can I just wait then?”
“Sure!” she answered.
I moved to the waiting seat at the reception and sat down. An hour passed, and yet the meeting didn’t end, and the second hour was still the same.
My stomach growled, telling me I hadn’t had breakfast before leaving home. Well, I didn’t think I’d spend two hours waiting just to speak to Aaron.
This opened my eyes to the man he was. He was a businessman who barely had time but always had time for me.
I didn’t cherish that as much as I should have. Now I will.
My stomach growled for the second time, and I rose to my feet and approached the red-haired woman seated across the table.
“I need to see Aaron now,” I said, having zero patience left.
“Ma’am, I can’t do that. I’d get in real trouble if I did,” she answered, her tone remaining calm and professional.
“Now imagine the trouble you’d be in when your boss finds out you kept his girlfriend out here hungry, refusing to let her see him. You will be out of a job, regardless. Tell me where he is. You don’t have to come along. I’ll take the blame for the interruption.”
She sighed, not convinced by the decision I wanted her to make but not having much choice.
“The second door on your left through the right hall,” she answered, “do not get me involved in this, okay?” I nodded and walked away.
I knew the meeting was probably important, but so was this. If you ask me, this was more important because it has to do with his life.
Just like she directed, I opened the second door to my left. I saw the large meeting hall with a large table in the middle and about a dozen people seated on chairs around it, amongst whom were Damor and Sesi.
There was a man in a grey suit giving an illustration on the projected screen, and it was a business meeting about output and revenue generation.
No wonder it was taking forever.
The eyes of the men and women seated across the table turned to mine, including those of Aaron and Sesi, and I felt a chill run through me. I had disrupted the meeting, and I doubt the men seated were happy about that.
Aaron rose from his seat and approached me. He didn’t look so happy to see me, nor did he look angry. I understood I wouldn’t feel happy if Aaron had interrupted my meeting, either, but this was important.
He came to me and took hold of my hand before turning to the men around him.
“Please excuse us,” he said, and he walked out with me. He led me towards his office, and I found the eyes of a few staff members on me, but I didn’t mind. I told myself this was important.
He brought us into his office and shut the door. He took a deep breath and turned to me, his expression mixed with both confusion and worry.
My stomach tightened, and I wondered if I had done something wrong by showing up unannounced. I was the one insisting on space yesterday, only to turn around and do the same thing I had condemned all the while.
“Hey…” I began as he stepped towards me, but his lips meeting mine silenced the words in my mouth.