Free Love Me? The Trust Me? Trilogy by K E Osborn Page A

at my desk and hang my head, sighing. I knew he'd be pissed. Poor Aiden is taking the blame for it all. I shouldn't be here. I'm not good at it. I don't belong in this world. Alistair hates me. It's not simply that he's a grumpy old man. Its pure and simple hatred for me, and it runs deep.
    I can't hear Aiden's response. He normally yells back at his father, but I can't hear anything. Aiden walks out of his father's office with his head down. He looks angry. Angry at me I bet.
    Alistair pokes his head out of his door and yells across the room. "You know I'm right, Aiden!"
    He slams the door shut and Aiden continues to his office slamming his door.
    I know what I have to do; I have to quit. Perhaps I can go back to ADF if they'll have me. He needs to find a new personal assistant, one that his father approves of. I feel my bottom lip start to quiver when the realization hits me. I stand up, walk to his office, and knock on the door.
    "Come in."
    I open the door to see him on his sofa, his head buried in his hands.
    I exhale, walk over, and sit next to him.
    "I know what I have to do."
    "What do you have to do?"
    "I'm going to try and get my job back at ADF. It's obvious I suck at this, and your father clearly detests me, and I—"
    He interrupts me by abruptly kissing me. When his lips leave mine, he exhales. "You don't suck at your job. You're doing great, and I'm very happy with your work. He wants to make my life a misery, so he's taking it out on you. I'm sorry you had to hear that again. I feel like all I do is apologize for him. You have to know it's not how I feel. I can't even imagine how you must be feeling right now."
    "Like shit !"
    He winces and looks at me with saddened eyes. "Baby, please don't leave. I love having you here, and if you leave, father wins. He's trying to manipulate us both so we end up giving up. I can't, no, I won't, give up on us. I love you too much to let this affect us, and you're doing so well here. So what if you got a coffee order mixed up? It's not the end of the world. The Andersons didn't even care about it. Don't take anything Father says seriously. Stay here with me, and we can get through this together. Please, Jeni, please don't leave me."
    I feel tears welling up for the second time today, and this time I can't hold them back. I bury my head into my hands and sob.
    Aiden places his arms around me and holds me tightly to his chest. "Please don't cry." He strokes my hair and kisses the top of my head. "He isn't worth your tears."
    I start to calm down, and he hands me a tissue from the coffee table.
    "I'll stay, but I don't know how much more of this I can take. I'm so emotional all the time, and it's just not me."
    He kisses my forehead. "I know, and I understand, trust me. I've been getting this my whole life. Somehow, I've become immune to his taunts, but when it involves you, it's a whole new level of pain." He wipes my tears from my cheeks with a tissue, places his hand under my chin, and pulls my face up in front of his. "I love you. You know that, right?"
    "I know. I love you."
    He moves in to kiss me. There is a knock at the door.
    "I'm sorry to interrupt, but Mr. Anderson is on the phone for you," Brielle says quietly, peeking through the door.
    "That's quick. I bet they're going to pass on the deal because of me. I'm so sorry."
    He looks at me sympathetically, kisses my forehead again, and walks over to his phone. He turns from boyfriend to business mode while I sit on the sofa, trying to compose myself.
    "Mr. Anderson. Hello." Aiden watches me as I wipe more tears from my eyes.
    "Yes, it was great to see you all today." He laughs in response to something Mr. Anderson says.
    "Yes, sir, she's new, and I think she's doing a great job too." He laughs again. I listen intently, my interest piqued.
    "She'll be pleased to hear that, sir." He chuckles. "I bet he does. Yes, I certainly will, sir."
    I look at him, and my tears stop flowing.
    "Oh, that's great news, sir. Welcome