Chapter 94
ERICA
The moment I entered Knight Enterprises that morning, the first thing I did was nearly spill my coffee because Nero, my clingy, pampered Persian cat, adjusted his position in my arms. His soft tail swished precariously near the rim of my cup, and I sighed.
“You do realize you’re ridiculous, right?” I muttered to him as I balanced my coffee in one hand and adjusted his position with the other.
He, of course, did not care.
Nero had been particularly clingy today, following me around like a shadow, refusing to let me out of my apartment without a tantrum.
His theatrics had left me with no option but to take him to work which earned me a lot of reactions the moment I walked through those doors. People were all over him, petting him and cooing at his antics. And Nero being Nero was soaking up all the attention. He was one of the friendliest cats to ever exist.
But my boss wasn’t that warm and gooey person. So now as I walked into Aiden’s office,
I
was waiting for the dramatic reaction from.
Aiden glanced up from his desk, eyes immediately focusing on the ball of white fur cradled in my arms. His brows drew together, his face changing from annoyance to something close to disbelief.
I slowly sipped my coffee, seeing the gears in his mind.
At last, he sighed. “Erica.”
“Yes?” I asked innocently enough.
“There’s a cat in my office.”
I looked down at Nero. “Huh. So there is.”
Aiden pinched the bridge of his nose, as he always did when he was seconds from being fed
As I said. So dramatic!
“Why,” he asked with clenched teeth, “is there a cat in my office?”
270
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up
with me.
I plopped down in the chair opposite hin, utterly unruffled. “Because he was needy this morning.” I scratched behind Nero’s ears, and he let out a Jow purr. “Did you think I was going to just leave him to suffer?”
Aiden leveled a flat stare at me. “He’s a cat, Erica. He’d be fine.”
I shook my head, disapproving. “And they say you have no heart.”
“I don’t, he replied curly. “Which is why I have no problem kicking that thing out.”
I gasped, clinging to Nero more tightly. “Aiden! You beast.”
He sighed once more, grumbling something under his breath about how this was precisely why his company’s professional reputation was on the line.
He probably lacked the energy to fight to follow through on his threat or he wasn’t irritated enough. Whatever it was, he didn’t throw me and Nero out, which meant that it was time to get down to business.
I yanked out my tablet, referencing my notes. “The Shanghai investors are in for the year–end party. I’ve booked their sessions the following day.”
Aiden nodded, falling into work mode. “Great. And security?”
“Handle both. Vigilon did the last scans yesterday.
Aiden didn’t even flinch at his brother’s Intsiness being mentioned, but I caught the tension in his jaw–most likely still brooding over the fact that Collian hadn’t RSVP’d for the party yet
I sibiled but kept that tiny insight to myself.
“Press?” he went on.
“No paparazzi Just vetted the business press.
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Chapter 94
Aiden looked at me for a second before nodding. “Business as usual.”
I smiled. “Of course.”
Aiden might have been brooding and meticulous, but he wasn’t unreasonable. He let the cat stay, probably because he knew I’d ignore him anyway.
I set Nero down on the couch before pulling out my tablet. “Shanghai investors are confirmed for the annual party. Their meetings are scheduled for the next day.”
Aiden nodded, fingers tapping rhythmically against his desk. “Any special requests?”
They want a private tour of the new project site before their meetings.”
He considered this for a moment. “I’ll arrange it. Let logistics know.”
“Already done.”
He gave a small nod–his way of acknowledging efficiency without actually saying it.
I smirked. “Press has been sorted too, No paparazzi, only selected business publications.”
Aiden met my gaze. “I assume you vetted the list personally?”
“You assume correctly.”
He leaned back, fingers steepled. “Anything else?”
I hesitated before adding, “We also received a request from Vigilon’s security division. They want to finalize guest screening protocols by
tomorrow.”
At the mention of his brother’s company, Aiden’s jaw tensed slightly.
“Cillian still hasn’t RSVP’d?” I asked innocently.
His expression remained unreadable. “No.”
*
www
I hummed, amused. Cillian was a menace, but it was hilarious how his stubbornness annoyed Aiden more than anything else.
Aiden and I had history.
I met him when I was eight years old–forced to an evening at the Knight estate because our fathers were business associates.
Back then, Aiden was fourteen, already quiet and brooding. He was the complete opposite of his younger brother, Cillian, who had been an absolute terior, running around and pulling pranks on everyone.
I’d been a curious child, and Aiden? He had intrigued me. He was the only one who wasn’t paying me any attention, buried in a book while the adults talked business.
Of course, I had resolved to impose my friendship on him.
It had been a process, but I’d finally broken him. He had become someone trustworthy–someone who never attempted to dominate me like my father did.
That friendship remained even after I decided to work for him instead of joining my father’s company.
It drove my father insane,
Aiden had been austere, sullen, and reserved, yet he had ever been there for me. Even now, being my boss, that hadn’t altered.
Aiden lowered his pen, his eyes holding a look that was too studied for my comfort.
“Have you given an answer yet?”
1 blinked. To what?”
“The investor who asked you to be his date to the annual party
1 narrowed my eyes. “Why do you care?”
Aiden leaned back slightly. “Because I’m curious.”
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I tilted my head. “I didn’t know you were so interested in workplace gossip, Aiden.”
His lips twitched slightly, but his expression remained unreadable.
I shrugged. “For the record, I haven’t said yes. Or no.”
“So you’re considering it.”
“He’s nice enough.”
Aiden’s gaze was sharp. “And that’s enough for you?”
I smirked. “Are you screening my dates now, Boss?”
His jaw tightened slightly, but he said nothing.
I let the silence stretch before standing. “I have to finalize a few more details for the party.”
Aiden gave me a nod before eyeing Nero with lingering disapproval. One would think that he had grown soft after Freya and Gia came to his life. Nope. Still the same Aiden that eats bunnies for breakfast.
“Don’t bring the cat next time.” He t
hrew out.
I scooped up my fluffy menace, smirking. “No promises.”
As I turned to leave, I heard him mutter under his breath
“Unbelievable.”
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