Aimee POV
"Are you sure this looks good?" I ask Stella, and she nods her head. I look at myself in the mirror, and I am honestly unsure about this skirt. I am going for an interview today, and I can't help but feel very anxious. I turn around, looking at my back reflected in the mirror, and I frown. I really don't think this looks good on me. This is not me. The skirt rests under my knees and has a slit right in the middle of the skirt in the back.
"This is supposed to look different", I protest, and Stella tells me I am being silly. Just because I am short doesn't mean that the skirt doesn't look good on me. She passes me her high heel shoes that I am wearing, and I frown. "I can't walk on this", I protest.
"You look amazing, but if you don't feel comfortable, why don't you wear your black dress?" Stella asks, and I look at the dress resting on the back of my bedroom chair, and I lift it up in front of my body, and I look at my reflection.
I nod my head as I strip the white shirt and the black skirt, and I slide the black dress on, it hugs all of my curves like a glove, and I feel very confident on this dress. I need it because I am very nervous about this interview.
"Did you try to get out of this one?" Stella asks as she sits me in front of the mirror so she can do my make up.
"I tried, but my editor said I am the right person for the job. I guess he doesn't know how wrong I am going to be. I tried to explain that I have a past with him, but he said that that's even better" I let out, and Stella laughed. She shakes her head, and once she is done, I look in the mirror, and my green eyes pop out through the smoky eyeshadow.
"You do realise I am not going there to seduce him or to try and get back with him, right? It's been ten years", I say, and Stella helps me up and on her high heels. I take a deep breath looking at my feet, and I might have to slip my flats in my bag without her noticing so I can change as soon as I get into the Uber.
"I know you don't want anything to do with him, but hey, it doesn't hurt to show that idiot what he lost", Stella says, and I nod my head slightly.
I look at myself in the mirror, remembering that night, the night he told me to get out of his house when his best friend trapped me in the bathroom and kissed me against my will. He believed him instead of me. I shake my head, trying to get that memory out of my mind. I look at Stella, and she pulls me for a hug.
"He is an idiot for not believing in you', Stella says, and I nod my head, and I fake a smile as I walk to grab my recording device, my pen and my pad. I am an old school journalist, and I like to write on paper. I know, weird.
I grab my bag and throw my shoes inside with my MacBook and other things when my phone pings announcing the Uber has arrived. After telling Stella I'll call her as soon as I am done with this interview, I walk out of the door. She nods her head and tells me to make him regret for dumping me.
In the car, I look at my feet and decide to keep the high heels to try and look a bit taller. I am only five foot four, and people tend to underestimate me because of my height. Stupid people.
"We're here, Miss", The driver calls, and I look out of the window to see the tall building I have been avoiding for the past seven years. I get out of the car and adjust myself in my dress before I walk into the building and announce myself to the lady at the reception area. She looks at the diary and gives me a little badge that I put on my dress, and she tells me to follow the corridor and turn right to the lift, the fifteenth floor. I nod my head, thanking her, and I walk to the lift.
As soon as the doors close, I start to feel my heart beat so fast that I honestly think I am about to have a heart attack, I have never been so nervous in all my life, but I guess it takes Alec Hardy to make me think I will fail at my job and not be able to conduct myself correctly.
The doors open, and a tall blonde woman greets me. She offers me her hand, and I shake it. "I'm Sonia, Mr Hardy's secretary", she says, and I smile. She seems nice.
"I'm Aimee Jones from Financial Times", I say, and she offers me a smile and guides me through the long corridor towards a set of double doors. I stop as she opens the door and walks in. I stand still, and she looks back over her shoulder and frowns.
I take a deep breath, and I walk into the room to see Alec, he stands up, and when his blue eyes meet mine, they turn cold. I walk in pretending the be the most confident woman in the world, and Sonia looks at me and then at Alec.
'Mr Hardy, this is Aimee jones from Financial Times, and she is your next appointment", she announces, and his eyes keep glued on mine. He then opens a big smile, walks around his mahogany desk towards me, and offers me a hand to shake.
"Miss Jones, it is a pleasure", he says, and as soon as our hands touch, I feel like an electric shock, and I remove my hand from his touch straight away. I clear my throat and offer him a smile.
"Pleasure is mine", I say as he guides me to the oval table at the end of his office. His hand resting on my lower back brought back memories of when he used to open the restaurant doors for me and guide me to our table. Alec pulls my chair, and I take my seat. He walks to the opposite side of the table and sits resting back on the chair. His eyes don't leave mine, and it makes me feel highly uncomfortable.
I clear my throat as I pick up everything that I will need for the interview, and he looks at me, analysing my every move. I look at him and lick my lips, and I raise my eyes to him.
"So, Mr Hardy", I start, and he laughs. I stop and look at him, frowning.
"How can you do this? Why are you here, Aimee?" he asks, and I look at him, keeping my composure. The conversation is already recording, and I look at him.
"I don't understand what you mean, sir. I am here to interview you, and please call me Miss Jones", I say, and his eyes grow darker as he rests his elbows on the table to stay closer to me.
"Who are you trying to fool?" he asks, and once again, I raise my chin and look up at him in the eyes.
"I am sorry, sir, I am here to interview you for our financial magazine", I say, and he stands up, slamming his hands on the desk, making me jump and open my eyes wide.
"Why are you here, Aimee? After ten years, why are you here? Didn't you do enough damage in my life? You want to do some more to my reputation now?" he barks at me, and I stand up, collecting all of my things and throwing everything into my bag.
"I never thought I would say this, but Fuck you, Alec", I say as I throw my bag over my shoulder and start walking towards the door, but his hand gets to me before I open the door, and he spins me, I lose balance on this bloody heels, and I stumble onto him against his chest between his arms. I look up at him as his arms rest around my petite frame. Alec's eyes fall on mine, and I pull away, adjusting my dress and my hair grabbing my bag that is now on the floor.
Alec POV"Mr Myers is here to see you", Sonia says as she opens the door. I stand up, greeting him."Mr Myers, I'm Alec Hardy. What can I do for you?" I ask as we shake hands and then guide him to the chair opposite from mine on my desk. He looks at me and offers me a smile. He looks like a kind and respectful man."Mr Hardy, I am here with some papers that concerns you and only you", he says, offering me a black folder. I grab it from him, and I rest back on my chair while I look at the papers, and my eyes widen. What the fuck is this?"Is this some kind of a joke?" I ask, reading the papers that I was given."Of course, not Sir, this is the testament of Harry Payne, your grandfather", he says, and I can't help but laugh. My grandfather is called Devin Hardy."I know this all must come to a shock as I am aware that you have never met your grandfather", he says, "He was very fond of you, but y
Aimee POVI arrive at the office, and I pull my chair back, flopping on my seat resting my hands on my head. I take a deep breath clearing the tears that spilt down my face with the back of my hand, and I look up to find my boss standing there. Great."How was it?" he asks, and I look down at my hands, and I stand up slowly, looking up at him. I shake my head, prepared for the shouting I am about to endure. Arthur is ruthless when it comes to our interviews, and he doesn't tolerate failure."I… I didn't", I start stammering, and he takes a deep breath crossing his arms in front of his chest. How will I tell him that I can't interview Alec because he is my ex, and I am still completely in love with him even though he has become one of the biggest playboys of all of the U.K?"Alec Hardy called me personally apologising for not doing the interview, and he requested you personally do go back and intervie
Alec POVI get myself ready to go visit mum and dad. We always had a great relationship. I always envied the kind of relationship they have. That’s what I always wanted but then I ended up falling for the wrong girl and get cheated on. I know that mum and dad’s relationship was far from perfect. I know they had some ups and downs but who doesn’t.Dad always said that he knew mum was the one the moment he first saw her, but she didn’t think the same about him because she turned him down. He was a player and I guess I am following his footsteps.I get out of the car and lock it looking at the house I grew up. It’s still the same, the fence surrounding the house, the big front garden. Mum and dad never liked to show off their money, they live in a well respected area in London but I never went to private school and I wasn’t spoiled.
Aimee POVI have spent all weekend in bed. I went to the hospital making up the excuse I fell down the stairs, but they obviously didn’t buy the story. They called the police, and I had to tell them I was mugged on the street. I couldn’t see their faces because they wore masks and all dark clothes. The police said that wasn’t enough for them to do anything, and I finally took a deep breath that made me cry in pain.As soon as I got discharged from the hospital, I got home in bed, and I hadn’t moved beside the odd trips to the bathroom. I can’t believe my life has become so messy. Why do I always have to pay the consequences for everyone else’s actions? This is absolutely ridiculous. How am I going to get all of that money?My phone starts ringing, and I answer without looking who it is, and I regret it immediately. As Arthur’s voice is the first thing, I hear. I close my e
Alec POV I get myself ready into my navy blue suit as I am about to meet my lawyers so we can go through the documents about my inheritance. I have to say I read the papers, but I couldn't understand most of them. One thing I understood was the condition implied to get married. But I am not going to consider that until my lawyers explain it to me. The drive is short, and they are already waiting for me. Just how I like it, I don't like to be kept waiting. I walk into the office, and they follow me, locking the door behind us. They have a copy of the documents, and they don't waste any time explaining the amount of money, the companies and buildings I inherited. I have to say I am impressed about everything the guy has built. I googled him, and I am impressed. He was a dick, of course, he was, but he knew the business, and he was fucking good at it. "So, there's a clause, a very old school one", my lawyer says, and I raise one eyebrow. I Wass right after all.
Aimee POV “Aimee, who did this?” Alec asks, and his tone sends a chill down my spine. As if he is worried about me, Why would he be? He dumped me years ago without even questioning what was going on. He just believed someone else instead of believing his own girlfriend. I start recording, and I look at my papers, asking the first question. Alec’s eyes go dark, and I can see the anger plastered all over his face. Alec pulls the documents away from me, forcing me to look into his eyes. I have never seen him so angry. “Aimee, tell me what happened,” Alec asks, and his voice makes me shiver. I take a deep breath resting back on my chair, releasing the pressure on my ribs, and I look at him, offering him a small smile. Then I start explaining what my mum did. And that’s when all the air is taken out of lugs when he asks me how much I need. I shake my head, looking at him. I can’t accept his money. I am not that kind of girl
Alec POV I can’t believe I asked Aimee to marry me. What was I thinking? I sit on my bed dropping my feet to the floor and I take a deep breath passing my hands through my hair. I close my eyes shaking my head as I remember the look on her face when I asked her to marry me. After she left I instantly called my lawyers asking for a contract and obviously they weren’t happy but right now I don’t give a fuck. I want Aimee safe. I know she fucked me up ten years ago, I know I still hate her but I can’t see her suffer, I can’t see her get hurt like this. That is absolutely insane and I can’t allow that to happen. Her face was pure shock when I asked her to marry me, when I explained what was going on. Her face was different, she actually considered saying yes straight away. I know she did. Does she still love me? I walk to the bathroom and rest my hands on the sink as I look at myself in the mirror. What am I doing? I know I wanted revenge for what she did to me.
Aimee POV I haven’t spoken to Alec since Monday, but I read that his dad is in hospital in the newspaper. He had a heart attack. I don’t know if I should go to the hospital to show my support or if I just should stay out of it and let him come to me. What am I doing? I need to go see him, and he must be desperate. He is very attached to his parents, and he must be going through hell right now. I look at myself in the mirror, pleased with my appearance. The bruises are fading, and they are barely noticeable with makeup on. My lip has healed, and my heart is pounding at the thought of seeing Alec again. After everything that he has put me through, I still can’t forget how much I loved him. He was my first in everything. I have dated after him, but I never got myself to trust someone the same way I trusted him maybe because I was afraid of having my heart shattered again. I take a deep breath and put my high heels