Mina and Aiden spent the following week exploring Paris, eating great food and making love every night. Mina loved every moment, Aiden thoroughly spoiled her. She was able to climb the Eiffel tower, as well as have a private tour of the Lourve.
She sighed sadly when they climbed the steps to board the small plane to return home. Aiden chuckled behind her and she smirked down at him. He gave her a small pat on her ass to urge her to move.
During the flight back, Mina continued to sigh wistfully out the window. Aiden stood up from his seat and moved to stand next to her. He bent down and gave her a quick kiss on the forehead.
"We can come back as many times as you want," he chuckled.
Mina's eyes widened with a youthful hopefulness before she settled her face and smiled up at him.
"Don't be silly Aiden, we both have responsibilities and jobs that can't be put on hold at a whim."
Aiden loved that she was practical and understood the value of working hard. However, he meant what he said. He would make sure to take her to all the places she has wished to see. Mina would see the world no matter what!
When the plane landed, Clay and Daniel stood waiting for them by the car. Mina instantly rushed to Clay and wrapped him in the tightest hug she could manage. He happily returned the gesture. Aiden nodded to Daniel in greeting before they both looked at their partners.
Warmth spread through Aiden's heart as he watched Mina and Clay. They were both warm and kind people. He chuckled to himself when he noticed Daniel doing the same. He and Daniel were both quiet and serious but yet they both managed to find similar lovers.
Clay bombarded Mina with questions on the ride back and Mina happily answered every one of them, blushing all the way. Aiden chuckled at the pair. They reminded him of his grandmother and her best friend. Whenever those two got together they would talk excitedly like two old hens happily clucking away.
When there was a small lag in conversation Aiden turned his attention to Daniel.
"Any news to report?"
Daniel looked at his employer through the rear-view mirror and nodded. Mina instantly turned her attention to him waiting with bated breath.
"Mr Kramer tried to imply that Clay had swung at him first and that he believed that Clay was secretly in love with his fiance. The judge didn't fall for it and our lawyers were prepared for it. He was ordered to pay a considerable fine to Clay and attend anger management classes, he also has to do one hundred hours of community service. "
Mina looked at Clay with wide eyes before bursting out laughing. Clay joined in quickly.
"It's true I do love you Mina, but I am not in love with you. You are more like the sister I never had, and I have sisters, three in fact."
Mina playfully slapped him on the shoulder and chastised him for being mean.
"It's true. My sisters are all older than me, the youngest by almost ten years. My parents hadn't planned to have any more kids but then I came along. My parents and sisters had no time for me and I was often on my own. Being gay in Texas wasn't a good idea and it was obvious from the get-go that I was. My deeply religious family have never understood my orientation and thinks I'm doing this just to spite them."
There was a twinge of sadness in his voice that made Mina want to hug him tightly in her arms but the seats wouldn't allow it. Instead, she gripped his shoulder in a tight, reassuring squeeze. He patted her hand and smiled.
"I'm fine, as soon as I graduated I moved to New Orleans for college and have never looked back. I was finally able to be myself, I had a few bumps along the way but now I have a job I love, a man I love and I have finally found a best friend," he said squeezing Daniel's thigh and sending Mina a wink.
Daniel gripped his hand and sent him a small smile. Mina's heart melted as she watched one of the most serious men she knew, bring his lover's hand up to his lips and give it a little kiss.
"Anyway, Mr Kramer also implied that he was only trying to find out where his fiance was and that he was worried that her assistant was incompetent and didn't know where she was. He said that he knew Clay often had no idea where his boss was or what she was doing. We secured the CCTV from the bar, luckily, they had a camera inside and out. It, clearly, showed Mr Kramer as the aggressor and you could hear everything he said."
"He has had to report to the sanitation department. Also, he isn't allowed to contact Clay in any way, not even to ask about you, we had insisted on that. His secretary is allowed to contact Clay but that's all."
Mina chuckled at the thought of Ben wearing one of those ugly fluorescent vests picking up rubbish along the highway.
"I went on his first day and took lots of photos, he was picking up trash along the highway wearing an obviously expensive sweater and jeans and that ugly orange vest. Someone actually threw trash at him as they drove past and I got it on camera. I am considering having the photo's framed." Clay added gleefully.
Everyone in the car laughed at the silly man as he jumped in his seat. Mina sat back and leaned slightly against Aiden when a text message broke the small silence. She sighed as she read it.
'Mina, when will you be coming home? I've not contacted you all week to help you calm down. I don't think what I did was wrong, I was just worried about you. Did you explain what happened to your family? Contact me soon, B'
"Is that the jerk?" Clay asked.
Mina nodded and read the message out loud.
"What should I say back?" she asked unsure what to say.
"Just text him back and say you will be back tomorrow. Then say you'll talk to him then," Aiden suggested and Mina nodded.
Ben didn't bother messaging her back which she was happy about. By the time they pulled down their street Mina was ready to drop. Her entire body felt heavy and she sagged against Aiden once again. He smiled as he placed his arm around her.
"We have a problem!" Daniel said as he came to a stop breaking the peaceful silence.
Mina sat up instantly and sighed. Ben was standing at the gates with Lola behind him. She stood smirking behind him as he ranted at Max once again.
"Does this guy seriously not get it," Clay muttered.
"What are we going to do?" Mina asked worriedly.
"Daniel drive ahead and take us to a nearby hotel. We'll stay there tonight," Aiden instructed.
"But what about Max?" Mina asked worriedly as they passed by.
Max stood with his arms crossed, looking stoic and unmovable.
"He'll be fine," Aiden said as he pulled out his iPad and turned on the app that controlled the cameras.
----
"I will tell you now you big idiot. If you don't let me inside when I take over this place, you will be demoted to cleaning the toilets or fired whichever one I decide on. So, if you don't want to be out of a job then I suggest you do as you are told by your superior and let me into my future fucking house!"
Max didn't move or blink an eye.
"No one steps inside!"
"Just convince Mina to fire this hulk now, why wait. Just tell her he hit you or something, make it sound like he's drinking on the job," Lola piped in.
Mina wanted to go back and punch Lola and Ben. They had no right to speak to Max like this.
"I just might do that, she won't say no to me. All I have to do is whisper sweet nothings in her ear and she'll bend over backwards to do what I want. Mina will fire you and your oaf of a brother on the spot," he told him and Mina seethed.
"Is that how they really see me? that I can be so easily manipulated by him?" she asked. "Clay can you message Max to call me, let's see how easily he thinks he can sweet talk me."
Clay nodded as they reached the hotel and checked in. Max called as soon as they got into their suite. Mina put the call on speaker for everyone to hear.
"Hello Max, is everything ok?" she asked, feigning innocence.
"Sorry to disturb you Miss Mina, but Mr Kramer is here insisting to be let inside."
"Is that Mina? Are you seriously calling her? Can't you fight your own battles?" they heard Lola shout as they continued to watch them on the camera, which was muted now.
"He keeps insisting that I let him inside, as he will be the owner soon. He says if I don't he will have me fired," he explained not that she needed him to.
"Put me on speaker Max," she told him.
"Go ahead, Miss Mina."
"Ben? What are you doing there? I told you I won't be home until tomorrow."
"I ... well ... I wanted ... to erm ..." they watched and heard him flounder about until they watched Lola whisper in his ear. "I wanted to prepare a surprise for when you got back, with it being your first business trip and all. I know they saw you were inexperienced and easy to walk over and I knew you would be exhausted."
"That proves how little you really know me," she said sadly. "No one walked over me, no one made me do anything I did not want to do. In fact, I was the one ordering them to do things. Yes, it was a business trip but you know it is not my first."
"Yes, I know that but it's been a long time since you've been on one, I didn't want anyone to take advantage of you," he told her.
"Well, don't worry Ben no one did. So, again, I want you to tell me why you are trying to get inside my house when you have been told repeatedly you are not allowed inside yet. Also, tell me why you are threatening my staff."
"Well, I just ... erm ... he is being ..."
"Ben, when you do move in you will not be able to fire anyone, remodel or do anything else to the house without permission. The house and staff are owned by my family, so I make all the decisions in regards to staff and everything."
Mina squeezed Aiden's arm to reassure him she didn't mean anything she was saying in regards to Ben moving in. He patted her arm and smiled letting her know he knew it already. She silently sighed in relief, grateful that he was beside her.
"Mina, his attitude is terrible. He speaks horribly to your guests, using vulgar language. He even physically puts his hands on people, manhandling them. He spat in my face not two minutes ago. Also, whilst you have been away I have passed by and seen him and his brother drinking on the job. This is not someone you want to guard our expensive house," he told her.
He was standing facing Max as he spoke and Mina could see Max getting angry, did he think she believed him.
"My house Ben, not ours. Max has been with my family," she said with a wink to Aiden. "For over ten years, he has had an exemplary record. Also, tell me one thing Ben, why is Lola with you? Isn't it late in the evening over there? Shouldn't she be at home by now?"
They watched in amusement as Ben and Lola instantly started looking around and Max visibly relaxed and smiled smugly.
"Where are you? How do you know she is here? I thought you weren't back until tomorrow?" he asked.
Max pointed to the cameras as Mina spoke.
"I am, however, the cameras around you are linked to my iPad. There is a motion sensor that alerts me to someone outside. Even though Max is there, I still decided to see who was calling whilst I was away. Imagine my surprise when I see and hear you and Lola. I heard everything you said, I heard the way you spoke to him and the calm way he spoke to you. I also heard Lola tell you to convince me now to let Max go and what you said afterwards. Am I that easy to manipulate in your eyes?"
"Max, I can only apologise for his behaviour and attitude. Do not worry about your job, you won't be going anywhere. If you could escort them from the property and I will see you tomorrow," Mina instructed before hanging up.
Aiden turned up the volume in time to hear Ben shouting at Max to call her back. He then tried to call her himself but she, quickly, turned her phone off. Max pointed back down the driveway and took a step forward when they refused.
"Go on Max, manhandle the man down the drive! Please, Max, do it for me!" Clay called out gleefully as if Max could hear him.
Aiden shook his head as he turned the iPad off and Mina playfully slapped his head.
"Max doesn't do that," she chastised.
"I know but I would love to see him do it and we would have a video of it to watch whenever we feel down," he explained.
Daniel shook his head and quickly pulled Clay away bidding them goodnight. Mina and Aiden crawled into bed and he instantly wrapped his arms around her. As soon as Mina snuggled against Aiden's chest her stomach started to churn. She took a deep breath before bolting up and charging for the bathroom.
The awful sounds of her throwing up greeted him as he walked into the bathroom after her. Aiden rubbed her back gently as she continued to heave.
"Are you ok?" he asked.
Mina nodded as she stood to wipe her face at the sink. Aiden left and came back soon after with a bottle of water for her.
"Thanks, I think all that fancy Perisian food has gotten to me," she said with a weak smile.
Aiden smiled back before wetting a washcloth with cold water. They walked back into the bedroom and Aiden laid Mina down and proceeded to wipe her slightly heated skin. She sighed happily under his treatment. She couldn't remember the last time she had been cared for like this.
It took a while but eventually, she managed to fall asleep and when she woke she felt better. The queasiness was gone as well as the small fever. Mina put it down to just an upset stomach.
----
Later that week, a few days before her family's event, she finally called Ben back. She had ignored every one of his calls and thankfully he hadn't contacted Clay. Lola had called Clay the next day to make sure Mina had returned home and that was it. Mina was sure Lola was asked to find out more than that but she didn't. From the following messages from Ben, Mina was sure she had lied and was saying Clay was making things difficult.
'If your assistant has a problem with me then fine, but he shouldn't take it out on Lola. Every time she has called him, he has been mean and curt with her. All she has tried to do is set up some lunch dates for us.'
Mina instantly called him.
"Ben I don't know what Lola has been telling you but she has only called Clay once to see if I had actually returned. Since then we have heard nothing from either of you," Mina told him. "If she has told you she has called then she must be lying to hide the fact that she must have forgotten, she may need to go to the doctor if she keeps forgetting things. Clay's been with me pretty much all day every day since we got back, getting ready for my parent's event."
"Well, she said she has called him and I believe her. Maybe, when she calls he leaves the room, or he is somewhere else," he suggested.
"No Ben, she hasn't called him, he hasn't left my side except to go to bed at the end of the day," Mina insisted not giving in.
"It doesn't matter," he said changing the subject. "Are we still going together to the event?"
Mina smirked at Clay as he shook his head at her with a huge smile.
"Yes, you can pick me up at seven," she told him.
Mina and Clay could almost imagine Ben doing a small happy dance, thinking he was finally going to use Mina to get what he thinks he deserves. If everything goes according to plan, then she will be the one getting what she deserves and he will be getting what is coming to him.