Aiden relaxed as he inhaled the cool, fresh air into his lungs. It had been intense back there in the office, but of course, he was glad he had followed his gut instinct where Haru was concerned. It had been the right move, in his opinion, that he didn't tell Haru of his job offer beforehand. In the end, everything had worked out fine. Of course, he still couldn't believe that Haru had managed to pull that off. Damn, but he was proud of the boy.
"So?" Patricia's voice came his way. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
They were outside in the penthouse private garden, and as Patricia said, he had requested a meeting with her.
Aiden asked, "What did you feel when we met again a few days ago?"
Patricia chuckled. "Why do you ask me that? It's obvious, isn't it? I was surprised at first and then felt over the moon to be seeing you again."
"You've been flirting with me." Aiden could be very blunt when his mind was made up and he knew what he wanted.
Patricia chuckled again, uncomfortably this time. "Of course I've been flirting with you. I've always been attracted to you, after all. What? Is this a confession or something? Because if it is, it's a very strange one. Usually you would just tell me—"
"Patricia." He cut her short. "I have something important to tell you."
Patricia looked at him expectantly as she moved closer to him. "What is it, Aiden?"
"I'm already in love with someone else," Aiden revealed.
She stared at him for a moment, confused. Then she snapped, "What?"
"I'm already in a relationship."
She frowned. "I see." She took a step back to put some space between them. "Then how come you're here having fun with your brothers instead of with your girlfriend? I doubt your brothers need to be looked after like when they were little?" she asked sarcastically.
Aiden noticed the bitter tone in her voice and said, "I don't have a girlfriend."
"You're married?"
Again, Aiden shook his head.
Patricia looked even more confused. "Then?"
"I'm gay," Aiden said.
Patricia widened her eyes in shock. "Are you serious?"
Aiden smiled. "I'm very serious."
"Oh my God, don't tell me it's that guy, your brother's friend, the one named Connor."
Aiden couldn't help himself and burst out laughing. Fuck, he and Connor? There was simply no way.
He said, "It's Haru."
Patricia stared at him for a moment and then said, "That's disgusting."
Aiden took a step toward her and said darkly, "Are you implying that Haru is disgusting? Or I'm disgusting?"
Patricia's body shook a little at the dark expression on his face. She took another step back and then turned on her heel. Over her shoulder, she said, "You're both disgusting."
She was just heading back when Aiden couldn't control himself and marched forward. He caught her by the arm and roughly turned her around.
Seething, he said, "Don't ever call Haru disgusting. Haru is the most beautiful person I have ever met. He's loving, caring, and most of all, loyal." He let her go then. "Don't come close to my family again."
Patricia was all but shaking from head to toe now.
Aiden continued, "In three years, I'll be the CEO of this company and I hope you'll erase yourself from the premises by then."
Patricia's face turned pale at that revelation. Then without a word, she rushed away.
Alone, Aiden raised his gaze to the sky and chuckled. "Fuck, that felt good."
Now then, he thought, time to head back to his beloved.
He found Haru alone along the corridor, looking troubled. He came over to the boy and asked, "Haru?"
Haru raised his gaze to him and gave him a smile. "Aiden."
Aiden stroke the backs of his fingers against the boy's cheek as he asked, "Are you still troubled by what happened back there in the office?"
Haru shook his head. "No. It's…Noah. He's acting strange. Do you know why?"
Aiden's hand stiffened for a moment.
Noah was making his move already? That was fast.
Aiden leaned toward the boy and kissed him on the forehead. When he moved back, he asked, "Are you done eating?"
At Haru nodding his head, he said, "Good. Come with me. I have something for you."
They were out of the penthouse and then the hotel building a few moments later, heading back toward the suite.
"Why are we coming back without the others?" Haru asked.
"Because I want to have you to myself," Aiden replied, which made Haru blushed.
In their bedroom, Aiden said, "Sit," which Haru did on top of the freshly made futon.
Aiden retrieved a small package from his bag and brought it over. He noticed Haru staring at it, his eyes large.
"What's that?"
"It's your present," Aiden said, smiling.
"My present?" the boy asked. "But I thought we're not doing any, like usual."
"Well," Aiden said. "This time it's special." He handed the boy the little wrapped box.
Aiden noticed Haru's hands were trembling when he accepted the box, which pleased him.
"I…I thought I wasn't getting anything from you," Haru said.
"Why would I not give anything to my cute Haru when it's Christmas?" Aiden said, chuckling. "Open it."
Haru did, though he had trouble with it since his hands were shaking that badly. In the end, Aiden helped him, and when Haru opened the little box, it was to reveal a silver necklace with a dragon pendant.
Haru sucked in his breath as Aiden watched him intensely. Fuck, but the boy was cute, and that expression, it tugged at his heartstrings.
He flicked his gaze to the necklace, to the dragon pendant, and suddenly wondered why he had chosen that in the first place? Coincidence?
"It's beautiful," Haru said. "Where? When?"
Aiden said, "The kimono shop yesterday."
"Oh," Haru expressed, as if it made sense to him.
"Why don't we put it on you?"
Haru nodded, and Aiden took the necklace and placed it around the boy's neck. Wow, it suited him.
"Thanks, Aiden," Haru said, moving toward him. He planted a soft kiss on his lips, which made Aiden smile.
When Haru moved back, Aiden said, "Now that it's all sorted, time to claim my reward."
"Reward?" Haru asked.
Aiden leaned forward and said, "Remember I said when this is over, I'll be claiming my reward?"
Haru thought for a moment and then nodded once.
Aiden didn't wait for permission and leaned in to kiss the boy on the lips. He was about to plunge his tongue into the boy's mouth when Haru pushed him back.
"Patricia," he said. "What about her?"
Aiden raised a brow. "What about Patricia?"
Haru went bright red on the cheeks. "She was flirting with you and it pisses me off."
Aiden chuckled. "There's no need to worry about her. She won't be bothering us anymore."
"Really?"
Aiden nodded. "Really. I've told her I'm in a relationship with you."
Haru widened his eyes. "You did?"