Adina woke up in Aiden's arm, the next morning with a smile on her lips. She stared at the sleeping figure for minutes before pecking both his cheeks and the tip of his nose. With half open eyes Aiden said, "Good morning". His deep, husky morning voice gave a Adina butterflies in my stomach and heart did a somersault
"A very good morning to you too", she said and placed a kiss on his lips.
"This is the best start to my morning",Aiden replicated her smile and finally opened his eyes fully. A yawn escaped his lips and he stretched.
Adina giggled and left the bed. "What time do we have to leave for the wedding?" She enquired while tying her hair in a loose bun, standing in front of the mirror.
"I remember Ian saying around 12 or so", he answered also leaving the bed and making his way towards Adina. "You have 4 hours to get ready",he said back hugging her and kissing her right shoulder.
The intimate contact again made her heart leap and she commented with a smile,"You are being too romantic today..." and looked at the green orbs through the mirror.
He gave his boyish grin before turning around and placing his lips on hers. Breaking the kiss he said," What are you talking about? I'm always romantic."
She snorted and said,"Except when you are being your possessive angry self".
He laughed then said,"Yeah, those are the exceptions."
Later on Adina pushed him out of the room as she had to start getting ready. He kept on whining and struggling but gave up and left to complete his morning routine and get ready.
Ian left early as was requested by his friend while Aiden was waiting for Adina to come out so they can go together. He was wearing a black three piece suit and black shoes, looking oh-so-effortlessly-handsome. On the other hand Adina was wearing a plum colour full length dress with black heels. She was wearing a very intricate looking pendant around her neck and of course the bracelet that Aiden had given her. She had braided her hair letting loose a few strands that rested around her face.
Aiden complimented her and she complimented him back then both of them sat in the car and drove off to the wedding venue. They reached just on time when the bride was walking down the aisle. The wedding ceremony soon ended and the people were congratulating the newly wedded couple.
Adina was sitting beside Aiden staring in a particular direction when he asked,"Do you want something?"
She looked back at him and smiled,"Yeah, I'm thirsty and my throat feels scratchy."
He pecked her forehead saying,"Be right back",and lept off of his seat.
She smiled after his retreating back then turned her gaze again to where she was staring earlier. Ian was sitting silently at a distance watching the wedded couple with a slight smile on his face. His eyes were dazed. Adina got curious as to what was going on in Ian's mind and made her way towards him. She sat beside him, which went unnoticed by him, and looked at the couple saying "They look perfect together, don't they?"
Ian was surprised at the sudden interruption to his thoughts. He looked at Adina who gave him a smile then back at the couple saying,"They do". He plastered a smile on his face but the pain in his eyes didn't go unnoticed by her.
She then decided to ask a personal question which might help her decipher what was going on in his mind,"Ian, did you ever have a girlfriend?"
"Huh?" He was surprised at the sudden question but replied nonetheless,"Yes. There was a girl whom I loved and who I thought loved me too."
"Oh...", she should have seen it coming but the revelation astonished her. She asked,"Did she know.....?"
"No and I am glad she didn't", he said heaving a relieved sigh.
"What happened?" She wanted to know more and couldn't help her curious ass.
"She pretended that she loved me and we were in a relationship. I was very.... wait... I still am a very easy going person. This 'accident' happened in our college days. I really liked her that I was even contemplating revealing my identity but she was after Aiden. Aiden was, like he is now, very cold person, very hard to reach. So, she looked at me as a way to reach him but when he refused her saying she was his brother's girlfriend she went all crazy. The next day she dumped me and I was left miserable. It took me a lot of time to move on but with everyone's support and my own will I finally did." He chuckled at some memory then continued,"The next time we met she talked shit about me in front of others, though I easily ignored it, Aiden couldn't. He got angry and broke her hand."
"He did what?" She asked flabbergasted.
Ian laughed at her expression and said,"She kinda deserved it though. It was quite a sight to watch. She whimpered in pain and I was shocked while Aiden pulled me out of there and drove us off. I laughed the whole ride." His laugh was infectious which made Adina laugh too.
"What are you both talking about?" Aiden asked and sat beside Adina extending one of the glasses in his hand for her. She took it and looked at the weird looking drink suspiciously. "It's a cocktail. Try it. I am sure you'll like it". She nodded and took a sip and indeed she liked it. She smiled widely at him and took another sip of the weird looking drink. "So?" He asked them lifting his brows.
"Nothing. Just about Ian's ex-girlfriend. You never told me about her."
"It wasn't my place to."
She nodded in understanding then asked teasingly,"Or you didn't wanna tell me what you did?" She laughed finishing her sentence.
He blushed at that and said,"It wasn't like that..." but then with the stern expression continued, "if I could I would have snapped her neck instead of the arm. it took much self control not to target her neck."
She giggled and kissed his cheeks. "I am glad you two have each other", she said looking at the two smiling.
Just then the newly wedded came to them and groom said," Well well look who we have here! I am glad that you came Aiden. Thank you."
He stood up and nodded curtly then said,"By the way congratulations Samuel. My best wishes for your upcoming life."
"Thank you." The other two were also standing by now. Samuel looked at Adina then at Ian saying,"And she is?"
"Oh well let me introduce myself. I am a Adina Lendl. I work under Ian and I am also his friend-"
"and my girlfriend", Aiden said possessively wrapping his arm around her waist making her blush.
"Ah! and yes. His girlfriend",she smiled at the couple.
"Oh well at last Aiden got a girlfriend",Samuel said laughing.
"Sorry I forgot to congratulate you two. My best wishes for your wedded life", Adina said changing the topic.
"Ah! Thank you so much. See you around then", the couple said and went to meet and greet the other guests.
Aiden was feeling on the edge because of so many people around but he tried not to show it to Adina. He excused himself a few times to go clear his head in some secluded place and every time he returned, the sight of Ian and Adina laughing and talking to each other agitated him more but he decided not to comment or react. That was the mistake he did. He bottled up all the anger until it burst finally.
It was time for the dance and the newly weds were slowly getting joined by the others on the dance floor. Aiden once more had excused himself to get a glass of water and some fresh air.
"I want to dance", Adina said, her chin resting on the palm of her right hand, while looking at the dance floor.
Ian looked at her pouting face and put his hand out in front of her. Adina looked at it confusedly then at his face."Come then. Let's dance."
Her face perked up and she took his hand. "Until Aiden is back", she said as he took her to the dance floor.
They swayed to the music while she giggled at a joke Ian made. They were enjoying themselves unaware of the stare they got from a person standing at a distance. Aiden's jaw tightened and his fists clutched into balls ready to throw punches. His knuckles turned white. He didn't like what he was watching. Not one bit. He turned on his heels and straight went out of the venue, towards his car and to the mansion.
After a while Ian and Adina came down the dance floor and searched for Aiden. They even tried calling him but he wouldn't answer. They looked at each other and understood the scene. Adina sighed saying,"Not again."
Ian patted her shoulder comfortingly and said,"Its ok. Calm down. We'll handle it."
"No, Ian. This is too much. He just .. how could he leave me here? He was the one to escort me here... he shouldn't have just left. He... he could have at least talked to me but NO, he didn't", Adina was quite frustrated which scared Ian a lil bit.
He hugged her and comforted her patting her back,"Shhh... calm down okay? calm down first then we'll go home and deal with whatever it is."
She took deep calming breaths then breaking the hug smiled softly and said,"Yeah, you are right. Just give me a moment okay."
"Sure. I'll go tell Sam that we are leaving. Wait for me by the car?"
She nodded and gave him a smile before they went their ways. The whole ride home was silent which according to Ian wasn't a good omen. Still he prayed to whatever god was out there that everything will turn out all fine.
They went inside and searched Aiden's bedroom, library and even the office but there was no trace of him. "Where could he go?" Adina asked a little worried.
"Maybe he went out somewhere. Or maybe for a hunt. Who knows... but I am sure wherever he is, he is just fine. Don't worry okay?" Ian said.
"Yeah",she sighed then continued, "I'll go get changed and rest until he comes back."
"That's probably the best idea", Ian said with a smile and she smiled back at him.
They were both about to bid goodbyes at Adina's bedroom when she pushed her door open and found Aiden standing by the window beside her bed. "Aiden?" Ian and Adina said in unison.
Hearing his name Aiden turned around to face them with a cold stone face which carried no expressions. Even his green mesmerizing eyes seemed empty not giving anything away except for a cold hard stare. "You've been here all this time. You know, we searched for you everywhere downstairs. You weren't picking up our calls and you left me there. You left the party so abruptly, you should have at least told one of us. I was so worried, you know? Never ever do that again",Adina rambled on while walking towards him and engulfing him in a hug.
"I didn't leave you alone. You had Ian", he said slowly in a deadly deep voice.
"Huh?" She broke the hug and looked him in the eye.
Ian who stood at a distance, stayed silent. "You had Ian so I left. You probably had a lot of fun. Glad. I am happy",the sarcasm was clear in Aiden's voice.
"Oh baby, not again please...", Adina said caressing his cheeks.
"No. You choose", Aiden said backing away from her.
Her hands dropped by her side while her eyes widened,"Wh-what do you m-mean Aiden?"