June followed the rain drops with her gaze from behind the car window. Aiden Firestorm drove slowly. She felt strange, her day had taken a 180 degree spin in a short time. She would have never imagined herself driving home with her new boss, plus they didn't get along.
"Why are you staying in my father's place?" said Aiden after a long silence, turning the wheel.
June couldn't help but look at his hands. He had a green ring placed on his middle finger, his hands were big but thin. She took away her gaze feeling embarrassment for no reason.
She opened a chat on her phone and said, "Mr. Firestorm offered me one of the apartments."
"My father made that place for the family…..."
June cleaned the dampness of the window with a hand. The wiper blades went up and down while the rain kept falling. Aiden turned on the air conditioner.
"I know. He said you almost never stay there."
"You must be talking about my brother and sister", he objected.
She saw the golden gate of the residential building from afar. Aiden stopped in front of a security cabin and rolled the window down. The gates opened. The rain hadn't stopped falling. June hugged her body, she felt cold.
"What's your place?" he asked.
She pointed to the second apartment. Aiden parked the car while she was looking for her keys in her bag. She turned her bag upside down but couldn't see her keys, she also noticed her small purse was gone. She remembered she had left the purse on her desk, her keys were inside it.
"Ah..."
"What's the matter? Aiden fixed his gaze on her.
"I forgot my keys at the office."
Aiden hit his forehead with one hand. "Don't you have a spare one?
"No.... "
She had lost her spare key last week.
"It's ok. Mr. Firestorm will probably have...."
She froze. Mr. Firestorm died not long ago.
"It's not ok! My father's gone! He won't save you!" June turned pale and trembled. Aiden hit the wheel and shouted.
One tear fell down her cheek. June lowered her head and closed her eyes, holding more tears. The truth snapped her face, Mr. Firestorm died, she had been left alone. She quickly wiped some tears from her face, wrapped her bag in one arm, and opened the door. She was about to move out from the car but Aiden grabbed her arm.
"Wait...I'm sorry! I didn't mean...."
June kept her head down, still holding the tears. Aiden stretched his arm and closed the door.
"I... you can sleep in my apartment today. I have a spare room."
He started the car and moved to the bottom.
"I'll pick your keys tomorrow", he added.
June wanted to reject his offer but she felt thirsty. She also felt dizzy. She saw a silver gate open to reveal a small garage. Aiden parked the car inside. When she got out of the car a white cat jumped out of nowhere.
"Artemis! What are you doing here?" she cried.
"He has been here since morning", said Aiden, dejected.
June laid down and took the cat in her arms. She saw Aiden walk to the back door, take out a key, and place it into the keyhole.
"Click..." The door opened.
She followed him inside. There was a small carpet at the entryway; she rubbed her shoes in the carpet and attended to walk in but he stopped her, Aiden pointed out her shoes. She blinked.
He rolled his eyes. "Your shoes... take them off."
She realized Aiden had changed her shoes and was wearing a pair of slippers. He took another pair of slippers and handed them to her. She made a strange face and took the pair of shoes with two fingers. She decided not to complain, so she just put them on. The slippers were too big for her small feet. She rather walked barefoot.
Aiden took her shoes and placed them near the door. June dragged her feet on the wooden floor, afraid of losing one slipper during the process.
"Aren't you used to changing shoes where you come from?" he said behind her back.
June bent her neck in an awkward position. Behind her, Aiden had a mocking smile on his face.
"Not really..."
He walked past her, laughing. She admired the place. It felt comfy, well organized, but cozy. A blue sofa, and two blue chairs welcomed her in the living room. There was a small table in the middle of the two chairs, and a TV. The walls had a white color on it.
"You can stay here", Aiden opened the door of the second room. She supposed the room next to it was his.
"Thanks...." she murmured.
Artemis jumped from her arms and entered the room walking gracefully, as if she owned the place. For a second none of them moved.
She heard a phone ringing. She soon realized the sound came from her phone, startled, she took the phone out from her pocket; the phone slipped through her fingers but she caught it.
"Ah...", she rolled her eyes. 'Marcus...'
She pressed the red bottom.
"I'll find you something to wear", said Aiden. He opened his bedroom door and walked in.
June stood in front of the door, not sure what to do. At last she decided to wait for him inside her room.
She sat on the bed and looked around: there were white walls, a small window, a bookshelf and white bed sheets. A gray carpet covered the floor. June had the feeling that the room was not in use.
'Didn't he have friends?, or a girlfriend....?'
She shook her head. She must not mendle in her boss' private life. She heard footsteps approaching her room, soon after Aiden showed up holding a shirt and joggers.
"This is all I have", he apologized and handed her the clothes. "You can use the bathroom", he pointed towards a gray door inside the room.
"Thanks", she repeated.
He scratched his head, opened his mouth but closed it, then opened it again.
"Are you hungry....?"
June tilted her head. "I thought you didn't like me....?"
"I don't like you, June", said he back to his usual manner, "It's just courtesy…..."
He fixed his tie. She raised her eyebrows noticing how he had called her by her name. She raised her feet and got close to Aiden.
"It won't matter how much you try. People are always deceived by my charms", she winked at him.
The phone she left on the bed rang once again. She saw from the corner of her eye that it was Marcus. She had to answer, otherwise Marcus could appear at the building looking for her.
"I'm not hungry, but thanks!" June opened the bathroom door, "Stop calling Marcus", she cried.
*
*
*
Aiden knew someone named Marcus. He was a hundred percent sure it was him, because June attended social events just like him. Besides, Marcus liked to play with every single girl since they were in college, especially cute, tiny girls like June.
Aiden took out his phone and texted Marcus: 'Stay away from June....!'
He threw his phone on the sofa. He didn't hate June, but she reminded him of his father way too much. He promised not to think about his father, but the cruel destiny made fun of him with June's sweet gaze. He took his head with both hands, June was a good girl who didn't deserve to be played by Marcus.
All of a sudden a door opened; he lifted his head and saw June peeking from behind the door, her hair was wet, she wore his shirt which covered half of her naked legs. He turned his face feeling ashamed. 'Why wasn't she wearing trousers?'
"Do you have painkillers?" She approached him.
He stared down at June, motionless. She was holding her head, frowning, her face looked white as a paper sheet.
"....'you Ok?..."
"....migraine ...." , she whispered.
He extended his arms in a reflex when June lost her balance. He felt her arms sweating under his palms but she was cold as ice.
"You have a fever. I'll call the family doctor."
June patted his chest as if she was trying to say something. ".... no ... painkiller...."
Aiden holded her for a while, not sure how to proceed. A fragile sign seemed to be covering her whole body, he didn't know how to handle fragile objects. June half closed her eyes. He gently placed her on the sofa. Then he ran to the kitchen and searched for his first aid kid.
He came back with a pill and water in his hand. June took the pill with a trembling hand, her other arm didn't move. He helped her drink the water by holding her head with his hand. She gulped, and closed her eyes.
Her chest went up and down, she seemed to try to move but couldn't. Aiden leaned his body and embraced her. He carried her small body in his arms to the bed, and covered her with a blanket.
"Plz, marry my son...." she whispered, " ....Bullsh*t...."
Aiden blinked, puzzled. She might be hallucinating. He stared at her in silence, so many questions crossed his head. 'Why was his father so interested in this girl?'
He sighed, moved away and turned on the heater.