Chereads / The Secrets She Keeps / Chapter 10 - Rockefeller Centre

Chapter 10 - Rockefeller Centre

Ash's POV

A date, with that... I don't even know what to call him. Ugh, I don't want to do this. I put my head on the desk and stared at my Bed, the sheets had just been changed and I just want to crawl under them and sleep forever. I heard crying outside my room, I opened the door to find Rori standing next to Torin, who had turned red with tears. " I just wanted to play with him!" Rori explained as Torin came walking towards me and hugged my leg, I picked him up off the floor, "What were you trying to play?" I asked while swaying Torin to calm him down, "Well... I wanted to play in the training gym" he said so quietly I almost couldn't hear him. "Rori, you know Torin is too young to go to the training gym!" I scolded, "I know" he answered, looking down at his feet. Torin had quietened down but still looked quite upset, "come on, I'll take you both out for a bit" I sighed, putting Torin down. "Meet me in the kitchen" I told them, they both smiled and went downstairs.

We've been here for about four months now, they can go around the building freely, but other than school and nursery they don't go out much. I quickly picked up my jacket and went down to the kitchen, we have a 16 floor building that has loads of different uses, the top two floors are where my family lives, the four floors below are apartments for the people who work for us, other floors have their offices, a conference room, the training gym (that Torin is too young to go to), equipment rooms etc. the bottom floors have bars and clubs, but you need facial recognition to go higher into the building, which is why Rori and Torin don't get to go out as much.

Once in the car, they both started shouting, "Can we go here?" pointing at a leaflet they found in the kitchen, a water park?" I asked, "yea!" they both exclaimed, "It's WINTER" I told them, "I'll take you when it's warmer." I drove to the shutters and it clattered open, I joined the busy New York traffic and drove to Rockefeller centre, the black SUV right behind us.

I looked up into my mirror and watched their little faces light up with awe when they saw the Christmas tree, their eyes glittering like the lights that decorated the tall evergreen. Torin had the biggest smile on his face, hands pressed up against the window, he was going giddy with excitement. We got out of the car and I wrapped them up in their scarves and gloves, "Do not let go of my hand" I told Torin, he nodded, "and you, don't run off" I said to Rori "I know" he groaned, I looked towards the SUV and nodded slightly, Tom, my oldest brother's friend; and Woody, stepped out and began to follow us from a distance.

Torin pulled me towards the Christmas tree and Rori was running back and forth towards the tree and back to me to make sure he didn't go too far. We stood below the Christmas tree and stared up at the star on top," how about you make a wish?" I said to them, they both clasped their hands together and squeezed their eyes shut, "I wish for mummy to come back" I heard Torin whisper and it took all I had to stop myself from crying.

We went to the viewpoint and took photos of the snow-covered city, went Christmas shopping on Fifth Avenue, Torin chose a teddy bear for everyone, my credit card will take a big hit from that since he didn't know they were expensive (Ralph Lauren teddies), and told me to be surprised when I opened it on Christmas, Rori chose a hat and scarf set for each of our brothers, except Torin who would get a toy and he chose our Father a new tie and cufflinks, all of which he paid for using his allowance. I got my oldest brothers cologne and younger brothers a new t-shirt each, I thought for a while and realised it would look strange if I didn't get Marcos a gift too. I added a slightly cheaper, crappier cologne to my pile. It's not a bad one, just not AS good as the others I picked, I chose a gold bee necklace from Liberty for Eve and I bought my Dad a new fountain pen (since he likes those better than normal pens), a pack of silk handkerchiefs and some pocket squares.

I was right, my credit card bill is going to be huge this month, I thought as I looked at my receipts, I handed the bags to Woody, who took them to the car, while Eddie carried on behind us

Before we left, I took them Ice skating, Rori found it easy and was whizzing around the rink, while Torin was struggling a little, he kept grabbing onto my coat every time he wobbled a little, but he was doing well for a three year old. A few falling overs later, a shivering Rori and a tired Torin, I walked them back to the car and sat them down inside, Woody came over with some hot chocolate which I gave to each of them before getting into the drivers seat.

Torin was asleep within minutes and Rori began to doze off too, I sat waiting for the rush hour traffic to move, my phone lit up and I saw a text from Marcos:

Annoying guy: I'll meet you at La Sirène at 8

Aisling: huh?

Annoying guy: Our date stupid.

Aisling: Fine

I groaned, I completely forgot about that, I have about 2 and a half hours to get home, get changed and get there, I thought as I checked the time. Wait, why am I even planning for him? How long do I have to do this for. I'm already sick of it.

I opened the door and picked up Torin, while Tom took Rori who was snoring softly, Woody was behind us carrying the bags, "They're so HEAVY" he huffed Tom turned and glared at him "you'll wake them up" he said sternly "you know what Torin is like if someone wakes him up" he told him again. Tom has known us all since forever, he is Liam's age, he also has a younger brother called Eddie who is the same age as Callum, their dad is Sammie, so we grew up with them like family, so of course I got them presents too.

We took Torin and Rori to their rooms and I thanked Tom for being there and helping out before I walked to my room. I went to my wardrobe and picked out a black halter neck midi dress, a wine red and silver heel and clutch bag set and a silver cross pendant necklace with matching earrings. I heard a knock at the door and opened it to find Eve standing there with a bunch of flowers, "someone delivered these for you" she said, "soooo, who are they from?" she questioned, "I don't know, I haven't read the card yet have I" I replied. Eve came inside and closed the door, "come on read it, read it, read it" she nagged, handing me the flowers, they were candytufts, whoever sent them must've tried really hard to say they don't care about me in the subtlest way possible, I read the small card tucked between the flower:

To Aisling, I hope you like the flowers, they were not easy to find and I went through a lot of trouble to look for them. it read .Candytuft flowers are pretty but they signify indifference, they are definitely not a flower commonly found in florists meaning they wanted me to pay extra attention to the meaning while, to someone who doesn't know flower language, making it seem like they cared about me. Marcos.

I rolled my eyes and Eve pulled the card out of my hand and read it out loud, "whoa, seems like this person really likes you then" she smiled, "sure" I told her, as I went to get changed. I came out wearing the dress and jewellery, heels and bag in my hand and sat down at my mirror, "going somewhere?" she teased "work" I told her while putting in my contacts "and who will you be working with?" she asked playfully, "another mafia, irritating, bratty, I'm driving my dad's new car sort of person" I replied nonchalantly, "sure, sure" she said, If you're going to meet this bratty person do you want me to help you make them jealous that they don't look as good as you or that they can't have you?" she asked "what?" I asked, she looked slightly miffed, "do you want me to do your hair?" she questioned, "oooh, sure" I replied.

Christmas in 8 days!!! I just realised how much more I have to write. ToT