Kazia
I open my eyes slightly, adjusting them to the dimly lit room. Although I don't know what time it is, but it should be morning already.
Aidan's arm is wrapped around my waist, holding me tightly, as if he's afraid I'll run off again after what happened yesterday. I try to loosen his grip to reach for my phone on the nightstand, but he doesn't budge.
I gently tap his shoulder, and his dark eyes flutter open, slowly adjusting to the light. Gosh, he's beautiful in the morning. He blinks a few times, then releases me and sits up, still half-asleep.
"Good morning," he signs. It's definitely a good morning, especially after last night.
"You too," I sign
I can't help but remember the way he kissed me. It was magical, like nothing I'd ever experienced before. I'm still in disbelief that this man is somehow attracted to me. I can't say he likes me exactly, at least not yet, but I know one thing—I don't repel him, and that alone feels like a step in the right direction.
As I start to get out of bed, he grabs me and pins me down, his hands holding my arms above my head as he studies my face. Geez, what is he doing? Is he about to kiss me again or maybe… something even more intimate?
Just when I think he'll kiss me, he gives me a light peck on my forehead and lets me go. I feel my heart race, wanting more, but I don't get it.
"Morning breath," he signs with a slight smirk. Who cares about morning breath? I just want him, for goodness's sake. Wait… is he talking about my morning breath or his? It would be embarrassing if it's mine. I haven't even spoken yet, so it can't be mine. But now that I think about it, he hasn't spoken either, so whose morning breath are we talking about?
I watch him step into the bathroom, and a strange urge to follow him in hits me. I mean… would it really be so odd to see him in there?
I grab my phone to check the time and maybe scroll through the internet before I get ready, but the notifications stop me in my tracks. There are missed calls from Jules, several notifications from social media, and messages from the children's home. Panic surges through me as I quickly dial Jules to find out what's going on.
"Kazia," she mumbles, yawning loudly through the phone. She's probably just waking up too.
"I missed your calls. Is everything alright?" I ask, wondering why she'd call me repeatedly in the middle of the night.
"Nothing is going right!" Her sleepy voice shifts into something more alert and urgent.
"There's a video of you causing a scene at Gratis company circulating all over the internet," she sighs deeply before continuing, "and I heard your stepbrother is pressing legal charges against you."
My head spins as she talks. If he takes me to court, he'll do everything he can to take over the special home project. No! I can't lose it; I can't afford to.
"Leo told Aidan about it. Has he said anything to you?" Aidan knows? How am I the last to find out about something that directly affects my life?
"We haven't spoken yet today," I reply. Just then, the bathroom door opens, and Aidan steps out, with only a towel around his waist. Water drips from his hair, sliding down his bare chest, then disappearing into the towel's edge. He looks up at me, and I feel my face warm as I realize I've been staring.
My eyes follow his every move until he goes into his walk-in closet. This is the first time I've seen him so exposed. Usually, he'd wear a full-length robe if I happened to catch him in the morning. Most days, though, I didn't see him at all.
My goodness, his body is perfect… Kazia, focus! I can't believe I'm fantasizing about my husband while I'm already in trouble.
"Are you even listening?" Jules's voice comes through the phone, snapping me back to reality.
"Yes, I understand. Thank you," I say, though I realize I barely absorbed anything she just said. I pretend to understand, hoping I caught the gist of it.
We talk briefly, and then I hang up. I open my social media page to see that the news about me is truly flooding the internet.
"Few weeks after the death of Anthony Gratis, his illegitimate daughter causes a scene at the company after being excluded from the will," the headline reads, and I can't help but scoff. Bunch of idiots. They don't even know what happened, yet they're quick to paint me as some greedy villain.
I open the comments section, only to find people hurling insults at me. How can anyone just believe what they see on the internet? I suppose I can't entirely blame them—the video does make it look like I was retaliating out of anger over the will.
Aidan exits the walk-in closet, now dressed in a white shirt, beige shorts, and a matching baseball cap. He checks himself in the mirror and nods in satisfaction. It's moments like these that catch me off guard, seeing him in such simple attire, yet looking effortlessly put-together.
"Get dressed," he signs, tossing his notepad at me. I catch it, only to see it's a list of items he's planning to get for Jules's baby. Huh, this is surprising. For one, it's not even time for baby shopping yet. And second, I didn't know he cared enough about Jules to be thinking of baby gifts.
I give him a questioning look, and he taps his watch, signaling me not to waste his time.
He has to be kidding. In the middle of this crisis, all he's thinking about is shopping for Jules's unborn baby? Even the baby's parents haven't started shopping yet, and we don't even know the gender! (Jules thinks it's a girl, by the way.)
"Are you planning to tell me anything?" I sign, raising an eyebrow.
"No," he signs back, completely unfazed.
"I'm not in the mood for shopping now, Aidan. I have to find a solution to my problem." I know I probably sound stressed, but who wouldn't be? This legal threat could ruin everything I've worked for.
He walks up to me, places his hand gently on my chest, and slowly slides it down a few times, his way of telling me to calm down.
"Trust me, I got you," he signs with a small, reassuring smile. I'm not sure what he has in mind, but something in his gaze makes me want to believe him, to hope that he has some solution up his sleeve. I return his smile with an awkward one of my own. I hope he really does have me covered, because right now, I need someone by my side.