Aaron sat silently in the car as Vivian drove, the atmosphere thick with awkwardness. When he had accepted Vivian's offer for a ride home, he hadn't expected the tension to be this palpable. Deciding to break the silence, Aaron asked, "So, Vivian, how was work today?"
Vivian glanced at him through the rearview mirror, her tone clipped. "Oh, it was fine, Aaron… I mean, Boss."
Aaron wanted to continue the small talk but couldn't think of anything. As he looked out the window, his eyes landed on a familiar building. An idea struck him.
"Hey, Vivian, can you head toward that building over there?" he asked, pointing out the window.
Vivian glanced at the side mirror to see where he was pointing and felt a jolt of shock. She recognized the building immediately—Maison de Lumière, the most exclusive restaurant in the city. She wondered what business Aaron had there but decided against asking. Wordlessly, she turned the car in that direction.
She pulled up to the entrance and stopped. Both of them stepped out, and a neatly dressed valet approached them.
"Good day, sir and madam. Welcome to Maison de Lumière. May I park your car for you?" the valet asked politely.
Vivian handed over the keys, watching as the valet drove her car to the parking lot. She turned to Aaron, her curiosity finally spilling out. "Boss, what are we doing here?"
Aaron smiled faintly. "What do most people do when they come to a restaurant? We're here to eat."
His words only made Vivian more nervous. She knew how exclusive this restaurant was and that reservations had to be made at least a month in advance. Following Aaron to the host's stand, she felt a growing sense of unease.
Before Aaron could speak, the host approached him with a bright smile. "Good day, Boss. I hope you are well. How can I assist you today?"
"I'm here to grab some food. I'd prefer takeout, please," Aaron said casually.
"Of course, sir. Right this way," the host said, leading them toward the VIP section.
Vivian followed in a daze, her mind racing. This day seemed to be full of surprises, and she couldn't quite keep up. The VIP room they entered had floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, and the luxurious décor made it clear that this was no ordinary dining experience. As they sat, the restaurant manager appeared.
"Mister Turner, it's a pleasure to see you. I hope you're well," the manager greeted warmly.
"Yes, I'm good, Charles. How's business?" Aaron asked.
"Business is excellent, sir. The restaurant continues to thrive," Charles replied.
"That's good to hear," Aaron said with a nod. "Can I get the following dishes for takeout?" He began listing a series of high-end menu items while the manager took notes. When he finished, the manager excused himself to prepare the order.
Vivian couldn't hold back any longer. "Aaron, what the hell is happening?" she blurted out. "First, I find out you're my boss. Now, I find out you own the most famous restaurant in the city? For as long as I've known you, you've always been poor. You wear old clothes and don't drive expensive cars, and yet, somehow, you're a billionaire?"
Aaron leaned back, his expression calm. "You know what they say about judging a book by its cover. Just because I'm not flashy doesn't mean I'm poor," he replied.
Vivian shook her head, disbelief etched across her face. "Come on, Aaron. You expect me to believe you've been some wealthy heir keeping a low profile? That doesn't make any sense. Why would you hide your wealth, especially from Sarah? And why would you let everyone treat you the way they do?"
Aaron's expression turned serious. "I have my reasons for laying low. That being said, Sarah must never find out about this. So, I hope you'll keep today's events a secret."
Vivian hesitated, realizing she wasn't going to get any more information from him. "Fine. I won't tell anyone. I promise," she said, knowing that refusing would likely come with consequences.
"Thanks, Vivian," Aaron said with a nod. "Now, enough about me. Tell me about yourself. Last I heard, you were in France and had an amazing job. What brought you back here?"
Vivian's face clouded over briefly. "France was great," she began. "I studied for three years to earn my master's degree and landed a job at a reputable company. I worked there for a year, but something happened, and I lost my job. I had to leave the country."
Noticing the shift in her mood, Aaron decided to change the subject. "So, what did you major in?" he asked.
Vivian's face lit up. "Well, I have a master's degree in economics, a bachelor's in business management, and another bachelor's in marketing."
Aaron was stunned. Vivian's qualifications were impressive, far beyond what he had expected. This gave him an idea.
"That's quite the résumé," Aaron said. "With those qualifications, you're going places."
"Thanks, Boss," Vivian said shyly.
Aaron leaned forward. "Actually, I have a proposal for you. Well, it's more like a promotion."
Vivian blinked, surprised. "A promotion? Are you serious?"
"Absolutely. I think you'd be a great fit for this position," Aaron said with a smile.
"What position would that be?" Vivian asked, curiosity brimming in her voice.
Aaron's smile widened. "You'll be the CEO of Acadia Media Group."
"What!?" Vivian screamed, barely able to comprehend what Aaron had just said. "What do you mean CEO!?"
"Well, more like acting CEO," Aaron clarified.
"But aren't you the new CEO?"
"The thing is, I have a lot on my plate, and I can't be running a company full-time. So, I need someone capable to do so."
"You can't be serious, right? This seems so sudden. Have you thought this through? What will the members of the board say about this?"
"They won't say anything because I'm in charge. Whatever I say goes," Aaron said confidently.
Vivian sat in stunned silence. This situation was unreal. Becoming the CEO of a major company was something she had only imagined in her wildest dreams. She wasn't sure if she should accept or not.
"Look, Aaron, I'm honored, but surely there are better candidates for the job. So, I must unfortunately decline."
Aaron was confused as to why she was refusing such an amazing opportunity. He didn't know much about Vivian, but one thing that always stood out to him was her confidence. To Aaron, she had always seemed so self-assured—so why was she hesitating now?
"Vivian, you and I have always had our differences, but I know you are capable of doing this job. I can't imagine anyone else filling this role. So, what do you say?"
Vivian sat quietly, contemplating. Aaron was worried she would reject his offer, but to his surprise, she accepted.
"I accept. When do I start?" Vivian asked.
Aaron smiled. "You'll start working tomorrow."
"So soon?" Vivian asked in shock.
"Yes. The sooner, the better. You don't have to worry about anything. I'll take care of it," Aaron reassured her.
Vivian simply nodded.
Just then, the manager returned carrying a set of beautifully decorated boxes. The rich aroma filled the room, making Aaron's mouth water.
"Sir, your order is ready," the manager said.
Aaron moved to take the boxes, but the manager insisted on carrying them to the car.
Both Vivian and Aaron exited the restaurant, with the manager trailing behind. Once the food was neatly placed in the backseat, Aaron thanked the manager, and they drove off.
When they arrived home, Vivian took the boxes out of the car while Aaron unlocked the door. As he pushed it open, he noticed something strange—the door felt unusually heavy.
Suddenly, a massive wave of water rushed toward him.