A woman who knows what she's doing. A woman who knows how to fight. A strong woman. A woman I don't have.
Lost in thought, he didn't realize when Tatum took him down or even when he was lifted back up.
"Are you feeling okay, buddy? You seem a bit out of it," the soft voice of the woman in front of him brought him back to reality.
Whether it was her voice or the pain piercing half of his face, he couldn't tell. The man's grin made her look at him closely. In return, she responded with a smirk and another punch to his face.
"What was that for?" the dark-haired man groaned.
"I don't like your grin," she shrugged him off. "It's disgusting, unattractive and too bold."
"If I hadn't been so humiliated by a woman," he said, rising to his feet, "by you... I would have invited you for dinner."
The woman's laughter echoed throughout the room, drawing the attention of everyone still watching the scene that seemed ripped from a slapstick movie.
"What's so funny?" Her laughter seemed to make him feel even more humiliated.
Joy glanced around the room, fixing her gaze on Aiden. They both looked at each other, slightly absorbed in the situation.
"The fact that you actually think I would accept," the brunette replied, continuing to look at her boss. Her gaze fell on the man in front of her, turning serious. "It wouldn't be very pleasant for me to go out with a guy who got beaten up. By me. At his own game. By his own rules."
She brushed past him, bumping his shoulder."In his own office."
A sigh escaped the brunette's lips as she turned back to him."Relax, or next time you'll have both your eyes blackened."
As they walked away from Magnus's office, Tatum felt her heart pounding in her chest. She had a feeling this meeting would have long-term repercussions, and the tension in the room had made her feel more alert than ever. Somehow, he felt very familiar. She felt like she knew him. Maybe she saw him somewhere?
Suddenly, a short chuckle escaped her lips, catching her boss's attention. As she headed toward her car, she looked at the dark-haired man and said:
"He really thought he had a chance to go out with me," she chuckled, wiping a fake tear from the corner of her eye.
Aiden's expression changed slightly. The fine lines on his forehead were now smoothed out, his eyebrows were relaxed, and his muscles were less tense. An amused smile appeared on his lips as he put his hands in his pants pockets, admiring her colourful chuckle.
It was the first time he had heard her laugh. Softly, but still. He hoped to hear it more often.Aiden moved closer to her, feeling the tension in his body begin to relax in her presence. It was strange how an apparently trivial conversation and an embarrassing moment could change the entire dynamic between them, and he began to wonder what more can the woman in front of him reveal in the future.
Maybe she wasn't so bad after all.
As Tatum walked away, Aiden couldn't shake off the feeling of shock and surprise that had begun to bloom within him. He had always seen her as competent, but witnessing her effortlessly take down Magnus's man left him stunned. It was one thing to know someone was skilled, but it was entirely another to see it in action.
"Where did you learn to fight like that?" he found himself asking, the question slipping out before he could catch himself.
Tatum paused, turning back to him with a raised eyebrow and a hint of a smirk. "You didn't think I'd just be standing around looking pretty, did you?"
Aiden chuckled softly, feeling a swell of pride at her confidence. "I guess I underestimated you. You really held your own back there."
"It's all part of the job, sir. I've trained for situations like that," she replied nonchalantly, but Aiden could see a glimmer of pride in her eyes too. And he could also feel the damn sarcasm of the word sir every time she was talking to him.
He took a moment to absorb that. She had prepared herself not just for the role of a bodyguard but for moments that could escalate into chaos. The fact that she could defend herself—and him—gave him a newfound respect for her. But still, why did she need to defend herself and others at the same time?
Not only was Tatum an effective bodyguard, but she was also capable of handling herself in potentially dangerous situations. It was reassuring, especially considering the pressures of his profession and the enemies he had made along the way.
"I'm glad you're on my side," he admitted, feeling a warmth spread through him. He surprised himself with these words, he thought he only said it in his mind, but even Tatum stopped and raised her eyebrows.
However, she shrugged, but there was a sparkle in her eyes that suggested she appreciated the compliment.
"I'll always have your back, Mr. Black. Just try not to get into too much trouble, okay? It kind of happens when I am hungry and I can't really deal well with more feelings at the same time."
With that, they shared a moment of understanding, a silent agreement that whatever lay ahead, she would be there ready to fuck everything apart just to protect him.He watched as Tatum climbed into her car and left shortly after.
What was this odd feeling that's gotten into him?