Aiden's face darkened as a frown made up his trace on his forehead. He saw her, he saw her need for a few days off, he noticed the headache and the pain she was in but he couldn't quite put his finger on what exactly was happening to her.
Even at their lunch break, when he decided to meet with her after her amazing idea of ending the contract and rebuilding it in Europe, he saw her eyes and her pale face. But she didn't stutter, she was so nonchalant as if she was indestructible.
*Flashback*
"Mrs. Joy," he said, studying her carefully, his gaze intensifying. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Tatum lifted an eyebrow, surprised by his concern. The way he was looking at her as if peeling back layers to see what she wouldn't reveal, made her let out a small, amused chuckle.
"I'm fine," she replied, shrugging off the unease. "Just a headache, that's all."
But as she went to shift her weight, her vision blurred for a moment, the floor seeming to tilt beneath her. She stumbled, and Aiden's hand shot out instinctively, gripping her waist. He pulled her close, steadying her in his arms, his touch firm yet surprisingly gentle.
"Hey," his voice was soft but edged with alarm, his gaze locked on her with a worry that he rarely let anyone see. "What's wrong with you? This isn't just a headache."
Tatum blinked, trying to shake off the dizziness, but her head throbbed, a lingering ache from the previous night's fight. She needed to throw him off the trail, fast. But the firmness of his hold and the warmth of his touch made her feel unsteady in a way she wasn't used to. She swallowed, glancing away.
"It's really nothing," she said lightly, stepping back from his hold and smoothing her jacket as if nothing had happened. "Probably just a migraine coming on. I didn't sleep well last night, that's all."
Aiden's eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion flickering there. "Since when do you lose your balance from a headache?" he asked, unconvinced. "You're acting like you're trying to brush this off, and you're never that casual about—" He stopped himself, his gaze lingering on her with unmistakable concern. "Are you sure it's nothing else?"
Her heart caught at the sincerity in his tone, a reminder of how close he'd come to the truth, but she wouldn't let him in, not to this part of her. It was her battle to carry, and no one could know. Not even Aiden.
"Trust me," she replied, straightening up with a renewed edge. "I'm perfectly fine, sir."
*End of flashback*
Aiden hadn't forgotten that moment. Since then, he'd noticed every hint, every flicker of pain that Tatum tried to suppress. Her resilience had always been impressive, but now he saw it for what it was: armour. Armour she never let down, no matter how exhausted she was, no matter how much her body was clearly struggling. The paleness in her face, the strain in her eyes—it was like watching someone hold up a crumbling wall, trying desperately to keep it from falling. And something told him it wasn't just a bad night's sleep or a headache.
Kyle entered the office with confidence and humming a song that he softly drifted away once he saw his boss's face. He looked around and he couldn't see anyone so he began:
- Worried much? he sat on the chair in front of Aiden and smiled sheepishly.
Aiden turned to face him and glared with an ice-cold attitude, making Kyle swallow hard.
- In fact, I am worried about how you didn't take care of the flight tickets to Milan and I am also worried about the fact that next week we should be there and we do not even have the hotel booked, Aiden started, and also I am worried about you not doing your job, so how can we fix this Kyle? He said tilting his head and crossing his fingers.
- Vivienne has done that already, Kyle said.
- Where's Mrs. Joy?
- Oh, Tatum?
Aiden's gaze sharpened as he caught the casual way Kyle referred to her—Tatum. It felt strange, to hear her name from him. He knew his question wasn't entirely fair, but the curiosity had already planted itself, mingling uncomfortably with something else he couldn't quite name. Since when were they on a first-name basis? Was there more going on that he hadn't noticed?
Kyle, oblivious to Aiden's inner turmoil, shrugged.
"She had a late night, I think. Probably just taking a break. She looked... well, she looked a little worn out, to be honest."
Aiden's jaw tensed. He'd been watching her closely enough to know she'd been through something, but now he was starting to wonder how much Kyle knew too.
"Is that so?" Aiden replied, his tone deceptively light. "She doesn't usually take breaks. I'm surprised she told you she needed one."
Kyle blinked, glancing away for a second as if weighing his words. "Yeah, well, I caught her in the hallway before she went out. She didn't say much, just looked... distant. You know how she is—tough as nails, but..." He trailed off, a faint hint of concern crossing his face.
Aiden narrowed his eyes. "Distant?" he echoed, trying to keep his voice neutral.
Kyle nodded, sensing the shift in Aiden's tone. "Yeah, just a bit. I mean, she still had that usual fire, but something felt... off."
Aiden took a slow breath, processing this.
So she's not just hiding it from me. She's holding back from everyone.
Kyle shifted in his seat, clearing his throat. "I just figured she might talk to you if something's really up. You're close, right?"
"Close?" Aiden repeated, arching an eyebrow. "We work together, Kyle. That's all."
But even as he said it, he couldn't deny that her well-being had become far more than a casual concern. The image of her wavering, that flicker of pain she'd tried so hard to mask, was seared into his mind.
Kyle just nodded, his gaze thoughtful.
"Sure, but... I don't know, sometimes I think she trusts you more than she lets on." He paused, then added with a hint of hesitation, "Maybe it's worth asking her again if she's alright?"
Aiden's jaw tightened, a feeling of protectiveness rising within him that he couldn't fully rationalize. It was unsettling, but he couldn't ignore it.
"Mind your business," he replied shortly, giving Kyle a nod of dismissal. But as Kyle left, his words echoed in Aiden's mind.
Trust. Did she trust him? Or was he just projecting, wishing that the guarded look she so often wore might soften, even just for a moment, in his presence? He rubbed a hand over his face, sighing. He had to get to the bottom of this, not just for the sake of their working relationship, but because something in him wouldn't rest until he knew the truth.
So he grabbed his jacket and left in a hurry, not before telling Vivienne to reschedule everything that happened today on his agenda.
He unlocked his car and drove away to the woman with green eyes.
Aiden's hands gripped the steering wheel, his mind racing as he made his way to her place. He didn't know exactly what he'd say when he saw her, but he knew he couldn't ignore this any longer. She'd kept him at arm's length since the beginning, never letting her guard down, and he'd respected that. But after seeing the exhaustion in her eyes, the fragility in her movements, he could no longer pretend he hadn't noticed.
He reached her house and parked, his heart pounding as he stepped out of the car and approached the entrance. He wasn't even sure if she'd be home - but who cares? He had to try.
Aiden knocked on the door, his fist hitting the wood with a soft urgency. For a moment, there was silence, and he wondered if he'd made a mistake. But then he heard the faint sound of footsteps, hesitant and slow, until the door cracked open, and there she was.
Tatum stood in the doorway, her green eyes blinking in surprise, but her usual guarded expression quickly replaced it. She wore a loose black sweater and leggings, and her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She was so beautiful even in casual clothes.
- Mr. Black? She glanced at him softly. What are you doing here?
I have no idea, Mrs. Joy.