Aaron observed Keeley regarded slightly wan when he picked her up from the bus station. It regarded like she had enjoyable primarily based on her Instagram photos however now he questioned if she had slightly an excessive amount of enjoyable.

“How was your journey?”

“It was good spending time with these guys,” she stated with a yawn. “I am not prepared for college to begin tomorrow.”

“Did you get any sleep in any respect this weekend?” he requested worriedly.

Upon nearer inspection, she actually did not look good. Particularly the baggage below her eyes.

She let loose a single ‘ha’ as an alternative of her typical giggle. “Not likely.”

“Let’s get you house then.”

She went quiet and he thought perhaps she fell asleep however she was merely staring out the window. He frowned. Was she actually okay?

Aaron carried her suitcase up for her after they acquired again to the condo constructing. He positioned it in her room and got here downstairs to search out her along with her face buried in her cat’s fur. Perhaps she simply missed Molly.

He needed to admit it stung slightly that she missed the cat greater than she missed him. She hadn’t texted him as soon as all weekend. He was not less than partly accountable for that; he hadn’t texted her both as a result of he needed her to get pleasure from her time along with her mates earlier than faculty began once more and she or he can be careworn on a regular basis.

However that type of proved his level much more. She in all probability hadn’t considered him in any respect whereas she was gone. If he had texted her, she in all probability would have replied out of behavior.

“Are you hungry? I’ve some leftover Chinese language meals within the fridge.”

“That may be nice, thanks,” Keeley stated faintly.

Aaron heated it up for her and introduced it to the place she was sitting on the sofa. She picked at it listlessly.

“You would possibly wish to go straight to mattress after this.”

“I really feel gross, I used to be on a bus for 4 hours,” she refuted. “I will bathe first then go to mattress.”

In the long run she managed to complete her plate of leftovers despite the fact that it took her some time and he whisked it away to take it to the dishwasher earlier than she acquired an opportunity. Placing it away herself was a meaningless distraction that may forestall her from sleeping.

“Good night time!” he known as up the steps behind her as she trudged slowly upward. He heard a smooth “good night time” in response.

Aaron debated whether or not or to not examine on her about an hour later to see if she was truly asleep or not. Ultimately he selected to go for it and opened the door a crack. She was out like a light-weight and each cats had been curled up close to her as if comforting her.

He quietly shut the door behind him as he went again downstairs. It was nonetheless fairly early. What had worn her out a lot?

===

Alistair barged into Aaron’s workplace with out knocking, like he often did on the uncommon events he bothered to make an look. He drew himself as much as his full top and demanded Aaron be current on the birthday celebration he and Roslyn had been throwing for him on Saturday.

“My birthday is on Monday,” he stated flatly. “You may’t even keep in mind your solely kid’s birthday?”

Aaron did not care; he merely loved giving the person a tough time. He had no intention of going to that celebration.

“Do not be impertinent! Individuals are busy on Monday nights. Saturday is less complicated for everybody.”

He glanced at his father from excessive of the doc.u.ment stack he was analyzing. “Whenever you say ‘everybody’ you imply to incorporate folks I do not like, comparable to Lacy Knighton, right?”

His father started bl.u.s.tering. “She’s a daughter of a really previous and vital enterprise accomplice of mine; in fact she must be there.”

Whose celebration was it, his or Alistair’s? It had all the time been like this in his household. He by no means acquired to decide on something for himself. Every little thing was one more event for his mother and father to make use of him.

“Then I am not going. Have enjoyable throwing a birthday celebration with out the visitor of honor.”

The temperature within the room dropped about forty levels as two ice storms confronted off. Neither was prepared to again down. If anybody else had been within the room at that second, they might have frozen strong.

“Why do it’s a must to be like this? You are already engaged to another person. You do not have to fret about Lacy anymore.”

When Aaron spoke there have been daggers in his voice piercing by way of Alistair’s flesh. “That is precisely why she does not must be there. I am engaged. It is inappropriate to have one other girl who’s excited by me current whereas my fiancée just isn’t.”

He could not deny that logic however wasn’t prepared to concede. “She will not be there as your former fiancée candidate, she’ll be there as my enterprise accomplice’s daughter.”

“And I will not be there in any respect. You select, Father. Who’s extra vital to you, Lacy Knighton or me?”

He was sick of this recreation. He knew Lacy and Graydon Meyer had been planning one thing in opposition to him. They might doubtless put it into impact at this celebration since he by no means confirmed his face on the circle’s occasions anymore. Why would he willingly stroll right into a entice?

“Might I remind you, I’m your father,” Alistair stated icily.

“Might I remind you, I’m a grown a.d.u.l.t. I’ve stated it earlier than and I’ll say it once more: wherever that girl is, I’ll by no means be.”

His father regarded able to hit him. Let him attempt. Nothing he did to Aaron now might examine to what he had already carried out. He was sick of it.

How a lot better would his life have been if he had been raised by a father like Robert Corridor?  Somebody sort, heat, and supportive. Robert would by no means attempt to management his kids like chess items.

“You be there on Saturday or—or—!”

“Or what,” Aaron stated boredly. “You don’t have anything to threaten me with.”

The temperature within the room dropped even additional. Alistair the Ice Volcano was on the verge of a devastating explosion. It was as a result of he knew his son was proper.

Aaron was the second largest shareholder and the contract they’d signed was legally binding so he could not take them again. He could not demote his son both as a result of the board would throw a match as a result of sequence of profitable proposals he had been pitching.

Alistair could not do a factor. And it was stunning.