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Chapter 22
My face hurts from smiling since i entered the hall.
Eyes were on me the moment we walked in and I made sure to look the part of a newly wedded bride. I kept touching Aaron at every chance while he introduced me.
“Good evening everyone, thank you for coming.” he glanced at the with ‘loving’ eyes, “this is my wife, Aurora Scott,” they all applauded.
I got
bored pretty quick while Aaron talked to some of them about work,
From the little I was able to hear when I wasn’t zoning out, the man and woman in front of me are the head of the design and planning teams respectively.
Aaron leans in to whisper to me, “Can you try to look like you are actually happy to be here?” he says and smiles at me.
Only I can see the warning in his eyes. I giggle and slap his arm gently, I turn to the man and woman in front of us, “Excuse us, we are not quite rid of the wedding excitement yet
I stand on my toes so my lips are almost touching Aaron’s ear, “You could try to include me in the conversation instead of making me look like just eye candy. I am bored.”
“It’s nice to meet you Mrs. Scott, congratulations to you both again.” the man says with a smile.
“Congratulations Sir, Ma’am.” the woman says. I smile with a grateful look and place my hand on Aaron’s chest, “Thank you.”
Aaron nods at them, “Excuse us.” he says to them and steers me away from the gathering. We go out of the hall into a corner of the corridor.
“I know I said act the part but you are overcompensating for your lack of social skills.”
I roll
my eyes at him, “I have social skills, I just don’t know how to act right now since it has been so long since I have been in a work gathering. But I am getting the hang of it, if you can be a little patient, I am sure you are the only one that has a problem with my acting
“You are basically trying to have sex with me while standing there.” he says with a deadpan expression.
I scoff at him, “Excuse you? I was just trying to play the part of a woman that just got married and still can’t get enough of her husband. Is that so wrong?”
“You are overplaying the part. Give me a little space, you are all over me in front of my employees. It’s uncomfortable.”
“All over you?” I snap my fingers in his face, “Hello Mr. Scott, a few touches here and there does not mean I am all over you. you think I want to be doing all of that? It’s uncomfortable for me too,”
“Mr. Scott?” one of his employees calls out, she notices us standing there and walks over to us. “We need you inside Sir.” “I will be right there.” She glances at me without saying anything and goes back inside the hall. Aaron adjusts the cuff of his sleeves then looks at me, “Act natural”
I snort, “You will have to be specific because my natural instinct when it comes to you is to run the other way and not to be even a foot near you.”
“I share your sentiments Aurora but you know what I mean he bolds out his arm and I slip my hand in. We walk into the hail He brings out my chair for me to seat before taking a seat himself
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Chapter 22
“Okay everyone, the CEO is seated and we are ready to col one of the employees said.
“What’s happening?”
“it’s time for them to bring up pitches for me to look at. At these type of dinners I give every employee an equal footing. pitch their ideas, no one is too small or too new.”
I raise an eyebrow in surprise. “That’s actually very considerate of you.”
I lower my voice so only him can hear me, “I didn’t think you hail a considerate bone in you.”
“It’s for the good of the company.” he says monotonously.
Of course it is, Aaron Scott does not do anything for anyone that doesn’t benefit him.
The pitching is going well, I actually find myself enjoying it. I suddenly feel an urgent need to go to the bathroom.
i need to go to the bathroom.” I whisper to Aaron. “You need me to follow you?” he says lowly.
I stare at him, I can’t tell if he is still putting up an act or just being sarcastic. His eyes are blank so I can’t tell which it is so just shake my head, “Nah, I will be back soon.””
I find the bathroom at a far end of the hall. After I am done, I wash my hands in the sink and examine my make-up isn’t smudged.
my
face to make st
I am drying my hands under the air dryer when a woman walks in. I don’t pay much attention to her and continue drying my hands
“Mrs. Scott?”
I turn towards her, “Yes?”
She walks closer to me and squints her eyes, “Aurora?”
I fight the urge to walk away but the way she is staring at me is becoming uncomfortable, “Do I have something on my faci “You are Aurora Lightwood right?”
1 raise an eyebrow at her suspiciously, “Yes I am.”
She does a triumphant whoop, “I freaking knew it! Hi Aurora, it’s me! Greta!”
“I am sorry, have we met?”
She sighs but doesn’t look offended, “Okay, I know I have lost a lot of weight but common. Greta Cornwall? Rings a bell?”
I try not to bite my lips nervously as I rack my brain trying to remember a Creta Cornwall I don’t want to seem like a snob but I really don’t know this woman
I chuckle nervously. “I am sorry Greta, do you mind helping me remember? I have a lot on my mind right now so.” I trail off awkwardly.
To my relief, she is still wearing an excited smile, she doesn’t look a bit offended.
“Creta the glaut, CC” she says.
My mouth open in an “o”, “Greta the giant!” I raise my hand to my mouth in surprise as I see lier in a new light.
“You look really good.” I say with so much surprise in my voice that my compliment could be seen as offensive.
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Chapter 22
I knew Greta in middle-school, we were never friends and only talked on a handful of occasions.
I knew her as the fat kid everyone made jokes about. She moved away from our town before we graduated from middle school and I hadn’t heard about her since then, until now.
She beams proudly, “Thank you, puberty did me lots of favours. You look good too but you have always looked good
anyway.
“Thank you, you work in Aaron’s company?”
“Yeah, something like that.” she looks at me with a playful glint in her eyes, “So, how did that happen?”
“What?”
“You and the Aaron Scott. It’s such a big deal Aurora! Like when we first heard that he was getting married, everyone at work thought it was just a rumour because we always thought the boss wasn’t interested in settling down with one woman. Then, the wedding happened. Nobody from work was invited except his personal assistant, that was kind of offensive but I guess I understand because he could not have invited everyone but like
Oh yeah. I remember something about Greta, she talks a lot. She can talk your ear off if you let her.
I plaster on a polite smile, Aaron is not going to be happy with the staying away too long. I can’t help him keep up appearances if I am not present
“…then the pictures were taken at a weird angle so we didn’t see your face, but I couldn’t have imagined it would be you. When you first walked into the hall, I…”
I put my hand on hers to stop her, “It’s really nice to see you Grea. We should be getting back to the party.” Her smile drops a little and I feel bad, “Let me have your number so we can keep in touch.” I quickly add. She immediately brightens up, “No, let me have yours.” she says with an enthusiastic look on her face.
I give her my number and turn to walk away but she clears her throat, the action causes me
to look back at her.
“So the thing is, I am actually on a temporary employment contract at the company. But, I would love it to become permanent. I really enjoy working there and the benefits a permanent position would give me would be like a major step in the right direction. It’s not like I am asking you to do something major or anything but it would be nice if you could put a word in for me with Mr. Scott
lam
I am also on a temporary employment contract! I want to say but I don’t.
She looks very hopeful so I chuckle instead, “I will see what I can do about it Greta. I can’t do shit about it.
“Really?” she grabs my hands in excitement, “You are the best Aurora, thank you! You know the ladies at work were gossiping about you the moment you walked in. They were.”
If I let her talk, we will probably remain in this bathroom for the next hour.
in mine, “Let’s go Mrs. Scott”
“You can tell me about your co-workers later, let’s get back to the party for now.” Lsay warmly. She grins and loops her hand