Chapter 8

• AIDEN'S POV.
• "Hey boss," came Felicia's voice, laced with frustration, over the phone.
• Leaning against the hospital corridor wall, coffee in hand, I responded, "What's going on, Felicia?"
• She quickly informed me, "It looks like an old flame of yours has resurfaced." I was puzzled. Who could it be?
• "Make sure she leaves before Selena spots her," I instructed, not wanting to delve into identities.
• Suddenly, Felicia's tone turned urgent, "Boss, she's got Selena at gunpoint, and it looks like she might pull the trigger. You need to hurry back."
• I choked on my coffee, tossed the cup aside, and dashed out of the hospital.
• How did she bypass security? Did she have a spare key? My mind was racing as I sped home.
• Arriving in haste, I bypassed the security detail and saw, from a distance, a figure aiming something at another, presumably Selena.
• "Aiden, help!" Selena's cry drew the woman's attention, and she turned to face me.
• It was Kimberly Ramos, a past secret lover. I thought she had left town.
• "Hello, darling," she said, gun still trained on Selena.
• "Kim, please put the gun down," I urged gently.
• “Not until she's out of here," Kimberly declared, unwavering.
• I signaled my bodyguards to be ready as I attempted to defuse the situation.
• "Kimberly, let's put the gun down and talk," I implored. Her expression softened slightly, and she began to lower her weapon.
• “It is all because of you," she said, lowering the gun further, and I heard Selena exhale in relief.
• As Kimberly started to speak again, I seized the gun, catching her off guard.
• The bodyguards quickly restrained her. "Let me go, Aiden!" she yelled, struggling in vain. "You'll regret this. I'll ruin you both," she threatened as she was escorted out.
• I turned to Selena, who was visibly shaken. "Selena, Selena," I called out, concern evident in my voice.
• **************************
• SELENA'S POV.
• Aiden's intelligence took me by surprise.
• His current gaze held a different intensity than the one on our wedding day; it was filled with concern.
• Was he truly worried about me, or was it just my imagination?
• "Aiden, are you alright?" he asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
• "Yes, I'm okay," I replied. Suddenly, his arms were around me, and before I could object, he hoisted me onto his shoulders.
• "This isn't necessary," I protested weakly. To think the ruthless billionaire could show such tenderness was beyond my wildest dreams.
• Was this real? He carried me into my room, locking eyes with me as he gently placed me on the bed.
• His gaze was intense, but my mind wandered back to the recent ordeal.
• “How many more exes do you have?" I blurted out, louder than intended.
• "Please, don't start," he shot back, sitting beside me.
• This was new; Aiden had never been this close since I moved in.
• "It is your time to confess. How many others have there been?" I asked, jealousy creeping into my tone.
• “Are you jealous?" he teased, arching an eyebrow.
• "Of course not. Why should I care? Your life is your own. I'm merely inquisitive, that's all," I retorted, pulling the blanket over myself and turning away.
• My eyes closed, and the sound of the door swinging open and shut echoed briefly. Aiden must have left.
• As I turned back, the empty space beside me felt stark. Throughout the night, my mind lingered on the day's events, particularly how Aiden had carried me.
• ******************************
• AIDEN'S POV.
• (The following day)
• Dave was speechless when I recounted the confrontation between Kimberly and Selena.
• "I'm just as shocked. That woman is unhinged. I had to intervene to protect Selena," I explained, noting Dave's incredulous gaze.
• "Hold on! You're not falling for her, are you? You've never shown concern for anyone," Dave insinuated.
• "Really? It's not like that. I would've done the same for anyone," I dismissed, though Dave's teasing look lingered.
• Me, in love? No, it's not love. I'm merely safeguarding her. Yet, she's constantly on my mind. Her captivating eyes and voice haunted my thoughts last night.
• "Alright, if you insist," Dave conceded.
• "Let's grab a drink later?" he suggested.
• "I can't," I declined, my thoughts drifting to my mother.
• “Seriously?" Dave questioned, rising to leave. "Yeah, I'm just not up for it. With everything happening with my mom, I can't," I explained.
• "Okay, fine," Dave accepted, opening the door.
• "See you later," I said, watching him leave.
• Glancing at the clock, I cursed under my breath.
• It was nearly time for my mother's surgery, and my father had asked me to bring something for her.
• I shut down my laptop, instructed Catherine to oversee the office, and hurried out.
• Upon returning home, I unlocked the mansion's front door to find the living room lavishly adorned with roses.
• “What's all this?" I wondered, noticing the same display in the dining area. Is Selena behind this?
• I approached the center table, where the largest bouquet sat. A note caught my eye.
• "Felicia! Felicia!" I called out, and she quickly appeared. "What's the meaning of this? Where's Selena?" I demanded.
• SELENA'S POV.
• Returning home from my jogging routine around the mansion, I was stunned by the floral spectacle in the living room.
• Hearing Aiden and Felicia, I joined them, "Looks like Felicia has an admirer." I teased Aiden and glared at me.
• “It's not mine. It's addressed to you," Felicia clarified.
• I turned to Aiden, teasing, "So, you're sending me flowers now?"
• He sighed, "I didn't send any flowers, Selena."
• "Then who did?" I pondered. Aiden, unwrapping the note, read, "I wish we could be together." His expression soured.
• "To my beloved Selena, from your secret admirer." Aiden's anger was palpable as he crumpled the note.
• His next action left Felicia and me speechless.
• "Who on earth could this be, Selena?" Aiden's voice escalated, as he cast the flowers from the table to the floor.
• As Aiden's frustration mounted, my mind raced with possibilities.
• Who could be behind this grand, yet unsettling gesture? my thoughts were a whirlwind of confusion and curiosity.
• Could it be someone from my past?
• Is Derrick playing games with me because of my refusal to be with him?
• But Derrick wouldn't do that to me.
• He has always been a decent young man. This is totally unlike him.
• “Boss, I think you should calm down,”Felicia said in a low tone but the anger was evident in Aiden's face as he kept on scattering the flowers.
• This has never happened to me. I have never had such an ardent admirer. Or perhaps it's a prank?
• But who would go to such lengths? And Aiden... he's never been the romantic type, not openly at least.
• Could he be trying to surprise me? No, the anger in his eyes was too genuine. Then who?
• Someone who knows me well enough to send roses to Aiden's mansion, yet remains in the shadows.
• A secret admirer... the thought is both thrilling and frightening. But why now? Why disrupt the fragile peace I've found here?
• My internal monologue was abruptly cut short by Aiden's voice, now louder and more insistent than before.
• "Selena! Who sent these flowers? Who wrote that note? I demand an answer!" His eyes bore into her, searching for a truth I did not know.
• A cryptic letter, an enigmatic phone call, and now these anonymous flowers?
• Who is behind all this? Could it be that Selena harbors a clandestine admirer?