Chapter 57 - Doubts in the heart (1/2)

”Talk with me about what?” Sarah wanted to know more about text exchange she just witnessed. She was certain that it's about her. Seeing that he is getting anxious and not responding, only made her more wary of the situation. 'Just what is going on here?'

Aiden was troubled, 'This is wrong, this is all wrong.' But she saw it. He can't deny it. The only thing he can do is be honest, with hope that she will believe him. ”This is not how I wanted you to find out.”

Sarah turned around to face him. ”Why are you so serious? You are making me nervous.”

He exhaled. ”I fear that you will reject me.”

She was suspicious. ”I can't think of a thing that could make me reject you.”

'Oh, how I wish that is true.' He sighed. ”Hear me out.”

”OK. I'm listening.” She attentively looked at him.

Aiden started explaining. ”In White corp. there is a department that I lead. My brother is at the front, acting as a face of the department. He negotiates and signs the deals. I deliver. I... we are hoping that you will join us.”

Sarah looked at him, suspiciously. ”Is this a job offer?” She tilted her head a bit, and her eyes narrowed, ”I'm pretty sure this is not the part that makes you worried if I reject.”

Aiden hesitated.

Sarah does not like beating around the bush, she was getting impatient. ”Just say what you need to say.”

Sensing that she is losing her patience, he went to the point. ”The type of work can be sensitive. It's a mix of research, digging up hidden information and cyber-attacks. Customers are whoever can afford the service: celebrities, heirs, businesses, even foreign governments.”

”I see.” Sarah thought about what he just said and decided to ask for more information. ”Do you ever reject work, or you accept anything as long as the price is right?”

Aiden expected these types of questions. ”Some requests are rejected.”

”Based on what?”

”That is mostly in Jeff's hands. He makes decision if work will be accepted or not. I focus on deliverables.” Aiden noticed that this sounds off. 'Why didn't I ever question work that I worked on?' He gave Jeff all power to decide what to work on, and just focused on finishing his tasks.

”If I join you, can I have the option to reject working on things I'm not comfortable with?” If she can reject work she is not comfortable with, that will be fine.

He thought for a second before responding. ”I believe that can be arranged.”

Sarah looked at him, thinking of something, before speaking. ”I still think that this is not the reason why you are hesitant to talk about this.”

'She is smart.' Aiden could not help but admire her. He inhaled before speaking. This is the part he feared the most. ”You are right. I am worried that you might think that I got close to you just because of this.”

”Didn't you?” She had to ask. In her heart, she is afraid of his answer. She is confident that he cares about her. But what if he is just very skilled and tricked her? What if all this is just a lie? What if...?

He looked her in the eyes. ”It's not like that. At first, I did approach you in order to find out more about you and if you have the skills, to recruit you. But then I got to know you...”

”And...?”

”Regardless if you accept this offer, I want us to be together, as a couple. I hope you believe me that my relationship advances are just me being selfish and acting on my desire to be with you.” His voice was getting quieter as he continued, ”This... us... is not planned. It's not related to getting you to work with me. What we have is something really special to me, and I hope you won't...” He was not able to finish. Aiden wanted to say that he hopes she will not leave him, but words got stuck in his throat. He looked her in the eyes hoping that she will understand how much she means to him. His lips formed a thin line.