Cassian Rourke
There was no way I was going to accept this. Not a chance in hell. Alaric Rourke honestly thought he was going to clip my wings.
"I refuse. You won't make do any of that"
I refused the ultimatum immediately, but Alaric didn't even flinch. He was a cold man, just like me.
But then he tells me
"I expected your stubbornness. I raised you. I should know you."
Even if he did. It still didn't matter. He couldn't tell me what to do.
"I know you so well my son Cassian and that is why I also know that you will obey because you always do."
The certainty in his voice, how sure he was. Shocked me. Why did he think I would agree to that?
All of a sudden the pressure in the room grew thicker until I could barely breathe.
I left the estate immediately. But it felt like chains had wrapped themselves around my chest.
As I got back into the car, I tried to tell myself the panic I felt from my father's control was not real. That was not what was making me worried.
But then I knew better. The thought of losing Aiden. Not being with had caused an unnecessary panic within me.
Hearing about all of this filled me with a dread I couldn't fully understand. I didn't know what I was going to do.
***
Aiden Hale
I didn't know why the news had to spread so fast when it had the Rourke's name attached to it.
I picked up my phone and that was the first thing I saw. "Cassian Rourke set to get Married"
The thought of it made me giggle. Not because he was obviously gay and I could attest to that but this was a very poor damage control strategy.
They needed to hire a new PR manager as soon as possible if you asked me but that was none of my business.
I had quickly I adapted to the fact that Cassian had forgotten about what we had. It was probably just a fling. Besides, he's a rich kid. He could get any dick he wanted and I bet that's exactly what he was doing.
I heard about the marriage through whispers at work, then through the radio, then through an article someone sent to me.
Wasn't it enough that I knew. Why was the universe so bent on rubbing it on my face? I wasn't going to feel bad. I couldn't.
But then each source felt like another blow to my ribs. The idea of Cassian marrying a woman shouldn't affect me this deeply. But seeing it everywhere wasn't helping matters.
It just felt like something sharp was twisting into my chest. I tried to convince myself that it was clearly none of my business.
He obviously belonged to a world where things like marriage was seen as a strategy and not a choice. But the pain didn't go away regardless.
I knew what this was, but still I was hurting. Didn't I matter? Was I just a good time? I sighed heavily as I poured myself a drink and relaxed in the couch.
Eventually, I couldn't take it anymore. A crazy idea to go and confront him popped up in my head. I romanticized it for sometime. After, awhile I made up my mind. I was going to go.
Just then I tell myself I simply wanted answers, closure, something that will help me move on. At least he could be a man and tell me he felt nothing.
So I dropped the drink on the table. Grabbed my keys and took a cab to his penthouse. I knew he was going to be there.
I couldn't believe I was to see him again, all the anger, fear, and confusion I'd been carrying spills inside me. Could I really do this? Should I really be doing this?
I imagined how he'd look. Shocked to see me? Or would he be relieved in a way he would try to hide.
My imagination had gone wild. I imagined us arguing at first, emotions rising until they feel too heavy to hold back anymore.
Then, the tension between us would break in a way I didn't expect. It would be sharp at then, like the aftermath of everything we've hidden.
It would become desperate. Being with him had always felt like stepping into something inevitable and dangerous.
"Oh Cassian"
I said as I bit my lip bitterly. My imagination was having the better part of me again.
It was his effect. I couldn't deny it.
I couldn't hold nothing back at this point. All the thoughts I had weren't just romantic or gentle.
It's the idea of two people who had been pulled towards each other for too long finally colliding. I wasn't just stuck in my imagination. It felt real.
Afterwards, the taxi pulled up in in front of the building and just then all the memories I had with him. Threw me off balance.
It was if reality was sinking in. I shouldn't be doing this. I should turn back but something pulled me out of the cab as I paid the cab guy.
"What do you think you're doing Aiden Hale? Don't go in there and make a fool of yourself"
I said to myself silently. As I walked in the reality that nothing between us was simple settled in.
My feet grew cold and I was getting second thoughts, this felt like a bad idea all of a sudden.
But for the first time, I didn't feel alone in it. Even if everything else around me was falling apart and dragging me back.
I didn't let the force hold me back. I wasn't going to. I took a deep breath, and realized I was probably making a mistake. What was I thinking? It settled on me that this going to be I disaster. But just when I was about to leave.
"Aiden"
I heard my name. I didn't have to turn. I knew who it was. I wasn't even looking at his face but then the tension of knowing that he was behind was passionate enough to pull me back.
"So you came to see me"
Hearing that a part of me tickl
ed. Yes, I came to see him. That was all I needed to hear to helplessly crawl back to his bed.