MARCH 7TH
I walked down my stairs, ready for a fun day of going to my classes.
I've been thinking about my kiss with Aero more than I'd like to admit. I know I should tell Reid, but for some reason I'm nervous. It was also only a kiss. Thats it. He didn't say he has feelings for me, he didn't say he wanted to be more than friends, we just kissed.
Thats it.
Sadly.
Wait what?
"Hailey, wait a second," My dads voice called from the kitchen.
I pursed my lips before slowly turning around and walking to the kitchen. He was sitting at the table with a bunch of papers in front of him, his glasses resting on the bridge of his nose. He gestured for me to take a seat, so I did.
He slid one of the papers over to me, "That's basically the rundown of the entire company. It gives you all of the information you'd need. I know you're saying that you don't want to take over, but I think you should just give it a chance first."
"Dad, I don't want to run a company. I just want to be a work from home accountant, not a CEO," I tried to get through to him.
He sighed and dropped his glasses onto the table. He leaned forward on his elbows, "Darling, I'm not going to be working for much longer. I'm getting old, and retirement keeps getting closer. I need somebody who will run the company and who will run it well."
"I won't run it well. I'll fire everybody and smuggle drugs in it."
He rolled his eyes, "I'm not joking around, Hailey. You're a Romano, and this is what we do."
I understand that my dad wants his kid to continue the legacy his grandfather started. But I don't want to be a CEO. And I shouldn't be forced into something I don't want to do, just for a different person's happiness.
"I'm gonna be late for class," I responded, getting up from the table and walking away. I heard him make a noise of disappointment but I ignored it.
My mom grabbed me by my arm to stop me as I went to take a step out of the door. She whispered, "Just ignore your dad, honey."
I smiled and nodded my head before leaving for the day.
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A E R O
I don't like apologizing.
But Alessandro sits across from me, waiting for one. The son of the don doesn't appreciate getting his ass beat by an assassin, apparently.
"We all have off days where we aren't thinking straight, Black. So it's no problem, I know you don't actually care for his girl," He tried to bait me into saying that I do.
I nodded my head, "You're right. I don't. But I'd appreciate it if you left my hits to me."
"Of course, my mistake," He said before taking a sip of the whiskey in his hand.
I've already admitted to Hailey that I care for her. But I do not have romantic feelings for her. I can't have romantic feelings for her. My phase of giving a shit about her will pass before the end of the month, and I'll be able to collect my 2 million dollars. I'm letting myself get distracted by her kindness and the light she carries around with her. Strange that I'm getting distracted by all the things that make her the opposite of me.
My dead heart beats for nothing but money.
He set his glass down and asked me, "Are you able to do a hit today?"
I nodded my head and he leaned forwards in his chair, "Good. I'll send you everything you need to know."
He got up to exit my office but stopped once he was in the doorway. He turned back to look at me and asked, "Why did you kill those 4 men?"
I knew he was referring to the Whitmore house. And I knew exactly why I killed them. But he doesn't need to know that.
"Pissed me off," I responded vaguely.
He nodded his head before genuinely leaving this time. Malcolm wasn't the one who ordered the hit, somebody else was. And I need them to think that I'm the one that's going to do it, or else they're going to hire somebody else who will kill her in the same day. Somebody that isn't smiling around her.
I'm going to find out who ordered the hit and why before I do anything.
╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝
I walked up the steps to her university, knowing that she would've just finished class. I know her entire schedule - I could kill her in the bathroom if I wanted.
I approached the door as I saw her exit the building, making me stop in my tracks.
My eyes narrowed seeing who she was walking with. Fucking Tomas.
They didn't notice me as they walked and talked to each other. They were both smiling and laughing. He said something to her that made her laugh a lot, making me rub my jawline frustratedly.
So he thinks he's funny?
I walked over to them and stood in front of Hailey, blocking her path. She ran into me and stumbled backward, but I grabbed her by her elbow to stop her from falling. She looked up at me and a smile formed back on her face, "So you have my number, you just don't like to use it?"
"Isn't this more mysterious?" I said to her, a laugh escaping her lips. An angelic noise, one that feels as if it comes from heaven.
I moved my eyes to Tomas, a weird feeling happening in my chest. His face just looks so fucking punchable right now.
"Aero! Hailey and I are going to go get some food, wanna join us?" Tomas asked me, making my jaw clench.
"No."
Tomas shrugged like he expected that answer, "Your loss."
He put his hand around her arm and said, "Come on, let's go. Our reservation is in 20."
I pushed his hand off of her, "You don't need to hold onto her and guide her like a dog."
"It's okay, Aero," her soft voice spoke. "Are you sure you don't want to come?"
"Positive," I reply, my eyes glaring at Tomas.
The thought of being around Tomas for that long made me feel sick. A flash of disappointment appeared on her face. She gave me a small smile, "Maybe next time then."
She walked past me and towards the parking lot. I stared at Tomas and he stared back at me before taking a few steps forward to leave. I grabbed his upper arm and forced him to look back at me. I asked him, "What are your intentions with Hailey?"
He ripped his arm out of my grip, "What are yours?"
He stared at me for a second and I didn't respond. He turned to leave, heading in the same direction as Hailey. I watch him as he jogs back up to her and makes her laugh once again.
A muscle in my jaw twitches.
I want him dead.
╚══ஓ๑♡๑ஓ══╝
H A I L E Y
I sat and ate with Tomas, basically shoving the food down my throat. I was so hungry, when Tomas stopped me before my class to ask if I wanted to go out to eat I nearly died. I'd never been to this restaurant before, but it was amazing.
"Do you like it?" Tomas asked between a laugh, seeing how hungry I was.
I laughed and took a sip of my water before responding, "Yes. I'm so happy you asked me to come here."
He nodded his head, "It's a shame Aero couldn't join us, though."
"Yea...he's probably just busy with his company or something," I defend why he couldn't come. I'm sure he had a reason that I just didn't understand.
But I wish he would've come. I couldn't help but wonder why he came to my university, just to say no? Maybe I'll ask him the next time I see him. Which could literally be whenever, because he likes to play this game called 'don't text Hailey and tell her when I'm gonna show up.'
Tomas asked me, "What are you and Aero? Friends? Friends with benefits? Dating?"
The question makes me pause sipping my water. I allow a bit of liquid into my mouth and set the glass back down.
"Just friends."
Sadly.
What the fuck is going on with me today?
He nodded, "Aero's first friend."
I changed the topic, feeling as if he were sort of making a dig at him and not wanting to be part of it, "Are you going to Reid's party on the 13th? It's going to be huge, he's inviting everyone. Like, literally. A few days ago he invited the person that delivered a package to his house."
"Yea, I should be able to go. We should go together, I could match my tie to your dress?" He asked with a smile.
I shrugged, "I think I'm going to be going with Reid, but I'll let you know."
That was a lie. I already knew Reid was going with Bruno, but there was just somebody stopping me from saying yes.
We continued to talk and eat, until we both ate all of our food. We paid and as we exited the restaurant he asked me, "Do you want a ride home?"
I didn't really feel like walking home, so I replied, "Ye-"
"No. She doesn't need one," Aero answered from behind me.
I jumped, not expecting him to be there. I noticed his car was parked at the side of the road. My eyebrows lowered, wondering how long he had been there.
Tomas just nodded, "Okay. I'll see you later, Hailey."
I gave him a small wave before turning around and looking at Aero. There was no emotion on his face so it was hard to tell how he was feeling. I crossed my arms and asked him teasingly, "You here to pick me up, Romeo?"
"Shut up and get in the car," he responded, and a laugh came from my throat. I sort of enjoyed how he was so much grumpier than me at all times.
I got in his car and he started driving. While driving he asked me, "You have fun?"
Although it was a question, his tone made me feel like it wasn't. I looked at him, "Did you have fun doing whatever made you say no to coming?"
His hands gripped the steering wheel a little tighter at my question. He replied, "Just had something for work."
I was going to ask him what he did for work but he asked me something first, "Do you want to come back to my house?"
My eyebrows went up, not expecting him to ask me that. He continued, "I'll drop you back off at your house later."
I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to not look too excited at his question. I responded, "Yea, sure."
As we walked up his driveway, I couldn't help but notice fresh dirt along his front porch. I asked him, "Are you planting something?"
"Maybe," He answered vaguely.
We entered his house and I instantly wanted to go over to his comfortable couch. I took my shoes off and ran over, dropping myself onto it. He took his time taking his shoes off and walking over, sitting down on the cushion beside me. I asked him, "Favourite movie?"
"I don't watch movies."
My eyes narrowed at him, "You don't? Then what do you do for fun?"
He shrugged, "Nothing that would interest you."
I looked through the movies, trying to find one that I think he'd like. I eventually landed on an action one, because there are guns in it. And he has a gun. Or multiple.
I looked at him for approval before clicking on it. He just shrugged, and I took that as a yes. I started playing it and he asked me, "Are you cold?"
"A little," I shrugged.
I was expecting him to get me a blanket, but instead, he sat closer to me and put his arm around me.
"Does that make you feel warmer?" his raspy voice asked quietly. I sucked in a breath.
I nodded my head. It's better than okay. I leaned my head against his shoulder as we watched, his cheek resting against the top of my head.
After the movie I wanted to ask him if he'd considered going to Reid's party or not. Reid misses him so much, and getting Aero to go would be the best present I could get him. But as time went on, I found it hard to keep my eyes open.
Every time they'd shut, I'd force them back open. But it became harder and harder, until eventually I wasn't able to open them anymore.
As they shut I could feel a hand running through my hair, just further pushing me into my sleep.
Word Count: 2103