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When I finally made it to the bank, I was ridden with excitement. This would be the first time we were alone together since we had sex. Outside the bank I removed my travel mirror from my purse and checked my appearance. I looked decent enough, and had a lingering suspicion that he would think so even if I showed up in a rag. I walked into the bank and rushed towards Zayden’s office but halted right outside. He was on the phone, yelling at somebody.
“I just can’t fucking deal with this right now, don’t you get it?” He was shouting. I had never seen him so angry before. He was holding a stress ball and looked about ready to squish it into tiny little pieces.
“I understand that,” he snapped on the phone. “How many times do I have to explain myself though? I know, I get it, but I can’t deal with this right now, what don’t you get?”
Feeling suddenly nervous, I wondered if this was a good time at all. Maybe I should have stayed home and cancelled; maybe he should have cancelled. I wasn’t sure I wanted to meddle with…whatever it was that was going on.
“We will talk on Tuesday. No, next Tuesday. I am hanging up now,” he barked, almost crushing the stress ball.
I waited a few minutes before striding in, convincing myself that I would make him feel better, regardless of what was bothering him. He had helped me with my mother’s bills, I couldn’t run now when he seemed to be having such a rough time.
With that determination, I entered Zayden’s office, startling him.
Chapter 4
Zayden
I jumped when Aria walked in. I should have been more careful and not answered the phone when she was supposed to arrive.
“You’re late,” I said icily. She looked terrified, so I added more softly, “Is everything okay?”
“Sorry I’m late,” she said, walking over to sit next to me and gently putting her arm around mine. “Is everything okay with you?”
“Depends.”
“On what?”
“How long were you standing there?” I grinned. “I’m just kidding. Everything is fine.”
“That’s not what it sounded like.” She looked like she immediately regretted saying that. “Sorry, I don’t mean to pry… I just meant, is everything okay?”
“It is now that you’re here,” I said, leaning in to kiss her, hoping it served as a distraction. She backed away after a few seconds. I hadn’t done a girl twice in a long time, but she was so damn intelligent, I couldn’t help but want more of her.
“That’s sweet, but I am worried about you. I’ve never seen you like that. Is there anything I can do?”
“Yes, just quit it,” I snapped.
Her eyes widened and eyebrows rose.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap—“
“But you did,” she said, her voice trembling. “I think it’s best I leave since you’re in such a shitty mood. You won’t tell me what it’s about so I can’t even help you, which makes my being here pointless.”
“Why would you think that? Your being here has made this day slightly better,” I said, thinking up the best lie to tell her. “It’s work, it has been really shitty today. More protests, and someone filed a complaint against one of my loan officers.”
“Wilson?” She asked eagerly.
“No, not Wilson,” I said before she could email him or do something stupid. “Someone from the Nashville branch. You don’t know him.”
“Was that him on the phone just now?” She raised her eyebrows.
“Yes,” I sighed, feeling glad that she literally walked into a solution. “He is threatening to quit and I’ve been trying to explain to him that it will just make him look guilty—which I wouldn’t give a crap about, except that it gives the whole bank a bad reputation. I don’t want scandals, I hate dealing with scandals.”
That merited a laugh. “Really? Sleeping with your employees would be your fault,” she said with mischievous grin.
“Me screwing around with some tellers is hardly a scandal. They’ve all been of age and don’t work here anymore because they can’t handle that it was a one-time thing.”