~Aiden~

A loud knock got me to open my eyes.

“Aiden? Open the door!”

I rolled to my side, my ribs pressing hard against a frame. I picked it up and a chill ran through me.

“Aiden! Open the damn door or I will break it down!”

“You can barely get a pickle jar to open, Iris. Go back to bed!” I called out and pressed the frame closer to my chest.

The knocking stopped and I didn't hear her voice anymore. I exhaled deeply and sank back into the sheets, closing my eyes. Then a louder knock sounded on the door, startling me. I opened my eyes and frowned.

“Aiden! Open the damn door right now or I swear to God I'll remodel your entire—”

I opened the door and frowned down at her.

“—house” she ended, putting the frying pan away.

I narrowed my eyes.

“What do you want Iris?” I asked, stepping out of the doorway to let her in.

She entered and I moved further into the room.

“I should be asking you that, Aiden. What do you want?”

“You out of my room” I replied.

She sighed and shook her head at me.

“What were you saying to Breanna?” she asked.

The mention of her name made me turn.

“What do you mean?”

“What do I mean Aiden?” she asked sarcastically. “Gosh Aiden, why exactly are you this way?”

I pinched the bridge of my nose.

“Look, Iris. I don't have time for this. If you've got nothing relevant to say, please get out.”

She scoffed.

“You're impossible, Aiden. Breanna—”

“Will never be her!” I snapped at my sister.

She jumped and took a step back.

“She will never be her and so it'll never work, Iris. Do you understand that?” I asked. “She's my employee and so it'll stay that way. She and I are never going to work!”

Iris' shoulders drooped and she slowly nodded.

“I was going to say Breanna has been through a lot already so try being a bit nicer to her but we'll go with yours.”

My face relaxed.

Shit!

“I'll leave you to your...” her eyes roamed my room, “... situation” she finished and turned away from my room.

Then she stopped at the doorway and looked over her shoulder at me.

“Oh and Aiden? She wouldn't want you to find a clone of herself. She'd want you to be happy” she added and slammed the door shut.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

~Brie~

I passed by his office for the third time this week and his seat was still being occupied by that rude man. Two weeks... it'd been two weeks since the whole wedding fiasco. Two weeks since Aiden's outburst and two weeks since he'd been a no-show at work.

We had a new temporary boss. One Miles Herve... total ass. He caught me looking at him and I quickly passed and moved to my workstation. As soon as I took a seat, Megan walked up to me.

“You wanna get lunch together? I was thinking... less tacos and more spaghetti.”

I chuckled.

“Sure Meg” I smiled.

Miles moved along the corridor with Cynthia following him, looking all stressed out. Megan frowned.

“When is Mr. Corleone going to get back? This man is awful. Look how hard he's working Cyn” she sighed.

“Where is he anyway?” Avery chipped in.

I looked over at her as she joined in the conversation.

“I know you're not talking to me.”

She chuckled.

“Of course, I'm talking to you, Brie.”

I shrugged.

“How would I know where Mr. Corleone is?” I asked.

“Well, you're super tight with his sister. Hasn't she said anything about where he's disappeared to?”

I shook my head.

“Well, I did ask Mr. Martin last week and all he told me was that he's gone out of town for business” Megan informed us.

“For two weeks? Okayyy” Avery sang. “I'll see you guys later. I'm headed to HR.”

“Bye,” I waved and watched her walk away.

I sighed.

“Hey, does the name Jewel ring any bells to you?” I asked Megan.

The thought still haunted me.

“If I answer that will you please teach me how to do a fishtail braid? Lulu's hair is killing me, honestly” she groaned.

I chuckled.

“We had tons of slumber parties, Meg. We watched tons of instructional videos and did each other's hair. We demonstrated with Zach's hair. How do you still not know how to do a fishtail braid?”

“Please Brie?” she begged, pointing at the dark hair of the doll. “I was almost late for work trying to get a simple braid right.”

“Fine, fine, hand me the doll.”

Megan cheerfully handed over the doll and I got to work. She took a seat on top of my desk and carefully watched me braid the doll's hair.

“I'm worried that you don't recognize the name,” she said, handing me a tiny comb to brush the ends of the doll's hair. “Although, you do live under a rock most of the time.”

“I live under a rock? You can't do a simple fishtail braid” I teased.

“Hey!” she chortled.

“Ta-daa!” I grinned, handing her the doll. “Braiding 101.”

“Wow. Manny would have been the most stylish kid in school if he came out as a girl” she said.

I laughed.

“So Jewel. Is she someone important?”

“Obviously. She's this building” Megan chuckled.

“What?” I asked.

Jewel Interactive.

“Ohh” I let out.

Right! But could Aiden have named the company after a person named Jewel maybe?

“What about as a person?” I asked. “Like do you know or have you heard anything about a person named Jewel? Around here? Anywhere?”

Megan looked skyward.

“No, not really” she answered. “Why'd you ask?”

I shook my head.

“It's nothing. It was just a thought.”

“Mm,” she hummed. “Hey, how's your intern trainee doing? I haven't seen her around today.”

I scoffed and moved my eyebrows.

“She's around. I asked her to edit some sample photos for me an hour ago. She should be heading back shortly.”

Megan crossed her arms.

“Isn't she a little too young to be interning at a digital marketing company this prestigious?” Megan asked. “How old is she?”

“Twenty-two” I answered.

“She's a baby in the field” Megan whispered.

“True. But she's also one of the lucky ones who got accepted to our company's new postgraduate internship program, Meg.”

“And how do you feel about a twenty-two-year-old college graduate under your care?”

I shrugged.

“I'm not saying I can't do it” I replied. “But I thought she would be one of those nerdy types. You know, a stickler for the rules.”

“So you thought she'd be you?” Avery chipped in again.

I turned.

Where did she keep appearing from?

“I left my key card” She smiled and plucked it from my desk. “And Tameka is the total opposite of you, Breanna.”

I chuckled.

“Yes, but although she's hot-headed and too ambitious for her age, Tam's a good kid,” I said.

“Yet Priscilla from HR wants her gone?” Avery whispered.

I sighed.

“Priscilla from HR doesn't see what I see in Tameka okay? I can handle her” I assured.

“Okayyyyyyy” Avery sang again.

“My husband said it's baby fat” we overheard a colleague, Amy, as she told the others huddled around her desk.

Megan and Avery both looked at me with raised eyebrows and I shrugged, holding back a laugh.

“Oh no, Aims. I'm sure he meant to say, 'It's just fat, baby'.”

My laughter caught in my throat as my eyes snapped to the back of Tameka's head.

She has got to be kidding me!

“Not again” I groaned, rubbing my temples.

I couldn't afford for her to get another complaint for my authority to be questioned again.

“Oh, she did not just say that” Megan whispered.

Avery choked on her laughter and finally burst it out. Megan joined in a fit of laughter too.

“How many more months are left until her internship is over?” Megan asked between her laughs.

“Too many” I answered and got up from my chair. “Tameka? Please come here right now” I called out.

According to Megan, Amy had a baby two years ago and was never able to get rid of the weight. I would say snacking at her desk every second of the day didn't help either, but I knew better than to make fun of someone's weight. Amy's face was bright red as she glared at Tameka who basically skipped to my side.

“Why would you say something like that, huh Tam?” I whispered. “Are you trying to get us both in trouble with that—”

“Good afternoon, everyone” he cleared his throat, from behind me.

Tameka's body went stiff and I rubbed the back of my neck.

Why?!

“What seems to be the problem?” Miles Herve asked.

Amy huffed and shook her head.

“It's nothing, Mr. Herve” she mumbled.

The rest of my colleagues did the same and began to walk off, probably heading to lunch early.

“Ms. Nolan, you and your intern... follow me” he stated curtly and stormed off into an empty conference room, knowing damn well we'd follow, no questions asked.

Tameka gave me an apologetic look.

“I got the pictures edited,” she said, trying to finish it off with a smile.

“Ms. Nolan!” he called out again and I groaned.

“Don't say anything” I instructed and tugged her towards the conference room.

He slammed the door closed after we entered.  Tameka hopped on the table, crossing her legs. She turned slightly. I averted my eyes, knowing where she was trying to go with this.

“What's up, boss?” she smiled at Miles.

Did she not hear me instructing her not to say anything, five seconds ago?!

“Sit in a chair, please” he ordered.

I pulled a seat and sank into it.

“Why? Are you scared I'm going to fall off?” she chuckled. “Or are you thinking about—”

“Tameka!” I snapped.

She shut up.

“Fine” Miles said. “Stay up there if you will.”

Tameka chuckled and jumped down from the table, taking a seat beside me.

“So what's up, Mr. Herve?” she asked, popping the 'p'. “Are you quitting so Mr. Corleone can finally come back?”

I gave her a look.

“Sorry,” she mouthed to me.

Miles sighed.

“What have I told you about saying inappropriate things, Tameka?” he asked her.

“Inappropriate?” she furrowed her brows. “I haven't come on to you in three days. What are you talking about?”

Another thing, she had the hots for Miles Herve and I couldn't seem to get why. He was all rude... no silver lining, and yet she had a crush on him.

“I'm not talking about me, Tameka,” Miles said. “What you said to Amy. That was beyond inappropriate.”

“Oh, come on, Miles” She leaned back and rolled her eyes. “She totally asked for it.”

I shook my head.

“She didn't” Miles frowned. “You must start respecting your elders and remember this is a place of business.”

“But Miles—”

“Mr. Herve to you, young lady!” he scolded her. “Now you can go. I'd like to continue this conversation with your supervisor.”

“Oh hey, Brie has nothing to do with—”

“Tameka! Need I remind you that I'm acting CEO of this company. I'd hate to remove you from this postgraduate internship program. Do not force my hand!” he exclaimed.

Tameka looked at me and I nodded at her.

“I'm sorry Ms. Nolan” she whispered and got up. “Excuse me.”

I heard the door click shut and I let out a breath. Miles frowned at me.

“Do you have anything to say for yourself, Ms. Nolan?”

I shook my head.

“I know you don't like me very much Mr. Herve and I'm sure you know that I don't like you either so let's get this out of the way, shall we?”

He arched a brow.

“I understand Tam wasn't supposed to say that but she's not completely wrong.”

“Oh?” he asked.

“Oh,” I agreed sarcastically.

Why was he the one here? It was supposed to be Aiden. It's Aiden I wanted to be staring at right now, not this jerk of a person.

“So you find nothing wrong with what she said?” he asked.

“Not entirely. Tameka's outspoken and although she tends to go the extreme... a lot, she's a talented girl” I said.

I scratched my cheek.

“Amy literally sits at her desk and eats like the world is ending. Then she talks shit about other people too. Just last week, she yelled at Megan and said some really racist shit” I frowned.

Miles leaned back in his chair.

“Megan and I go way back to elementary school, and she's a good person. She didn't report Amy and she begged me not to say anything either. So, Tameka calling Amy fat, was Tameka being nice” I defended. “If I were in Tameka's shoes, I would have called her a fat fucking hip—”

Miles arched a brow and I caught myself.

Oh, this started great.

“Ms. Nolan, you've only been here for approximately ten months and you've got the chance to mentor an intern. Unfortunately for you, she's a wild card who's gotten over a dozen complaints in the month she's been here. This isn't good for either of you because she's either undeserving of this opportunity or you're not qualified for this job and position as the company's photographer” he said.

Not qualified?!

“You can't keep putting your neck on the line for her, Ms. Nolan. So you better get your acts together or you're going to force my hand to move you too.”

Was he threatening to fire me?!

There was a sudden knock on the door before it opened. I scoffed and held down my anger. Mr. Martin stepped inside.

“Yes, Mr. Herve,” I said and got up. “I will make sure Tameka apologizes to Amy when she gets back from lunch. I promise, it won't happen again” I said, trying to sound sweet. “Excuse me.”

I turned toward the door.

“Hello, Mr. Martin” I greeted. “Love the tie” I smiled.

He nodded and smiled in return, stepping out of the way to let me out.

Damn, you, Miles!

“Everything okay?” Megan asked, meeting me halfway to my desk.

“Yeah,” I lied. “Where's Tam?”

“At your desk.”

I nodded.

Good, she can listen.

“I'm going to go have a little chat with her.”

“Should I wait for you so we get lunch?” Megan asked.

I sighed.

“No, Meg. This is going to be a long one.”

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

Two weeks ago

~Aiden~

“Aiden? Mr. Freeman is here to see you” Juanita said, poking her head through the door to my study. “I told him you were getting ready to leave for work but he said it's very important so I let him in.”

The mention of the name made my nerves tense immediately. Mr. Freeman was the private investigator I'd hired six years ago to find an important woman in my life... Gabriella James.

“Aiden?”

I looked at my Rolex watch... hesitating. I had an important deal to close this morning, but any news about Gabriella's whereabouts was priceless. I nodded at the housekeeper.

“Okay, show him in.”

Had he found her?

My eyes locked on the frame on my desk and I held out a finger to trace the figure trapped within the frame.

“Has she been found?” I whispered.

The office door opened and Mr. Freeman stepped in.

“Good morning, Aiden.”

I stood up and shook his extended hand.

“Detective” I acknowledged, then invited him to a seat in front of my table.

“I have some good news for you.”

My heart suddenly stopped beating.

“It's not a breakthrough but it's the strongest lead we've had in six years” he continued. “We found her.”

It was the news I was expecting but hearing him say it still brought a cold tension in my body.

“A-Are you sure?” I stammered.

Mr. Freeman smiled and pushed a brown envelope toward me. “Positive. See for yourself.”

I opened the envelope and saw a picture of her. She had long brown hair parted in the middle and it flowed over her shoulders in waves. The woman looked like Gabriella but something didn't feel quite right.

I studied her carefully, then focused my eyes on her eyes.

“No. This is not her” I put down the picture on the table, feeling disappointed.

“She is Gabriella James, Aiden.”

I shook my head, hoping it would take away my annoyance.

“Gabriella had blue eyes... the brightest. Jewel complimented them every time” I said.

It was going to have blue eyes too.

“There's an easy fix, Aiden,” Mr. Freeman said. “Contacts.”

I picked up the picture again and sat forward to look at the picture intently. I studied the shape of her face. Her nose, lips, and then back to her dark brown eyes.

It was going to have one of these features.

I frowned and clenched my teeth. She did look exactly like Gabriella. I blinked my eyes several times and every time I opened my eyes, I was more and more convinced that she was our Gabriella. I felt myself starting to sweat and become uneasy.

My hands trembled as I turned to the second picture. I suddenly became paralyzed in my seat. I knew that hand so well. The small wrist and slender fingers... that I used to hold and lace my fingers with.

Dammit!

There was no doubt. She was our Gabriella. I huffed and slammed a hand on my desk, then stood up abruptly. I was breathless with rage.

“Where is she?” I ran my hand through my hair, then sat down on my chair again.

I clenched and unclenched my hands several times, preventing myself from smashing anything within reach.

“In the country” Mr. Freeman leaned back on the chair, looking satisfied. “Tennessee to be precise.”

My eyes snapped to his face and he nodded with a little smile.

“I assume you'd want to see her and settle this once and for all, right?”

Of course, I was going to see her. Leaving wasn't a part of the deal we had. She had something that belonged to me and I was going to get it back no matter what. 

Too many questions played in my head.

Where did we go wrong, Jew?

I clenched my fists again and directed my attention back to the detective.

“Yes,” I answered then picked the picture I'd tossed on my table.

I felt betrayed.

My eyes transferred to her now dark eyes and I was immediately clouded with anger. My thoughts were racing dangerously.

“We leave immediately” I announced.

Mr. Freeman sat up.

“But Aiden, don't you have work?”

“This is more important than work, Travis” I stated, frowning at the picture again.

Dammit! You have a lot of explaining to do Gabriella James.

Thank you for reading! ✨