✿ Reid's POV

I let Aileen walk in front of me, getting the doors for her whenever we reach one.

What? I'm being nice.

I hold out the final door for her and she steps inside. I follow, just as my phone dings. Pulling it out of my pocket, I see the text from Hernan.

“I'm on a date with Lee. I'll text you after” I quickly type and send it to him.

“This is it?” she asks.

I look up.

“Why do you sound so disappointed?”

She looks at me.

“Cos I am” she replies. “This isn't going to work for me.”

I chuckle.

“Relax. This part is for takeout” I explain. “The real deal is on the roof.”

Her eyes light up.

“Open sky?”

I chuckle at her reaction.

“Yes... open sky.”

She smiles and brushes her hair off her shoulder. It falls down her open back, shielding her exposed skin from me. I clear my throat... a bit bummed.

“Shall we? The stairs are that way” I gesture.

“I like how you're a fast learner” she nods.

I give her a half smile.

“After you, Lee.”

She moves ahead of me. My eyes remain locked behind her. Columbian and Puerto Rican genes? No wonder her assets were in womanly abundance.

We reach the top of the stairs and I move closer to her offering her my arm.

“I'm counting on you to sell this, Lee,” I say.

Aileen hooks her arm through mine and smiles.

“As much as I'd like to do something embarrassing to you on purpose, I won't. You've gone through so much already... spark plugs and all... so I'll be your sweet, sweet fiancée” she says.

“Thank you.”

“But if she shows any bitchy traits, I'll bite her head off.”

I chuckle and we walk down a dimly lit hall. Her heels click on the hardwood floors and for some reason, I find myself smiling. We passed a pair of stumbling women who were giggling loudly. As soon as they spot me, they stop and their eyes grow wide.

“Oh my God! It's Reid Dalton and the baker!”

One of them pulls out her phone to take pictures and I feel Aileen's hold around my arm tighten a little.

“You okay?” I whisper.

She looks at me.

“Yeah. I'm just that excited to sell this.”

I smile and push through the set of glass doors that led to the rooftop. My ears were suddenly blessed with classical music and the sound of laughter.

“Woah” she let out in a huge breath, looking around at the lights from the city that twinkled all around us.

She was something else. The way the smallest things made her smile.

Open sky.

Who got excited about the open sky?

“Oh Armani look” she gasps pointing at something in the distance, “Those lantern lights are gorgeous.”

I push her outstretched hand down.

“It's rude to point,” I tell her. “And they're just lanterns.”

She makes a face but her smile comes back.

“Cami will love these in her room when her big girl bed comes in” she chuckles.

“Her big girl bed?”

“Yeah.”

“So she still sleeps in her parent's bed?”

“Sneaks” she whispers, trying to sound mysterious. “She wants to be an only child.”

“Ahh,” I let out and turn to look at the pillars which had little lantern lights hanging from them.

It was completely dark and they lit up the entire place.

It's just lanterns.

Wooden tables were set up everywhere, many of them right along the edge of the roof to give customers the best view.

“I need to treat my entire family here one weekend” she breathes out.

I'm about to say something when I spot Anika. My body instantly tenses up.

“Come on,” I say, my tone changing, “I reserved us the best table”

I push on her back in such a hurry that she almost stumbles forward. Aileen shoots me a look.

“Are you trying to kill me, Armani?”

“Apologies,” I mutter and lead her to the receptionist's desk. “Hi. I have a reservation under Dalton.”

The woman smiles at us.

“Of course, Mr. Dalton. Please, this way”

We follow her, the few people who recognize me stop chatting and whisper amongst themselves... a few of the ladies eyeing Aileen. But it wasn't their jealous look I was playing for. I needed the White Queen in this game of chess to react.

The woman leads us to our table, right at the edge of the roof and I thank her.

“Let me” I stop Aileen and get her chair for her.

She chuckles softly.

“You know she's not even looking right?”

“Oh, she will be” I smirk.

Aileen shakes her head at me and sits. I help her push her chair in and I take a seat beside her. From the corner of my eyes, I see Anika checking her phone and looking annoyed. She glances at the entrance and then checks her phone. Then she mutters something under her breath.

The trap has been set.

“It's go time” I mutter under my breath and raise a hand to signal the bartender.

Three... two... one...

“Reid?”

Bingo!

I turn.

“Anika?” I call out, faking my surprise.

“Smooth, Armani” Aileen chuckles.

I hold back my chuckle.

“It's such a surprise to see you. What are you doing here?” I ask as she stands and makes her way toward us.

“Uh... I'm waiting for Ethan” she answers, glancing at Aileen. “What are... what are you two doing here?”

“We're on a date” Aileen replies with a smile.

Anika's face falls.

“A date?” she repeats and turns to me, “Here?”

“Yeah. I decided to spoil her a little.”

She wasn't even going to pretend to not be bothered about it. Anika folds her arms.

“I see,” she says bluntly.

The bartender arrives just in time before Anika says anything else.

“What can I get you, sir?”

I turn to Aileen.

“What would you like to drink, babe?”

“Uh, wine is fine, sweetie. Thank you,” she answers.

I smile.

“Bring her your best bottle,” I order. “Tonight is all about the love of my life.”

“Oh stop, you” Aileen giggles and playfully pushes my arm.

Anika was seething. I smile at Aileen and turn to her.

“Would you like to join us, Nikki?” Aileen beats me to it. “It's okay if I call you Nikki right?”

“Err... sure... I guess” she replies. “And no. Ethan should be here soon. I don't want to pry.”

“Well then let's keep you company till he does” I suggest.

If he does.

“We don't mind, right babe?”

“Not at all” she smiles.

Anika nods and takes a seat opposite me.

“Reid? What in the world are you doing here?” a familiar voice speaks up.

We turn to see an elderly couple beaming at us.

Oh boy.

I'd met them at one of my parent's galas. The man was very nice. But his wife? She was unnecessarily nosy.

“I'm on a date, Mrs. Chu,” I inform the woman.

She smiles at Anika.

“I didn't know you two were back together” her husband chuckles. “We heard rumors of you getting engaged to a baker.”

I smile and lean back for them to see Aileen. She waves at them.

“It's not a rumor, Mr. and Mrs. Chu,” I tell them.

The woman's face falls and her husband chuckles.

“Ah, to be young and in love” he smiles.

“So it's serious?” his wife asks. “Your mother didn't confirm any of the rumors.”

“Oh it's serious, Mrs. Chu” Anika cuts in. “They're even having their engagement party this weekend. You should come.”

“Really?” Mr. Chu chuckles.

I glance at Anika.

“Really” she answers, looking at me.

“Well, we'll love to be there. Where are you holding it?”

“We're still planning, Mrs. Chu. We'll fill you in on the details when everything is finalized,” I say, not looking away from Anika.

Mr. Chu nods at me.

“Well, it was nice to see you again Reid. Enjoy your date” and then to Aileen, he goes, “Don't let him intimidate you, okay? He's a good kid.”

Aileen just smiles.

“Treat her good, Dalton” he adds and I nod.

“Always” I smile at Aileen.

Anika eyes us and waits for the old couple to leave before speaking up.

“So, do you two need any help with planning the party?” she asks.

“No, we're good” I quickly reply.

“You have everything under control?”

“Perfectly under control.”

“You're not good at planning, Reid.”

“I am now.”

“You don't forget to pick up stuff now?”

“I don't.”

“What about dates? Do you remember dates that have nothing to do with work?”

“Every single one of 'em. You can wake me up in my sleep and I will name it.”

“So you've never forgotten to get milk, or vegetables, or any of that grocery stuff?”

“Never.”

“What about your anniversary? Have you always remembered? Birthdays? Death days? The date for your dates.”

“We're on one right now aren't we?” I ask. “If I forgot, we wouldn't have been here... and on time.”

Her defense deflates and I lean back, satisfied that she couldn't get anything to use against me. The waiter appears with our wine just then.

“Oh good. An icebreaker” Aileen mutters and reaches out for the bottle.

“Let me, darling” I smile at her.

“Oh, you pour wine now?” Anika asks.

I fill Aileen's glass.

“It's been two years, Nikki. Things have changed” I smile at her, “Wine?” I offer.

She holds up her glass and I fill hers too before filling mine. Just as I'm about to take a sip, I spot the Aussie.

Oh shit!

Anika's phone rings and she sets her glass down and answers it.

“Where are you Ethan?!” she hisses and stands up, not knowing he's in the restaurant.

“Looks like your little plan's failing, Armani” Aileen whispers.

I glare at her. Anika hangs up when she spots Ethan and he wraps her in a hug before kissing her.

Ew.

He whispers something to her... probably an apology, and I scoff. Anika hardly forgave. He was going to try harder. I never apologized to her. She apologized for my mistakes. But Aileen? If I didn't she'd blow our cover and I couldn't afford that.

Also, she scared me a little.

The two make their way to us and Anika beams at me.

“He's here” she announces, a smug look on he face.

“Mate!” he exclaims. “It's so good to see you.”

I lift my wine and tip it at him as if to acknowledge his greeting.

Jerk!

“Lee, was it? It's good to see you too” he greets Aileen.

“Hi,” she responds.

I eye Ethan behind my glass. He was still bald and had a freshly pressed not Armani suit on his body.

Probably can't afford it.

“I'm so sorry I'm late, darling” he apologized to Anika as he pulled her chair for her to sit, “Car trouble... my spark plug was gone and so was the spare I keep.”

I briefly touch the pocket of my suit.

I should have gone with removing the battery or burning the car completely.

“It's okay, my love. What's important is that you're here” Anika's voice snaps through my thoughts.

I frown.

“That's it?” I hear myself ask.

Everyone turns to me.

“He's unforgivably late and you just let it slide?” I ask. “Who are you and what have you done with Anika Woods?” I try to play it off like I'm not mad she didn't get mad.

Anika smiles at me.

“It's been two years Reid. Things have changed” she throws my words into my face.

My smug look disappears and she grabs the wine bottle.

“Wine, my love?” she offers.

I flex my jaw in annoyance as she pours him a glass.

“Let's make a toast” Ethan offers.

I look down at my glass which was almost empty. I didn't realize I was drinking out of annoyance.

“What are we toasting to?” Anika asks, looking at me. “Oh I know” she chuckles, “To better beginnings!”

Better?!

Was she saying this prick was better than me? At what exactly?

“Cheers!” Ethan's unnecessarily loud voice reaches my ears.

I reluctantly raise my glass and let out a quarter-hearted, “Cheers.”

Aileen sips her wine and her face scrunches up, making Ethan laugh as he raises his glass to his lips.

I hope you choke on it, you bastard.

“Not fond of wine?” he asks her.

“No,” I hear Aileen admit.

I give her a look.

Never admit defeat. Hadn't her Hispanic parents taught her that one?

“Maybe this is too refined for her taste,” Anika comments with a smug look on her face. "She was born into this kind of life after all.”

Aileen's eyes snap away from the wine she was looking at to Anika's face, then to mine. She gives me the 'Aren't you going to say anything?' look and I clear my throat.

“So, how'd you two meet?” I ask.

Aileen shakes her head and Ethan bares his surprisingly white teeth at me.

“The old-fashioned way” he replies.

“Which is?” I ask.

“We bumped into each other” he grins, “Almost took her down with me.”

“But he caught me and offered to buy me crêpes as an apology” Anika smiles, looping an arm around Ethan's.

I scoff.

“Crêpes?” I question.

“Like normal crêpes? Or the France kind of crêpes?” Aileen chips in.

“The France kind” Ethan answers. “It did happen in Paris so.”

“Nice” Aileen smiles.

Anika watches her.

“You've... been to France?” she asks, sounding like she was feeling intimidated.

Say yes!

“Oh no,” Aileen chuckles.

Oh, God.

“But I am a baker so I know there's a difference.”

“Hm,” Anika's smug look returns.

She looks at me.

“How'd you two meet?”

“On a plane” Aileen quickly answers.

What is she doing?

I slip my hand under the table and pinch her thigh.

“On a plane?” Ethan asks.

Aileen grabs my hand under the table and shifts her weight. Before I realize she stumps my foot and my face flushes.

Oh dammit!

“On a plane” she smiles as if nothing just happened.

I bend over a bit; my foot burning.

“Are you okay mate?” Ethan asks.

I nod.

“Oh he's fine” Aileen chuckles, “He's just reminiscing about the day we met... right sweetie?”

I turn to her with a forced smile.

“Right.”

“So what happened on the plane?” Ethan asks.

“Yeah tell us” Anika encourages. “I'm excited to know how you were able to afford first class, Lee.”

Her grip on my hand under the table loosens and she lets go of me.

“She always flies first class when necessary, this one” I cut in and move my hand around under the table to take her hand in mine, “And this trip was necessary for her.”

“Oh?” Anika asks, her smug look still visible, “Where were you headed?”

“The Caribbean” I smile, “Perfect place for a meet-cue.”

Aileen looks at me.

“I was going on a business trip and she was going to visit her homeland” I continue.

“You're from The Caribbean?” Ethan asks.

“Puerto Rico to be exact” I answer.

Anika eyes Aileen.

“We ended up sitting together and when we landed, I asked her to be my tour guide. Of course, I'd been to The Caribbean tons of times, but she didn't have to know that” I chuckle and look at Aileen who hadn't looked away from me, “I just had to have her around me because no one...” I turn to Anika, “... no one has ever made me feel the way Aileen does.”

Anika's smug look completely vanishes and not even a half smile is seen.

“That's really beautiful, mate” Ethan smiles at us.

“Yeah Reid” Aileen whispers.

I look away from Anika and her eyes had grown completely soft... like she admired me or something.

“You didn't tell me you'd been to The Caribbean before” she blinks and smiles, getting rid of the look in her eyes.

What was that about?

I smile and play along.

“I just wanted to be around you, Lee. You're good for me. And I don't care what anyone thinks.”

She squeezes my hand under the table and I take it as she saying 'Thank you for making that up' to me.

“Are you two always this... lovey-dovey?”

We turn to Anika who looked like she was in some kind of pain. I smile and bring Aileen's hand in mine out from under the table. I kiss the back of her hand and smile at Anika.

“We can't help it, Nikki. We're so in love.”

Her brows crease. When we were together I always stopped her from being all touchy with me... even away from the public eye. So as I was here, in public, the paparazzi probably lurking around here, and holding hands with Aileen and kissing the back of her hand, I could see Anika was dying. It was slow, yes, but she was dying.

“Well I think that's sweet” Ethan smiles and takes Anika's hand, “Love does make us do things we didn't even think we could do” he kisses the back of her hand too.

She plasters a fake smile on her face which doesn't even last. She takes her hand away from Ethan and picks up her wine.

Yes! Mission accomplished.

Anika downs the entire glass and pours herself some more which she chugs downs too.

“Woah, that thirsty huh?” I chuckle.

She pours herself yet another one and is about to drink it when Ethan stops her.

“Easy, darling. The food hasn't yet arrived. And you know I won't be there to help with your hangover in the morning.”

I sit up. He won't be there? My eyebrows shoot up.

Oh my God! They didn't even live together!

I chuckle.

Some things never change.

“And what's funny, Reid?” Anika sneers.

She wasn't even trying to hide her jealousy. I smirk and shrug lightly.

“Oh, nothing. Just excited for the morning” I say and sip my wine.

Aileen's own was still filled. She really wasn't a wine person.

“What's happening in the morning?” Ethan asks, looking between Lee and I.

“Breakfast” I reply.

Aileen creases her brows a bit but smiles anyways.

“Breakfast” she repeats.

“Yes,” I smile at her. “I can't wait to eat your delicious breakfast.”

She arches a brow, wondering which angle I was playing at now.

“She makes you breakfast?” Ethan asks.

“Every morning” I reply, “And I her.”

Aileen chuckles. Anika sets her glass down.

“You make her breakfast?” she asks me.

I nod.

“You don't know what thing about cooking, Reid.”

“Oh he tries... this one” Aileen cuts in, catching on.

This is why she's the perfect person for this.

An actress would have probably flopped this part... saying it wasn't apart of the script.

“So let me get this straight” Anika blinks, shifting her weight to sit upright. “You make each other breakfast, and then deliver it to the other's house?”

Aileen smiles.

“Yes.”

But that wasn't the angle I was aiming at.

“Oh, I think we should tell them, babe,” I say to Aileen.

She looks at me.

“We should?” she asks, squeezing my hand.

“Yeah. It'll be out sooner or later” I smile.

“Tell us... tell us what?” Anika stammers.

I look at her, a smug look on my face.

“We don't deliver the breakfast to each other's house, Nikki,” I say.

Her eyes widen a bit... probably catching on to what I was driving at. Maybe she understood. Maybe she didn't. But I was going to say it anyway.

“We make each other breakfast and eat it at our home.”

Aileen grips my hand but I ignore her, focusing on Anika's face that had instantly gone pale.

“You two live together?” Ethan asks.

“We do. And it's amazing” I smile.

I look at Aileen who I could see was fighting back her outbursts.

“She makes everything amazing” I add, moving my foot away from her heels before she got aggressive again.

“How long has this been going on?” Anika squeaks out.

“What? Our living together?” I ask again, “About six months now.”

She sucks in a loud sharp breath and Ethan makes a face.

“Are you alright, darling?” he asks her.

“No” she lets out. “I think the wine's getting to me. I feel lightheaded.”

“Drink some water then,” Aileen suggests, taking her hand away from me to wave at a waiter.

“No, no, it's okay” Anika shakes her head. “I just want to go home.”

Too hot to handle huh?

“But we haven't eaten anything...”

“We'll order something downstairs” she cuts Ethan off. “Please just take me home, Ethan.”

“Uh... okay, okay. Can you stand?”

Anika quickly stands up, startling Ethan.

“Well, my car... I brought an Uber so I'll have to order a ride” he stammers a bit.

Anika touches a hand to her temple and closes her eyes.

“Err... she doesn't look too good,” Aileen says.

Ethan wraps his hand around her and pulls her in a hug. I make a face.

“Armani” Aileen whispers to me.

I turn to her.

“If you want some alone time with her, why don't you take her to her house?” she suggests.

“What?”

“Take her home. The whole point of this is to get her to leave him right? So what better way than to plant seeds of doubt in her mind when she's away from him?”

Oh, she's right... and so smart.

“Why don't I take her?” I offer.

Anika pulls away from Ethan.

“But you're on a date,” she says.

“I know. But Lee insists I take you home. It's faster that way.”

“What about...”

“No thanks mate” Ethan cuts her off. “I can get my fiancée home fine.”

“Let Reid take her, Ethan” Aileen chips in. “She needs to lie down. She doesn't look well.”

“But...”

“Just let him take her home first so she can lie down. You can order her some food since she hasn't eaten and take it to her. Cuddle under the sheets, put on a movie, your date's saved” she smiles.

“And you?” Ethan asks.

“He'll come back for me” Aileen chuckles, “I have the house key.”

I chuckle and look at Anika.

“I think it's fine, darling,” she tells Ethan. “He'll wait with me till you get back with the food.”

Ethan sighs and reluctantly nods.

"Take care of her, mate.”

I nod.

“She'll be just fine.”

Anika kisses him goodbye and I walk away with her. Stepping out of the restaurant, the cold air blows over us. Anika shivers a little and I find myself ready to offer her my jacket. I slip the spark plugs out of my jacket into my pants pocket before taking off my jacket and draping it around her.

She gives me a look and I look away from her and unlock my car. I hold the door open for her and I earn another look. She sits in and I get behind the steering wheel. Turning on the heater, I start the car.

“You offer jackets and open doors now?” Anika asks.

“Old habit” I reply, backing out of the lot and into the street.

She chuckles.

“Since when?”

“Lee” I reply curtly.

Anika hums.

“You love her don't you? Changing so much for her.”

“Let's talk about you” I change the topic.

“What's interesting about me, Reid? You're the one getting married to a common baker.”

I scoff.

“Do you have a problem with Lee?”

“I have a problem with you, Reid” she snaps.

I glance at her.

“Eight years, Reid. And not once did you even joke about proposing... or our life in the future.”

“Did you think about our life in the future when you were breaking up with me?”

“There was no future because you refused to see that there was more to us!”

“So what's the problem, Nikki?”

“You! You are my problem Reid Dalton! You!”

I flex my jaw.

“We break up and you fly out to The Caribbean to fall in love with a baker?!”

“You're no better, Anika. You said yes to marry the first man you dated after the breakup. Someone you barely know!” I frown.

She scoffs.

“What would you have had me do? Date several guys and when I found the one, date him for eight years and wait two centuries for him to take a hint?!”

I slow down at a stop light.

“Look, Anika. I was fine being boyfriend and girlfriend with you, okay? We didn't need to get married.”

“But you need to get married to the baker? And buy a house with her?”

“Leave Aileen out of this okay?”

“Sure, defend the gold digger.”

I frown at her.

“She's not a gold digger, Nikki.”

“Yeah, she's the gold. I heard you the first time” She rolls her eyes.

The light turns green and I move the car. The silence that follows is deafening. After about ten minutes, no one speaks. Then Anika breaks the silence.

“Was I the problem, Reid?” she whispers. “Was it me. Did you not see a future with me?”

“Anika...”

“Answer me, Reid Dalton. Because that's the only explanation to why you proposed to someone like her” she frowns. “A baker, Reid. You proposed to a baker who you met on a plane two years ago. You've been living together for six months now. You offer her your jacket, get doors for her and make her breakfast. You Reid.”

I keep my eyes on the road. She was not taking this well.

“The Reid I've known since high school didn't get doors for people. He didn't offer his jacket to people who got cold. He can't cook. He doesn't do PDA and he most certainly wouldn't move in with someone he's dating.”

I flex my jaw again.

“I told you Anika. Things have changed.”

“No Reid. Lee has changed you. She's done something not even I could do for years... even before we started dating” She turns toward the window as we near her house.

I pull up in front of her house and she reaches beside her to unbuckle her seat belt. She pauses when she spots the shopping bags in the back seat. Anika scoffs.

“Of course, you take her shopping” she mutters loud for me to hear. “What'd you get her? A bikini? Lingerie? Hair products?”

I chuckle softly.

“Shoes” I reply.

“Shoes?” Anika frowns.

I nod.

“In case she got tired of her heels, there would be comfortable shoes waiting here for her.”

Anika's face falls.

“You've never been that thoughtful around me, Reid.”

I shrug.

“I didn't have to be. You're a model. You sleep in heels” I remind her. “Aileen doesn't. I asked her on a date, and so I wouldn't want anything... not even her shoes... to get in the way.”

“It would have still been nice to offer, Reid.”

“You mean the Aussie doesn't offer?”

“No” she admits.

I unbuckle my seat belt and shift my weight to look at her.

“So why are you with him, Nikki? Dump his Australian ass.”

“Because he doesn't think about my feet? I'm not that shallow, Reid.”

Oh really?

I nod.

“Okay then” I back off and open the door to get out of the car.

She doesn't wait for me to get the door for her and her response to me asking her to leave Ethan had me annoyed, so I wasn't even going to get the door for her. She slams the car door shut and shakes my jacket off her.

“Here. I don't want my fiancée seeing this and thinking something happened between us.”

I scoff and take my jacket back.

“Yeah, sure.”

“Thanks for the ride, Reid. Goodnight.”

She turns away from me, without another word, and I get back into my car and drive off back to the restaurant. When I get there, Aileen is standing outside waiting for me.

I get out of the car and frown at her.

“Why are you outside?”

“Ethan's phone went off so I had to order his Uber from my phone. He left not long ago. And I was waiting for you” She eyes me.

I roll my eyes.

“How'd it go?”

“Don't ask” I reply. “Get in. It's late.”

She doesn't argue with me.

“That bad huh?” she asks when I start the car.

“Stop talking, please?” I shut her up. “I need to hear myself think.”

“About what? Where you're going to get a house with both our names on it and neighbors who can testify that we've been living together for six months?!” she fumes.

I turn to her.

“What is wrong with you Armani?” she huffs. “Why do you keep letting that woman put you in positions where you trap yourself? Is she that worth it?” she sighs, her voice going soft.

“That's not your concern, Lee. Your job is to help me sell this relationship and you did well tonight. So just drop it. Anika is my business. And I don't appreciate you interfering. Got it?”

“Crystal” she replies and looks out the window, cradling her stomach.

Did she not eat?

But I don't ask her. She could have gotten something to eat if she wanted. So if she chose not to, how was it my business?

I drive her back to her home and she doesn't say a word to me. She just climbs out of the car and slams the door shut angrily... even more, than Anika did. I frown at her and drive away from her house.

Now I had to find a house?!

I groan. Maybe this was a bad idea.

Thank you for reading!
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Ciao
~the_atticwriter