Chapter Four
Brooke had seenAiden watching her.She’d felt his gaze following her path down the hallway, as if such a thing were possible.And though she hated to admit it, she’d dressed for his return.
Her feet were sore since she had on heels two inches higher than she normally wore to the office, but she’d felt compelled to slip into the sexiest pair of shoes she owned.The ones that made her legs look a mile long and did amazing things for her ass.
As she stood at the elevator, pressing theDOWNbutton and waiting for the lift to come back up from the ground floor, she chided herself for caring.She’d never thought much about what outfit she’d wear until the morning of Aiden’s first day of work.
She had a whole closet full of business casual clothes and sensible low heels, as she preferred her outfits professional and comfortable.In fact, she’d had to dig in the back of her closet to find these damn sexy heels today.And shemighthave spent a little extra time trying to perfect a smokey eye that matched the plum camisole she’d chosen.
She’d dressed with him in mind, a small part of her hoping he’d notice the extra effort she put into her appearance.She wanted him to eat his heart out, to regret ever hurting and leaving her.Petty?Maybe.True?Absolutely.
Irritated with herself, she let out a huff and shifted her weight, silently willing the elevator to come faster.It was certainly taking its time getting to the tenth floor, and all Brooke wanted to do was get home and soak herself in a hot tub.She might even crack open a bottle of wine.Maybe that would help her forget about the way Aiden’s proximity was affecting her.
Since early this morning, she’d avoided him but after lunch, she’d seen him often.Every time they made accidental eye contact, her heart lurched.When she caught a whiff of his cologne, the same scent he’d always worn, memories swept over her.
Their past had haunted her for too damned long, had impacted every date she’d had, and lately, she’d been telling herself it was time to put it, and him, behind her.Then, when Alex’s health declined and Aiden returned to the city, she was back to being obsessive and emotional over him.It was infuriating.
Light feminine laughter sounded from behind her and Brooke glanced over her shoulder.Two familiar women walked toward her, Lisa, an analyst, and Madison who worked in the treasury department.They were close friends, and Brooke got along well with them, although she considered them to be more colleagues than anything else.
Madison nodded at her in acknowledgement, but Lisa was too busy talking to notice Brooke at all.It didn’t bother her.The woman was well-known for spreading gossip around the workplace.
They paused behind her.“I heard that he’s single,” Lisa said.“It’s kind of hard to believe, considering how good-looking he is.”
“That’s what you used to say about his brother,” Madison mused.
Lisa chuckled.“Yeah, but now Jared’s married and off the market.Aiden, however…”
At her words, Brooke’s stomach twisted in tight knots.It shouldn’t strike her as odd that Aiden was the subject of office gossip, but Brooke didn’t want to hear what other women had to say about him.Even more, she didn’t want to care.But she was stuck waiting for the elevator, which always took forever at the end of the day.And she wasn’t about to take the stairs and walk down ten floors in the stupid heels.
“Heishot,” Madison agreed.
They’d moved so they were standing beside Brooke, but she kept her gaze locked on the elevator doors.She could see her own hazy reflection in the metal.
“And you know he’s rich since he’s a Sterling,” Lisa said.“Whoever lands him is going to be one lucky woman.”
Unable to stop herself, Brooke turned to face the two women.Hands on her hips, she stared down Madison first, then Lisa.
Their eyes opened wide, both obviously startled.It would be better to bury her emotions and not say a word, but she disliked hearing these women objectify Aiden.
Brooke’s feelings for him were complicated, but before she fell for him, he’d been one of her best friends.“You know, there’s more to a man than looks and money.”
The women stared at her.
“And those are probably the least important things about Aiden.He’s apersonwith feelings.”She knew even more.He’d volunteered at a soup kitchen once a week during college.He was a huge Mets fan and loved Hawaiian pizza.Andhe’d taught himself how to play the drums when he was just a teenager.“Any woman that wants Aiden Sterling needs to appreciateallthe things about him, not just his fat bank account,” she informed the two stunned employees.
Madison’s mouth had dropped open.Clearly, she was surprised at her outburst.
“Just how well do you know him?”Lisa asked, and Brooke immediately realized her mistake.
Her friendship with Jared wasn’t a secret, but she didn’t share her long, personal history with the Sterling family around the office.She didn’t want anyone to think she was given special treatment or didn’t deserve her position in the company.She’dearnedher spot as an executive with Sterling Investments.Starting with an internship during college, she’d worked her way up in the firm and was now one of the top executives.
The doors finally opened, and she turned away from Madison and Lisa, and stepped into the elevator without answering the question.
Unfortunately, they were also leaving for the day, so they rode down with her.The air was thick with tension.
“We didn’t mean anything by it,” Madison, the sweeter of the two, said to Brooke as the doors opened.
“I know.You just don’t want the wrong person to overhear you gossiping.”She spoke as a company executive.But as a woman, she added, “And it’s not a bad thing to remember looks aren’t everything.”She paused, then wanting to break the ice, she said, “But it doesn’t hurt, either.”
