Chapter 9 Naked II

But it is too late, Ayden has admired what to him is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen.

"Sorry, sorry" he turns around realizing his imprudence. "I, I was just trying to tell you that I'll go to the pharmacy, I'll wait for you there."

Arya picks up the robe that only covered her front and hides behind the bulkhead.

"Okay" she replies flushed with embarrassment.

Ayden comes out equally, if not more, embarrassed by such a reckless interruption on her part.

"If you'll be an idiot, Ayden" he mutters to himself as he walks to the pharmacy to change the medications.

Arya staying feels a pang of emotion, he has seen her naked and blushed.

"Perhaps, he finds me attractive after all" he thinks as he dresses.

"Don't be silly, he's a millionaire from Central Park, he would never notice you" she whispers to nothing.

Once they leave they head straight home, Ayden has had a special caterer prepared to celebrate.

"Wow! This is wonderful" she says as she sees the dining room table with different appetizers and dishes. "It's a lot."

"Don't worry, whatever is left over, we can keep it, besides, you'll see it's different dishes it's a little of everything," he warns, and a call interrupts him. "It's Mark, do you want to take the call now or later?"

Arya, who is excited to get on with a bit of normalcy in her life, asks for his cell phone, and he holds it out to her.

Their fingers barely brush, but that's enough to feel that electricity of their skin touching. All the way he apologized. But one thing was for sure, he would never see her with the same eyes again.

The young woman turns away to chat about the proposal with the sensual millionaire's brother, who follows her with his eyes. She feels overwhelmed by his presence, but not afraid. She knows that, if the insemination was a success, he wouldn't lay a finger on her.

When she finishes talking to Mark, she hands the cell phone to Ayden.

"Well?" he asks.

"I have to be in tomorrow at seven o'clock to sign a contract. It will be six months of internship I have left," she explains. "Which reminds me, I don't have what I need, there are some things of mine that got left behind in Boston."

That reminds her that not only were some of her personal or school things, but also that she left her mother behind.

"Well, I can always take you shopping for whatever you need, after all it's part of this whole circus that you're here," he assures her cautiously. "I'll cover it, it's no problem. Money's got to be good for something."

"That's not all the money is good for, don't you ever go on vacation," she inquires, making him look at her curiously. She walks to the dining room and begins to help herself to food. "You don't have many pictures around the apartment, it's like it's a hotel. I'm just saying that I get the impression that you just work."

"Someone has to, if I traveled as much as I wanted to... we better eat" he says, cutting the conversation short. "If you want to rest a bit after you eat, tell me, then let's go shopping."

Arya nods excitedly. They both eat in silence until they each retire to rest. Admittedly, though, Ayden only has to make a few calls.

At three o'clock, Ayden calls for them to leave, he takes her to a mall where he is sure, she will find what she needs.

Giving her space, he hands her a credit card and tells her he will wait for her in one of the bookstores there. Arya excitedly scours the mall searching for the right shoes for hours on her feet in the hospital, a suitcase, about three changes of surgical scrubs, some instruments, and a pulse watch.

Along with the stethoscope and her new watch, she decides to test the pulse of the sales clerk, Ayden who, desperately searching for her, finds her in such curious labor.

Seeing her so focused, as she takes the woman's pressure while checking that new gadget on her right wrist, makes him appreciate her differently.

She is no longer the young woman with insolent airs and naughty comments he met in the restaurant, nor the fearful young woman who was trembling on the gurney this morning. She was a future doctor who knows what she is doing, and that makes her admire her.

The young woman finishes and is leaving the jewelry store when her new phone rings. It's odd, as only the handsome man next to her has the number.

"Hello," he replies.

"Hello, sis," Jeff greets. Arya feels her stomach churn. Fear washes over her and a shiver runs down her spine. "Aren't you planning to say hello to me?"

"How did you get the number?" she asks hesitantly. Ayden is concerned to see her so overwhelmed, he beckons to her to find out who it is, but she turns away from him.

"Does it even matter?" she lets out a loud laugh. "Always asking stupid questions. Anyway. I need money."

"You know I don't have any, you stole my scholarship, don't you remember?" she says threateningly.

"Look you asshole! I know you're living in New York with one of those self-centered millionaires, I know you're playing surrogate mother, if you don't give me what I want I'll tell my mother, your university, and who knows... maybe that will end up ruining your miserable life, just like you ruined ours."

"You're crazy! Where did you come up with such nonsense?" she contradicts as long as he doesn't go on.

She feels a hollowness in her chest hearing him, she doesn't understand why he says she ruined their lives.

"You think I'm playing games? Deposit me twenty grand and that's where it all dies," he warns again. "If you don't, I assure you I'll ruin your life. You have until tomorrow to do it. Goodbye."

Jeff hangs up, leaving her grief-stricken.

Ayden tries to snap her out of her trance, but cannot. She is overwhelmed, he has been threatening other times, many more than she could remember, but this time she felt he wasn't kidding. Two things among everything he said are what catch her attention, the first is that he blames her for something she doesn't understand. And the second is that she doesn't understand how she found out. No one else knew more than Eleanor.....

"Eleanor" she says to Ayden confusingly. "Eleanor ratted me out."