Chapter 5 Five

Emily was all smile throughout the rest of the day doing what he did to please her means he really care for her not at a replacement but as a friend

"a friend?" she thought loudly she wondered if they are still friend or more even if he didn't say the word she believe he also like her and that's enough for her, she got home after helping Steve in his restaurant she brought out her phone and text him he replied immediately they both chatted for a long, another message came in from the company group she wanted to ignore it but decide to check there was a picture of her and Aiden from the subway

"The boss came to pick his girlfriend" was written with the picture, the rest started commenting some wished them happiness while some were jealous and start insulting her calling her to a gold digger soon pictures of her when she was at campus and many pictures was uploaded it seems like someone did a research on her or has been stalking her taking pictures of her unaware she frown at this

"What right do they have to do this?"

She thought of reporting the issue to Aiden but stop herself it will only make matter worst they might condemn her the more there were many mean comment, she decide leaving the group will be best thing, she left the group and went to search about him online she saw many articles of him he looked very handsome in all the pictures

"Aiden Griffin got engaged to Alyssa Saunders his long-time lover"

She check the pictures with it they were both smiling at each other she scoff and scroll down she click on Alyssa's name she's the second daughter of the her family she's a model and her family just like Aiden's are very wealthy though the Griffins seems to be more influent than the Saunders she check and there is no article about their break up she drop her phone

"They just don't want to reveal it yet" she said to console herself she heard a knock on the door she look toward Lucy she lay down with no intent of going to get the door, she stood up and open the door

"Steve? What are you doing here?"

"Let's have a drink together all of us" he said and wave the bottles of beer in his hands

"Am sorry Steve I have class tomorrow and I also have work"

"Just a little I really feel like having a drink"

"Am in" Lucy yell from inside, she had no choice she open the door wide to let him in she went and call Louis from his room to join them they all sat on the floor surrounding the table each with a bottle

"What's the occasion? Why are do you want to drink?" Lucy asked

"Today is my birthday I just want to celebrate with you guys" the three look at each other, they forgot his birthday again, Emily look at him not knowing what to say, Steve has been her friends since they were kids and she always forget his birthday and by the time she remember it's always too late

"Happy birthday" Louis wished

"Am so sorry Steve it really skip my mind" she apologized

"You could have just told us why are you making us feel like the bad persons here?" Lucy said indifferently, Louis hit her to shut up and she hit him back they start hitting each other until Emily yelled at them

"Should we get you a cake?" Lucy asked

"It's okay I just want to drink with you guys"

Lucy scoffs "why will you want to drink with us then you should have just ask Emily for a drink" Louis turn to her and ask her to keep her words to herself, of all three she seems not to like Steve she doesn't give him a hand in his restaurant and anytime they see she always find a way to exasperate him.

"I promise to get you a gift tomorrow" Emily said to cheer the mood, Lucy dropped her bottle of beer rudely and went in their room Emily followed after her closing the door behind them "I don't get why you dislike Steve, he's been nothing but helpful these years"

"We never ask him to, he's just showing off he has rich parents"

"Go back and apologize to him" she ordered

"And what are you? My mother?" she resorted

"Am your older sister" she said raising her voice

"Hello, you are just a year ahead of me in school"

"Because I took a break from school for two years so you could stay in school, now go out and apologize"

"Don't care and am not going anywhere, you can turn off the light for me on your way out" she said and lay on her bed pulling the blanket over her.

She went back to the living room and met the two guys drank she help Louis to his room and went back to meet Steve

"you really should stop drinking" she snatch the bottle in his hands and drop it on the table she help him up and help him to his house the password was obvious it's her birthday she open the door and took him inside she took him straight to his bedroom she drop him and look around the room it's been a long time since she came into his house ever since he confess his feelings to her she has avoid coming into his house without either one of the twins going with her and since they are both busy most of the day she didn't have to visit him, she look at him and felt sorry he has been with her for twenty years of her life but she has never felt anything except for friendship for him, even when they had to move here he went against his parent to move with them she wish she could do more for him like remembering his birthday and celebrating it with him, she went back to her room thinking of what gift to give him.

Everyone seems busy at the company today although Emily was not sure of the reason she sure know something important is going on she sat on her desk and do the little she was told to during lunch she called her four office friend to eat together but they seems too busy she went alone after trying Aiden's phone receiving no response

she ate lunch and went back to the company people still seems busy but were relaxed a little bit after sometimes her friends came to meet her

"since you are not working can you help everyone buy lunch" one of them said and stretch a credit card to her she collect the card and wonder if she meant everyone in their office since they are more ten another gave her the list of what everyone wants and left to continue their work.

It was a long list she went to buy them and hurry back to the office with full hands, she saw Aiden in one of the elevator going up she rush to join him but it took off before she got there

"why didn't he wait for me?" she thought she was sure he saw her coming maybe he's in an hurry she get back to the office and gave everyone each their lunch when it was time to leave nobody seems to notice as they were still busy she waited for two hours till everyone start to leave before she also exit she got out and saw Aiden talking some man she waited till they were gone before she walk to him

"Evening boss" he turn back and smile at her when he saw she was the one

"Were you waiting for me?" he asked and took her hand he told the people with him to excuse him and they both entered into his car

"Is there something going on in the company?"

"One of the appliances we are launching this week suddenly had an issue so we had to work extra time to meet up with the date" he explained

"Why don't I know about this? Am also a staff in the company?"

"I told the manager to only give you minor work since you still attend classes"

"Can you not do that again? I felt like an outcast" he smiled and nodded

"Why were you looking for me?"

"I almost forgot about it, I want you to help me pick a gift"

"Why would you need me to help you pick a gift?" he joke

"Because you are a guy"

"You are buying a gift for a guy? He must be someone really important to you"

"Well he's important yesterday was his birthday" he didn't say anything till they got the store they were visiting they got in and Emily begin to find something to buy while Aiden stood watching her

"Can you give me ideas on what to buy that why I had you go with me?"

"You could buy him a watch" he suggested

"Or I could get him a box of chocolates" she said picking up a box

"There's no way am allowing you gift a box of chocolate to a guy" he said and snatch the box from her.

He pick up a random watch and head to pay Emily followed having no choice they paid and got out he throw the watch on the back seat and enter the driver's seat, she followed wondering why he behave the way he did

"Did I do something wrong in there?"

"Buying a box of chocolates for any guy is not allowed"

"Why? You are not my boyfriend so why can't I?"

"Because I don't want you to"

"Are you being jealous right now?" she asked and laugh a little him being angry that she's buying stuff for a guy makes her happy inside, he really care about her relationship with other guys, they got to her street she alighted and pick up the stuff but Aiden collect them from her, removed the chocolate and hand over the watch Emily laugh at this but didn't protest she gave him a hug and wave him goodbye she turned to leave and saw Steve staring at her it seems like he has been standing there for a while, Aiden stood by her side and stare back while Emily look from one person to the other in awkward manner.