Chapter 4 The past Hurts

Aiden's POV & Nevaeh's POV

Aiden sat in the back seat of his car, watching the city's glass towers and bustling streets blur past him. The rhythm of his heart hadn't quite settled since the run-in with Nevaeh Spencer. He'd managed to compartmentalize a thousand other problems before breakfast, but that girl - her laugh, the way she'd challenged him without realizing the impact-lingered like an itch he couldn't scratch.

He hated feeling out of control. Despised it. And she had made him feel it twice now: first with her laugh, then with the unexpected humanity that slipped through his guarded façade when he watched her face pale in embarrassment.

"Sir?" Frank's voice broke through his reverie. "We're nearly at the office. Are you all right?"

Aiden realized he was gripping the leather seat so hard his knuckles were white. He released his hold and cleared his throat. "Fine," he lied. But he knew Frank wasn't fooled. The older man had worked for Aiden long enough to recognize the signs. If he noticed Aiden's unsettled mood, though, he didn't comment further.

---

The Klein Tower loomed into view, a sleek marvel of modern architecture that symbolized everything Aiden had built. The glass walls reflected the clouds, a fortress that seemed both untouchable and eerily empty. As he stepped out of the car, his personal assistant, Brad, was already waiting, iPad in hand, looking flustered.

"Good morning, Mr. Klein," Brad greeted him, walking briskly to keep up with Aiden's long strides. "You have back-to-back meetings today, a conference call with Tokyo in an hour, and-"

"Cancel Tokyo," Aiden interrupted, his tone as cold and crisp as the morning air. Brad nearly tripped over his own feet.

"Cancel? But sir, they're expecting-"

"I'm aware," Aiden said, cutting him off with a look that could have frozen lava. "I have more pressing matters to attend to. Reschedule."

Brad swallowed and nodded. "Yes, sir." He scrambled to make notes, his fingers moving furiously over the iPad. Aiden barely noticed. His mind was already a million miles away, replaying images from his past that always seemed to creep in at the worst times.

---

The elevator to his private office felt too small, too silent. As the floors ticked by, memories flooded him-unwelcome, uninvited, and mercilessly vivid. He could still hear the laughter of the crowd, still feel the suffocating heat of the room as he stood at the altar, waiting. Waiting for a woman who would never show. His fiancée's betrayal had been a public humiliation so complete it left scars he carried everywhere.

Aiden clenched his jaw. Focus, he told himself. The past was dead and buried, and he had no use for ghosts. But the longer he lived, the more he realized that ghosts had a way of clawing their way back to the surface.

---

Nevaeh's POV

Sasha's laughter was infectious. As she dragged Nevaeh around Seattle, pointing out landmarks with a mix of genuine awe and sarcastic commentary, Nevaeh felt some of the tightness in her chest start to ease. They stopped in front of a street performer juggling flaming torches, and Sasha tossed a dollar into his hat with a playful wink.

"Seattle has its charm," Sasha said, leaning in like she was sharing a scandalous secret. "You just have to know where to look."

Nevaeh found herself smiling, even if it felt strange after everything that had happened. "Thanks for this," she said, a note of sincerity in her voice. "I didn't realize how badly I needed... a distraction."

Sasha's expression softened, and she looped her arm through Nevaeh's. "You don't have to thank me. Trust me, I know what it's like to feel out of place. Everyone deserves a friend when things get tough." Her eyes twinkled mischievously. "Plus, I'm pretty sure we're destined to be besties. You can't run from fate."

Nevaeh laughed, the sound coming more easily this time. "Besties, huh? Bold claim for someone who just met me."

Sasha raised an eyebrow. "You'll see. I'm impossible to get rid of." Then her grin faltered, and she tilted her head slightly. "But seriously, how are you doing? That thing with the security guard last night... you looked terrified."

Nevaeh's smile wavered. She hadn't told anyone the full extent of what happened, not even her dad. But there was something about Sasha's genuine concern that made her feel safe, at least for a moment. "I'm still processing it," she admitted. "It's like... it feels unreal, you know? But I don't want to let it define me."

Sasha squeezed her arm, her voice fierce. "Good. Don't let any jerk take your power away. Besides," she added, with a wicked glint in her eyes, "you have the perfect opportunity for revenge. Just picture the look on that guy's face if you land a kickboxing class or something. Total badass move."

Nevaeh couldn't help but laugh. The image was ridiculous but oddly empowering. "I'll keep that in mind."

They continued down the street, but as they passed a newsstand, something caught Nevaeh's eye. There, staring back at her from a magazine cover, was Aiden Klein. The headline read: *Seattle's Most Eligible and Most Elusive: Aiden Klein Talks Power, Wealth, and Broken Hearts.

Her stomach twisted. The man she had laughed at in the coffee shop-the one who had made her feel so small yet so seen-was more complicated than she'd realized.

Sasha followed her gaze and let out a low whistle. "Ah, there he is. Mr. Ice King himself. Don't let the smolder fool you; he's trouble. Rich, devastating trouble."

Nevaeh bit her lip, trying to ignore the way her heart seemed to pick up speed. "You really think he's that bad?"

Sasha shrugged, her expression thoughtful. "I don't know him personally, obviously. But I've heard things. He's ruthless, doesn't let anyone close. And let's not forget the broken engagement fiasco that was plastered all over the media." She frowned. "If I had to guess, I'd say he's the kind of man who has more shadows than sunlight in his life."

Nevaeh couldn't shake the image of Aiden's amber eyes, the brief vulnerability she thought she'd seen beneath the mask. But shadows or not, she doubted their paths would cross again. People like him didn't mingle with ordinary girls like her. Not for long, anyway.

---

Aiden's POV

Back in his office, Aiden stood by the window, watching the city move below him. His assistant, Brad, knocked lightly on the door before stepping in, looking nervous.

"Sir, I know you said to reschedule the Tokyo meeting, but-"

"Brad," Aiden interrupted, turning away from the window. "I pay you to follow instructions, not question them."

Brad swallowed. "Of course, sir. But there's something else." He hesitated. "It's about the background check you requested on Nevaeh Spencer."

Aiden's muscles tensed, though he kept his face impassive. "Go on."

Brad fumbled with his tablet. "She's... well, there's not much. A straightforward background. Only child, raised by a single father, no scandals, no known connections to people of interest." He paused. "But her father is surprisingly well-connected in the tech industry. Low profile, but influential."

Aiden narrowed his eyes. "Interesting."

Brad shifted awkwardly. "Should I continue monitoring her, or-"

Aiden waved him off. "No need. For now."

But something about Nevaeh nagged at him. There was more to her, he was certain of it. And if his instincts were right, she was going to become a much bigger part of his life than either of them anticipated.

The shadows of the past had always haunted him, but for the first time in years, he wondered if a new shadow was creeping into his future and whether it would bring salvation or ruin.