to the darkness. But instead of peace, his subconsc

d distant but he walked through the dark until he came to a door. Behind the door wa

, echoing through the hallway. His mother's so

way and in it, he course himself, only that his reflection was not Aaron the adult but his six

, this one leading to the terrace he recognized from his childhood home. Just as he was about to open the door, a voice...

was his mother, illuminated by the beam of the moon. She stoo

ered, but Aaron's feet

d, her voice desperate, but h

s showers became a storm, and when he glanced back to the edge where his mother stood. Aaron's mind recoiled, horror rising like

no,

too

imself in the same spot just was, ti

ron

th the terrace and a smile spread across his face as he

aving. Sweat had drenched his sheets, h

the fear. His body was hot like he'd just stepped o

m his bed, his mind reeling. His sleepy

:4

awer blindly until his hands touched the small medicine bottle. He brought

he sedatives extensively might have a detrimental consequence on his health. But he'd barely slept an hour and now he was awake. If he didn't use the drugs, he

#

ather's debt and no bank would loan her the money if she didn't have a stable job. This was her last chance at making something out of her life and if she messed up, she co

oman, hitting major achievements by then, in a beautiful marriage with beautiful kids but nothing has gone according to plan, her dad had not followed the script of a good father and her mother had not spoken to her in ten years before her father's death. All she tried to build and do with her life turned into a failure. Her mind raced back to when Aaron had seen her seated behind the rails on the bridge, the first time in ten y

from her. His brown hair was radiant in the morning sun as she watched him with his gaze was fixed on his p

idn't want him to see her the way she was, the pathetic thing she had become, so she walked faster, getting to the other side of the

ing sir,"

how can I help you?"

cancy open for a jani

c MD he gave her a polite smile. "I'm so

d. "I know, I've tried but I

smile faltered. "Yo

voice spoke fr

thoughts reeling beyond control. She spun a

ate, his gaze and stri

es," the guard said, h

ched, Merida's

he doin

e too? With his commandin

But Aaron's expression revealed nothing, completely

the security man as she walked

, he nodded curtly. "Follow

he walked in long strides tow

he outside. She watched as staff members in clean cut suits hushed conversation colliding in a...harmony with the clack of heels on polished flo

ind him. In a second, she was no longer walking next to him b

Hades, what bring

hing Aaron's st

we need the deal," He answered curtly without pausing as they turned a corner and walked into a private

tin?" The o

e said as the elevator came to a stop. He stepped out, leaving the other men behi

e asked, speaking to her f

or while muttering brief greetings to the two men

ening silence between them. The last time they'd me, she had asked him to leave her alone, now

her to where a crowd is an

rom her head, he didn't know what

hesitated, her eye searching for any sign of ulterior motives. When his expr

, settling into the leather offi

a vacancy here." Sh

before replying, "W

ence between his status and hers set in her head. She bit back

ot the best, she had lashed out at him and he had gotten angry at her. Two options raced through h

aron, that was the last but if dignity in her. And if he was going to deny her the job, he

have that." Merida's hope deflated as

o easy. Too

softly, her voic

name seared her in the most painful way. He

st as she watched him work still without sparing he

s face unreadable. "Yes.