Darling, Thanks For Stabbing Me

Chapter 10

“Where did you get this from?” Aiden asked impatiently.

Rick was taken aback. He was so excited about seeing Iris that he didn’t focus on the landmark where he had seen her. He choked on his words and tried to rack his brain of the nearest landmark.

“What happened?” Aiden asked again this time sparing a look at him.

“Uh sir, she was… she…” he wondered and before Aiden could yell at him, he remembered a fine detail.

“Near the Faneuil Hall Marketplace, there is this store and I had seen her standing here at that time.” Rick was relieved to have remembered it and saw the lost look on Aiden’s face.

Aiden pondered about it. It’s a big marketplace and that means a huge population to tackle with. He didn’t have that much time and needed to find her soon.

“Let’s get going then. Show me that place maybe this time, I will inquire myself.” Aiden was adamant to find her today itself and with determinant steps, he reached his car before going to the mentioned place.

It was almost an hour ride due to traffic at this hour increasing his agitation. The more he seems to do things right, the more the negative powers impose in his life but the major concern right now was how will he be able to face her?

Should he ask her welfare or apologize first? Should he wait for her to come towards him or run and embrace her?

He wasn’t sure what would be the best approach. In-fact, he feared that she wouldn’t even want to see her again.

Yes! This was more of a probability.

She would escape him rather than see him. Will she embrace him or slap her? What if she would have stopped loving her?

No! Even though what I did was wrong but she is allowed to slap me, kick me but not hate me. I would rather die than live with her hatred.

“Sir, we are here. That was the shop where Madam Iris halted.” Rick pointed out towards the shop.

He glanced at it for long before stepping out and reaching inside.

Mrs. Jackson warmly welcomed him. She was excited and amazed to see such a handsome young man in her shop. It isn't daily that she had seen such men not even from past few years. Anyways, for her Mr. Jackson was still unbeatable. After all he was her soul mate.

“Yes my boy, how may I help you?” she asked with enthusiasm.

“Hello pretty woman, I was wondering have you seen my fiancée.” He gave her a coy smile.

Aiden surely knew his way with people and this was one of his charms. He could just give his boyish-grin that would melt any woman and when he coaxed compliments with sweet words, he could win over them easily. It was not a surprise.

Candace was flattered by his words and surprised to learn that his fiancée came to her shop. Surely it will be good for her business.

“Oh I am afraid but I have seen thousands of people today, which lady are we talking about here now?” She was curious to know her.

His fiancée would definitely be someone most beautiful. With the looks like Greek god, she surely believed that the woman would be equivalent and extremely rich. Her mind wandered to Sunny. She too fits perfectly in the description apart from the dead look and no money.

“She was here almost 2 hours ago. Here, she looks like this.” He scrolled to a photo before handing it over to the lady.

It was one where she was busy chatting with her friends, when he secretly clicked her photo. He had cropped others out of the frame.

Candace eagerly hold it but when she saw the woman in that picture, her eyes widened and she could feel fear creeping her heart.

It was Sunny and she looked exquisite!

And that meant that he was Aiden Johnson; the man who is after her.

Aiden noticed the sudden change in the woman and his heart fluttered with the hope.

However, Candace shook her head and cleared her throat before handing him over his mobile.

“I am sorry but as far as I remember, I haven’t seen this lady here before.” Candace tried to look straight into his eyes to look confident but failed.

The constant thought of him here just few hours back after Sunny had left, muddled her brain. It wasn’t a good sign and she must inform them as soon as possible. There are chances that he is monitoring her.

But one thought nagged her; why was he searching for her now?

She fought the urge to snap at him and give him her piece of mind. She wanted to ask him why he acted disgustingly but she couldn’t.

“Are you sure?” He asked studying her.

He bet she knew something about Iris but then why was she lying?

Does that mean she is close to her and that would mean… Iris doesn’t want to meet me.

He sighed and Candace saw the hurt in his eyes.

“Yes child. I am pretty sure but can you blame me if I couldn’t remember all the faces that visit my shop? After all I am just an old lady.” She faked a smile.

He wasn’t ready to leave but he knew he couldn’t force her to tell the truth. Finally after much contemplation, he turned to leave.

“Wait a minute Aiden. Why are you searching her? Is she missing or…?” Candace trailed off mid-sentence because of the look Aiden gave her.

He was astounded to hear his name.

‘How come she knew my name?’ he was now confident about the fact that she knew about Iris.

“I am sorry; I shouldn’t have called you on first name basis. I had seen your interviews so many times on TV that I forget that we hardly know each other.” Candace could read his look and decided to cover it up.

He regarded her words before feeling convinced. Surely, she must have seen him on TV and who hadn’t. Maybe, I am reading too much in between the lines.

He sighed. “It’s complicated; I wish I could have told you. Pray for me pretty lady, will you? Pray that I could find her soon and settle everything between us.” He was praying for himself.

Candace saw his lost look and sympathized with him but couldn’t give up on the trust of the little girl who she had seen rising from her downfall.

With great efforts, she nodded and watched Aiden leave before thanking her. Once he had left, she quickly called Maria to inform her.

Aiden wasn’t ready to give up this soon and called one of his detectives to look into this matter right now. He then decided to grab a quick coffee when his eyes landed on the ‘Smile Over Coffee’ board.

He wished that he could buy this land and make a hotel under his Iris name but the owner were arrogant and he didn’t want to force himself on them. They were elderly so he waited for them to give up.

He didn’t understand their deal. He had offered them 20 billion for that small plot and even offered them a job at his hotel but they refused.

He entered it and saw Marcus glaring at him.

Aiden was unfazed by his looks and ordered before sitting taking a seat in the very last corner.

They were worried about him seeing Sunny and what an unfortunate day it was because she didn’t have a mobile. They contacted Linda and she wasn’t picking it up. So, they could only hope for the best.

On the other hand, the detective has gathered four of his interns to find Iris. The moment he received the call from Aiden, he didn’t dare to let it slip because no person in his right mind would defy him.

They were scattered around the city and frantically worked.

Luckily, Grayson has invited her at his place where he started to make some French cuisine for the both of them. Iris was nervous to be present at a man’s house whereas, Grayson was thrilled to see his crush sitting in his living room.

She had offered to help but he wouldn’t let her do anything. They ate in silence when Grayson kept stealing glances at her.

He was blushing and Iris could see his light blush. She felt more alarmed now.

“So…?” She decided to start and finish it.

The moment she was sitting in his car, she felt like cheating on Aiden. Even though they aren’t together and not that he had left anything to say between them but she still felt odd.

“Yes right. About the documents, so they are ready and I want you to go through it once just to be assured.” Grayson said calmly.

“Oh thank you so much Gray. I hope to repay your favor.” She gave him a smile.

He scowled.

“You want to repay for what Iris? I know that you remember me. I am the same guy you came to rescue when my step dad was thrashing me. You were just 12 year old still you managed to scare him away with your wit and with the help of cops. I am the one whom you motivated to open up and stood for me by bullying the one who bullied me. You did everything secretly in school like putting lunch on my table, pranking the so-called powerful in school and helped me shine again. How could you still think to repay me Iris? And what for” Gray asked irritatingly.

She was lost at words but faintly nodded.

Gray handed her documents and once she checked them to be correct, she actually offered him a genuine smile that skipped his heartbeat.

“I don’t think I can thank you enough for this Gray and I am sorry for before.” She smiled.

“Could you… Could we hang out again?” Grayson couldn’t help but ask.

He didn’t want to miss this opportunity but seeing her appalled look he quickly added.

“Just like friends. Until you think you are ready? What say? I will be fine if you don’t want to. I mean I understand if you don’t want to—” he rambled due to anxiety and Iris found him cute.

He looked just like the 16 year old she met at the high school. She wanted to laugh but stifled it and cut him off.

“I would like to. I mean I will try but as a friend.” She said sternly.

“Oh” “Thanks…” He breathed in relief feeling excited.

It was now already dark and she decided to leave. Grayson accompanied her and when she finally reached her front door, he was ready to leave. His eyes landed on the café and saw Aiden leaving it.

His eyes bulged and heart raced. He waited before Aiden was seated in his car. He watched Aiden leave before returning back to his place and contacting his best friend who was the son of Chief Officer asking him for help.

He wasn’t aware that Rick had seen her leaving a car and entering the house but he wasn’t sure to tell this to his boss. Something told him that he shouldn’t but he knew that he can’t delay it any longer.

Maybe he will tell him some other day but just not today.