Run, Girl (If You Can)

Alice had believed that would be the last time Aaron bothered talking to her. He never talked to people at events unless they directly correlated to his father's business. She was irrelevant to him. Or so she thought.

Aaron approached her again six months later at a cocktail party, shortly after arriving home from Boston for the summer.

"Hello, Alice. Have you changed your mind yet?"

The arrogance of his wording was unbelievable. It was as if he expected her to cave into his demands all along. Well, she supposed he was Aaron Hale. He always got what he wanted.

"No and I won't do it," she said flatly. "Whatever weird thing you're planning…I don't want to be a part of it. Why does it have to be me?"

He blinked at her as if surprised but that was impossible. Men like him didn't get surprised.

"You want the truth?" Alice nodded and Aaron continued. "I don't trust many people and you happen to be the only person in the entire circle who is half decent. Why not you?"

She had never heard such a scathing review of the people in high society. She was shocked and yet, despite the insulting connotation of his words, was slightly flattered. He thought she was better than all of these people she didn't particularly like either.

His offer was strange but it wasn't like it was illegal. Being a board member at Hale Investments would raise her status in both her own family and her fiancé's. Having Aaron Hale promise to be your ally for life was nothing to scoff at either.

As far as she could tell, he was a cold person uninterested in humanity. He didn't have allies; he had pawns.

Being able to ask favors from such a powerful person was quite tempting, especially when she felt so powerless in her own life. Eventually, that was the factor that tipped the scale in Aaron's favor and Alice agreed to be a dummy shareholder.

That had been five years ago. Aaron had more than fulfilled his promise. She hated taking advantage of his hospitality this much but it wasn't like she had anyone else in this city who was willing to help her.

"I'm sorry for intruding on your life," Alice said apologetically to the man who was still sitting on the couch cradling his sleeping wife.

Aaron raised an eyebrow. "Why apologize? I offered."

That didn't match the vibes he had been giving off at all. She was confused. "…I thought Keeley forced you into it."

He shook his head and a wry smile appeared on his face.

"I love my wife but I wouldn't take in just anyone even if she wanted me to. I helped you because I care what happens to you, Alice. I told you before. I've been waiting for you to ask me for help leaving your scumbag husband. I would do anything to help with that even if it means I have to get used to having another person in my house for a while."

"Really?" she asked doubtfully.

"You're one of the four people on this earth I actually consider a friend. There's no need to feel burdensome."

Alice had been fairly sure they were friends but he had never actually said the word before. It was nice hearing it. She didn't really have friends either. In fact, Aaron and Keeley might be the only people she thought of that way.

She was about to thank him when he spoke up again. "That being said…I know you and Keeley were planning on going furniture shopping tomorrow but she really needs a break. I was planning on taking care of the twins so she could spend the day relaxing."

Alice tried very hard to hide her disappointment. She could always go by herself but she was afraid of accidentally spending too much. She needed someone budget-conscious who knew how to find good deals to help her.

"If you need help I can recommend someone," Aaron said, reading her mind.

"Who?" she asked eagerly.

"Roger. His sister is a budget interior designer, apparently."

She furrowed her brow. "What on earth is a budget interior designer?"

"Exactly what it sounds like. An interior designer who decorates with cheaper items. I don't know much more about it than you do; I saw him mention his sister's business on Facebook. Shoot him a message. I'm sure he'll be happy to send you her way."

Roger, huh? Did she even have his number? They barely talked at those shareholder meetings.

"Do you happen to have his phone number?" she asked. 

Aaron recited it perfectly from memory, which was astounding. No one memorized phone numbers anymore because of the ease of cell phone contacts. The only number Alice had memorized was her own.

"How do you know that off the top of your head?"

"Memorizing things has always come easy to me," he said casually, as if it was no big deal.

The sound of crying came through the baby monitor sitting on the counter and Aaron sighed. One or both of the twins was awake now and he needed to get up and take care of them but he was trapped.

He whispered gently into his wife's ear. "Keeley, wake up. The babies need us."

She made a sleepy noise and refused to budge. A lovesick smile appeared on his face and he shook his head indulgently before readjusting Keeley so he could lift her and take her upstairs to check on the babies with him. Her eyes didn't open once. She really was tired!

Alice wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. Once again, she was the third wheel. Why were those two so ridiculously in love when she was going through a divorce?

Well, that's what she gets for moving in with newlyweds. They hadn't even been married a year yet. Supposedly this was the time when couples were at their most lovey-dovey.

Maybe someday she could find someone who would carry her because she was asleep and didn't want to wake up too. It was awfully sweet. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes she wouldn't have believed Aaron was capable of such sweetness.

Since she had one of the most powerful people in the city wrapped around her little finger, Keeley Hale was the true powerhouse. She had tamed the ice devil of all people!