Run, Girl (If You Can)

Back in the car, Alice looked at Roger with a slightly perplexed expression. "Why haven't you asked me about my divorce at all today? I know you must have figured it out."

"It isn't any of my business," he said honestly. He hadn't wanted to prod her into talking about something painful when she didn't want to. "But now that you brought it up…are you doing okay? Is there anything I can do to help?"

"I'm struggling to adjust to the sudden lifestyle change," she admitted. "But other than that I'm fine. Honestly, I should have left my husband sooner. He never cared about me."

Her tone was matter-of-fact but a quick glance at her showed the obvious sadness in her eyes. Alice must have been terribly lonely. She always carried herself so well that he never would have guessed.

"You deserve better than that."

"I know. It took me a while to see it but I finally did. This time I'd like to fall in love for real." She then flushed slightly. "I'm sorry; I shouldn't be unloading this on you."

"I don't mind."

Roger was actually quite pleased that she had opened up to him. He had always found her beautiful, intelligent, and intriguing but hadn't realized that there was so much more under the surface until he saw hints of it coming out today. He was more interested than ever.

He couldn't push his feelings, which had finally run free now that she was almost divorced, onto her when she was struggling. It wouldn't be fair. But he could take this as an opportunity to get to know her better. Alice seemed like she could really use a friend right now.

"That's what friends are for, right?" he continued.

A pleased smile crossed her face. "You think of me as a friend?"

"Yeah I do. You mentioned earlier that you have a job now…but if you're ever free I would love to get lunch or something."

Alice's smile grew even wider. It suited her more than the polite, barely-there smiles she usually had on. "You have my number. My schedule is kind of random and changes every week. Text me any time and I'll let you know if I'm free."

He could work with that. It seemed that she had enjoyed their conversations today as well if she wanted to stay in contact now that there was nothing connecting them anymore. He was so glad he had tagged along with Marissa this morning.

Roger set up Alice's new TV and DVD player for her, which was a bit difficult because Keeley had lost the manual so he had to look things up on his phone or just plain wing it. She put all of her kitchen items away while he worked on it.

They finished at roughly the same time and she thanked him profusely for his help. He played it cool and brushed off her thanks by saying it was no problem and he would be happy to help any time.

The image of her true smile was imprinted on his brain throughout the drive back to his apartment and afterwards. Alice Kelly—no, he had to remember she was going by Wheatley now—was a fascinating person.

===

On Monday morning Aaron left for work with a smile on his face despite potentially having to see his father. Keeley had been sprawled out in the funniest position on the bed when he left and Molly had lain across her face to boot.

Things had finally calmed down enough that he wasn't losing extra sleep over the work but he was a bit worried Alistair would try to cause a fuss at the board meeting today. He was technically still a shareholder even if he wasn't the CEO.

He didn't have much decision making power and had no control over his son whatsoever though. That was what mattered. Aaron was in charge of things now. No one could ever suppress him again.

The meeting was set for 10 AM so he still had a little bit of time to kill. He called Aiden up to ask him about that evidence Keeley wanted him to find.

"What's up my dude?" he asked as he walked in. "Are you finally going to give me something to do? I've actually had to do IT things lately because it's been too quiet around here."

Aaron was slightly tempted to laugh. Aiden had been spoiled by being presented with constant challenges and potentially interesting things to do since working here. IT was just a cover.

But now that Aaron didn't need constant surveillance or hacking abilities he had been forced to do the job that was listed on his employee file. He could see how that would be boring to such a bright mind.

"This might be a little difficult."

Aiden grinned and rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "Excellent! I love difficult."

"If evidence exists that Graydon Meyer murdered Lacy Knighton I need you to find it," Aaron said grimly. "But it has to be something the police could feasibly find on their own. Think you can do it?"

His eyes widened. "Wait, since when did you think he was the one who killed her?"

"From the beginning. Aiden, I know your sister is still struggling with the trauma of finding the body. I feel slightly responsible for that because I'm almost certain Gray killed her for my sake."

He plopped down on the couch and blinked in a daze. Aiden had been keeping up with the police investigation on his own for his sister's sake, wanting her to have closure, but Aaron hadn't said a thing about it after requesting the initial information he was able to dig up.  

He didn't blame his boss for this. No matter what Graydon Meyer's motivations had been, he was the one who did it, not Aaron. But yikes, what a psycho. No wonder Aaron had been wary of him all this time.

"I'll get right on it," he promised. "If he did do this, I want to see him locked up too for Sophie's sake."

"Thanks, Aiden."

The hacker went back downstairs and Aaron tried and failed to focus on his work until the meeting was set to start. Turns out he had been worrying for nothing. Samuel, Alexander, Emilio, Carol, and Bruce were all there but Alistair was not. He was too embarrassed to show himself after all.

Aaron was quite satisfied at the thought and had a slight smirk on his face throughout the entire meeting. The rest of the board members noticed but wisely chose not to say anything.