Sydney

When I saw Aiden leave with Marilyn, I was seething and trying to contain my beating heart.

"What a scumbag!" I muttered beneath my breath.

Only an experienced playboy could flirt with one girl before leaving with another. Aiden Reiner made an excellent playboy!
I returned my gaze to my workstation and began tapping away. I'm done with him! It had been a month since I began working at Reiner Tower. Aiden had only disturbed me on a few occasions. He never tried to kiss me or touched me again. I did catch him staring at me hungrily occasionally.

"Will you be coming to the office party?" Harriet asked me and I must admit I gave her a rather odd look.

"What party?"

"Check your mail girl," Harriet said, rolling her eyes.

I checked my unread emails and there it was. One of those broadcast emails from the HR department about the annual Christmas party for the employees. Almost all companies throw year-end parties for their employees. Depending on their size and budget, it could vary from a small scale to a lavish grand party. Seeing Harriet's excitement, I concluded Renier's group would throw a grand party.

"The Christmas party? Interesting," I responded respectfully. To be honest, I wasn't sure I'd be able to make it. I tried to stay away from Aiden as much as possible because things between us were already tight.

"You must attend the party; it will be a lot of fun," she continued.

I began to say, "I'm not sure..."

"Are we talking about the party?" Larry, my ever-jovial boss, chimed in.

"Yes, would you be able to attend?" Harriet had inquired.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world; it can get a little crazy at times." He laughed.

"Wild?" I inquired.

"Oh yeah!" Larry said. We were booted out of the hotel ballroom a few years ago for being too loud." He laughed and then walked away.

"Wow! That's wild," I remarked sarcastically.

"You don't know the whole story," Harriet remarked. "There's a rumour that William Renier, the junior Renier, had drugs and strippers at the party. It was even captured on the hotel's surveillance camera. Someone filed a complaint. Then, all of a sudden, the entire footage vanished. The media ceased talking about it, and the incident faded into obscurity."

I wasn't sure what to make of this tidbit of information; I had no idea Aiden had a younger brother, who would most likely follow in his footsteps.

"Mr Aiden has a brother?" I asked.

"His half brother, that's another fascinating story. His father, the senior Renier, was quite a ladies' man. After his wife died he was still young, so he went around sowing his wild oats. The current Mrs Renier was a 22-year-old starlet when she became pregnant with her baby. They had a shotgun wedding, resulting in William Reiner. I have also heard that our CEO's grandfather hates his current daughter-in-law and her son. Hence, after the death of his son, who was Aiden Reiner's father. They were kept away from the family business."

While Harriet was narrating Aiden's family gossip, I realised that Aiden had also lost both his parents at a pretty young age. We had something in common. I felt uncomfortable because of the unexpected surge of sympathy I felt for Aiden.

".....William Reiner, by the way, is a pampered brat. At all costs, stay away from him. Not that he'd be interested in little fry like us in the first place..." While I was thinking about Aiden, Harriet jabbered. What sort of family life did he have ? Was he friendly with his half-brother and stepmother? Why am I bothering myself with this? I brushed aside those thoughts.

The office holiday celebration was held on Friday night. It was the topic of conversation for the entire week. I had no intention of going, so I ignored it until someone knocked on my door.

"This was sent to you by Mr Reiner." A man dressed neatly in a suit and holding a large box and flowers said.

"What? What exactly is this?" I was taken aback and inquired.

"There's a letter," he said, pointing to the orchid bouquet he'd just placed in my palm.

When I opened the note, it read:

"You would look lovely in this. Wear it for the Christmas party."

The nerve of that man! How could he send me a dress?

" I can't accept it, please take it back......" I looked up but the man had already left. I gave a disgusting look at the package, I wanted to throw that box on the street or at Aiden's face. Later seemed to be the more appealing option.

Leah found me an hour later staring at the red Valentino cocktail gown. It was lovely and exorbitantly expensive.

"Wow! Where did you get that?" She asked, staring at the monstrosity.

In a single word, I replied, "Aiden."

Her jaw hung open as she fixed her gaze on me rather than the outfit.

"He gifted it to you? Why? I mean wow? How can I get hired at your place? Is that a regular thing for people who work at Reiner groups?"

I grinned.

"No, he is just showing off! There is this Christmas party in the office this Friday, he wants me to attend it wearing this."

"So what's the problem? Just do what your boss says. I would sell my soul to the devil for a dress like that." Leah gushed.

"I can arrange your meeting with the devil if you wish. I work under him." I said wrily.

Leah sat down next to me.

"He has fallen for you. Why are you resisting him?"

"He hasn't fallen for me, Leah. Not in a conventional way. Aiden Reiner is an arrogant, narcissistic man. He considers himself to be God's gift to the women and expects them to worship his dick, just because he is rich. Since I didn't fall for his charm, he considers me a challenge. I am nothing more than a conquest for him. Once he is done, he would cast me aside just like his other air-headed girlfriends. I don't want to be one of his cast asides. " I finished with a sigh.

"Hmmm, how do you know you are just another conquest? Maybe he really likes you?"
"Seriously? A man like Aiden? Who can have any women? I guess you are watching too many romantic movies."


"Hey, I'm an actor who lives and breathes fantasies," Leah shrugged her shoulders. She took the dress and held it in her palms, the satin shimmering.



"So, you are scared of being hurt? Have you been hurt before?"

Memories raced across my mind. My parents argued, then my mother drove away in a rage, another recollection of my ex-boyfriend ditching me for someone better. For a little moment, I closed my eyes.

"Yes, I am afraid of being hurt. I can not get involved with Aiden Reiner only to be disposed of later," I replied.

Aiden

*******************

When I saw Sydney walk into my cabin, I knew what was about to happen.

"I need to talk to you." She said stiffly.

"I am all ears," I replied.

"I can't accept it, that dress I mean. Nor do I have any plans for attending the party. Please send your man to collect your stuff."

As usual, feisty. I grinned.

"May I ask why?"

"That's none of your business! I don't accept unsolicited gifts, especially when they are ridiculously expensive."

I leaned back in my chair and looked at the beautiful woman, how I wished to tame her.

"Well, it's my order, you will attend the party in that dress. That's it."
She looked up at me. We stared at each other for a long time. She was not like any of my usual girls and I couldn't do anything I fancied with her. I needed to play her game and then make her lose it.

She looked defiant, " in that case I have no other option but to quit.

I laughed, "Sydney, when you joined the Reiner groups you signed a contract. Do you remember reading it? "

Her eyes flashed. I could sense the wheels churning in her brain trying to figure out a way to get out of this.

She nodded.

"Good, then do you remember what section 14 said?"

She sucked in a breath.

"I need to serve a notice period of 1 month in case I resign."

"And?"

She gave an exasperated sigh.

" If I resign before the first year ends, I will have to pay the bond money of $50 thousand to the employer."

"You have an excellent memory, Sydney," I said, rolling her name off my tongue.

"So, even if you pay your employer, that is $50 thousand. You still need to complete your notice period of one month."

She didn't reply but looked down and nodded.

"So?"

"I'll be there at the party, in that ridiculous dress." She said curtly.

"Good, now that we have settled things. I would pick you from your home before the party." I added.

"Why?" She asked.

"Sorry?"

"Why are you doing this to me?" Her voice quavered a little.

I kept away the pen I had been toying with and looked at her from top to bottom, "don't you know? Don't you feel it? "

"No, I feel nothing!" She almost shouted and left my cabin.

Feisty! It would be fun breaking her. I smiled smugly.