“Who are you?” The man in suit gaits and stops in front of them. His eyes fixed to Riley.
“Excuse me,” Riley counters, his voice comes out stern and deep. He takes a step forward. “Who the hell are you?” He adjusts his tie and tilts his head, frowning at the person opposite to him.
“I’m the assistant of her husband’s lawyer,” the man smirks.
The corner of Riley’s lips twitch up to a smirk. “I’m the lawyer of her husband,” he scoffs as he crosses his arms, watching him amusingly.
“You...,” He lifts his arm, his elbow blows backwards swiftly.
Aiden steps forward to defend but she stops, her small eyes expand in surprise. She stares at Riley who blocks the large fist, his long fingers digging into the man’s skin. His grip tightens as he steps forward. The man steps back automatically. He glowers at Riley furiously, his upper lip trembling in anger.
“Don’t ever disturb my client’s family,” Riley grunts.
He pushes Riley with his other hand and walks pass him, brushing over Riley's shoulder purposely. The door slams shut. Riley puts his hands in his pants pocket, his brown eyeballs scroll downwards to the right corner, eyeing at Aiden. She curls her thin lips in and moves her arm forward with her thumb up.
After a couple of hours, they walk out. Aiden stops in her tracks by the specific door and grasps the door knob.
“You’re visiting someone else?” Riley asks.
“My mom,” she rotates the knob and stops mid way as he holds her wrist.
“I didn’t bring any presents to visit,” he says, facing her.
“Never mind,” she opens the door and enters the room “How are you doing?” She passes a smile at the nurse who changes the saline.
“You’re here,” Emma grins as she sits straight leaning over the head board. She pats on the stool beside the bed calling her to sit. Aiden obeys.
“You didn't tell me anything!” Emma places her fragile hand on Aiden’s.
“Tell about what?” Aiden asks curiously.
“Mike?”
“Mike,” she repeats, the name rolls down her tongue foreign. Her brows and she lowers her gaze. Eyes fixed on her mom’s hand. “You spoke to dad?” She asks softly, sure that he has spilled the beans.
“Yeah, he called me in the morning,” Emma replies, her voice low. “He asked me about you.”
“Oh,” Aiden utters. “We broke up,” she declares.
“Will you mind if I ask why?”
“No,” she states. “He just....,” She looks up. “He just doesn’t deserve me,” she laughs at her own statement.
“He sure doesn’t,” Emma nods. “My daughter will find someone better and handsome than him,” her face lights up.
“Handsome like dad,” Aiden chuckles when Emma laughs.
“It’s been a while to see him,” Emma blurts, reminding herself that she hasn’t seen her husband for months.
“You will,” Aiden assures, her lips slightly spread. “You’re getting better now and I’ll take you to him when you are ready for sure,” she smiles gently. She knew that her mother misses her husband but she is not in state of going out.
“Who’s that?” Emma finally notices Riley, her thin brows furrow, curiously as she looks at the door.
He walks in nervously. “Hello!” He greets with a small smile.
“He is umm...,” Aiden moves back. She runs her hand through her hair and glances at Riley. “A friend,” she completes her sentence.
“I never knew that my daughter has a friend like you,” Emma's face beams with a wide smile.
“I’m Riley, we just ran into each other recently.” he introduces himself politely as he walks to the other side of the bed opposite to Aiden.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t bring any gifts,” he blurts awkwardly.
“That’s alright,” She brushes off. Her eyes never leaves Riley. “You are handsome,” she compliments. “Don’t be formal,” she gestures him to sit.
“He is Mr. Mintz’s son,” Aiden informs.
“Really,” Emma faces him again “I’m thankful to your dad, he paid for my surgery” she states softly.
“Is Aiden nice to you?” She leans closer towards his direction.
“Maa, why don’t you ask me that?” Aiden snaps yet her dry tone never conveys her feelings.
“Ma’am I....”
“Ma’am?” Emma repeats with knitted brows. “Address me mom.”
Aiden’s orbs are fixed to them, one side of her annoyed at their sudden interaction as they are bickering about her, the other side of her happy to see her mother’s recovery.
“Tell me, Is she treating you well?” Emma pulls up the question again.
Riley passes a glance at Aiden who is already staring at him. He licks his lips nervously and faces Emma. “She is good,” he replies hesitantly.
“Good?” Emma questions raising her brows amusingly. “Don’t lie! I know that she is always cold and boring,” she laughs. He nods in reply and passes another glance at Aiden. She stays still with her arms crossed, her eyes fixed on him.
“Yeah, and whenever I ask her something she will be like,” he straightens his posture. “None of your business,” he mimics her, in the same dry tone.
“Ma,” Aiden calls out. Emma turns and looks at her. “Seems like you are happy to see someone else than your daughter?” She sneers.
“Of course! You always give the same expression when you tell something, it’s not exciting and interesting, but talking to him is fun,” Emma answers hiding her smile. She enjoys watching her daughter acting this way as she rarely does.
“Absolutely,” Riley claps enthusiastically like a child got a birthday present. “She always puts on the poker face."
Aiden’s phone rings. She stands ignoring his comment. “Okay, enjoy your chat with him." She answers the call and walks out the room.
It's Ben. She requests him to send someone to protect Philip's wife.
Aiden hangs up the call and walks in the room, a slight smile makes its way on her lips as she sees Emma asleep. She looks at Riley, who is standing by the window, viewing at the dark sky which is brightened by the full moon, few stars surrounded.
“Shall we leave?” She asks dryly as she stops by the bed, bending low she places a kiss on Emma’s forehead and stands straight.
“Sure, let’s have dinner,” Riley grins.
Upon some closed shop by the main road, the midnight snack corner captures the pavement. Few vehicles passing by. The night frosty air blows making the hot dishes even more delicious. A crowd is gathered around, most of the stools and tables placed outside the shop occupied.
Aiden picks another barbecue from the plate which is placed at the centre of the small square table. She holds onto the edge of the stick and bites the bottom meat. She pulls the stick smoothly which allows the juicy meat to fall into her mouth and tosses the empty stick on the table. She looks straight while chewing onto the meat, the spices make her taste buds dance.
“So, what did you and mom talk about?” She asks.
Riley faces her immediately, he pushes his tongue to the corner of his mouth pushing his inner cheek and licks his lips.
He raises his brows. “It’s none of your business,” he leers dryly as he takes the can and sips the cola. The muscles between the eyebrows and his eyelashes expand as he continues to drink, his inner being eager to see her curious.
“Oh,” she blurts.
Riley’s actions pause, he stares at her for a long moment watching her eat. His heart literally broken of having an ironic expectation.
“Wait,” he hits the can on the table and moves forward. “Aren’t you curious to know?”
She takes a sip of cola and looks at him, puzzled. “Of What?” She asks.
“Of what we spoke,”
“No, I just asked,” she shrugs and empties the can.
“Oh my god,” Riley gasps aloud as he moves his lowered head to the left and right. “You are freaking boring!” He exhales.
Aiden rolls her eyes at his dramatic behaviour, ignoring his act she continues to eat.
“Hunting for the cafe owner is impossible,” Aiden breaks the few minutes of silence between them. She licks her sauce-stained fingers and faces Riley who is paying attention to her in interest. “The number has not been working since the day of the accident. I don’t think we can find him before the trial,” she motions forward. “Did you take photos of the surrounding?”
“Yes,” Riley leans back, he inserts his hand into his pants pocket and pops out his phone. “There isn’t anything though?” He hands over the phone to her.
She sits upright and swipes through the multiple images. She pinches on the tempered screen and stretches her fingers, zooming the image of the opposite road from the cafe. Her brows meet as she lowers her head taking a closer look at the photo.
"Is that a food truck?” She asks as she leans over the table holding the phone to Riley.
He examines the photo and nods.
“What’s about the food truck?” He looks straight at her. She moves back and tries to read the blurry number plate.
“The dash camera,”
“Oh yeah,” Riley clicks his tongue.
“The number plate isn’t clear but we can find it,” she returns the phone and eats another barbecue.
She picks another can of cola and pulls the seal. Her actions freeze when Riley stands and hovers over the table, his hand accelerates forward. Aiden’s eyes fold as she gazes at him, baffled.
His fingers drive close to the corner of her lips, where the sauce remains. She furrows her brows and licks the corner of her lips. Her eyes never leaving him.
Riley stays still, unmoving, he curls his lips in awkwardly and sits back averting his gaze. He scratches the back of his head as he nibbles on his upper lip.
Second time, his heart breaks for his ironic expectation.
“You have sauce over here,” Aiden informs.
He clears his throat and rubs the side of his lips.
“It’s still there,” she blurts and takes a sip of cola.
He wipes again. “Now, Is it gone?”
“Nope,” she places the can on the table and stands.
His brows slightly lift in surprise as he waits till she moves closer.
She tilts over the table and picks his phone. She lifts it and holds the phone, the black screen faces him.
“Can you see now?” She asks looking down at him while he stares at her taken back.
The third time, his heart literally breaks with ironic expectation.
He looks at the screen, and wipes the skin below his lower lip. Aiden smiles and sits back. She lifts the can in the air. "All the best for the trial Lawyer Riley Mintz." She cheers.
He lifts his can as well and forces a smile. "Thanks!" He utters drowsily.