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●ALEX POV●

Sonja called me to tell me that she needed help getting Aria up to her room . I wasn't too far away from their home and I didn't mind coming around . When I arrived I saw her cuddled up next to Dylan. To say that the scene upset me was a complete understatement. How did this happen? Did he do something to her?

I walked over to her and called out her name , "Aria," she stirred a little and then she began to blink slowly waking herself up . She looked at me and I saw that her eyes were red and swollen , she had been crying .

"Are you okay ? Did he hurt you?" I asked her .

She shook her head , "we had some closure , the only pain I felt is here," she pokes her chest and I felt my own heart ache for her . Although they hadn't been together in 6 months this is the first time they probably have been around each other without her running away or him being an ass.

I helped her up to her bedroom and as I laid her down I kissed her forehead and promised I'd do better . That I'd do better than I had done in the last couple weeks, that I'd do better in the future . Even though she is a strong woman capable of handling hard times, she still has a fragile heart . Like all of us.

From what I know , Dylan was her first love , her first everything. They did everything together and she had their whole lives planned out . From what Warren described to me during his visit , Dylan was a broken man . Someone who made mistakes that cost him dearly . I saw two people on the couch who yearned to come back but know they can never go back.

Hearing her say that she finally got closure made me hopeful . Not just for me but for her . That she wouldn't be holding onto the failures of that relationship and punish the possibility of a future ; of love . I know this is going to be an uphill battle but I'm not giving up on her .

After I left and got home I settled in on my couch trying to shrug off the stress of last week, the weekend and tonight . I got a phone call from reception telling me that I had a visitor . I wasn't expecting anyone and asked him who was waiting . He informed me that my sister was here .

I opened the door from the elevator and sure enough there she was , "Florence? What are you doing here?"

So much for a quieter evening . My sister ran in frazzled , "Alex, I made a mistake."

I closed the door and she was pacing back and forth as if she was running a race , "okay you need to give me more," I say .

"I'm pregnant," she tells me.

"That's fantastic news!" I begin to congratulate her and then she stops me .

"It's not his , shit." She blurts out .

I never expected her to do something like this but it seems like everyone's dirty little secrets are finally coming out, "who's is it?"

She begins to shake nervously , "Mick's"

Holy crap , "how long has this been going on?"

Mick, her childhood bestfriend . The guy WE all thought she would end up with . The guy that's actually bestfriends with Florence's husband . I can't say I'm surprised but I for sure did not see this coming .

"For a long time," she confesses.

"Then why did you get married?" I ask her.

"I didn't know how Mick felt . And well

Gregory poured out his feelings to me . To me this was my only chance . Plus I thought if I did date Greg that Mick might make a move," she admits.

"Looks like it worked," I say sarcastically.

"You're one to judge , Alex . Need I remind you about Penny?" She threw back in my face .

I hold my hands up in mock surrender , "alright, but seriously when did this happen?"

She sighs , "Greg had been working late a lot. For the last few years, if I'm being honest. And I began to suspect he was having an affair . So I confronted him . He denied it and we just kept fighting over and over and over again . I told Mick what was happening and he had no clue about it either . One night , Greg had a meeting that went on ALL NIGHT and his phone was turned off . I called Mick crying. He came over and confessed his feelings to me . Then one thing led to another," she recounts .

"But how long?" I asked her again.

"A few years now," she looks down on her hands .

I walk over to her and give her a hug , "we'll figure this put . Do you love Mick?"

"More than I ever loved anyone else in my life . I knew he was the one since we were kids. No one even came close to my feelings for him," she says.

"I think you need to talk to Greg . And if you're certain he's cheating you might as well catch him in the act and then throw divorce papers at him," I tell her . She chuckles and then smiles .

"Thanks Alex , can I stay here tonight? Where's Aria?" She asks.

I sigh heavily , "you want to hear my drama?"

She nods . And I tell her everything . The fake relationship, Dylan , and my confrontation with Warren . As I tell her my story , my concerns it clicked . Was I Greg in this story? Was she meant to be with Warren , like how everyone assumed?

"Don't, " she warns me , "I know you're comparing my issues with yours . The difference between Mick and myself and Aria and Warren is the lack of time . I grew up with Mick . She didn't. You have a chance," she tries to assure me.

"But, if I'm being honest, because I love you , Warren seems like a new man since Aria came back."

Damnit I know.

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●WARREN POV●

I texted Aria Tuesday morning to see how the first day went . I didn't think I'd hear from her until later but to my surprise she had replied right away. She told me that she had a pretty busy day but got a lot done .

She even told me about how she and Dylan finally talked and she felt the closure she's been needing from that chapter of her life . To hear that she's finally confronting the past and turning the page made me proud of her. I knew she loved him from that night I had come to her apartment . He looked like a desperate man who lost everything and she had so much pain that you can read the heartache on her face. Seeing their interaction , I knew there was unfinished business that needed to be tied up and Aria telling me about it made me happy for her.

We had sent messages back and forth throughout the day . Apparently today was a spa day for them . Some pampering and what not . After doing some of the finishing touches yesterday they were in need of some massages. I knew once the girls were together that I wouldn't hear from her the rest of the time , so I put my phone away.

Time escaped me as I drowned in paperwork . From proposals to reports my eyes were beginning to get tired. I pulled my phone out and a smile slowly stretched across my face, Aria . When I opened the text it was pictures of her and I assume the bridal party at the spa . She looked relaxed but also beautiful , I had to save them onto my phone .

I texted her back telling her that I enjoyed the photos and then tucked my phone back into my pocket . It was already the end of the day and time to get out of the office . My secretary was also tying up loose ends before clocking out .

"Cass, you should go home . It's late," I say to her .

I wanted to help her up but she wasn't having any of it . Just because she was pregnant she wasn't an invalid . At least that's what she keeps yelling at me , "I know . Kaiden is already waiting for me downstairs. I forgot to give you this folder , they're resume's of temps while I'm on maternity leave," she says as she hands me the stack.

"I'll look them over tomorrow . I assume you marked the ones that may work?" I ask her.

"Yup, one of them had recently left the company that she was working for. I think she might fit just because her role is similar to mine," she huffs as she begins to waddle away from her desk.

"Okay," I tell her .

○○○

The next day Alex was scheduled to begin working with me . He was to shadow what I did and until we can get his office in order, he shared mine . We both walked in together with an uncomfortable amount of stares . I think I'll have to do another sexual harrassment course with the team . The women were basically undressing my little brother and I found that completely distasteful . Of course when I cleared my throat and gave them that glare they all went back to work.

"So this is my work space . You can use the couch and coffee table or pull up a chair , either way doesn't matter," I tell him as I put my briefcase down on my desk and pull out some paperwork and the file Cassandra gave me.

Looking at it I'm immediately filled with dread , I really do not enjoy looking at resumes . As I pinched the bridge if my nose I looked at Alex. This should be an easy task , "want your fast project?" I ask him

"Lay it on me," he says with a smile.

"As you can see , my secretary is going to pop soon . She'll be going on maternity leave in a couple weeks and we have a stack of resumes here for her temporary replacement. Go through them and narrow the candidates down to the final 3," I order him .

"You know , we both hold the same degree . I can do more than HR work," he says as he takes the file out of my hands.

I don't respond and instead sit back down at my desk, firing up my computer and getting my morning started. A couple minutes of silence pass before Alex speaks up , "Have you looked at these yet?"

I shake my head, "nope , that's why I handed them to you."

"Bro, one of the applicants ," he begins as I see his face morphe in anger , "she's the woman that got Aria's ex to cheat on her."

I stood up and walked over to him, "Are you sure?"

He nods emphatically, "Brittany Hickson, look at the name of her last supervisor , Dylan Preacher. And I would remember her face from anywhere," as he points to the tiny photo of the candidate. We require passport photos as part of our verification process after a little mishap that happened a few years back .

"Throw hers out, we don't need trash like that around here," I say to him.

"Aren't you at all curious why she picked this company?" Alex asked, "she knows who you are and most likely assumed I'm here too . It's like she's purposely trying to ruin Aria."

I can feel the heat reach my face, "no one will hurt her . I promise that . What are you suggesting we do?"

"We won't hire her for this position but I'll think of something . This is stalking and harassing, give me a day and I'll come up with something," he says to me.

Something we both agree on, protecting Aria and making sure this woman doesn't bother her again.

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