Joyce Knightly March 9th, 20XX

Aaron relaxed at the desk and completed his schoolwork while I looked through the latest income report of the Squire project. We were still in the red since the kids hadn’t put out anything but their introductory videos and their segments for the official trailers.

The photoshoot they’d had a few weeks ago had turned out well, which was surprising considering a high school student had run it. Then again, it shouldn’t have been surprising considering what high school she was coming from.

We were getting positive responses from the audience and potential investors, but it was far from enough to cover the massive amounts of money we had set apart for their projects.

I shook off the growing anxiety and attempted to wait things out. The kids were recording their first official episodes. I’d wanted to be there, but work had suddenly picked up. Aaron had volunteered to watch over them, but I was unwilling to let him out of my sight. They should be fine since today was their second day of filming. If things went according to plan, then there was no reason for me to be there, but I was still worried.

First, he’d disappeared for a week, then I’d had to find out from his coach that he’d actually gotten kidnapped and had busted an illegal drug scheme. Thankfully, his company had covered it up pretty well, but I’d assigned someone to monitor the situation.

On the surface, it seemed like he’d done a heroic deed, but all it took was one skeptic to ask what he’d been doing with them in the first place, and an unpleasant narrative would stick to Aaron’s squeaky-clean image.

They had taken the criminals into custody, but they were currently in the hospital with broken bones and torn muscles and ligaments.

Considering the last time he had lost control and had spiralled into a depressive mental state, I’d worried he would beat himself up over it, but what I saw didn’t make me feel much better.

Never mind blaming himself for losing control, it almost looked like he regretted not going further. I’d leave it to Anatha for now, but I made a mental note to keep tabs on my boyfriend and make sure I didn’t accidentally let him turn into a monster.

He’d spent an extra day comforting his parents and letting them know he was okay, so that meant I hadn’t gotten to see him until late last night. Aaron had taken a plane out, so I’d had to pick him up at the airport. I’d had someone take a few pictures of us as he got off the plane so the twins could use it for their channels. While the original plan was to have them become semiserious news anchors, I’d intercepted and had pushed the celebrity gossip agenda.

There were too many other sites that dealt in serious discussions and there was no way Squire could compete with actual news programs. Instead of setting the kids up to look like fools, it would be better to dig into the market we already had. Teenagers and young adults.

Sports, celebrities, singers, and school events. Anything that would be of importance to that market. I needed the twin’s channel to become a primary source of information and entertainment.

“Aahhh.”

Aaron looked up at the despaired groan I let out and slowly put down his glasses. He was pretty far-sighted, so he only wore the glasses when he was studying. I resisted the urge to tease him about it and went back to my work.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ah- nothing. Stressed out. I’m already harassing the accounting department so much, but the funds just aren’t falling the way I need them to.”

“Do you need me to do another ad?”

Although he looked reluctant, he still put forth the offer. I debated taking him up on the offer but eventually decided against it. Aaron wasn’t the most exclusive artist out there, but I couldn’t let him advertise every little thing. The more things he was associated with, the less valuable his brand would become.

“No, that’s fine. How are your videos coming along?”

He paused to think about it, and an embarrassed expression graced his handsome face. While he tried to pretend like he was thinking about different things, I could tell by his awkward smile that he didn’t have an answer I would like.

So he’d completely forgotten.

“Aaron.”

I groaned his name, not sure where exactly to start complaining.

I knew he loved me and that he didn’t mean to stress me out like this. But more so than recently, he’d been driving me up the wall. We hadn’t even gone on a date in so long.

Or well. It had only been 23 days, less than a month, but so much had happened that it felt longer.

I adored the kids, and I was happy they were with us, but I lamented the lack of free time I’d had due to them being around. But well, it was all my fault. No one had asked me to make them into stars or to get my company involved.

The thought of involving Kingdom funds crossed my mind, but I beat it back with a metaphorical broom.

I’d gotten too comfortable having as much influence in Kingdom as I did. My dad had completely given up on giving it to its proper owner and wanted to groom me as the next inheritor.

While I didn’t mind looking over the larger conglomerate in the meantime, it wasn’t mine, and I didn’t want to get comfortable in thinking that it was.

“Joyce. Take a break and come take a walk with me.”

Aaron had gotten behind me at some point and gently took my coat off the back of my chair. He held it out like a butler and waited for me to get up and slide my arms into the stiff sleeves.

“Aaron-”

He cut me off and gently but firmly put both hands under my shoulders and lifted me up. The nerves on my arms sang as my boyfriend touched me for the first time in forever, and a fun location to end our walk crossed my mind, but that was another thought to get beaten back with a metal broom.

“Joyce. It’s been four hours and you haven’t so much as gone to the bathroom. Take an hour to spend with me?”

Aaron’s eyes softened into an expression he knew I was weak against, and I found myself slipping into my coat.

Things wouldn’t get better by staring at the documents anyway. Maybe a walk would clear my mind.