Page 90 of Tempting the President
KELLION
A GIRLFRIEND.
It was all Kellion could think about last night, preventing him from sleeping. He had badly wanted to call Aria, to talk to her, but having seen the dark circles under her eyes, Kellion had managed to keep himself from doing so. She needed her rest, and he didn’t think it would be a “boyfriend-like” thing to do to tire her out on their first night as a couple.
However, that was what bemused him, too. He had never been any girl’s boyfriend, and he found himself frustrated at his inability to pinpoint exactly what he should and shouldn’t do with his role.
How he felt about it was not a problem. Being Aria’s boyfriend meant Aria chose to be with him, and that thought alone gave Kellion endless pleasure. That he belonged to her, however – it was a terrifying thought because, Kellion realized grimly, apart of him was unsure if Aria wouldalwayswant to have him. Would alwaysseehim.
The fact that he had become so insecure was fucking pathetic, and Kellion forced all such thoughts away, concentrating instead on helping his friend with his work.
It was only the two of them at the work lab, Kellion because he had woken up early to make sure he could walk Aria to class and Helios because he was hell bent on finishing the prototype design for what would be the first motorcycle conceptualized, manufactured, and sold by the Afxisi.
Taking his seat next to the President, he tried to concentrate on reading the bids offered by various suppliers, but time and time again Aria’s face would pop up in his mind and he would lose his train of thought.
He found himself asking abruptly, “Should something change, Helios? Now that I’ve become Aria’s boyfriend?”
When Helios swung in his own seat to face Kellion, the surprise on his friend’s face was entirely expected. “Is this some kind of fucking joke? Because if it is, I don’t understand it.”
“I wish it was,” Kellion bit out, raking a hand through his hair. “Believe me, if there was someone else around here I could ask about this, I would have. But unfortunately, you’re the only guy I know in Afxisi who’s in loveanddoesn’t mind showing it.” The latter qualification was important since Kellion and the other officers had always known what Andreus Economou’s feelings were for Hallie – no matter how hard the club’s Treasurer fought to suppress it.
In front of him, Helios had a thoughtful look on his face. At six-foot-seven, Helios Andreadis was even taller than Kellion, and with his golden looks and powerful build, looked very much like a medieval warrior come to life. Kellion had been the first to call the President “Mr. Sunshine”, for the simple reason that Helios was anything but, despite his name. Helios had always been cold and stoic, but he had started to change since the first day he met the girl who would end up as his wife.
Would that happen to him, Kellion wondered.Even if...he didn’t feel the same way for Aria as Helios did for MJ, would he also change as much?
“You may be better off asking someone normal about this, Argyros.” Helios chose his words carefully. In the long time he had known his VP, Kellion had always been too proud to ask for any kind of help. Not out of pride, but because of his friend’s fear of rejection. And yet here he was, asking for Helios’ advice about a topic Kellion very well knew his President could rib him on. It was a welcome change, and as far as Helios was concerned, it boded well for Kellion and his girlfriend.
Lowering his pen and digital drawing pad, Helios said slowly, “Another guy – a normal guy – would probably tell you that there are certain rules that would always apply.” His shoulders moved in a dismissive shrug. “But I don’t fucking believe that.”
“Aria chose you because you make her happy, and she’s happy making you happy. You just have to remember that and you can do no better.” Helios paused, his mind traveling back to the darkest days of his life. “You know what happened to MJ and me. You know what I had to do, what she had to do. And I don’t regret a single thing because that’s whatourlove was worth tous. I don’t give a damn what others may think or say. I just want to keep making her happy.”
After a beat, Kellion said in an irritated voice, “Can’t you be a bit less vague than that, President? Or is this payback for all I did to make you jealous of MJ and Yuri?”
“Possibly.” Helios clapped a hand over his VP’s back with a grin. “But thatisall I can say.” Sobering, he continued, “I wouldn’t know what would really make your woman happy. I am not the one in love with her.”
When Kellion didn’t say anything, Helios asked bluntly, “You do love her, don’t you?”
But Kellion still didn’t answer. Helios was disappointed by it, but he told himself there was still hope for the two of them. At least his VP didn’t say ‘no’ outright and for Aria’s sake, he goddamn hoped that counted for something.
KELLION KNOCKED ONhis girlfriend’s door at exactly ten minutes before seven. She opened it a moment later, and she looked even more tired than usual. Beautiful, too, even with her hair bundled carelessly in a knot and her clothes were nothing out of the ordinary. Beautiful andextremelytired, like she had spent a restless night as well.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
She glared at him.
Kellion blinked. “Are youmadat me?”
Instead of answering, she simply pulled the door shut with a loud bang before marching past him.
That was his answer, he supposed, but it wasn’t much of one since he still had no idea what he could have done to make her mad. Catching up to her, he grabbed her hand, not letting go even as she tried wriggling her wrist out of his hold.
“Tell me what’s wrong.” He tried not to sound irritated. “I won’t know if you won’t—-”
Aria suddenly stopped, and then she was pulling out her phone, her fingers moving rapidly over the screen before practically shoving it in his face.
Definitely mad,Kellion thought wryly as he read her message.
Aria: Of course I’m mad. You didn’t even send me a text last night.
