Chapter Six - Aldrich's POV - Someone I Should Know

I woke up to the sound of soft laughter.

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a golden hue across the master bedroom of our mansion. Beatrice, my wife, lay beside me; my all and everything, her head resting on my chest, tracing lazy circles on my skin with her fingertips.

"Morning, love," she whispered, pressing a kiss to my collarbone.

"Morning," I murmured, a slow smile tugging at my lips as I ran a hand through her long, golden hair.

Beyond the open balcony, London's skyline stretched before me—my kingdom. A billion-dollar empire I'd built with precision and drive. Kingsport Companies thrived under my command, and my life had unfolded like a dream since my rugby-playing days.

After my father's sudden passing five years ago, I'd inherited everything—his wealth, his business, and his place among London's elite. I had transformed Kingsport from a financial firm into a global powerhouse, and the world had taken notice. Wealth, power, and prestige... I had it all.

Most importantly, I had a family.

"Dad! Dad!"

The bedroom door burst open, and Junior, our three-year-old son, came running in, wearing his favorite dinosaur pajamas.

"Junior!" I chuckled, scooping him up onto the bed as he squealed with laughter.

"Mommy, Daddy, pancakes?" he asked, his bright green eyes—my darling wife's eyes—wide with hope.

Beatrice laughed, ruffling his curly brown hair. "I think Daddy has work this morning, sweetheart."

I smiled, feeling a familiar warmth in my chest as Junior cuddled between us. "I'll be back early tonight. Pancakes, ice cream... whatever you want."

Junior beamed.

"Alright, you two," My lover teased, giving me a playful slap on the chest. "Up you go. Kingsport doesn't run itself."

I kissed her forehead softly, inhaling her familiar lavender scent. "I love you."

"Love you too," she whispered, her smile radiant.

I dressed quickly, slipped into a tailored black suit, and after kissing them both goodbye, I headed for the office.

Life was perfect.

Or so I thought.

***

At Kingsport, my morning flew by in back-to-back meetings and financial reports. By noon, I was seated in my corner office, overlooking the Thames, ready to interview a new group of interns.

I didn't handle these things often, but occasionally, I liked to put faces to names. To see who I was investing in.

"Send the first one in," I told my assistant, Amelia, as I sipped my coffee.

The door opened, and a woman entered. Then a man, and another man, and it went on and on.

Until another woman…

The moment she stepped in, something shifted.

She was young, probably in her early twenties, with dark, tousled hair and wide, anxious eyes. She froze when she saw me, her lips parting slightly, as though she couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"Mr. Maximus?" she whispered, taking a step closer.

I frowned, unsettled by her reaction. "Yes… take a seat."

She didn't move. Instead, her expression changed from nervousness to… something else. Something closer to relief.

"Oh my God," she said suddenly, her voice trembling. "It's really you."

I blinked. "Excuse me?"

"I… I thought I'd never see you again," she whispered, almost to herself. "It's been so long…"

I stared at her, completely thrown off.

Her eyes were familiar, but her face… I couldn't place it.

"Do I know you?" I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.

She let out a soft, shaky laugh. "Of course you know me… Aldrich, it's me—"

My heart stuttered. The way she said my name…

But no. I didn't know her.

I would remember her.

"I think you're mistaken," I said firmly, feeling a sudden wave of discomfort.

"No," she insisted, stepping closer, as if trying to jog my memory. "We—"

"Leave," I cut her off, my patience fraying. "Now."

She froze, her face crumbling in hurt and confusion.

I didn't care.

I didn't like how she was looking at me—like we shared some unspoken history. It made my skin crawl.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, backing toward the door. "I just… I thought…"

I said nothing as she slipped out, closing the door behind her.

For the rest of the day, I couldn't focus.

I kept seeing her face, hearing her voice—soft, hopeful, familiar. But familiar how?

It irritated me more than it should have. By the time I got home, I was tense and distracted. My wife noticed immediately.

"Long day?" she asked as she poured us both a glass of wine.

"Something like that," I muttered, running a hand through my hair.

She came up behind me, her arms wrapping around my waist, her chin resting on my shoulder. "Talk to me."

"It's nothing," I lied. "Just work."

She kissed the side of my neck, slow and deliberate, the way she always did when she knew I was holding back. "Come upstairs," she whispered.

And just like that, I let the tension melt away in her arms. I wrapped my lips around hers and allowed the kiss sink into my nerves. I groaned slightly.

"Do you feel it?" I whispered to her. She giggled as her hand glided downward and brushed past the throbbing in my pants.

"I want it…" She whispered into my ears. She knew how I liked my games. That was all I needed, and the strange woman as out of my head in no time. I spent the night telling myself that whatever I'd felt earlier that day—whatever strange recognition that woman had stirred in me—was nothing.

But I was wrong.

***

The next morning, I arrived at the office, feeling more like myself again—calm, in control.

Until Amelia walked into my office, looking nervous.

"There's something you should know," she said carefully.

I glanced up from my desk. "What is it?"

She hesitated. "One of the new hires… the woman you interviewed yesterday…"

"What about her?" I frowned.

"She was selected."

I stared at her. "What?"

"You… you told me to hire her," Amelia said, clearly confused.

I set my pen down slowly. "No. I told her to leave."

"I know, sir, but… after she left, you instructed me to add her to the roster. You don't remember?"

I sat back, a cold feeling creeping into my chest. "I never said that."

Amelia blinked, clearly thrown off. "But… you did."

Before I could argue further, there was a knock on the door.

It was her.

The woman from yesterday.

She walked in cautiously, holding a folder to her chest, her gaze flicking between me and Amelia.

"I'm sorry to interrupt," she said softly. "I just… I wanted to apologize for yesterday. I was out of line. I thought… I thought I knew you, but I was mistaken. I really need this job. Please… just give me a chance to prove myself."

She spoke calmly, but I saw the desperation in her eyes.

I should have told her to leave.

But I didn't.

I stared at her, something in my chest tightening, something I couldn't explain.

"Fine," I said finally. "I'll get back to you."

She nodded, backing out of the room quietly.

The door clicked shut, and I let out a slow breath, disturbed more than I cared to admit.

Who the hell was she?

And why did I feel like I should know her?