Shadows & Secrets

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Aiden

"Does the air smell like cinnamon rolls?" Merrick asked, entering Aiden's office. He inhaled and looked around the room.

Aiden clenched his teeth, his jaw tightening as he recalled the warm splash of cinnamon soaking through his shirt. As it turned out, he experienced a remarkable case of déjà vu with the same woman he came across a week before. He didn't employ Delilah Fox himself; instead, the hiring agency he partnered with had a knack for the dramatic and brought her on board. Delilah's presence promised a shift in the atmosphere, sparking a sense of excitement in the air.

Merrick shifted over the desk, his eyes wide. "Dude, the scent is spreading through the hallway." He gestured with great flair, as though the scent were a sentient entity, inching nearer with every fleeting second. "Have you switched the air fresheners?"

Aiden straightened his back, his voice firm as he replied, "No. I had a minor mishap this morning."

His friend raised an eyebrow, mouth agape in surprise. "Did you fight with someone over the last cinnamon roll? Are they as beaten up as I imagine?"

Aiden let out a derisive snort, his middle finger shooting up in Merrick's direction. With a swift motion, he turned on the security camera, gesturing for his friend to focus on the screen. "Look at Section B7," he said. "Do you notice anyone who looks... fresh?"

Merrick edged closer to the large screen, arms folded across his chest, his eyes fixed intently on the display. "Nope. I know every single one of the employees down there."

"Nah. Take another look. You'll see who I'm referring to."

Delilah sat at a little desk in the room's rear, her long crimson locks cascading to one side.

Merrick's eyes squinted as he peered at the black and white screen. Now his jaw opened. "Holy fuck! It's her!"

"Uh-huh," Aiden replied, taking his clipboard to check the inventory. "It feels like she and I are never apart."

Merrick ran a hand over his small beard. "Do you suspect that the woman may be following you?"

"What? No! That's ridiculous. If Delilah is working in the basement, she was sent by RightRecruit. Brenda must have noticed something special about her work history when she hired her."

"Yeah, it's called fate." Merrick's lips curled into a wide grin, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "You haven't stopped thinking about that pretty ginger since you ran into her. I think she left quite the mark on you."

"You need to stay out of my head," Aiden groaned, looking up from his clipboard. "She's not the only person I'm thinking about. Making sure everything goes well here is my top priority."

Delilah being in the same space as him caused his heart to race. They formed an unspoken connection as their eyes connected, leaving him curious and wanting to know more. There was something otherworldly about her that attracted and perplexed him.

"Is that all you want, Aiden?" Merrick raised his chin and continued, "Get to know her and have her work overtime. You're eager to talk to her now."

Aiden let out a low grunt. "A woman barging into our private matters is the last thing I want. Not only that, she works for me."

"No, she is employed by Brenda Peterson. Her company is responsible for paying this new employee."

"It doesn't matter, Merrick. Delilah will always be present. Office romances aren't my thing," he insisted. "With local tensions rising, I cannot handle further diversions. The vampires and fairies are up to something. Draven tried to hide that information, but I caught it in our last meeting. He conceals his cards like a royal flush in poker. We can't let our guard down around him."