Chap 61: A helping hand

After leaving the office, Dylan asked the driver to take them home. The entire ride home was silent as Dylan still wasn't in a good mood while a thousand things were running around in Aiden's mind. Should he tell Dylan about Natalie? Or Did Natalie already tell him?

As soon as they were inside the penthouse, Aiden could hear Dylan's loud voice, " What do you want me to do?"

" What do you mean?" Aiden turned around and asked in confusion.

" I am out of ideas, so you tell me, how do I make you love me? What should I do for you to stop thinking about your boyfriend?"

" That's not possible," Aiden said, trying to sound confident though he was freaked out from the inside.

Dylan closed his eyes and clenched his fists to control his anger. Right now, he wanted to lock Aiden in his room and only allow him to leave once he agreed to be with Dylan forever. He stared at Aiden, who looked scared as if waiting for Dylan to retaliate. Suddenly, he turned around and dashed towards his room, closing the door behind him with a bang.

Aiden was shocked at Dylan's reaction as he had expected he would surely get a beating now. For heaven's sake, he could never understand this person. Feeling lucky, he, too, hurried towards the room and closed the door.

Aiden patiently waited for half an hour half expecting Dylan to dash through the door anytime. He stuck his ear to his room door, listening to any sound, but there was pin-drop silence as if nobody was in the house except for Aiden. Finally, he snuck into the bathroom and called Noah from his secret phone. As usual, Noah picked up the call in a single ring.

" You called up so soon," Noah remarked.

" Yeah, lucky me," Aiden agreed. " How was your meeting with the editor?"

" He seemed too much interested in publishing my book," Noah said proudly.

" Of course, he would be. You are the best," Aiden said in delight.

" I could earn a great deal with this contract. My offer to elope from here is still open. Even if you don't have a job, I will look after you forever."

" Don't start with that again..."

" Fine!! Tell me, how was your day? Did that jerk trouble you?"

" I don't know what to say," Aiden said sadly.

" Why? What happened?" Noah was suddenly alert.

Aiden narrated his encounter with Natalie, and Noah carefully listened to his every word.

" So you mean to say that she knows her fiance is cheating?"

" Yes," Aiden whispered. " And I think we can use this opportunity for our benefit."

" How is that?" Noah asked.

" I expected Natalie to have spoken to Dylan, but judging by his reaction, I doubt she has."

" That's a relief!!" Noah exclaimed. " God knows how that bastard would react. He would surely vent his anger on you."

" I have thought about this. It's better if Natalie tells him."

" Why would you say that?"

" Dylan cares a lot about his image, so if Natalie speaks to him, he might feel pressurized."

" Yeah, you are right, but what if he harms you?" Noah asked worriedly.

" We have got to do something."

" But not at the cost of..."

" Then do you want me to stay with Dylan forever?"

" Of course not," Noah said, offended.

" We have got to do something, Noah. It's not that I am in a good position right now, so I will have to take the risk."

"Why would Natalie help us?"

" Natalie is a very good person. I am sure she would help us if I told her the truth." Aiden recalled her reaction earlier. He was expecting her to blame her, but instead, she was ready to listen to his explanation.

" But if she hasn't discussed this with Dylan, then she might have something on her mind."

" I guess she first wants to discuss it with me. She asked me to call her."

" Did you?"

" How can I call her while Dylan is watching?"

" Then call her now."

" Ohhh....O-Ok...." Aiden stuttered.

" Don't worry, Aiden. It will be alright. Just speak to her and let me know what she says."

Aiden was nervously moving around his room, staring at Natalie's name card every few seconds. He didn't know how to talk to her, especially about such a crucial matter. Above all, there was the risk of being caught by Dylan. After thinking for a few minutes, Aiden garnered up the courage to dial Natalie's number. She picked up the call on the second ring as if she was eagerly waiting.

" H-Hello... I-I am Aiden."

" I was waiting for you to call," Natalie replied.

Aiden wondered how to proceed further when he finally thought there was no use beating around the bush. "D-Did you talk to D-Dylan?"

" No," Natalie sighed.

" W-Why?"

" I don't know...I couldn't bring myself to say anything. I want to hear your side of the story first.

" W-Would you believe me?" Aiden asked.

" I am not sure, but I want to," Natalie replied truthfully.

Hearing those assuring words, Aiden decided to come out clean in front of Nat and told her everything from the start.

Natalie was shaken after hearing everything that had transpired between Dylan and Aiden. Dylan always showed his homophobic side in front of her, and if she had herself not heard Dylan confessing to Aiden, she would find it hard to believe Aiden. Also, she knew that Dylan was very dominating and often forced his decisions upon others. " I... don't know what to say."

" It is the truth. I am not lying..." Aiden tried to explain as he thought Natalie didn't believe him.

" I don't doubt your words. It's just that it's all so complicated."

" It is what it is," Aiden whispered.

" So you already have a boyfriend?"

" Yes."

" So... you don't want to be with Dylan?" Natalie asked hopefully.

" Of course not," Aiden said hurriedly. " I love Noah, and I want to be with him."

Natalie felt a sense of relief after hearing Aiden's words. She was confused by her reaction because after hearing Dylan had been cheating on her, she should be running miles away from him, yet she didn't know if she could do that. Natalie was neither a pushover nor someone who would impose herself upon others just because she loved him. Then what did she expect out of this weird relationship with Dylan?

" So... w-what will you do now?" Aiden asked worriedly after not getting any response from her.

" I... I..." Natalie was thinking about what to say.

" Why don't you talk to Dylan?" Aiden suggested.

" I tried to talk to him today but couldn't say anything."

" Do you still want to be with Dylan?" Aiden asked. Though it was beneficial for him if Dylan and Nat got together, he felt it was unfair for her to be with someone who didn't love her and used her for his benefit.

" I am confused. I do love Dylan, but if he doesn't love me back, what is the use of holding on to him? Please tell me what should I do?"

Aiden wanted to say that if she loved Dylan, then she should give it a try. He has been through enough emotional and depressing situations all his life, and he knew people were most vulnerable during this time. Natalie needed assurance from someone that it was okay to fight for her love no matter what the situation was but was it worth fighting? Aiden couldn't be so selfish and didn't want to influence his decision on Nat, so he calmly said, " I suggest this decision should be yours alone. Your life is your own, and your actions will affect your present and future, so don't let anybody else influence you."

Natalie was shocked at hearing Aiden's response. " Is it not good for you if Dylan and I are together?"

" It surely is," Aiden agreed. " However, your decision should not be based on what will benefit me; rather, it should be based on what will help you. I have truthfully told you what Dylan thinks about you and me. So take your time and think about how your relationship with Dylan would be. Speak to him and get to know what he is planning."

Natalie was in awe of Aiden now. Her heart felt lighter, and she was sure she could now handle the situation well. " I agree... and thanks."

" You don't have to thank me," Aiden said. " I am the reason for your problems."

" I don't blame you, Aiden. If you had been dating Dylan despite knowing he was engaged, I would have blamed you, but not now. I can't be so insensitive to accuse you of something you didn't do."

" Thank you so much... I feel relieved," Aiden said gratefully.

" But wouldn't you be in trouble if I talk to Dylan? I heard the way he spoke to you... he sounded so harsh."

" I am already in trouble. What could be worse than this?"