Run, Girl (If You Can)

Chapter 333: An Odd, Fluttery Feeling

Roger Clark was coming out of the locker room at the gym following a satisfying workout when he checked his phone. He had two messages—one from his mom asking if he was coming down to visit for his niece's birthday and one from an unfamiliar number.

He opened it a bit skeptically. He had been getting a lot of spam texts lately.

'Hi Roger, this is Alice Kelly. I am about to move and don't have any furniture. Aaron told me your sister is a budget interior designer and that I should ask you for her number'

That text was about the last thing he expected to receive. It was surprising for a few reasons. First, he didn't realize his boss actually paid attention to his Facebook posts. There was no other way Aaron would have known about his sister's business.

Second, Alice seemed a lot closer to Aaron than he would have guessed if she was asking him for help with furniture shopping. Roger hadn't pegged his boss as the type to actually spend time with his subordinates outside of work. Alice was more like a partner than a subordinate since they were from the same social circle but still.

Then again, he probably needed to reassess Aaron entirely after that little show in the restaurant when they all signed the shares back over. How on earth had Aaron Hale ended up being a doting family man?

Roger nearly had a heart attack when Aaron said the woman sitting next to him was his wife. It was partly because he didn't think the man was capable of any sort of tender feelings for another human being and partly because it meant those two babies were his. Finding out someone you have worked with for years has a secret family is rather alarming.

Seeing Aaron act not only warm but lovestruck was almost more frightening than his usual levels of ice. Roger was extremely curious how the poor woman even ended up with a man like that. Especially since she was a completely normal person.

He had to admit he was intrigued by Keeley Hale and whatever spell she had cast over her husband. Anyone who could have that sort of effect on such a cold, emotionless block of ice had to be a force to be reckoned with.

The last thing about Alice's text that was surprising was that she mentioned she was moving and didn't have any furniture. It was weird enough that she wasn't bringing her furniture with her but she was also nearly as rich as Aaron. She shouldn't have needed a budget interior designer.

The only conclusion he could come to was that she had separated from her husband. That would also explain why she had gone to Aaron for help.

Roger felt sorry for her but he also felt an odd, fluttery feeling in the pit of his stomach. He had been instantly attracted to Alice Kelly the moment he first laid eyes on her, after all.

When he originally agreed to be a dummy shareholder for Aaron, he was told the names of the other people who were in on it. He already knew Kyle since they had been in the same major at Harvard and had shared a lot of classes.

He hadn't met Cameron but had heard his name because one of his old roommates had lost a lot of money to the guy in those unofficial dorm card tournaments. Who in the male dorms hadn't heard of the Card King? He was surprised Aaron managed to get him on board.

Alice, who came on about six months after he and Kyle did, was the only person he didn't know. Aaron described her as a longstanding acquaintance and former classmate. Roger hadn't thought too much into it and figured she must be useful in some way despite being the only one without a job at Hale Investments.

When he walked into the board room that day he did a double take when he saw a gorgeous, unfamiliar woman sitting primly at the conference table. Having been forewarned, he knew it couldn't be anyone but Alice.

Her light golden brown hair was up in an elegant bun and subtly blended green and brown eye shadow made her hazel eyes stand out. She wore a steel gray pencil dress and a pearl necklace with matching earrings.

Roger was in the middle of introducing himself when he noticed the enormous rock on her finger. So she was taken. Figures. There was no way a woman like that would be single.

He squashed down his disappointment as they finished their introductions. Over time he remained friendly like he did with the rest of the board members aside from Alistair Hale, who was even more frightening than his son. That was a man who couldn't be approached so easily.

He never expected anything to come of their interactions once he knew she was married. She was excellent at hiding her feelings under a thick layer of classiness. If not for this text message, he never would have guessed she was having marital problems.

Roger texted her back. 'I would be happy to send you her way. Her name is Marissa Clark and her number is 212-385-7765'

He then quickly sent a text to his sister. 'If someone named Alice contacts you for help furniture shopping be sure to bring me with you. I'll help carry things'

'You never offer to help me on my jobs. What's up?' Marissa asked suspiciously.

Well, it wouldn't hurt to exaggerate a little. 'She's a friend of mine. I want to make sure she's taken care of'

'I always take care of my clients and you know it! I'll let you come on the condition that you buy me lunch. I haven't seen you in a month'

'Done. Thanks sis!'

Really, she let him off easy. It wasn't like he couldn't afford it; Hale Investments paid their employees very well. Marissa would most likely pick sushi anyway and he loved it almost as much as she did. In a way, this was a win-win.