Desired by All and He Threw Away 24

Chapter 24 

+25 Bonus 

Taylor’s POV 

The room buzzes like a bee hive. My siblings crowd around Alden houting over one another tripping over excitement and each other. I half expect him to call for silence to shut it down with one arp command the way he does in boardrooms press conferences or when he is commanding his teammates. 

But he doesn’t. 

– 

Instead he takes the poster Alex shoves at him and studies it for a second his own face staring back glossy and confident in a Pacific wave jersey. then without a hint of irritation he signs it neatly his pen gliding in steady with practiced strokes. 

Alex practically levitates. “You’re really doing it! You’re actually signing it!” 

Aiden just gives a small nod, that quiet, contained kind of smile that never quite reaches his eyes. “You’re a fan?” 

“are you kidding? Youre the best midfielder in the league! ” 

“hmm,” Aiden says pretending to think. “You sure about that?” 

The boy gasps. “Of course! You scored that thirty–yard goal last season against Manchester United!” 

“Lucky shot,” Aiden says dryly. “Dont tell anyone.” 

laughter explodes through the room.Even i cant help smiling. It’s so unnatural to see him like this–no cold mask, no calculated silence, just… human. Then my other little brother, Marcus, picks up a ball from the corner and blurts, “Can you teach me something? Like… how to shoot like that?” 

I expect him to refuse. Instead, Aiden nods. “Alright. Show me your stance.” 

marcus plants his feet his shoulders squared while he is gripping the ball like it might explode. 

Aiden crouches slightly adjusting my brother position. “Not bad,” he murmurs, tapping his knee. “But your balance–see?— comes from here. You don’t need strength, you need control.” 

He demonstrates, slow and focused, and for a second I swear the storm outside softens. The rain turns to a hush against the roof. My siblings watch, spellbound. And i just stand there arms fold trying not to look too impressed. 

Because this man- the same man who could freeze a room with a single word- is now giving my brothers football lessons in a cramped living room surrounded by cheap curtains and half done homework. 

who would have thought? 

When the noise finally calms i clap my hands. “Alright everyone thats enough. Phones. Now.” 

a chorus of groans follows but i hold out my hand until each one reluctantly drops a phone into my palm. 

“no pictures, no videos,“i say firmly. “if anything from tonight shows up online, i swear i’ll make you regret it. Aiden’s my boss, not your celebrity plaything. If you mess this up, I won’t have a job–and that means no new shoes, no game credits, and definitely no pizza Fridays.” 

That gets them. They scatter like pigeons. 

Aiden chuckles under his breath. “You run this place like a drill sercant.” 

“You have no idea.” I grin and gesture toward the hallway. “Comen. You probably want to sit somewhere quieter before they regroup.” 

i lead him to my room. it’s small–smaller than I remember suddenly and a little embarrassing, with its faded curtains and a stack of old textbooks under the desk.. the air smells faintly of rain and cinnamon from earlier… 

he glances around without comment his expression unreadable though i can see the flicker of curiosity there. Maybe even respect. “i’ll make something to eat,” i say quickly needing to move to do something with my hands. 

1/3 

Chapter 24 

“you don’t have to 

“) 

+25 Bonus 

“Too late.” I’m already halfway to the kitchen. 

it doesnt take long. Pasta, tomatoes, leftover herbs and the last bit of cheese i found, the smell fills the house- garlic sizzling in oil and steam fogging up the kitchen window. 

When i carry the plates into my room, Aiden is sitting on the edge of my bed his sleeves rolled up with his phone next to him, like he is trying to pretend he belongs there. 

“its not five star, “i warn setting his plate down. “but it wont kill you.” he eyes the food skeptically. “Youre sure about that?” 

“Eat.” 

he picks up the fork takes one bite -and stops. his eyebrows lift slightly. “how did you make this taste so good?” I cant help the grin spreading across my face.“if you grew up without money you would learn how to make anything taste good.” 

he looks up sharply. Theres a flicker in his eyes -something quick and unguarded like a crack in glass before it shatters. vulnerability maybe. for a second neither of us speaks. Just the faint hum of the rain outside steady against the window. 

Then I break the silence. “Not bad for canned tomatoes and guesswork, huh?” 

he sets his fork down slowly. “Youre full of surprises.” “So are you” i say teasing lightly. “Didnt think you would survive ten minutes with my siblings.” 

He almost smiles. “They are relentless..” 

“welcome to my world.” 

There’s something easy about the moment.for once it isnt a conversation between a boss and an employee or a billionaire and a girl who grew up counting every single dollar. Its just me and him. 

A man who looks tired in a way that has nothing to do with sleep trying to act like the world hasnt worn him down. and maybe for once hes not pretending. 

i catch myself wanting to hold on to it -to keep him at ease to keep the warmth in the room from slipping away like steam off a 

mug.. 

when he finishes eating, i rummage through my drawer for something dry he can change into. “here,” i say, holding up an old black T–shirt. “It’ll probably fit. Sort of.” 

he takes it still watching me like hes trying to read something in my face. “Thank you,” he say but quieter than before. 

“No problem. Bathroom is right across the hall.” 

he stands at the door for a moment fingers brushing the fabric the glances back at me. his expression shifts something heavier in his gaze. “what do you want?” 

the question catches me off guard. “What do you mean?” He hesitates then says with complete seriousness “An Hermes bag or LV?” for a second i just stare at him. 

Then the words settle. 

– 

and everything inside me -every flicker of comfort of warmth of something human between us- 

snaps, i look at him like really look.The tailored shirt the silver watch catching the dull yellow light the quiet confidence of someone whos never had to second guess what things cost. 

And suddenly my walls feel closer my room smaller like the air itself is shrinking around us. every crack every peeling edge, every sign of my life feels exposed beneath his gaze. 

that one question rips through the fragile calm between us reminding me of exactly what stands in the way- the divide.the chipped paint the tiny bathroom where you have to turn sideways close the door the hand me down furniture thats more memory than comfort. He seen it all and now hes throwing money at it as if thats what i want. 

2/3 

Chapter 24 

+25 Bonus 

Money. Bags. Things. 

my voice shakes but i dont hold it back. “Is this why your relationships fail? because of your arrogance ?” His jaw tightens.He starts to say something then stops. 

i dont let him. 

i throw the T–shirt at him harder than i mean to. “forget it.” 

Then i turn and walk out the sound of the storm swallowing the silence behind me. 

D 

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