SECRETS ARE EVERYWHERE

**AURORA'S POV**

"Leave my hand. Someone will see us." I whisper when I notice Mr. Moretti is not leaving my hand.

"Dance with me." He says instead of listening to me.

"I don't know how to dance." I lie through my teeth in an attempt to get away from him. But much to my horror, he pulls me closer by circling his hands around my hips.

"I will teach you." He replies and takes me towards the dance floor where some other people are already dancing.

He instructs me to circle my hand around his neck. But I don't comply with him so he takes my hands and puts them around his neck before wrapping his arms around my waist.

'Everything I do' by Bryan Adams starts playing in the background and we start swaying with the rhythm of the slow music.

He twirl me around holding my left hand over my head before dipping me down while wrapping his arms around my waist to steady me.

Look into my eyes - you will see
What you mean to me
Search your heart, search your soul
And when you find me there, you'll search no more

Don't tell me it's not worth tryin' for
You can't tell me it's not worth dyin' for
You know it's true:
Everything I do, I do it for you

Look into your heart - you will find
There's nothin' there to hide
Take me as I am, take my life
I would give it all, I would sacrifice

Don't tell me it's not worth fightin' for
I can't help it, there's nothin' I want more
You know it's true:
Everything I do, I do it for you, oh, yeah

During the whole dancing time, I can't make eye contact with him because if I do then he will see that his presence is affecting me so much. Also, the song is not helping my situation.

Finally, the song ends and I hurriedly walk away from him. I don't want to stay close to him anymore. I take a glass of water from the passing by waiter before gulping it down in hurry.

"Pretty lady, are you okay?" I hear from behind so I turn around to see that Aiden is standing there with a worried look.

"Yes, I am alright buddy. But what are you doing here alone? Where are your friends?" I ask bending down a little.

"They are playing." He replies with a sad tone that doesn't go well with me.

"What's wrong? Why are you sounding so sad?" I ask but he shakes his head.

"Aiden if you don't tell me what's bothering you then how I can't help you." I try to coax him but he again shakes his head. So, I take him near the table where the food is serving and get him an Oatmeal Raisin Cookie which makes his eyes lit up.

As the party is held in the huge backyard so there are a lot of vacant places to sit. Also, it will get unnecessary attention from people around us if I start questioning the little boy. So, I look around the yard and notice that the gazebo is empty. Without thinking twice I take him there to talk to him. I let him sit on one of the chairs before I take a seat beside him.

"Now, you are going to tell me what's going on, okay?" This time he nods his head and finishes chewing the cookie.

"My friends always make fun of me because I don't have my mommy with me. But I can't tell this to daddy or he will get mad at me." He replies looking sad.

"But why is that?" I ask because I am also curious to know about his mom.

"Mommy doesn't live with us and daddy has told me that she is not going to come back." My heartbreak seeing the teary eyes of the little boy. I pick him up in my arms before cradling him close to my chest.

"Shh, don't cry Aiden. You don't need to listen to your friends because a true friend will never make fun of you to hurt your feelings." I let out with a sigh.

"But they are right. I am stupid and bad that's why mommy has left me." He replies still sniffling.

"Do you want to know a secret?" I ask and feel him nod against my chest.

"Many people have told me that I am not good and because of that my mommy and daddy don't live with me. At first, I used to cry like you and felt so bad. But then I realized that if I stop listening to others then I can do better and now I don't cry anymore. I just do what my heart tells me to do because our heart is always correct." I explain running my fingers through his hair.

"You are so brave, pretty lady." He replies looking at me with awe in his eyes. I giggle before kissing his forehead in affection.

"You can be brave too, buddy. You just need to listen to your heart and remember that you are not bad or stupid. You need to show your friends that you are happy as long as you have your daddy." I tell him.

"You are right, I will only listen to my heart. Daddy also say the same thing but I never listened to him. Because I thought he was only saying that to make me happy." He replies.

"Now that you understand daddy was saying the truth, what are you going to do?" I ask.

"I will always listen to daddy without making any tantrum." He replies with a bright smile.

"That's like a good boy. Now, let's go back or your daddy will get worried if he doesn't see you at the party." I tell him and put him down before walking out of the gazebo.

---------

I have to admit that the people who are invited to the party are great. They are not like some obnoxious rich people who only love to show their wealth and status.

Arthur is also a good host as he is looking out for everyone present at the party. He also asks me if I am comfortable with everyone or not in which I tell him that I am doing good.

Finally it's time to go back or I will be late to reach home. So, I walk towards Arthur who is talking to Nicholas and some other persons.

"Umm, Arthur I have to take my leave now." I inform when I reach near them.

"Oh okay. But let my driver drop you because it's pretty late and I don't want you to go alone." He replies.

"There is no need for that. I will take a cab." I answer politely because I don't want to bother him.

"Arthur I am also going home so I will drop her." Mr. Moretti lets out with a smirk while I scowl at him.

"Oh, that's superb. Aurora you go with Nicholas and please inform me when you reach home. Also, here is the last payment for the order. I must say everyone loved all the desserts, especially Aiden. He can't stop talking about how he wants to eat them every day." I smile knowing that my work has been approved.

"Where is Aiden? I wanted to meet him before going back." I reply when I notice that the little boy is out of sight.

"He falls asleep while eating dinner so his nanny has taken him inside to put him on bed. Don't worry, you will get to see him soon because I am sure he will want to go to your bakery to have more desserts." Arthur replies making me giggle.

"If you are both done with your chit chat then can we leave?" Mr. Moretti asks quite harshly which confuses me because a minute ago he was alright.

I give a last smile to Arthur before following Mr. Moretti outside. Soon, we reach near an expensive-looking car. What can I expect from the wealthiest man in California? He opens the car for me and I thank him before getting inside.

He gets into the driver's seat before asking me my address which I tell him. He starts the car and soon we are on the road. For some time neither of us say anything but then I feel him take right my hand in his hand. I try to yank my hand away but his hold gets more tighter.

"Let me hold your hand for some time." He says without looking at me.

I don't know why but I comply with his wish. Throughout the whole ride to my apartment building, he doesn't leave my hand.

Finally, when the car stops I look up to see that we are in front of my home. I thank him for the help and get out of the car to walk inside the building.

"Aurora!" I stop in my track hearing him call me by my name.

I turn around to see that he is walking towards me. When he stops in front of me he keeps looking at me for some time without saying anything.

I look straight into his eyes and find some unknown emotions swirling in them.

"Mr. Moretti do you have something to tell me?" I ask when I notice that he is not saying anything.

"Nicholas." He replies.

"Haa?" I let out with confusion.

"My name is Nicholas, not Mr. Moretti." He replies with a straight face.

"Okay fine. Nicholas do you want to say something or I can go inside?" I fully understand it's futile to argue with him.

"I want to take you out." He says making my eyes widen in surprise.

"You are out of your mind. Please I am telling you to go back to your house and sleep because you need it very much." I reply and turn around to walk away from him. But he holds my hand before pulling me in his arms.

"What are you doing? Leave me alone." I squirm in his hold wanting him to let me go.

"I will not leave you till you accept my offer." He whispers in my ear.

"I am not going to accept your offer. You can do whatever you want." I retort angrily still fighting his hold.

"Why are you so god damn stubborn? Other girls will faint hearing me asking them out but here you are rejecting me without any hesitation." He lets out before losing his hold with a sigh.

"I am not those girls who will faint because I don't have spare time like them. Also, I don't want to write my name in the list of your used good. So, keep your hands to yourself or I will not hesitate to cut them." I threaten because whatever I have said is true. I am not going to make the same mistake by letting a man of pride boss me around like an object.

"I am sorry for touching you without your permission. But I just want to spend some time with you without anyone who can disturb us. Here take my card." He says before handing out a rectangular card to me.

"You can call me any time you want and also my offer is still open. So, whenever you feel like you want to spend some time with me just call me." By saying this he walks towards his car before driving away leaving me alone in my thoughts.

I release a sigh trying to understand that man. One moment he goes all dominant on me and then the next moment he becomes sweet as sugar.

When I open the apartment Skittles welcomes me with a mew. I bend down and pick her up in my arms before making my way inside my bedroom.

I put her on the bed and scratch behind her ear making her purr. After that, I go inside the closest to get a loose t-shirt and pajama shorts to wear for the night.

After changing my clothes and cleaning my face from the makeup I walk into the bedroom. I get into the bed and Skittles plops beside me snuggling closer to me.

I run my hand through her fur while thinking about Nicholas. I really don't understand why he is so persistent in taking me out. It's not like I am the only girl left in the world.

I admit that he is extremely handsome and has everything a girl can ask for. But I am not looking for any relationship after what I have to go through.

Also, he is known for his Casanova way with girls who change girls like clothes. So I refuse to let him play with me like he does with others.