Page 21 of Fixing Olivia (Fairford Affairs)

“Seven years ago. Jonathan, Leo, and Mason had just sold their startup for about a bajillion dollars, and we were all getting serious about opening the Manor. We’d been talking about it for years, but suddenly it felt possible.”

Olivia didn’t know who Leo was, but the rest was old news. Plenty of girls in r/SordidFairfordAffairs had Googled the various Doms, and Olivia had read all about the startup two of the partners had sold, though she couldn’t remember exactly what the company did. Something to do with bioengineering, maybe.

With a halfhearted shrug, Aiden said, “So I guess I was about to have to tell them anyway. I couldn’t exactly hide being partial owner of a luxury resort—not with them all up in my business every second of the day.” His grimace etched lines into his forehead too deep for a man in his mid-thirties. “And I know them. They would’ve insisted on visiting whenever they wanted, and then what? We’d cancel all the reservations and hide everything in the basement? It would’ve been fucking absurd.”

“They put you in an impossible position,” she said, leaning her head against his arm, hoping her touch would soothe him. “There was literally no way for you to win, so you took control of the situation. Made everything happen on your terms. It sounds like the best possible choice to me.”

He let out a long, slow breath. “I...I’ve never thought of it like that.” She could practically hear the gears turning in his head as he considered. “You might be right. I was definitely sick and fucking tired of pretending by then, that’s for sure. You have no idea how hard I tried to fit their ideal of the perfect son when I was little. But it was never enough.Never.”

A solitary tear made its way down Olivia’s right cheek. His pain resonated in the most damaged parts of her heart.

“So if I was going to fail anyway, I might as well embrace being a—what was it again? Oh, yeah.” Making air quotes, he spat out, “A perverted monster that’ll rot in hell for all eternity.”

Olivia winced. Why did parents have to be so cruel? “Aiden, I’m so sorry. You didn’t deserve any of that.”

“It’s okay,” he said, tone almost flippant now. “It was a long time ago.”

Olivia understood the sudden change. It was easier to pretend it didn’t really matter than to cut yourself wide open so others could watch you bleed. She would know—it was how she usually spoke about her own family.

“And don’t think I didn’t notice you changing the subject,” Aiden said, nudging her until she sat up again. “I’m the one trying to comfort and help you, remember? You’re the one who got hurttoday.”

She’d really been hoping to distract him for longer. Maybe even forever. Alas. “Did you forget everything that happened after my punishment?”

“I...” He blinked a couple of times, clearly not expecting her answer.

“When I saw how panicked you were, the guilt was overwhelming. I felt so selfish. So cruel.”

He let out a frustrated groan. “But you’re neither of those things.”

“Maybe not. But it’s how I felt. I’ve hated myself so many times in my life, and do you know what happened every other time?”

With a little sigh, he shook his head.

“I kept right on hating myself. I fell into a depression spiral I didn’t know how to get out of.” She waited until he was looking her in the eye. “I’ve seen five different therapists. Tried nearly every anxiety and depression medication there is. I’ve spent the last decade trying to figure out how to do what you did in under ten minutes. So please don’t try to tell me that was anything but exactly what I needed, whether you realized it at the time or not.”

Some of the tension went out of his shoulders, and she knew he finally understood. “You’re remarkable. Do you know that?”

Her smile was a feeble, delicate thing. “All I am is a broken girl, putting myself back together one piece at a time. And I’m not particularly good at it, either.”

Aiden pulled her in close, holding her until she started to feel safe again. “Let me help.”

CHAPTER9

Aiden

Frowning down at his laptop, Aiden concentrated on the very important letter he was typing.

Dear Olivia,

I want to fuck you senseless. After that, I’ll spank you until you fall apart in my arms, and then fuck you again until you fall apart even more.

You have the most spectacular ass I’ve ever seen in my life. It’s the perfect heart shape, absolutely MADE for spanking. And the way you clench your cheeks together when you’re waiting for the next stroke, but then force yourself to relax because you know it’s what I want of you...I’m getting hard just thinking about it.

You’re perfect.

Blah blah blah blah blah, I need to keep looking like I’m busy for a little bit longer. Jesus fucking Christ, you look sexy in that dress. I can’t wait to take it off of you.

Yours, endlessly,

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