New Allies!

The next morning Mina sat at the kitchen table eating her breakfast when Daniel came in with a young man trailing behind him. He was dressed casually in black dress pants, a black shirt and a deep purple waistcoat and tie. His hair was shaved on the sides with a short spiked top.

"Good morning Miss Mina, did you sleep well?" he asked politely.

Mina smiled softly at him as she nodded. She had been a little flushed when she woke up in Aiden's arms, but his warmth had quickly made her feel safe and cared for.

"Good, glad to hear it. This is Clay Rodgers he will be your personal assistant starting from today. He knows the situation and will do everything he can to make things go smoothly. He has been with the company for years but isn't well known, so you shouldn't have any issues with him being recognised."

Clay stepped forward and bowed slightly. Mina nodded back smiling.

"Nice to meet you, Clay," she said as he sat down in front of her.

"I will leave you two to get acquainted. He will drive you wherever you want to go. Mr Danvers has instructed me to inform you of a lunch date. He wants to introduce you to his grandmother," he said before leaving.

Mina's nerves kicked into high gear and her hands started to shake at the mention of meeting Elle Danvers. Clay noticed and smiled sweetly at her.

"Don't worry Miss Mina, you will be just fine. I have had the pleasure of meeting Ms Danvers a few times and she is really nice woman," he said in a voice that reminded Mina of those western romances her mother loved to watch when she was a child.

"It's just Mina and really?" she asked.

"Yes Miss ... I mean Mina, she really reminds me of my meemaw back home," he said with a smile.

"Where are you from?" she asked.

"Well I'm originally from Memphis, but I moved to New Orleans for college and stayed. I love it here," his accent was strong and Mina found herself feeling at ease around him.

"So, I have been told about your ex and the slut as I am going to call her from now on. I don't mind telling ya how much I squealed with delight when Mr Daniel told me about how you and Mr Danvers met and got married. It's straight out of those romances my boyfriend and I like to read. Well, I squealed on the inside until I was alone. So, what's the plan?" he asked, as giddy as a schoolgirl.

Mina started to speak but then stopped. Plan? She had no idea what her plan was. She wouldn't go to her family for a job and thanks to Ben she had no contacts that weren't in contact with him. She had to be really careful with what she did, but she had no idea how to start.

"Honestly, I have no idea," she said with a sigh.

Clay looked slightly disappointed but she was saved from answering his disappointment when her phone started ringing. Mina went to reach for it but Clay got there first.

"Hello, Miss Mina's phone, Clay speaking. How may I assist you?" he asked in a very professional voice.

Mina was impressed.

"I am Miss Mina's new assistant."

"I started today, her family hired me."

Wasn't completely untrue. Now that she was married to Aiden he was her family and he had no doubt instructed Daniel to find me, my own assistant.

"I will have to check her schedule and will get back to you, ok thank you, bye."

He ended the call quickly and smirked at her.

"That was the slut, your ex wants to meet you for lunch," he told her.

Mina shook her head and reached for her phone.

"I should probably call Aiden to re-arrange the lunch with his grandmother. I don't want Ben to become suspicious," she said as she started to look for his number.

"Can I make a suggestion?" Clay asked.

Mina nodded before putting the phone down and giving him her full attention.

"Don't change your plans, still go to the lunch. Before you must have been at your ex's beck and call right? he chooses when and where to meet. So, one way you can start getting back at him is to not be so available for him," he said.

Mina nodded, liking his idea. It made sense, Ben had always picked when they would meet. He would freak out if she ever turned up unannounced. The first time she had done it, it was their anniversary. She had planned a nice romantic picnic for them but he had said he couldn't make it as he had too much work to do. So, she had taken the picnic to him. He could eat and work at the same time. He had gone ballistic. He claimed she never listened to him and was putting too much pressure on him.

Now that she looked back she realised that he had meant he wanted to spend time with Lola. She was always there whenever he had to work late or go on impromptu business meetings overseas. As his assistant, Lola going hadn't been that strange to her then but she wondered now if they were actually doing work or not.

"You're right. Call him back and say I can't make it," she told Clay who was more than happy to oblige.

"Hello, it's Clay returning the call from Miss Mina. Please let Mr Kramer know that Miss Mina is unavailable to meet for lunch today. She sends her apologies and will schedule another time to meet when it is more convenient for her," he ended the call then and Mina smirked.

She could imagine the sour looks both Ben and Lola would have on right now. Not a few minutes later her phone rang again, this time it was Ben's cell. Clay answered again.

"Hello, Miss Mina's phone. Clay speaking, how may I help you?"

Mina wanted to burst out laughing at his professional sweet voice. It would no doubt annoy Ben to no end.

"My name is Clay Rodgers, Miss Mina's personal assistant,"

Mina couldn't hear Ben's side of the conversation but she could imagine what he would be saying and how irritated he would be getting. Clay is essentially blocking him from Mina and that just wouldn't do in Ben's mind.

"Her family hired me."

"Today is my first day assisting Miss Mina, but I assure you I am perfectly qualified."

"No, I am afraid Miss Mina is unable to come to the phone right now. I will make sure to tell her you've called."

"No, I am sorry sir, like I said she isn't available right now."

"I understand but I can't change what she is doing."

"Shouting at me sir isn't going to magically free Miss Mina up. I will tell her you called. Goodbye now," Clay hung up and this time he smirked.

"That was amazingly fun," he said laughing.

Mina laughed with him. She had enjoyed that immensely too.

"How about today we go shopping. The best way to get back at an ex and reinvent yourself at the same time is to go shopping," he told her but Mina looked reluctant.

"I'm not really good at shopping or fashion," she said.

Clay patted her hand and smiled at her.

"Don't worry, I am," he said. "Now come on, time to get dressed and have some fun. Mr Danvers wants you to have this card to use for whatever you want."

Clay handed her a credit card that had her name on it, it was one of those black cards. The ones with something like a million dollars on them or more. She stared wide-eyed at the small piece of plastic, her mouth hung open.

She called Aiden the moment she was alone in her room.

"Hello Miss Mina, is everything ok?" Daniel answered Aiden's phone which Mina was expecting.

"Is Aiden available, it's ok if he's busy," she added the last part not wanting to sound needy or anything.

"Let me check," he said and Mina's eyebrows crossed.

Surely as his assistant, Daniel should know automatically if Aiden was free or not. Why did he have to check?

"Mina? Is everything ok? Is there something wrong with Clay?" Aiden's soft voice was filled with concern, it made Mina feel weak in the knees.

"No, Clay is great. He has already stopped me from doing something silly. No, I'm calling to ask you about the credit card you gave Clay to give me," she said.

"Yes, what about it? and what silly thing has he stopped?" he asked, amusement clear in his voice.

"Well, Lola called. Ben wanted to meet me for lunch, the first time in months. Anyway, Clay answered and said he would check if I was free. I was about to call you to cancel the lunch with your grandmother when he suggested I don't. He said I shouldn't be at Ben's beck and call anymore, so he called to say I couldn't make it. It was one of the best things I have seen in a long while."

Aiden's laughter was soft and almost musical to Mina's ears. She had a thought that she must be one of the select few that got to hear it.

"The credit card is too much," she added remembering about the card.

"Mina, I want you to use it. You are my wife now and everything that is mine is also yours. I know you won't be like Tanya. Clay suggested you go shopping to get a new look. Personally, I like your look now but I can see what he means. He told Daniel that if you get a new look and become even more beautiful, that would be a nice kick in the teeth to your ex and his mistress."

Mina smiled and blushed. It was nice knowing that he didn't want her to change, that he liked her the way she was.

"Mina, go shopping, get your hair done, get a massage. Do whatever you want today. You can even treat Clay if you want. Something tells me he is going to be good for you. Spend time together, really get to know each other. Something like this is a great way for you and your assistant to make connections with each other. Daniel and I went to a gym the first week he worked for me. Clay can be a real rock for you when I can't. Like today he can also help you not do silly things. He can also be a friend," he said his voice soft.

"Grandma has postponed the lunch to dinner. Clay will bring you to us at seven o'clock sharp so enjoy yourself," he ordered.

"Ok," Mina whispered.

The butterflies were jumping in her stomach and her heart was beating fast like a hummingbird. Her body felt warm all over at his soft voice and kind words. This was only day two, she was sure if she was feeling like this now then in a years time she most likely won't be able to leave him. Hopefully, he won't want her to.