Chapter 305: Impending doom

"What did you want to talk about Aria?" Ian asked as he sipped his coffee slowly. He had been surprised to see Aria approaching him on her own rather than him running behind her seeking for forgiveness. This was a pleasant development and he was rather excited to see how it would go. He could also see that she looked way different than the Aria who was mostly angry and sulking since the last few days. Now, she was seemed happier and more enthusiastic. Even her tongue had become more fiery.

Ian wondered what had transpired for her to undergo such a drastic change overnight. It was just two days ago that she was still angry at him and was not even ready to see his face and now, she was sitting with him, sipping coffee in the hospital canteen.

Ian took a deep breath and decided to apologise to her again. Who knows she might just accept it seeing her good mood?

"I am sorry."

"I am sorry."

Both of them said at the same time and Aria blinked twice before she burst out laughing. "We do think alike." She commented when she saw Ian chuckled lightly. Yes, they did think alike. A lot of times, their thoughts matched and they were in sync with each other. This explained why they were good friends and got well with each other. Oliver's case was the first and the only time when Aria had quarreled with Ian and why not? He had done something bad and she was right in her spot for being angry at him.

"Let me speak first," Ian said seeing that Aria was about to start talking. Since Ian had taken the initiative to start the topic, Aria nodded at him as she knew why he wanted to apologize. But she still wanted to hear it. She wanted to know what he had in mind and how he was going to justify himself.

"I am sorry Aria. I know I did wrong by hiding things from you when you are a good friend of mine. But trust me, I did not have any bad intentions. It was out of goodwill and just like Noha and Joshua, I too found out that you were related to Oliver only recently. But let me tell you one thing. Even though I am sorry for hiding the truth from you, I am not sorry for doing what I did. Given a chance, I think I would still do the same if that could keep you and your family protected."

Ian spoke without giving any break in between in words. He wanted Aria to know how genuinely sorry he was, but also how right he was at keeping the secret from her. He had done everything to keep Oliver safe. If the twins had known the truth, then there was a chance that the West family would have become extinct by now. 

"I know Ian. I know that you had goodwill at heart. Noah has told me everything and for this, I will accept your apology. If I think about it from your perspective, you are correct in some way and if I were you, maybe I would have done the same too. So, I don't blame you now."

"Are we good then?" Ian was excited to hear her words and he looked at her expectantly.

"Yes, definitely." Aria smiled at him warmly and right now, there was nothing more reliving to Ian than getting his good friend back.

"Thank you." He said sincerely, his eyes smiling at her for her big heart. But the next second, his face scrunched up in confusion. "Why did you apologize to me?"

"For putting you through this misery and being angry at you."

"In that case, can you take my next night shift? It will make me very happy and I will forgive you sooner." Ian suggested, with a wicked smile on his face. His eyes were gleaming in mirth and seeing his face, Aria was confirmed that her friend was back.

"Sure, you take my night shift. I'll take yours and we call it even. What do you say?" She threw back a suggestion of her own, making him lose his sanity. The Aria he had known had a fiery mouth, but right now it seemed like it had amplified by dozens with the way she was shooting words at him rendering him speechless. 

"Aria, why do I feel there's something different about you?"

"You do? Maybe I have become more charming, sexy and intelligent." She flipped her hair trying to appear like a woman with attitude.

"The better word is narcissistic. You have become a narcissist." Ian scoffed as he folded his hands. The Aria before him had become more interesting and attractive and he wondered what had caused the change in her. He then thought of the answer and came to the conclusion himself. Maybe Kevin's death and meeting her Dad had made her stronger and more confident.

"You have to be a narcissist to be able to reach the top. Don't you think so Dr. Ian?" Aria questioned with a playful smirk and seeing her attitude, Ian had a feeling that she knew something which he could not deduce from her quick reactions.

"Why do I feel that there is something wicked running in your mind?" Ian asked, his face turning a little serious.

"What do you think?" Aria threw the question back at him and raised her eyebrows.

"I hope you are not thinking of doing dangerous."

"Relax, I am not Ivy." Aria assured him and seeing that he was satisfied with her answer, she muttered under her breath, "I am Aria and I do things which no one can comprehend."

"Did you say something?"

"Did you hear something?"

Ian narrowed his eyes trying to see through Aria's motives, but the woman as ambiguous as ever and he could not deduce a thing. She only smiled at him mysteriously. "My shift is going to start soon. Are you going to leave now?"

"Nope, not yet. I have some work to finish before I leave. In fact, I want you to come with me." Ian wanted to take care of Mason first. The man had done everything he wanted to by harassing women at his workplace and being the head of the hospital how could Ian take it lightly? No way.

"Where?"

"To the higher-ups. Let's go and complain about Mason. He needs to be thought a lesson and I will make sure he learns a good one at that."

"Ohh right. I forgot." 

Aria and Ian then went to lodge a complaint with the management and only after getting assured by them did Aria leave. She wanted them to take strict action and she was not going to settle for anything less.

However, Ian did not leave immediately after. He got to work and issued a notice right away without asking anyone about it. He did not need the higher-ups' opinions to make decisions especially when it involved the well-being of his employees. No. It was his responsibility to take care of them and he would make sure that everybody had a peaceful and happy environment around.

He issued a notice right away and within a short moment, the entire hospital got to know about it. Mason was asked to report to the management and a thorough investigation would take place against him. Ian did not want people to get suspicious about Mason getting punished without anybody knowing about it. He wanted everyone to know what had happened and why Maon was being punished. So, he followed the normal protocols while issuing the notice. He wanted to make sure that Mason would be punished the regular way, only this time he would have to face his wrath. And since it was an issue brought up by someone who owned the hospital, the management could not ignore it too, not when Ian himself was the witness.

After doing his work, he then ordered his staff to instruct Mason to report to the management within fifteen hours. Otherwise, he would be fired immediately. Though he had taken all these measures, he still had one step left. He had to inform Noah about it, he had the right to know what had happened to his woman in his absence. It was best he got to know before it was too late lest the man should release his beastly side and attack Ian for not informing him in time. 

The man answered his call immediately. It was as though he had predicted Ian to call him at this time of the day. "What do you want?"

"Can't you greet me properly?"

"Don't try to behave like Jo. It does not suit you." Noah deadpanned and this made Ian shut his nonsense immediately.

"Fine, you win. I wanted to inform you about something. Take good care of your women. There is a guy named Mason who works in the hospital and has set his eyes on her. The guy is a rogue and he is not good news. Though I have filed a complaint against him and will make sure that he gets punished, I wanted to inform you lest you should get back at me for not taking care of your woman."

Noah's eyes turned furious after hearing Ian's words. His face darkened and his anger had reached the highest peak now. Someone tried to harass his woman. How dare he? Was he courting death? It looked like it was time to get some blood on his hands. How long had it been since he last killed someone? He wondered and the next instant he realized that he had not touched anyone since the time he had met Aria. Wow, that was a first. 

'Wait a second. Why does this Mason name sound familiar?' He pondered and he did not have to think long. He remembered that it was the same mean who had made Aria drunk in London. This time his anger subdued and he let out a sinister smile. It was a smile that said that he was out for blood. "I got it. I will take care of him myself."

On the other side, the guy in question did not know a thing and was busy traveling in his dreamland after his hectic night shift. He had no idea of the impending doom that he had attracted himself.