Livid Guardian's Endless Coddling

Aria didn't expect Alan to be interested in talking about her. She lightly shook her head, "Dad told me that the butterflies are one of the most magical and cherished creatures. It symbolizes metamorphosis and creativity."

Alan continued right after her looking ahead, "It also symbolizes endurance, change, hope, and joy. Uncle Oliver is referring to YOU as a Butterfly."

Aria nodded lightly and analyzed, "So President Morgan is telling me to endure the pain, change for the better, have hopes, and enjoy life."

Alan's face turned rigid. "Are you my employee or stranger?"

Alan's lips twitched hearing her response which was "We are more like a stranger but not really a stranger."

"Don't address me as President." He said passively and walked off.

Aria didn't really understand why Alan asked his previous question. She got up and followed him. That day was the first day he opened his mouth to talk to her.

Aren't they strangers?

The trio had lunch in the orphanage before leaving. Nathan drove them to Skyline where Aria had no work other than sitting in Alan's office.

Alan noticed many executives greeting Aria as President who knew her position and spoke amiably to her as if they meet daily.

Alan and Aria didn't talk to each other again which almost made her feel like the one who spoke to her in the orphanage was a different person.

She was bored hence she went behind Alan's desk before pulling a drawer and taking her design book. It was Oliver's office in the past and she had many of her things there.

Even though Alan was curious, he didn't react and saw her from his corner of his eyes taking all the sketching supplies before sitting opposite to him to use the desk.

Alan finished a few files before he went to meetings leaving her alone…

When he returned after three hours, Aria was asleep on the desk holding a pencil in her hand as a few colored pencils were stuck on her hair purposefully and one was on her ear.

His lips tilted up looking at her who looked adorably cute. His train of thought stopped when he heard a knock and he proceeded to his seat.

Aria woke up by the knocks on the door and saw Alan pursing his lips. 'Did I anger him again?'

The secretary kept a few files on the desk and when she was leaving Aria stopped, "Secretary Kent, Is fashion chief designer in the office?"

"I will check it and let you know President Cooper." The secretary respectfully replied and went out.

Alan took her book without asking and saw her designs. There were five designs and all looked exceptional but not a single word left from his mouth. Aria didn't care either.

The secretary had called the designer to the CEO's office directly who happily went to meet Aria knowing the reason. "Ms.Cooper, President Morgan." She greeted and smiled at Aria before removing the pencils from her hair. That's when Aria remembered it.

She passed her designs to the chief designer who liked all designs before commenting, "Ms. Cooper, Shall we release these under your label?"

Aria was about to nod but paused, "Since the acting CEO is President Morgan, You can go with the approval of Director and President Morgan before deciding." If it was during her father, she wouldn't have said it but now it was President Morgan...

Alan furrowed his brows and coldly said, "No need for the approval of President Cooper's design. It's her company."

The chief designer rubbed Aria's head before taking the design sheets and leaving.

When Alan noticed Aria's gaze on him for a long time, he spoke, "President Cooper! How can I help you?" Since he got annoyed hearing her say, President Morgan, he started to address her as President Cooper considering themselves as strangers.

"Presi… Young master Morgan, if you are irritated by my presence, why did you ask me to sit here? I know the way to the Morgan Mansion." Aria remembered Alan saying not to address him as President Morgan.

Alan furrowed his brows hearing 'Young Master Morgan' even though numerous people address him that way, he didn't like it from Aria. "Do you call your employees by their names? Or as a Young Master?"

Aria couldn't understand why he was asking such questions. "I will address them by their position as Director, secretary, assistant etcetera."

Alan was at a loss again and glared at her.

Aria again didn't understand why he was angered.

She stood up and tidied her desk part as she said without any emotion, "Young master Morgan, except for anger, why don't you show any other emotion in your eyes or face? And why do you get angry at me all the time? If I'm wrong about anything, correct me, I will learn. Getting angry on me doesn't get you anything."

Alan was surprised hearing her say about him and his anger. Aria didn't receive any response and walked towards the exit but she heard, "Where are you going?"

"Waiting area."

"Why?"

"To let you work peacefully."

There was a long pause. Aria again turned to leave, Alan spoke, "Get in." He wasn't sure of himself what he wanted either but he didn't think his behavior could affect Aria.

Aria pursed her lips as she went near the couch and sat down.

'Do guardians are domineering? Or is this misogyny only?'

Both didn't speak again and silence killed Aria to sleep again. She decided on one thing before falling asleep that was to keep her mouth shut when she had to be with Alan burying her all questions and curiosities.

---

A week passed. Aria slowly got along with everyone back to almost normal without letting anybody worry about her unnecessarily but there were still some changes that were obvious to only the trio. Noah, Eva, and Rian but they didn't complain.

After that day in Skyline, She didn't talk to Alan again. He would check on her after work to make sure she was sleeping. He would drop them at school and the driver would pick them back at the Morgan mansion.

When Alan received pictures of Rian's paintings, he saw two paintings of Aria. One was while she was sleeping in her room balcony. There was a subtle smile on her half-visible face which was very pleasant to see calming the nerves.

Another one was her back. She was in the air jumping to pluck a flower from the tree.

He quickly called the studio and instructed swiftly, "I want Rian's two new paintings. Bliss and Endeavor. Bill in my name and send it to my office."

"Alright!" He hung up the call and rubbed his forehead realizing he just bought two paintings of his own younger brother because of Aria.

He couldn't understand what was going on in his mind. He quickly called his parents and got to know they would reach on Monday morning. He relaxed knowing he could return to his former life living alone peacefully.