Chapter 35: WEIRD CHEESY ROMANTIC SPIRIT
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Alex’s POV:
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Everything went according to the plan, Morgan dealt with all the lawyer stuff and formalities and we both walked out of that cursed place after a couple of hours of exhausting legalistic arguments. The entire process was gonna take a few days to get done. Legal procedures took time, Morgan said.
But everything advanced swiftly, without major obstacles. It was almost unreal, and that scared me a little, to be honest.
It seemed too good to be true.
Morgan had other work she needed to attend, so we parted ways. I had taken the day off and so I didn’t really have any plans other than going home and taking it easy for the time being. Work at the office was manageable, hence I didn’t stress too much as I drove home while listening to some upbeat music when my phone started ringing.
I glanced at the caller ID and then freaked out in the middle of a busy road when I realised it was Jensen on the phone. I stopped my car on one side, cleared my throat and then answered the call right before it went to voicemail.
“Hey, what happened to you? Are you okay?” He said before I could even utter a word, “Why didn’t you call me if you weren’t feeling well?”
Oh, shoot the sick leave! How could I forget? “Jensen relax. I’m fine. I just feel a little tired, I’m sure I’ll be fine if I rest.” I said, trying to sound tired and drowsy. Lying was never my strength.
“Where are you?” He asked.
“At home, of course, it’s not like I’ll be in my car at the side of a random road, now is it?” I chuckled without humour.
“No, you’re not.” He said. “I’m at your door right now and no one’s home.”
Shit!
Think Alex think! “I-I am at my-….my parent’s place, I don’t like to be alone when I’m feeling unwell so I stayed here.” Oh my god, please buy it!
“Oh, right of course… Is someone with you? Or should I come?” he said, I could hear from his words how genuinely worried he was, it made me feel guilty for lying but it also made me happy because he cared.
“Mom is here with me, don’t worry…” I said.
“Good that you’re not alone, I just…. stopped by to check on you. Thought I’d make you some chicken soup and tuck you in before getting back to work.” He said and I smiled at his thoughtful words.
“You know how to make chicken soup?” I asked with genuine curiosity.
“I haven’t really made it before, but how hard could it be? Besides, I’m good at following recipes.” He said, and I chuckled.
“Right… maybe next time” I smiled. “Don’t worry about me, besides if you came here, you’ll just say I look like a zombie that died twice, and I don’t appreciate too much honesty” I joked.
“Now, why does that sound so familiar?” he wondered.
I had to roll my eyes, “I can’t believe you forgot…. think about it, it’ll come to you.”
“Wai-wait! I said that, didn’t I?” He asked, sounding seriously shocked. I didn’t expect him to remember so quickly.
“Yeah, you weren’t exactly known for being sensitive.” I joked, knowing he once said that in jest months ago, and I wasn’t actually offended.
“I probably only said that because I couldn’t tell you how beautiful you always look.” He flirted and a blush rose up my neck.
“Alright, now you’re just flattering me.” I shook my head.
“Well, it’s true…” He insisted. “And I’ve thought that since the first time I met you.”
I frowned, “The first time you met me? Me yelling at you and pointing out all your mistakes in a public restaurant was attractive?”
“Immensely.” He said simply.
“You are crazy.” I shook my head while chuckling at his words.
“Crazy about you.” He agreed, and I could picture the charming smile that usually tugs up his lips whenever he’s in a playful mood.
“That’s it, I’m hanging up!” I told him and just as I was about to follow through with my words he stopped me.
“No, wait!” he said while laughing “Don’t hang up…. not for another minute.”
“Stop behaving like you’re possessed by some weird cheezy, romantic spirit and get back to work,” I told him.
“It’s no fun without you.” he confided, making me smile. He then sighed and said, “I’m sorry, you must be stressed from work, I don’t even realise how bad it is these days I’m constantly distracted with other things.”
“It’s not your fault, you don’t have to apologize,” I told him as I felt even more guilty for lying to him. It’s okay, I was only doing it to make him happy later, it’s not so bad, I told myself.
“Kate was quite worried about you, give her a call maybe.” He said. Shoot! Kate’s gonna kill me.
“I will,” I mumbled, worrying about what Kate’s reaction was gonna be when I would tell her the truth.
“I have to go now, have a meeting in twenty minutes,” Jensen said, sounding a bit annoyed about the drive back.
“Yeah, okay.” I smiled, missing him suddenly even though he was on the other end of the phone.
“Take care,” he said softly.
“Miss me,” I told him.
“Yes mam.” he agreed and I could hear the smile in his voice before the call ended.
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(Next day)
I stepped out of my apartment in a hurry, not wanting to be late for work again. I could only imagine the workload added to my desk in my absence. I dashed out to my car, hoping to make it on time. There was an important business meeting scheduled in an hour.
A file consisting of required papers was clutched tightly between my fingers which suddenly got snatched out of my grip.
“What?” I turned and scowled at Kyle who was grinning at me. What was he doing here?
“I’ll drop you,” he said calmly.
“Unlike you, I’m not going to the zoo to say hey to your friends,” I informed.
“Har har har… that’s hilarious. Now let’s go” he walked to his car, dragging me along with him.
I refused to cooperate. “I did not accept your offer, much less consider it.”
Sighing, he held the back door of his car open for me, and said: “You’re highness, may I please have the honour of dropping you at your workplace in my unworth automobile?”
I tried not to smile, but couldn’t help it “Okay, only because you’re being so desperate.” Him coming all the way here meant clearly he had something to tell me, so I decided to be less difficult for the day.
His eyes widened, “you agreed so quickly? What, did the sun rise from the east today?”
“The sun rises from the east every day, but you’re just too dumb to know that,” I told him and climbed inside the car.
Kyle got in too, and we were both settled in the back seat, as his assistant drove us to my office.
“So what’s the matter?” I asked.
“Does there always have to be a reason for me to spend time with my little sister?” He asked, trying to be all cute and innocent.
If I didn’t know any better I’d think he was gonna curl up into a fluff ball and purr at me, like a kitten. I was weirded out, to say the least.
“Yes,” I said, without a second thought. “Anyway, how’s Jenny?” I asked, it usually never comes to this, as he’s always so overeager to tell me all about her.
“She’s great, we recently talked about her moving in with me, and surprisingly she is not repulsed by the idea, or so it seems…” Kyle replied, sounding unsure about himself at the end.
“Poor Jenny. She doesn’t know what she’s getting herself into.” I dramatised, making Kyle give me a stink eye.
“Shut up. I’m being serious, and also…” he trailed, fishing something from his pant pocket. “This…” he handed me a royal purple velvet box which revealed the most gorgeous diamond ring I’ve ever seen.
“OH MY GOD! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!” I squealed for the whole street to hear and recklessly tackled my brother in a hug. I can’t believe Kyle is going to propose to Jenny!
“Don’t ruin my hair… it took me half an hour to get it to look like this!” he whined, like the hotshot drama queen that he is.
I shook my head “Of course you did”.
“Do you- do you think I’m rushing this?” He asked nervously, referring to the diamond ring and what it entails.
I settled back in my seat and looked at him “you should ask that to yourself, Kyle.”
“I know, I know. I just…I have all these mixed feelings” he struggled to explain.
Aww…
“It just feels so right. I know she is the one Alex, and I don’t want to wait anymore, but I don’t want to overwhelm her either…” he said, clearly at war with himself.
“You guys are going to be such a perfect couple” I smiled.
He blushed like a teenage boy and half-heartedly told me to stop talking.
“So…when?” I eagerly asked.
“I haven’t decided yet,” he said, avoiding my eyes as he looked out the darkly tinted window.
“Just don’t go all Hollywood okay, I don’t want to hear a cheesy, cringe-worthy story from Jenny, and pretend like you’re still my brother,” I told him straight out.
“Gee thanks… as if I already didn’t have enough things to worry about,” he remarked sarcastically.
“you’ll thank me later” I ignored his sarcasm and patted his back, making him roll his eyes.
“Wow” I looked at the diamond ring again and breathed, trying to absorb the situation and the possibilities.
Kyle slowly turned to me “what do you think?”
“It’s beautiful. She’s going to love it” I answered wholeheartedly.
“I hope so” Kyle mumbled.
“Aww… look at you all grown up and worried, it was only yesterday when you were prancing around the house and traumatising everyone.” I cooed, making him scowl at me.
He took the velvet box from my hand and put it back inside his pocket “maybe this was a bad idea.” He muttered under his breath.
“Don’t be stupid. This is the best idea you’ve had in a while, no actually… this is the best idea you’ve had ever” I concluded.
He cracked a smile but it soon disappeared “But, what if she says no?” His worried eyes looked at me anxiously.
“Any girl would be lucky to be with you Kyle,” I told him genuinely. I know I was boosting his ego by saying this, but right now he needed it.
He smiled and hugged me. Thanking me silently.
“Anytime dimwit” I returned the hug and patted his back lightly, for once not pulling away from his brotherly affections.
The car soon stopped in front of a familiar building and I climbed out, grabbing my file.
Before I walked out of earshot, I assured him “she’s gonna say ‘yes’.”
“Let’s not Jinx it.” He replied before his car revved away.
Returning for work after being well-rested for a day felt amazing. This was rare of course and I didn’t have many points of references, but my jolly mood was probably a result of my relaxed body and mind and my brother.
The office environment for some reason seemed tensed and very haphazard. People were brisk walking and talking on phones looking grave and there was this obvious trepidation that was undeniable.
I wasn’t running late thankfully, so I got myself a coffee and got settled into my office room, feeling a little left out of whatever that went around.
I was gone for just a day, what could have happened?
When Nick walked into my office, I quickly kept my coffee cup down and curiously asked, “Nick, what is going on in the office? It looks tense… “
Nick breathed and said, “A security breach.”
“What?!” My eyes widened as I stood up.
“Yeah, it happened yesterday and it’s all over the news.” He told me, “there was a shareholder’s teleconference arranged like a few minutes ago, Mr Black looks really worried.”
I frowned. Why didn’t Jensen tell me anything?
I looked at my computer and typed in Signature Heights in the search tab and read the first article that popped up.
The headline was; stockholders are sceptic about their investments as questionable news surfaces about the compa-…
That was when suddenly Kate walked into my office, “Mr Black is asking for you.” She said to me.
I nodded at her and quickly made my way towards his office. Little did I know, I was walking into a war zone.
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