18. Making A Headway.
1204 Words
~XANDER~
By the time my butt finally hit my office chair after chairing a series of meetings, I was more than ready to pass out. What's worse, the noodles dewdrop prepared for breakfast was long gone, leaving me pining for another plate of that delicious noodles.
Gosh! I had managed to keep the thoughts of her at bay from the time I left the house till I got to the office and the meeting commenced. But now, they were back.
Her effortless smile... The dewy, pale green eyes that seemed to light up whenever she stared at me. I mentally shook my head at myself. God! I was supposed to be shoving thoughts of that to the back seat.
There was nothing much for me to do here other than lounge around and have a nice view of Malibu city through my floor-to-ceiling window. Plus, helplessly indulging in thoughts of her. I needed a diversion. Work wouldn't cut it.
A small smile graced my lips when the possible diversion hit me. I sprang to my feet without hesitation, snagged my phone from the table, as well as my suit jacket from the back seat of my chair— not that I had any need for them anyway. I was fine in just my dress shirt and headed out of my office.
I was in the hallway, heading towards the elevator, when I caught Ace, flashing one of those flirty smiles of his at one of the marketing staff. I resisted the urge to physically roll my eyes; I did so mentally.
"Could anything in a skirt pass you by?" I couldn't help muttering to myself. I never had a problem with his shameless flirting, but he had better not bring it close to Dewdrop, else I would—
"Hey, Xander," I wasn't aware that he had seen me and was sauntering towards me till he called me. God! My thoughts!
I focused my attention on him, thinning my lips to hide my sudden disgust at his ways.
"Are you any better?" I heard the internal voice screaming at me, but I ignored it.
"Ace," I acknowledged him with a stiff nod and a tight smile. "What's up?" Of course, I already know what he was up to, charming his way into the pants of almost every girl he set his eyes on.
"Are you headed somewhere?" At first, I wanted to hold back my movement but I reckoned it was no use. He would eventually know, anyway.
"Yeah." I gave another stiff nod. "I'm heading out to meet with Andy." Ace was my personal assistant, but my secretary mostly saw to my affairs, for some reasons I didn't want to encroach on right now.
He nodded, smirking his lips. "Anything you want me to handle?"
Shaking my head, I shoved my hands into the pockets of my pants. "Not really. I handled everything before now." That was the truth, though. Despite being the CEO, I didn't like delegating duties that were well within my area of expertise to subordinates.
It was my company; if any should shoulder most responsibilities, it was me. Fortunately, I had gotten international recognition. It meant more work to keep up with the expectations of customers from other countries, but I was equal to the task. I also made sure that my staff were up and doing.
My attention spanned back when Ace cleared his throat and nodded again. "Alrighty, man. I will see you later." He muttered, throwing me a friendly slap on my upper arm, and I resisted the urge to glare at him.
I couldn't tell what was keeping me edgy. Ace and I used to joke around a lot. But lately... All I could think of was either how to drive a fork through his head or glare at him. No doubt it was because of Luna. The more reason I needed a diversion. Maybe constant diversion would get my heart to stop fluttering, and my d**k to stop twitching at the sight of her.
"Laters," I gave a short wave at him before heading down the rest of the hallway and rounding up the elevator. Diversion mode activated.
~~~~~~~~~~
Andy was at his personal gym by the time I got there. I was told by his secretary that I would find him here. Handling different companies didn't mean we couldn’t pitch ideas. Of course, we were partners and major shareholders at each other's companies.
He was exercising on the treadmill when I got there. Two of our boys were just about to exit the gym. They gave a slight bow at the sight of me.
"Boss," they called out simultaneously, their expression laced with respect and fear. I was all smiles around Luna, but in reality, around other people, I was the total opposite.
Andy was friendlier with the boys than I was. Not as though I was maltreating anyone, but I was extra strict with them, giving no room for jokes. They were my boys, but since Andy and I literally shared almost everything, they were his boys as well as mine.
I gave them a stiff nod. "Any update?"
They shook their heads vigorously. "We have made headway, boss." Those who murdered your—"
"Let them go, Alex. I already have the deets. There's an assignment I sent them on." Andy interrupted, swinging my gaze to him.
He backpedaled when he saw the glare I was throwing at him. He pressed the stop button on the treadmill, and it pulled to a halt before he directed a pleading gaze at me.
"I don't mean to intrude or anything, but I feel it's better you hear it from my mouth. Over a glass of something icy, don't you think?" He asked, smiling and tilting his head playfully.
Blinking, I nodded, gesturing at the boys to leave. "That something icy had better be good, else I'm impaling you on that treadmill.
Growing up, Andy had the idea that because he was the older one, he was stronger. We'd had countless fights that clearly pointed to the stronger one— me, of course. Now, he had learnt his lessons and now gave honor to whom honor is due.
"Of course, your majesty." He threw me a friendly punch as he headed towards his private room in the gym, probably to make a call and request an icy drink.
Hardly had the drink come along and we settled in his office, did I pose the ultimate question that had been running through my mind ever since we headed here.
"So, what do you have for me?" I took a sip of the iced tea. It was still daylight, so alcohol was out of the equation.
He also had a glass too, sipping it slowly as he regarded me. I hope he wouldn't have to make me force that news out of him.
"Well?" I prompted, almost immediately.
Smiling, he set his glass of iced tea down. "We have a lead on the man who was behind the assassination of your parents."
He finally dropped the bomb, and for the first time since I parted ways with Luna at the house, a large smile graced my lips.
- Writer
