The Hellman

Chapter 7

The next day Charlie paced his office restlessly. Theodore and William were finally back from Germany and he wanted to debrief them. Although this was the most pressing thing, he was still recovering from the kiss he had shared with Michelle. He had enjoyed the moment before his sister had barged in on them. He could have kicked himself for doing such a stupid thing in the office, but he was by no means apologetic. It was by far the best kiss he ever had, and he was itching to do it again.

Suddenly the door burst open behind him and he turned to see Theodore and William walking into his office wearing big grins. He made a mental note to lock his doors against his siblings.

“You guys are an hour late.” He said

“We had to grab something to eat,” William replied,

“We’re here now, let's get this over with so that I can go home to my lady,” Theodore said.

“Wait let me get Michelle,” he said

“Yeah, I’ve been longing to see her beautiful face again,” William said as he threw himself down on a chair.

Alexander ignored him and called Michelle. A moment later she stuck her head through the doorway and smiled.

“You’re back,” she said walking into the room.

William jumped to his feet when she walked in and Alexander could understand the look of utter pleasure on his brother’s face. Michelle was even more beautiful today in the light blue blouse she wore with a pair of fitted pants. All her hair was piled to the top of her head and a few strands had escaped. He was staring at her far longer than he had planned, and he turned to see his brother Theodore watching him.

“I’ve been dying to get back,” William said pulling her into a familiar hug.

Their closeness shocked Alexander and he wondered if there was something happening between the two. He was suddenly confused and upset at her and William for no specific reason.

“We should begin.” He said clearing his throat.

Everyone in the room looked over at him and he realized that his words must have come out much more forceful than he had planned.

“I have a few meetings to attend today with government officials.” He said, “I think we can save the greetings for later.”

Michelle and William separated, and he couldn’t understand why he was suddenly ashamed of himself.

Everyone in the room took their seats and he watched as Michelle took her seat beside William as she prepared to take her notes. He went over the operation with his brothers and he told them of tactic Michelle had used to identify the location where the calls had been made. Theodore raised his brow while William congratulated her. Before long, they were all caught up, but Alexander’s mind was spiraling out of control. The only thing he could focus on was the way Michelle laughed with William every time he spoke and the way she behaved so naturally happy with his brother around.

“Alex”

Alexander looked down at Theodore who pinned him with a suspicious look,

“What?” he asked

“I asked what you think we should do next,” Theodore replied,

“Oh, my mind went somewhere else,” he admitted

“I wonder where to” Theodore replied suggestively

“I was thinking of my meeting after this.” He lied

It was futile to lie to Theodore, but he wouldn’t reveal his true feelings here in the open.

“I was thinking about it this morning and if you guys remove one of their major stakeholders, maybe they’ll be forced to contact Theodore.” Michelle said, “I was talking to William about it a few nights ago and I thought that would be a good way to force their hand.”

Alexander tried but failed to get past the fact that she had been up at nights talking to William. She had managed the communication on this job, but she knew that she didn’t have to sacrifice her sleep to do it and even so, she didn’t even need to be in direct contact with William.

“I see,” Alexander replied, “I guess I can think about it and see if it’s feasible.” He replied,

“Great.” William said, “she’s really good with this stuff.”

“I know,” Alexander said curtly, “well, you two should go restock the equipment you’ve been using.”

“Oh yeah,” William said, “I’ll do that after I catch up with Michelle a bit. Go on ahead of me Theo.”

Alexander wanted to say something, but he held it in. he wasn’t behaving like himself today and he was going to reign in these unpatriotic feelings even if it killed him. He watched sourly as Michelle and William walked into her office.

“If looks were bullets,” Theodore said.

“What?” he asked dragging his gaze away from her closed door.

“I’m just saying that you have some murderous thoughts towards your brother over a woman you don’t even like,” Theodore said.

“You’re reading me wrong,” Alexander said shrugging it off

“I know what jealousy looks like brother” Theodore replied, “although, I’ve never seen such an acute bout of the illness.”

Alexander flashed in a warning look.

“I’m not jealous” he insisted, “I just don’t see the reason they’ve been spending so much time together. What’s the point?”

“I don’t think you even know why you’re behaving this way,” Theodore said with a chuckle. “there’s nothing going on between them. William’s smitten with her but we all know you like her.”

Alexander shook his head and turned away from his brother.

“You should go.” Alexander replied, “I have a meeting in five minutes.”

“Yessir” Theodore replied, “but brother, take my advice, figure out if she feels the same before you completely throw the idea away. You might realize she feels more for you than you think.”

“I’ll consider it.” He replied

Alexander sat behind his desk and began preparing for his meeting. Instead of getting his work done, his mind wandered to Michelle who he could hear in the next room as she chatted away with William. He envied them more than he thought possible. He could only wonder why she felt so comfortable with his brother, yet she kept I’m at an arm’s length. She had avoided him all day and he couldn’t figure out why. It was driving him crazy to have her say something to him, to confirm that he wasn’t the only one who had felt what he felt.

The knock on his door silenced his inner turmoil and reminded him that he had to focus on the business he was running.

“Come in” he shouted

His friend and former partner Leslie Livingston walked in holding a folder.

“What’s up, man?” Alexander asked in surprise, “I thought you were overseas.”

“I came back yesterday. Thought I would update you,” he replied,

“What’s up?” Alexander asked

“Well, we got your message on the cartel news from Mexico.” Leslie replied, “I can’t say we’re surprised.”

“Why is that?” Alexander replied

“We heard of the death of former American citizens Mari and Lorenzo Garcia,” Leslie replied, “they were close friends of your father, but they moved to Mexico many years ago to begin their medical practice together.”

“What do the deaths of two doctors have to do with cartels?” he asked, “and are you sure my father knew these people?”

“I’m sure” Leslie replied, “he identified their bodies a month ago when they showed up in the morgue.”

Alexander was suddenly confused. His father hadn’t contacted him about anything, neither had he told him that he was going to Mexico.

“So, about the cartel,” Alexander asked

“Well, I think their deaths are somehow related to whoever the cartel is looking for,” Leslie replied, “and get this, they have a daughter, but she hasn’t been seen in years. Apparently, the Garcia’s told everyone they had sent her off to boarding school years ago but there is no record of her anywhere. They don’t even keep pictures of her, it’s as if she vanished from the face of the earth”

“That’s strange,” Alexander replied,

“You don’t even know the half.” Leslie replied, “I got intel that the doctors were working with the cartel somehow and they might have threatened to stop working for them which is why they had to die. They were tortured, Alex.” Leslie said showing the pictures he had brought.

Alex let out a loud sight.

“I think I should pull my guy.” He replied, “if things get heated down there he could get caught in the crossfire.”

“He doesn’t have to worry as long as he doesn’t make contact.” Leslie replied, “you should warn him not to.”

“I’ll make sure he stays out of trouble” Alexander warned. “Anything else?”

“Nope,” Leslie replied, “I just needed to see you after these long years. You’ve gained weight.”

“It comes with the territory.” Alexander replied gesturing to the desk behind which he sat, “I get no action from here.”

“Doesn’t look like you’re getting any action at all,” Leslie replied.

“I don’t deny it,” Alexander admitted.

“Hey, I got to go but if you hear anything, you got my number,” Leslie said as he stood

“You got it,” Alexander replied

He let his friend out and went back over to the table to look at the documents he had just received. He looked at the pictures and realized that the people in the photo look familiar. He had seen them at some point in his young life at one of his parents’ parties. The shock of finding out someone so close to his parents had passed was startling to him. He vowed to talk to his father about it.

A knock sounded at the door that separated Michell’s office from his and he quickly stashed the document so that she wouldn’t see the horrifying pictures.

“Come.” He said

He watched as she timidly made her way into his office.

“Is everything alright?” he asked

“Yeah, William went to do what you asked.” She replied

“Finally,” he said.

“I wanted to talk to you about something.” She said

She was avoiding his gaze and he wondered for a moment if she was about to tell him that she had fallen head over heels for his brother.

“What’s that?” he asked

“It’s about our kiss.” She replied

“Oh.” He said suddenly reminded once again that she had the softest lips.

“I know you said that nothing can happen between us.” She started, “but still we ended up kissing anyway.”

“We did.” He replied wondering if she was about to proposition him. The thought scared and pleased him at the same time.

“I think we should stay true to our vow of avoiding relationships in the workplace.” She said, “I agree that we shouldn’t complicate our workspace with all that.”

He was a bit shocked that she was somehow rejecting him although he had never propositioned her.

“I see.” He replied, “would you like to go on a date with me?”

He hadn’t meant to ask the question. In fact, he had no idea where the words came from and the shock on her face told her she hadn’t expected it either.

“What?” she asked

“Would you like to go on a date with me?” he found himself asking once against his better judgment.

“I, I don’t know what to say.” She replied looking as confused as he had ever seen her.

“I hear what you’re saying about the kiss, but I feel something for you that I do not understand. I just think we should go on a date this once so that I can get it out of my system.”

Her confused look was soon replaced by a look of recognition.

“I don’t think it would be wise to date my boss.” She replied, “that could only end in disaster.”

“I get you.” He said standing and taking a few steps towards her. “but I can’t help myself, I can't stop thinking about that kiss and I know you still think about it too.”

Their eyes met, and he could tell she could feel exactly what he felt.

“I don’t date my workers.” He said, “I never have but I can’t help the feeling I get when you’re near me. Like right now, I just want to kiss you.”

He took another step towards and her eyes widened. He paused and waited for her to rebuff him. When she didn’t he pulled her into his arms and looked down into her beautiful eyes.

“I have no idea what these feelings are” he whispered, “just one date, maybe I’ll understand them then.”

“Okay.” She replied

He had fully planned to release her once she accepted his invitation but instead he lowered his head and kissed her. It was no less earth-shattering than the first time and he began to fear that no matter what he did, she would always have this effect on him.

He raised his head and slowly released her.

“Tomorrow,” he said, “I’ll pick you up from your place around five”

“Okay” she replied

She turned and walked away leaving him alone with his thoughts. He didn’t want to allow himself to celebrate but he couldn’t help the sudden excitement that filled him. He felt as if he was a child once again and it was both terrifying and exhilarating.