In out and back in love with you.

8. You’ve got be kidding me!!!

After hanging up the call with Cassie, Monica was impressed, the observations the consultant made while they were talking were intuitive, her questions, accurate, it showed she was good at her job. Although begrudgingly, she agreed to come and help, now all that was left was to find a way to tell Alexander. How to find a way to tell him the woman he once loved is going to come on her white horse ready to slay the dragon, while his company is in danger and his marriage’s heading down the drain, was beyond her.

Monica knew Alex's marriage was in trouble, at first when she met Narcy, Monica tried to get closer to the girl, she seemed simple and quiet and ran after Alexander like a lovesick puppy, Monica felt sympathy for her, her cousin loved her, no doubt, he loved her, but he was not IN love with her. Then the company grew and when Alexander made his first million, Monica saw a glint in Narcy's eyes, at first Monica could not pinpoint what it was but as time went by, she realizes: it was ambition, pure and unaltered ambition. As years went by, Monica saw her cousin's wife transform into a country club Barbie doll, she witnessed her little nephews were gradually put aside and her cousin became a stranger in his own house and the reality was it had been years since Monica saw a real loving gesture between the couple. It frustrated her to see Alexander stubbornly trying to make the relationship work when perhaps it had no salvation.

Tuesday morning, Monica entered her cousin's office, the blinds were closed and the darkness in the room prevented her from seeing something clearly. Where was Alexander? … Suddenly the male voice startled her.

- Please, give me at least one good news. - the painful voice came from the armchair where he saw the man lying down holding his head in pain.

- Am, yes, good news, I have the external consultant you asked for, they will be here on Monday at noon. - that was good news right? or something like that.

- Until Monday? - asked the dominant man.

- They couldn't make it before that, but although I spoke to them just yesterday, they already started working on our case, today bright and early sent the work plan, and I must say it’s a very well thought trough strategy; has some provisional recommendations that we could implement as control points; It is impressive to say the least.

- That's good… - He sounded tired and somewhat scattered, like a boat sailing through too much fog. Monica knew immediately that this was not the best time to tell him who the consultant was, she’ll tell him later, there was time.

The days passed one after another and when Friday arrived Monica knew she had run out of time. Well, no time like the present. Knocking on the door the finance manager allow herself in.

- Alex … hey I want to talk to you… - while talking to him she could see the man had organized his documents and picked up his jacket he looked like he was getting ready to leave.

- Going somewhere? I see you much more relaxed today, or its just my imagination? - Mónica asked

- Yes, and Yes. Alec has a soccer game, so I have to go, and I do feel more relaxed, the external consulting strategies are simply brilliant, for the first time since all this started I feel everything’s going to work out fine!!- And he did look so much better, so it was the best time to tell him about the little detail she’s been holding back.

- Oh, yeah, since we're talking about that, I wanted to talk to you about them…Errmm - Monica wasn't sure how to start, but Alexander got ahead of her

- Hey, don't worry Mon!! I know what you mean, and you don't have to say it, I don't hold it against you. - When the CEO said that Monica's breathing stopped. Did he know? How? Maybe he saw the name of the firm in the contract and put two and two together, he didn't hold it against her? Really? no, she had to make sure they were talking about the same thing.

- Am, Alex, I don't want sound whining, but what exactly is you don't hold against me? - She carefully asked.

- Well, that you were wrong, of course! - Alex said in a duh tone

- What? - Monica was completely lost.

- Well, yeah. You said they wouldn't fit in!! And look at this, they haven't even arrived, and their strategies are already working, also when they asked for documents, they sent a pre-signed NDA so we were certain of information confidentiality. I mean Who does that?? I'll tell you!! Someone highly professional! That's who!!! - The businessman was very excited, CDBC Inc. was a firm recognized for its professionalism, the name stands for: Cassandra Donovan Business Consultancy Incorporated but it seemed somehow Alexander didn't realize who he had hired, if she wanted to avoid him an aneurysm caused by the impression she had to talk quickly.

-Alex that’s not what…- He interrupted her AGAIN!!!

- Don’t sweat it, I know you don't easily trust strangers and is the same for me, but this time you were prove wrong. And, Boy, were you wrong! - While he said this, he began to walk towards the door.

- Alexander waits!! You must know something!! -Monica almost shouted.

- Whatever it is, can wait till Monday, ok? I'm running late! I'll see you on Monday!!!- replied the man running out of the office.

- Of course you'll see me, if you don't kill me first that is- Monica whispered into the empty room. She tried to tell him, but he wouldn't listen!!!, FINE!! If he wanted to have a cardiac arrest, who was she to stop him? After all the times he interrupted her today, he couldn't blame her when he finds out, right? Something was certain, she had to buy a new camera, she most document Alexander's face when he realized who the mysterious consultant was...

The weekend flew and on Monday morning a very retarded Alexander ran into his company building, and basically flew up the stairs, too hasty to wait for the elevator. It was unusual for him to be late; he was always in his office at 9am sharp but today it was 11:30 and he barely arrived at the damn building!! Usually he wouldn't mind the delay so much, but since he woke up this morning he had a strange feeling in his chest, like a flutter that told him something important was about to change, and he didn't want to be late for that, maybe it was the knowledge that soon he could get rid of his traitorous partner, who knows? but he was excited, excited as he hadn't felt for a long time.

Monica and Henry had sent notification to their collaborators since Friday, informing there would be a comprehensive audit and they requested their presence at 10:30am to do a brief, no one found it strange, it was a common practice to do internal reviews, only Monica and Henry knew how different this would and why.

When the CEO entered, his employees were silently waiting for his instructions, some lowered their heads in submission and others ordered documents as to seem busy, without a doubt Alexander's presence was so strong that he could command the room just by entering it. Monica informed him the staff had been debriefed. Alexander just nodded and asked everyone to go and prepare, with that the staff dispersed.

- Is everything okay? It's not like you to arrive so late. - Monica's worried voice came loud and clear.

- I had to handle a few things at home. - they were alone now, so the man didn't have to hide anything from his cousin.

-Oh? Ok, and my nephews? How was the soccer game? - From Alex's face she knew something had gone wrong.

- Alec scored a goal. -the CEO's voice told her that that was not all

-Great! I feel a "but" there somewhere - she wasn't wrong

- But, in the middle of the game Narcy received a call from one of her friends and in less than two seconds she was gone, so when Alec scored and looked at the stands, noticed his mother was no longer there… the look on his face.... I don't know what to do anymore!!

- Did you talk to her about it? What did say? - Monica was livid, that woman had been neglecting the kids for a while but giving illusion to a little boy and snatching it away…was simply cruel.

- She said I exaggerate, said her private life has the same importance as us, I explode, I told her that her private life IS US, she yelled at me, even cursed, and went to spend the weekend with her sister. -The emotions in Alexander's Voice were clear, the tiredness, the disappointment.

- what are you waiting for Alex? Seriously, I know it's not my place but seeing you like this … and the children. - with a hand on her cousin's shoulder she tried to convey comfort.

- She came back this morning, asked me if there were problems in the company and was taking it out on her, I told her MTC is fine and the real problem is us, our marriage… so, she threatened me, said if the worst happens she will take the children away- after a long breath he continued- The situation with Narcy is a dead end, I see that now, but I don't know, something changed this morning, I have a feeling, maybe it's just wishful thinking but I feel something good’s gonna happen, crazy, isn't it?

Before the businessman could continue the phone rang, the receptionist warned the external consultants had arrived and were on their way. Alexander would have noticed the nervous expression on his cousin's face, if it weren't for the fact someone opened the door loudly and Edward Black rushed into the room.

- What the hell McIntyre? When were you going to inform me that there’s a general audit? - his face was red and he snorted like a bull, he was pissed!!

- I notify everyone on Friday, didn't you get the company's Memo? - Monica replied sweetly, although what she wanted was to claw his eyes out.

- A Memo? A Memo she says, what's wrong with you man? - he said referring to his "partner"

- We always made these kinds of decisions together, what happened?

Alexander sat comfortably, with one foot crossed over his knee and a bored expression on his face as he listened to Monica’s bickering with Edward. But then the sound of heels resounded in the corridor drawing the attention of the CEO, that walk was too familiar to him, even more he would recognize it anywhere.

- And who is this amazing consulting firm, if I may know, Monica? - Edward asked, and with a grin playing she replied.

- CDBC, does it sound familiar? - Monica's sarcastic tone didn’t go unnoticed. The wheels on Alexander's head began to turn, and his breathing accelerated along with his thoughts: C.D.B.C. He repeated every letter in his head, suddenly it hit him like a lightning, NO, it couldn't be, it could NOT be HER, this had to be a joke. The sound of those familiar heels stopped right in front of the door, and the CEO turned around so fast that he surely gave himself whiplash.

He felt her before he saw her. The door opened, and with his heart stuck in his throat and voice in a whisper he uttered a single word:

-Cassy....

- Hello, Alexander.