AFTER I WAS LEFT ON THE ALTAR

CHAPTER NINE: A VERY STRANGE INTERVIEW

(Thalia's POV)

A hand went in between the elevator doors just as they were about to close. The doors slowly opened to reveal a woman with haggard breathing, probably from running, wearing a black button-down dress that defined her body like a second skin.

“You're so pretty,” Luna said, pointing her index finger at her.

She took the words right out of my mouth.

The woman had both hands on her knees. After taking a few deep breaths, she finally straightened her back and stepped inside the elevator.

Her eyes scanned me ever so slowly, and I couldn't help but shift my weight from one foot to the other under her gaze.

She averted her gaze to Luna. It was like I saw all her walls shatter in that moment.

“Awwwwn, she's so cute. Are you coming to see your husband, but it's not time for a break?” the lady asked without looking at me, her hands poking Luna's cheek, which filled the air with childlike giggles.

“No, I'm not. I'm actually here to see Mr. Alexander,” I said as my hands tightened around my bag, but I guess I wasn't in the room anymore because they literally looked like age mates.

“What's your name, cutesy?” the lady asked, stretching Luna's cheeks.

“My name is Luna, but everybody calls me Lulu,” Luna responded, matching her energy.

“My name is Alexia, but baby, please call me Lexy,” Alexia said, patting her head gently.

“Okay, Lexy! Are you coming to see Smiley too?” Luna asked, causing Alexia to furrow her brows.

“Your dad?” Alexia asked while picking her up. Luna shook her head.

“I don't have a daddy.”

Alexia's smile faded for a second, but she quickly regained herself. I turned my head away, unable to listen to their conversation anymore.

“Not yet,” Luna added.

“Huh?” Alexia asked.

“I don't have a daddy yet,” Luna said while playing with Alexia's honey-brown hair.

“Ohhh, I love that attitude, girl,” Alexia replied cheerfully. The elevator doors finally opened, which felt unusually long today.

Alexia safely put Luna down and turned towards me.

“You said you were going to see who again?” Alexia asked, finally noticing I was in the room.

“Mr. Alexander. I have an appointment with him,” I replied.

“You have an appointment with Mr. Alexander, and you're bringing a child?” Alexia said as she folded her arms and narrowed her eyes.

“I was asked to do so,” I replied while playing with the hem of my blouse as heat crept up my neck.

“What's that stone wall thinking?” Alexia muttered to herself.

Stone wall? Well, she ain't wrong. I guess as far as we're out of his hearing zone, we can say whatever we want.

“Come with me. I can show you his office. I was actually going in the same direction.”

Alexia said this while walking ahead of us, and damn, did she have a backside.

I took Luna's hand in mine as we walked down the hallway. We reached the office at the very end.

Alexia's hand didn't move to knock. Instead, it went straight for the handle.

“I think you should probably—”

My sentence was cut off when Alexia slammed the door open with full force, the sound making Luna and me lean back.

Alexia waltzed right into the office without sparing anyone a glance and plopped right onto the couch.

I stood at the doorway, finally taking note of the office. Mr. Alexander sat in his chair with files in his hands, while a young man with black hair stood beside him, his hands frozen mid-air as though he had been explaining something.

Mr. Alexander stared daggers at a very cheerful Alexia, who didn't seem affected.

Looking between the two, you could see a striking resemblance, almost as if they were—

“Smiley!”

Luna's hand left my grasp, and she ran straight into the office, latching onto his legs. My eyes widened immediately, almost forgetting about the schedule.

I walked into the office, my heels making clicking sounds against the marble floor.

He turned his gaze towards me.

He looked at me for a second longer and slightly tilted his head to the side. Then he looked at Luna and brought a hand up to massage his jaw. Looks like I wasn't the only one who forgot.

“Luna, you have to let go and sit,” Alexander said, trying to remove her fingers from him.

“Okay, I'll sit.”Alexander nodded, waiting for her to let go.

“But I'll pick where I get to sit,” Luna said before stretching her legs and climbing onto him. A second later, she was comfortably seated on his lap while one hand reached for his hair.

A chill ran down my spine.

“Luna, come here. I'm so sorry about her,” I spoke immediately.

“I don't have any problem with it,” Alexander said, stopping Luna from getting down.

Luna giggled to herself while her hand proceeded to touch his hair. How does this man expect me to take him seriously if he has my child playing with his hair?

“You can have a seat,” the man beside Mr. Alexander said.

“My name is Julian. I'm Mr. Alexander's personal assistant.”He stretched out his right hand for a handshake after I sat down.

“Is there a particular reason you chose not to let people at your workplace know about your child?” Alexander asked sternly.

“No. I just like to keep my personal and work life separate,” I answered professionally.

“You say that, but Luna has been running around your workplace twice and, for some reason, always finds me,” Alexander countered.

“You and I need to go on an amazing adventure,” Luna butted in while tugging at his hair.

I felt my body relax after a meeting I was worked up about just minutes ago.

“Well, I can't leave her all alone. And before you tell me to get a babysitter, I have tried doing that. The girl was so mean to Luna that she went inside her shell for weeks.”

As I said the last statement, I noticed his hand folded into a fist, his knuckles turning white with his gaze hardening in the process.

“Can you get me the name of—”

“Okay, we completely understand. Let's get down to what is going to happen on the business trip,” Julian interrupted.

“Miss Thalia, you and Mr. Alexander are going on a trip to Japan,” Julian said, the last word coming out through gritted teeth.

“There are terms and conditions you need to follow. First of all, you have to speak honestly. A lot of people lie to get on my good side,” Alexander said.

“Secondly, you have to drop the formalities. Call me by my name.”

“Okay, Si— Alexander. I mean, Alexander,”

I stuttered, and he nodded in response.

“Why do you sound so pained about the trip?” Alexia asked from the couch while flipping through a novel.

“That's because I wanted to go on this trip, but Alex said I shouldn't just because I might go to the anime awards that are happening on the same day as the meeting.”

“But would you?” Alexia asked.

“That doesn't matter. I just want to go to Japan,” Julian said with his shoulders slumped.

I almost chuckled at his reaction.

Luna turned to Julian.“What's an anime?”

“Come, child. It is the dawn of wisdom.”

He tried carrying her off Alexander's lap.

Alexander's hand tightened slightly around her.

“Let her go. You're in a meeting,” Julian chided.

Alexander slowly let go of Luna, and Julian carried her to the couch. I thought to show her what anime is.

“Excuse me.”

All eyes turned to me.I can't leave Luna all alone. I would have to decline accompanying you on this trip,” I said, my back straightening.

“Of course, I understand your decision.”

Okay, that was easier than I thought.

“And that's why Luna would come with us.”

I searched his face for any twitch or hint of laughter but found none. I backed up a little, my jaw dropping.

“What?”

“Yay! We're going on an adventure!” Luna cheered, throwing her hands into the air.