Second chances

Chapterthree

10 minutes into the drive, and they were still not close to the hotel yet. Kristen wondered why Alex chose the farthest hotel from the venue.

The ride was quiet and awkward. That’s until Alex spoke. “Soo, Kristen. How have you been?” He asked, turning off his phone and focusing on her.

“I’ve been doing GREAT! At least till you showed up,” she said, making a left turn. They were close to the hotel now.

“Right. Didn’t have to be rude about it tho,” Alex mumbled, fidgeting with his phone. For a 30-year-old CEO, he sure behaved like a child.

Kristen ignored his statement, her eyes were focused on the road, but her mind was on her daughter.

Alex gave up trying to converse with her. He got a call and answered it. “Alexander Janvier speaking.”

“Yes, I will be present at the meeting tomorrow.” Kristen glanced at him, hoping it wasn’t the same meeting she was to attend.

“Okay, have a good night.” He ended the call.

Kristen was enjoying the peace, when Alex had the great idea of turning on the aux.

“What are you doing?” She asked, taking a glance at the radio.

“I want to connect to the aux. This ride is boring, asf,” he said, rolling his eyes. Kristen turned off the radio and Alex leaned back in his seat, annoyed.

“What’s your problem? Why are you being so hostile towards me? What did I do?” He asked, the frustration in his voice almost made Kristen feel bad.

What did he ever do? Is this bastard serious?

“You cheated on me is what you did,” she said blandly, not taking her eyes off the road. They were almost at the hotel now.

Alex was shocked that she still held a grudge against him, it had been 7 years. “Seriously Kristen? After all these years, you still hate me?” He asked in disbelief.

“For a whole year and a half, I called you every day. Every day by 8 am and 8 pm, I called to explain to you. You never picked up,” Alex told her.

“And the only reason why it only lasted a year and a half. It was because your number became non-existent. And you’re mad at me?” He asked rhetorically.

Kristen didn’t know what to say now. She had a lot to ask but didn’t know how to ask. “There’s no explanation needed, a cheat is a cheat.”

Alex scoffed at her statement and looked out the window.

“I thought you said your cars were at your house here. Why are you staying in a hotel when you have a house?” She asked curiously.

Now the hotel was in view, but right beside it was a massive compound with a mansion stationed in the middle.

“I’m not staying in a hotel. I just don’t remember my address, so I always use this hotel name 'cause it’s right next to my house” he replied with a shrug.

Kristen wasn’t sure if he was joking around or not. Did he just call this villa a house? She examined the mansion next to the hotel.

It was 1 am and so the place was fully lit. But the thing that caught Kristen’s eyes wasn’t the lighting, but the sign which read ‘Janvier’s Residence’.

Kristen parked her car in front of the hotel entrance gate and stared at the mansion. The gate was a bit transparent, and the car park could be seen from outside. It had no less than 6 cars out there.

Alex tapped on the car door, so she could unlock it. She unlocked the car doors, and he began gathering his stuff, so he could get down.

Kristen watched as he unbuckled the seat belt. Little drops of sweat hung on his smooth chest which she could see from the unbuttoned buttons on his black shirt.

The shirt hugged him perfectly, and his biceps were noticeable even from the black tux he had on. His pants looked tempting to take off. But Kristen brushed off that thought instantly.

Alex opened the door and got out of the car. Kristen noticed something dangling from his finger. It was a car key, not just an ordinary car key, it was a Pagani Huayra car key.

Kristen watched him as he walked over to the entrance gate of the massive compound. “I thought you said you couldn’t find your keys?” She asked, confused.

Alex pretended to search his pockets, then took out the car key and acted surprised. “Oh, there they are!” He exclaimed, turning his back to Kristen and proceeding to the entrance gate.

On reaching the gate, he stood in the center and a green light scanned him. There was a beep, then the grand gate opened up, making way for Alex to go in.

“So you’re just going to leave that car in that place?? If it gets stolen??” She shouted over the sound of her engine.

“Then I buy another one. So now you want to talk?” Alex said sarcastically.

“Nope. I shall take my leave now.” With that being said, Kristen turned the car around and zoomed off. She was already 2 hours late and would have to top up the nanny’s pay.

Alex watched as her car zoomed off. When the car was no longer in sight, he walked into the compound and the gates closed behind him.

As soon as the gates closed, it was as though Alex’s personality had changed from that which Kristen had encountered.

He made a call to one of his drivers and he was at the gate in 3 minutes. Alex got in the passenger’s seat of the Benz and the driver dropped him off at the stairs leading to the mansion's door.

Though Alex could afford it, he didn’t have any guards stationed around the house. He only had his bodyguard, who was more like a brother to him.

The guard stood at the entrance of the mansion with his hands behind his back.

Alex approached the door and scanned his thumb on the door handle, it opened instantly. “Good morning sir.”

George greeted him, George was the bodyguard. Alex nodded at the brown-skinned buffed man, he stretched out his hand and they did their handshake.

Alex was best friends with his bodyguard. He made his way up the elevator to his room floor, the ride up was quiet, and the house was practically empty.

He got into his room, took a shower, and sprawled on his bed. His mind drifted to his encounter with Kristen. He still couldn't believe he’d have the chance to see her after all those years.