Call My Name

CHAPTER 4. Bad Boy

Has my whole life been a lie? Savannah is here talking about Alexei like he’s some kind of genius straight out of an action film and yet here I am rethinking if there could possibly be a different Alexei Salvatore living in the same house.

Maybe he has a twin?

Because half of the things — no, everything she said sounded so impossible. Much less if I actually tried imagining him having fun.

He doesn’t look like he has a life outside of school before, and now, outside of the office. He’s just one lonely dork to me. A feisty one, might I add.

“You can go ask him yourself if you don’t believe me,” she said as she started walking away, leaving me at the foyer.

Dashing up the staircase and into Alexei’s room, I found him on the balcony, looking down at the lake with his back against the glass windows of his room.

He looked extremely out of place from the sea of satin and silk that filled the mansion. The sleeves of his soft gray dress shirt folded precariously to his elbows gave him a much casual look.

He’s simple. Which leads me to think, did he actually want any of this?

A small smile tugged on the corners of my mouth, and I cleared my throat to catch his attention. “Would you mind if I joined?”

“I would.”

I laughed but stood next to him nonetheless.

I longed for this. No matter how much I try to deny it, I longed for company — real company — even if that means being with someone who deliberately tries to kill me ever since we both set our eyes at each other.

Because at least with him, I know what I’m getting myself into.

When Alexei fished a chocolate bar out of his back pocket, I internally groaned, my eyebrows creased. “Why do you always have those things around? It’s not as if you’ll die without one.”

“I won’t,” he replied, taking a huge bite, “but you might.”

I just rolled my eyes at him then looked up at the sky, the moment gone. “You are an ass.”

“I’ve been told.”

I woke up with a start the next morning. The faint smell of coffee wafted in the air and the smell of freshly-laundered sheets clung on the insides of my nose. I stirred.

Did I just fall asleep on Alexei’s couch?

I remembered coming in late last night to check on him, see if someone had already killed him in his sleep or something. But I don’t remember falling asleep. ‘Cause I’m not supposed to in the middle of doing a job.

Last night was a mistake, too. I should’ve stuck with him instead of going to the lake with Savannah. Although it was one good way to gather intel, I should’ve kept my eyes on him.

Damn, what was I thinking? I feel like I’m losing my grip.

“Hey, dumbass.”

I nearly toppled over when the door to his bathroom opened up, and Alexei, his hair dripping wet, was wearing nothing underneath his robe but his boxer shorts.

I cleared my throat and looked away. “At least wear a shirt, mop head.”

“Why? Don’t you like what you’re seeing? If I know any better, I’d say you’re just jealous.”

“Me? Jealous?” I laughed. “My body is way better than yours. I could sign up as a Calvin Klein’s model and get a contract within the same minute.”

“Looking like that?” he asked with one eyebrow raised, drying his hair with a towel.

“Looking like what?”

“Like shit.”

I growled, “Yeah. Thank you for your excellent observation, Sherlock.”

Mornings don’t always come smoothly to me. It just meant more work to do and more days gone to waste. And especially now that Alexei’s way too close? Oh, hell no. I don’t think I can ever be a morning person. We used to be a continent apart and I still hate his guts. What more that he’s literally right next to me?

“Sir Alex?” Natalie said as she opened the door, looking at me and then back to her boss. “A potential investor called in and would like to schedule a dinner with you, sir. Would you like me to forward the call?”

“Which investor?” Alexei asked without looking up from his computer.

I’m not exactly sure if he’s just typing documents so fast or he’s actually just playing video games. After all of what Savannah told me yesterday, I don’t think I can ever believe anything anymore.

“A Nicoló Lenoir, sir. He mostly holds investments in French companies.”

“Tell him I’m not French,” he quipped and motioned for Natalie to just forward the call.

How he’s still the CEO of this company is a way beyond me. Even if he did own this now, I think he still needs to be mature to live up to it.

Once a prick, always a prick.

I looked himself up in the mirror. My hair was neatly combed and my monochromatic suit was perfect, but I am not in anywhere near satisfied as I loosened my tie and unbuttoned my shirt for the sixth time.

Grunting, I tossed my dress shirt on top of the small pile on the bed and rummaged through the closets and drawers for something that I might find decent to wear on the dinner with Alexei and that French toast of his.

I don’t usually take this long to look sharp but for some reason, I’m feeling agitated.

After a few more outfits, I plopped down on top of my bed in defeat, my black shirt half undone, and messed my hair.

“I think the white one looks good on you,” I heard someone say from across the room and I nearly jumped.

Alexei was leaning at the door frame, his grey suit unbuttoned, revealing a plain white dress shirt underneath. It looks good on him. Hell, everything looks good on him.

But enough about that. Let’s talk about how he’s able to sneak up on me every time without me noticing. I’m trained at this. Eight years of my life I’ve been training for this and only for what? For him to come and scare the living hell out of me?

“You’re incompetent,” he suddenly said amidst the deafening silence and my eyes grew wide.

“Did you just read my mind?”

“No. I’m describing you.” And with that, he turned around and closed the door, leaving me staring at the space where he stood.

This dinner better be worth the effort.

“I’m so glad you could make it.”

“I’m not,” I muttered as I took a sip of the champagne.

“I’m sorry, what did your secretary say?” Ratatouille asked, looking offended, and pointed at me.

“Oh, hi.” I smiled and extended my hand out for a shake. “Gideon Black, Alexei’s best friend.”

For a split second, I thought Alexei lost his cool, but when I looked at him again, he already had that facial expression of his that always made him seem like he meant business.

“Well, Mr. Gideon Black, I’m afraid I can’t invite you to dine with us. This is a very confidential business meeting and—”

“Then I’m afraid I’ll have to decline,” Alexei cut him off.

“Excuse me? Decline what?”

Alexei fixed his eyes on him, a mischievous glint visible in his eyes. “Your invitation to dinner.”

“But we’re already here.”

“We’ll just have to dine for ourselves, then.”

Wait. Is he actually taking my side or am I just imagining all of this and I actually just passed out in my room after getting choked by my own collar?

‘Cause if he is, whatever that possessed him today, should possess him more often.

Sir Liver Spots just gave us both a huge smile and chuckled, trying desperately to ease out the tension. “You don’t have to do that. Your friend is very much welcome at our table. You know what, I’ll order another champagne for the gentleman. Waiter!”

Okay, now I’m seeing the bad boy side of Alexei that Savannah was too keen to talk about. It suits him, you know? Being a bad boy and all that. I mean, he’s bad at everything.

The way he made Mister Fancypants over here actually seem like he needs him more than he does — well, at some point, he does — it made me feel things I shouldn’t feel.

Flattered, for one.