Falling Red

15

♤ Love is the flower you’ve got to let grow ♤

♦ V E R O N I C A ♦

When I open the door of Alex's office without knocking, I regret it immediately. Inside the cabin, he is making out with someone. Ew! Can he do it somewhere more privately? He threatened to fire me but for what—to watch this?

I roll my eyes and step back in order to go back. However, when accidentally my eyes fall on the side profile of the woman, a bell rings in my mind. s**t, what is she doing here in his office? Last time, I met her in the mall and she appears to be in intimate relationship with Jake.

I do not think more, quickly turn around and run away from there. It will be no good if Bella sees me here. Half an hour later when I enter in Alex's cabin again with a stoic face, the atmosphere inside is weird. "You made me leave my meeting to watch you eating someone out?"

"Sit." He does not feel offended at all. "I did not. She kissed me," he mildly speaks and glances at my face for a brief moment before focusing his attention in his laptop.

I settle in a seat opposite to him and raise my brows up. Why is he giving me an explanation? I shrug nonchalantly. This man never goes with logic. "Whether you kiss her, or she kisses you the meaning is same. Isn't it?"

"She is daughter of one of my father's trusted man but there is nothing serious between us."

Her father? I frown. Isn't her father is the same person as mine. If I remember correctly then Bella was raised by her stepfather. Did her stepfather work for Alex's father?

Is there such coincidence in the world? Or Bella is planning something behind Alex's back? After going to Chicago after Romeo recognised her as his daughter, why will she still appear here and behave like an insatiable-horny bi*ch? Or all this is my father's instruction?

I wave my hand in the air. I do not want to think more about her. "Forget it. It is not my business. You are the boss here. So tell me why did you call me?"

"Mr. Ronald is throwing a party next week. You have to accompany me as my girlfriend." His monotonous voice does not tell that he is asking my opinion. He is just throwing his order with an attitude of 'I am the boss here, you dare to deny'.

"No!" I protest, not caring about his intimating tone. "Absolutely not." Play the role of his girlfriend? Am I crazy? From where does he get these bizarre ideas? I really want to see what is inside his head.

"Why?" He diverts the attention towards me again. "I can pay you extra for your performance."

"Do I look like a tramp who do anything for money?" I snap and add, "By the way, I already have a boyfriend. I do not want to hurt his feeling." Lie, lie and lie. But it is the only way I think to make Alex step back. Will he goes checking on every man in my life. Never, right?

"Two days ago you were behaving like a wild kitten, all drunk in a bar." I grit my teeth. Can he not mention that? "At that time, did you think of your boyfriend?"

I glare at him. "He proposed me last night. So technically I was single at that time," I add one more lie.

"Who is he?" His cold eyes hold my gaze as if searching the truth. I break the contact and look away.

"Why should I tell you?" I retort and get up from the chair. "So that you can harass him too. Dream on." Well, he can only dream to bully someone who does not exist.

"You really think I cannot find your so called boyfriend?"

"Just now you were making out with a damn woman and now you want me to pretend to be your girlfriend? Do you how ridiculous it sounds?"

"She does not mean anything to me and she is . . ." he twists his lips, making his face distorted, "annoying." I want to laugh. I agree Bella is annoying. "That is why I am telling you to follow me."

I do not reply but quickly open the door of the cabin. I do not care if he finds it or not. If there is a problem, she can arrange one for a few days. In addition, Mia is already forcing her to go out on a blind date. Maybe it is the time. I want a boyfriend asap!

"If possible . . ." I pause and look at him from corner of my eyes, "stay away from her. She is not a good news for you." Before he asks anything, I shut the door behind me and walk away.

*~*~*

As I decided, I went on a blind date the same evening and it was great. David is a cardiologist and works in the Aspen Hospital. He is funny and mature in his thoughts. Though, I do not want to give any wrong signal and pull him in to my miserable and fugitive life but just because I have a boss who keeps calling me every hour to know about my so called boyfriend, I have to go out with David to boost up the chances to develop a fake relationship.

So, here I am, tapping my right foot against the floor from last fifteen minutes while standing in front of the theater entrance of the mall but there was no sign of David. After waiting for so long, I move to the farthest corner of the place where no on one can see me. Beside me there is a narrow corridor which is only for employees. It is really wired how people stare at me while going in and coming out, specially the guards at the entrance.

Where is this David? I try to call him on his phone but he is not receiving.

"Waiting for me?" The hot air brushes against my ear, making me slightly jump in my place.

I turn and meet the known mysterious pair of eyes. "Alex!" I reprimand, turning towards him. "You scared me." I massage my chest and mumble, "My poor heart. One day you will be my death."

Under the eyelashes, I see him staring at me. He leans at the opposite wall facing me. There is only a little space between us that hardly let one person pass-by. Sliding his hands in his jeans pocket, he tilts his head with a boyish grin. My hand against my chest, feels the rapid and wild thumping of my heart. There is no doubt, he is handsome and charming. Even if he is moody, he has never done anything to harm me.

"Why are standing here alone?" He raises the corner of his right brow and teases, "Oh, let me guess, you are waiting for me to make up for the last fight, right? Sweet Red, you only have to ask. I know no one can ignore my charm."

All the affection that made my heart beat fast vanish in the thin air with his words. I roll my eyes heavenwards. I wonder will it become my habit because of him.

Supporting my body against the railing, I wrap my hand around my body, cross my legs and face him. "Don't you think you assess yourself to high?" I say with a mocking smile. I do not know why Alex keeps coming back to me even after so many fights. "I am here with my boyfriend, David. We had planned a movie date today."

Alex gives me a sarcastic smile and stretches his neck to look here and there as searching for something. "Really? But why cannot I see him?"

"Don't talk nonsense! He will be here in some time." I refuse to give up. How can he mock at David? "Why are you interested?"

Alex laughs, straightens his posture and steps forward towards me. "Don't tell me he ditched you. Did he?"

"You-uu!" I hiss and narrow my eyes at him. "One minute," I glance at him suspiciously, "what are you doing here? How did you find me?"

"This is a cinema theater, Red. Then, of course, I am here for watching movie," He speaks and pulls out two tickets from his pocket.

I am still not convinced. He left all the places in the world and came here to watch a movie? "Then, go."

He places his two hands on the either side of the railing, caging me in the confined space. "I can go, but there is one problem."

"Now what?"

"I have two tickets and coincidentally here is only you and me. So..." he trails off.

"So?" I play dumb.

He grins then rubs the back of his neck. "You can join me."

"No, thanks. David would be reaching here." I turn my face to other side and avoid his captivating eyes. They give me a feeling of helplessness in front of him. I do not like the feeling at all.

"I am telling you, he will not come." Alex stresses.

Before I open my mouth to snap at Alex, my phone rings and David's number flashes on the screen. "Hello, David?"

"Is this Ms. Cooper?" A female responds from the other side.

"Yes, that's me." I frown. "This phone is belongs to David, right?"

"Yes, Ms. Cooper. Actually, I work in Aspen Hospital and Dr. David had asked to inform you that he had to attend an emergency patient. So he will not able to make it today."

"Oh," I mumble. "That . . . It is all right. Thank you. Tell him not to worry about me."

"Sure, Ms. Cooper."

I stare at my phone blankly and then put is back in my clutch before looking back at Alex.

"What? Now believe me," Alex smiles at me. "I told you before but you did not believe me."

"You have done something in this?" I ask, skeptical about him. Why is he so sure that David will not come?

"You mean to make you spend some time with me, I have beaten someone near to death and send him to your boyfriend?" He laughs. For a second, I find it real, but is it possible? He flicks his finger against my temple and it stings. Damn this man. "Oh do not be this dumb, Red. It will be better to break some bones of your new found boyfriend. Isn't it?"

"Dare you hurt him," I glare at him in resentment. I push him away and decide to take a walk around the shops in the mall and then leave for Hardin's house.