A Third Chance In Love

CHAPTER 12 - Don’t Be Too Close

Mr. Montaro reached out and tilted her chin using his point finger, and looked at Aloida with that kind of look that any woman would turn to jelly.

Aloida could not find a word to retort at her boss. His gaze and his finger under her chin made it difficult for her to think properly. She could vividly remember that kind of look that Alexus before, used at her when he wanted to make love to her. Remembering about Alexus, she immediately flinched and removed his finger from her chin.

“Sir, it is not advisable for you to be too close to your staff, even if she is your Executive Assistant,” she said, almost faltering. She avoided his gaze as his eyes continued to linger on her face.

“You seemed afraid to be close to me, Ms. Jeansen,” he stated in a judgmental manner. He was not asking, rather concluding.

“I have nothing to be afraid of, Sir. It was you who, at the start, had set boundaries between us. I was just reminding you that we should act with each other, professionally,” she held her chin up and tried to look at his eyes directly without batting a bit. She cannot let her guard down at the moment. They were inside her apartment and no one except them was around. Temptation was so close and she did not want to ruin her career at this early stage of her employment. He might just be testing her.

He straightened his back and chuckled. “Good, that you remember the rule. Anyway, it is time for you to rest. I got to go. Thank you for your hospitality, Ms. Jeansen.”

Aloida glanced at her watch and noticed that it was almost midnight. Indeed, it was time for her to rest. Although she has no work the next day since it will be Saturday, but, she set things to finish and plans to do.

They stood up at the same time and Aloida walked him out of the door. His driver was already waiting for him outside. She immediately noticed his car parked a few steps away from her apartment.

“There’s my driver. Get inside your house, Aloida and then I will go,” he said in a mild tone. His tone was not commanding, and Aloida liked him better when his tone was gentle and not demanding or commanding.

She followed him and the moment she closed her main door, she took a deep breath. She felt relief wash over her, yet she could not help to feel that longing that she could understand.

“Maybe because I am thinking about my boss’ similarities to Alexus,” she murmured. If her boss was not really Alexus or had no relationship whatsoever with Alexus, she wondered if Alexus was still alive.

“Where are you, Alexus? I hope you are still alive,” she murmured again before she cleaned the table and washed the few plates and other utensils that they used a while ago.

…

Inside his car, Lexandro Montaro was silent. Although his driver was used to his usual silence, yet he could detect that something seemed to be bothering his boss. However, he decided to shut his mouth rather than ask. It was better to be silent than to be stared at with squinting eyes if his boss turned out to be not in a good mood.

Until they reached the mansion of Lexandro, the latter was just sitting in the passenger seat at the back, not talking. He would just check his phone from time to time if it beeped.

“You can go home if you like to see your family. I don’t have specific appointments tomorrow. I can just drive if something comes up,” Lexandro told his driver as they entered his mansion.

“I will just go home, early morning tomorrow, Boss. Thank you.”

“Alright. It is up to you.” Lexandro then walked fast to his bedroom, while his driver followed his back with curiosity in his eyes. He could guess that something was bothering his boss, although he could not determine what it could be.

…

Around seven o’clock in the morning the next day, Aloida was awakened by the beeping of her phone. It was a message coming from her daughter Aalyna, asking if she was fine alone in the apartment and if okay for her to stay for more weeks at her grandparents' place.

Aloida, smiled as she read her daughter’s message and replied positively. Who was she to curtail her daughter’s happiness? If she was enjoying herself in her grandparents' place, then she was much happier for her to stay there until vacation ended. If Aalyna stayed in the apartment, she would be alone when Aloida was at work. She will be getting bored and will just always be either watching TV, using her laptop or cellphone. It was better if she would enjoy a normal life with friends and relatives.

The whole morning, Aloida finished a painting that she had long gone set aside. She was not an expert but she could paint better than a neophyte artist. Painting was her hobby, including crocheting, quilting, and gardening. But since her apartment had no garden, unlike that of Augustus’ mansion, she decided to focus on painting. She was about to finish her painting of a relaxing beach area, which she had just imagined. She used vibrant colors to make the view more alive and attractive.

After finishing her painting, she set it aside with the plan to have it framed later on.

From time to time, she would check her phone and e-mail messages, but luckily, her boss seemed to have no plans to disturb her this weekend.

Just as she finished her lunch, Mariel, her one and only close cousin, called on her mobile phone.

“Yes, Sissy, hello?” Aloida said as she answered her cousin’s call.

“Cousin, I am in the city. Can you accompany me today, please? I will treat you to dinner, snacks, whatever, and then we can go shopping in the mall,” Mariel said, with her voice full of excitement. Mariel only went to the city if she felt like doing it. She preferred to live in the countryside where she nurtured her garden with a bunch of orchids and other flowering plants. She also owns a flower shop, which was popular in their place. Aside from her flower shop, Mariel also set up her antics and gift shop, which was just adjacent to her flower shop. She was just twenty-seven but already considered successful in their hometown. However, Mariel has not experienced having a boyfriend since birth. She was too focused on her business that she failed to see those men around her.

“Sure, Sissy. Will you pick me up here in my apartment or will I be the one to pick you up, wherever you are right now?” Aloida replied, her tone, just like Mariel was with a lace of excitement. It had been long since she and her cousin had bonded.

“Oh, I am staying here at Hotel H10. I drove my new SUV all the way here. Somewhat tired. So, cousin, can you please just pick me up here?” Mariel’s voice was sweet and Aloida had no guts to turn her request down.

“Of course. Wait for me there for at least thirty to forty-five minutes. I will just prepare myself quickly, and then I will drive there.” After Mariel happily agreed and expressed her appreciation to Aloida, the latter turned off the call and showered.

Thirty-five minutes after that, Aloida’s car was already in the parking area of the Hotel H10. She took the elevator going to the fourth floor of the hotel, where Mariel was staying. When Mariel opened the door of room 408, she was already ready to go. She had her shoulder bag and her outfit was too cozy for mall shopping. Mariel was wearing tight jeans, a red sleeveless brown, topped with a leather brown jacket and paired with white sneakers.

“Good thing, I decided to wear jeans too,” Aloida said, smiling, after she made a quick look at her cousin’s outfit. She was also wearing tight-fitting jeans, and tucked in it was a lacy, underneath white blouse topped with a sporty cream-colored blazer, and paired with white sneakers.

“Then, let us hit the road!” Mariel said aloud and they both laughed out loud, not minding if there might be guests in the nearby rooms.

“Let us get down to the reception area first. I forgot to call them to request ask for room cleaning before I left,” Mariel said when they entered the elevator. So, Aloida pushed the ground button in the elevator.

They were walking to the reception desk when, suddenly, Aloida saw someone familiar that made her eyes squint.