Chapter 9: Alexander Maxcold.
1601 Words
Chapter 9: Alexander Maxcold.
The aroma of toast and black coffee drifted through the kitchen, but my mind was far away from breakfast.
I stood by the counter, my eyes fixed on the steaming cup.
My mind felt foggy, replaying flashes from last night— the dim lights, the slow jazz, Alexander’s voice, the way he looked at me like I was the only one there.
“Since when did using salt instead of sugar in tea became the new trendy thing?”
Emilia's voice cut through my thoughts as I came back to reality.
I blinked blurrily, staring at the cup in my hand. “Shit.” I yawned. “I just need some rest.”
Emilia raised a brow, setting her cup down. “Speaking of rest… You came home after midnight. Marcus held you back or?”
“No, I—”
“No?” Emilia leaned forward with a teasing grin. “Ama Wellington came home after midnight? Don't worry, you don't need to explain. I'm your best friend.”
Emilia took a sip out of her tea, but her eyes locked with mine. “Tell me… who is he? How did you guys meet? When's the next date? When can I meet him?”
“Emilia, it's okay! ” I snapped. “I just needed a drink, that's all. I went to a bar.”
“Ouuu! So there is someone.” She winked playfully.
“I didn't say that.” I turned my face to the fridge.
“Okay… if you say so.” She said.
She was about to return to the room when I blurted out, “But… there is someone.”
Emilia froze on the spot and made a dramatic turn; excitement lit up her face. She dashed back to the kitchen counter. “Name? His social media handle?”
I sighed. “Emilia, you are a handful. Well… I only know his name.”
“Hmm.” Her eyes widened. “Spill already.”
“Uhm, Al—”
“Alvin? Adrian?”
“Alexander.” I snapped my fingers together.
Emilia gasped theatrically. For a minute, silence fell—only the sound of boiling water and the hum from the fridge. She kept staring at me as if the name “Alexander” meant danger.
“Emilia?”
She jolted from her seat. “Ama, do you mean 'The Alexander ', like Alexander Alexander?”
I frowned in confusion. “What do you mean by the Alexander?”
She pulled out her phone and started tapping furiously. “Hold on.”
After a moment, she spun the screen towards me. “This is Alexander—Alexander Maxcold. Well–known as New York’s Playboy. One of the most powerful, influential CEOs in the city. His dad owns the Maxcold empire, and now he's taking over.”
The guy in the picture was dressed in an elegant, high–fashion black suit with hand–embroidered beadwork, radiating the kind of power that made people stand on their toes.
I laughed hard. “No, no, that can't be him. The Alexander I met yesterday was just… normal. Not this…”
Emilia’s trembling face relaxed. “Hmm, if you say so.”
“Urgh… I'm running late. I'll give you more details when I get back.”
“Fine, but don't think you are getting away from this conversation,” she said as I grabbed my bag.
“Byeeee!” I shouted back, slipping out the door.
***
I hurried through the morning when I arrived at Starlak. I did everything I had to do—cleaned his office, arranged his work files for the day, and made his coffee. All this to get on Marcus's good side—if anything like that existed.
“Hmm… Miss Ama, you came in early today.” The senior secretary stopped me on my way to my desk.
“Well, that's good. Mr Marcus just arrived,” she said and left.
His name sent shivers down my spine. Marcus Voss. My worst nightmare.
I fell back into my seat. “Just calm down, Ama. You've done everything— coffee, clean, arrange, memorise.” I told myself.
I tried to calm down, but no luck; all I could remember was his violent roar telling me to leave his office.
My heart raced. The whole room buzzed with chatter, but I sat by myself, biting my lips, wondering how I'd face Marcus.
As Marcus walked in, the air changed instantly. His steps echoed against the floor, his expression unreadable.
“Good morning, sir.” I greeted.
He didn't even spare me a glance; he just brushed past and went straight to his office.
Low murmurs rose from other employees as their eyes turned towards me.
I took a deep breath, ignored the stares and murmurs, and followed Marcus from behind with his coffee in my hands
“Today is probably her last.” one of the employees whispered, but I heard it clearly.
The cup nearly slipped out of my hands, but I found my grip and entered his office, shutting the door behind me.
By the time I entered, he was already on his laptop. His gaze was fixed solely on it.
I stood on the spot. I wanted to move, but I feared his gaze, and the fact that he hadn't talked to me or looked at me frightened me the most.
I found my courage once again and lurched forward to his desk, placing the coffee cup on it. I stole a glance in the process, but he didn't look.
“Sir, your coffee.”
But I got no response. He typed with ruthless precision, and he ignored me completely
I turned around to leave, but his voice stopped me.
“Ten a.m. Conference room,” he said in a sharply toned voice.
“Yes, sir,” I answered. I stood frozen, my hand still on the door handle.
I tilted my head and cast a glance over my shoulder at Marcus one more time. His eyes never left the screen.
On a normal day, I will be thrilled to escape his piercing eyes, but today, for some reason, his behaviour today hurt more than if he'd yelled.
I slipped out of his office, slammed the door behind me, and made my way to my desk.
Why? Why hasn't he fired me yet? He said ten. What should happen by ten? I exhaled shakily.
Ding.
An email from Marcus.
I clicked it open. It contained the compiled files for an important meeting this morning—a possible collaboration with another company.
“No, no. Not after yesterday.” I muttered under my breath.
I looked at my trembling hands and my mind kept recalling yesterday. I had to make up for yesterday's disaster.
Hours passed; the clock ticked louder with each minute. Soon enough it was ten. My palms were wet, and my throat dry. I gathered my documents, laptop, and the other files, clutching them tightly as I ran to the conference room.
The moment I arrived, my heart nearly burst out of my chest. The glass wall reflected my pale and tense face. The room was once again full with well–dressed men seated around the table.
You got this Ama. Don't mess up.
Marcus was already there, seated with his usual cold precision. I took my seat beside him carefully, gripping the files. He didn't even gaze at me—his eyes stayed on his phone.
I looked down at the files, then at the laptop. I kept going over them again and again. “Focus, Ama.”
My feet were slippery. I tapped my fingers against the table while flipping through the files, just to be sure. Once again, my eyes drifted toward Marcus, but I quickly looked away.
Just focus.
But it was impossible to focus with the tension between us— the echo of his voice from yesterday, the sharpness in his tone still cutting through my thoughts.
“Is this business partner not ready for the meeting? I have other things to attend to.” Marcus said.
“Mr Voss, we know you are a businessman who values time. Just a little longer.” a board member replied.
“A second spent unproductive is a waste of time.” Marcus pulled back his seat and stood up. “When he arrives. My secretary will alert me.”
I sat there in confusion. “I didn't even know who we were waiting for, yet he wanted me to alert him,” I whispered to myself
But just as Marcus opened the door another air filled the room entirely—the scent of an expensive Boadicea cologne rushed towards me like a tornado.
I couldn't see the person's face yet— Marcus stood in front of him. But for some reason, Marcus froze at the sight of him, and everyone else in the room stood to welcome him.
Maybe it's the person we're supposed to partner with.
I stood up slowly to get a glance but my blood turned ice when I saw him. He was dressed in a black designer suit, his white inner shirt unbuttoned just enough to reveal a tattoo drawn across his chest.
“Ah, yes, he has arrived. Mr Voss, meet our partner in this contract. The Maxcold empire, in collaboration with yours, will be a hit,” one of the clients said.
My chest tightened. “Maxcold?”
The head of investors stepped forward. “Mr Voss, meet Mr Alexander Maxcold.”
- Writer
