Chapter Four-Xander
1685 Words
Monday.
Xander Felix Carrington had been waiting for this day for four years.
He stood in front of the mirror in his bedroom, adjusting the cuff of his shirt.
Black.
Everything about him was dark today.
His Armani suit was nearly black, perfectly tailored to his six-foot-four frame. The jacket sat sharply across his broad shoulders, emphasizing the powerful build he had spent years maintaining. His black shirt was buttoned high enough to look immaculate but relaxed enough to keep him from appearing overly formal.
His watch was expensive.
His shoes were polished.
His hair was perfectly styled.
And his cologne—
Xander had chosen carefully.
It was deep, masculine, and unmistakable.
The kind of fragrance that lingered in a room long after the person wearing it had left.
He sprayed it once against his neck.
Then once against his wrist.
That was enough.
Xander looked at his reflection.
He looked exactly how he wanted to look.
Powerful.
Untouchable.
Dangerous.
But beneath all of that, there was something almost boyish in his anticipation.
Cairo was going to be there.
Today.
He was going to see Cairo again.
Not through photographs.
Not through information from Raya.
Not through Caleb’s occasional updates.
Cairo would be sitting in the same building.
Only a few floors away.
Perhaps only a few doors away.
Xander’s mouth curved slightly.
Finally.
⸻
The moment Xander stepped into Harris Holdings, the atmosphere shifted.
People noticed him immediately.
His assistant followed several steps behind, carrying his tablet and documents.
“Good morning, Mr. Carrington.”
“Good morning, sir.”
“Good morning, Mr. Carrington.”
“Morning, sir.”
Xander acknowledged them with brief nods.
He didn’t stop.
He didn’t need to.
His reputation had arrived before he did.
Everyone knew Xander Carrington.
CEO of Carrington Holdings.
One of the youngest executives to ever take a company of that size to the level he had.
Brilliant.
Ruthless.
Demanding.
Unforgiving.
And today, he wasn’t thinking about any of that.
He was thinking about one person.
Cairo.
The boardroom doors opened.
The room fell silent.
Xander stepped inside.
And his eyes found Cairo immediately.
There was no hesitation.
No searching.
Nothing else mattered.
Cairo.
Sitting beside his father.
Wearing soft colors again.
Of course.
Cairo looked almost painfully beautiful.
His skin appeared even brighter beneath the boardroom lights. His hair was neatly arranged, his delicate features more refined than Xander remembered.
But his eyes—
Those crystal-blue eyes.
They met Xander’s for one brief second.
Then Cairo looked away.
Xander felt something deep in his chest tighten.
Four years.
Four years.
And Cairo was even more beautiful than he remembered.
More mature.
Softer somehow.
And still his.
The thought came naturally.
Without shame.
Without hesitation.
Mine.
Xander took his seat.
The meeting began.
Nathaniel Harris stood at the head of the table.
“Thank you all for being here. Today marks an important transition for Harris Holdings.”
Xander listened.
But his attention kept returning to Cairo.
Nathaniel continued.
“As many of you know, my son, Cairo Amos Harris, has returned after completing his studies and gaining extensive experience abroad.”
Applause filled the room.
Cairo smiled politely.
Xander watched that smile.
He wanted to see it more often.
Preferably directed at him.
“Cairo will officially assume the position of Chief Operating Officer.”
More applause.
Cairo nodded.
Then Nathaniel turned toward Xander.
“And because I want Cairo to have the strongest possible guidance during this transition, Xander Carrington will be personally mentoring him.”
Cairo looked at Xander.
There was the smallest flicker of discomfort in his eyes.
Xander saw it.
Of course he did.
He always noticed Cairo’s reactions.
“Okay,” Cairo said softly.
Xander leaned back.
“Good.”
Nathaniel wasn’t finished.
“There is one more announcement.”
The board quieted.
“Xander will also be moving his executive office operations into this building.”
Cairo’s expression changed immediately.
It was subtle.
Almost imperceptible.
But Xander saw it.
Cairo didn’t like that.
Xander didn’t care.
He had spent four years staying away.
He wasn’t going to start keeping his distance now.
⸻
By midmorning, Xander had settled into his new office.
His executive team had already begun transferring documents and equipment.
His office overlooked the city.
It was spacious.
Modern.
Quiet.
And close to Cairo.
That was all that mattered.
He spent the next few hours working.
Meetings.
Calls.
Documents.
Numbers.
Contracts.
Everything moved smoothly.
But around midday, Xander remembered something.
Cairo.
He hadn’t checked on him.
Xander stood.
His assistant looked up.
“Where are you going, sir?”
“COO’s office.”
The assistant nodded.
Xander walked down the corridor.
He stopped outside Cairo’s office.
He knocked once.
Then entered.
And stopped.
There was a man standing beside Cairo’s desk.
A young man.
Well dressed.
Professional.
Too close.
Xander’s expression went completely cold.
The man looked up.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Carrington.”
Xander stared at him.
“Who are you?”
The secretary hesitated.
“I’m Mr. Harris’s secretary, sir.”
Xander’s eyes narrowed.
“Your name.”
“Daniel, sir.”
Xander looked at Cairo.
Then back at Daniel.
“You are fired.”
Silence.
Cairo’s head snapped up.
“What?”
Daniel looked confused.
“Sir?”
“You heard me.”
Xander’s voice was calm.
Far too calm.
“You’re fired.”
Cairo stood.
“Xander, what are you doing?”
Xander didn’t look away from Daniel.
“Go to HR.”
Daniel swallowed.
“Yes, sir.”
“Tell them to find you another position in this building.”
Xander’s gaze hardened.
“I don’t want you working as Cairo’s secretary.”
Daniel nodded quickly.
“Yes, sir.”
“And tell HR to contact me.”
Xander finally looked at him.
“I want a female secretary assigned to Mr. Harris.”
Daniel immediately nodded.
“Yes, Mr. Carrington.”
“Good.”
The man practically escaped.
The door closed.
Silence.
Cairo stared at Xander.
His beautiful blue eyes were wide.
“What did you just do?”
Xander turned toward him.
“I solved a problem.”
“That was my secretary!”
“He’s a man.”
Cairo blinked.
“What?”
Xander stepped closer.
“He’s a man.”
“So?”
“So he shouldn’t be working this closely with you.”
Cairo stared at him as though he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“Why?”
Xander’s expression remained emotionless.
“Because I don’t want another man near you.”
Cairo went completely still.
Xander didn’t take it back.
Didn’t soften it.
Didn’t apologize.
He had spent years hiding behind restraint.
Not today.
“I don’t want men around you,” Xander said quietly.
Cairo’s lips parted.
No words came.
His fear was obvious.
Xander saw it.
He hated that Cairo was afraid of him.
But he wasn’t going to lie.
Not about this.
Cairo finally found his voice.
“What are you doing here?”
Xander’s expression softened by the smallest amount.
“I came to check on you.”
“Check on me?”
“To see how you’re settling in.”
Cairo looked away.
“I’m fine.”
“Are you?”
“Yes.”
“Settling in?”
“Perfectly.”
Xander nodded.
“Good.”
A pause.
Then—
“How are you getting home tonight?”
Cairo looked confused by the question.
“I have a driver.”
“Good.”
Xander held out his hand.
“Where’s your phone?”
Cairo stared at him.
“What?”
“Your phone.”
“Why?”
“I asked where your phone is.”
Cairo hesitated before pulling it from his pocket.
“Here.”
He handed it over.
Xander took it.
Unlocked the screen when Cairo provided the passcode.
He entered his number.
Saved it.
Then called himself.
His own phone vibrated in his pocket.
Good.
Now he had Cairo’s number.
He handed the phone back.
“I’m in the office down the hall.”
Cairo nodded slowly.
“If you need anything, come to me.”
“Okay.”
Xander paused at the door.
He knew Cairo wouldn’t come.
He knew it.
Cairo would rather solve a problem himself than walk into Xander’s office.
But the invitation mattered.
Xander wanted Cairo to know where he was.
Wanted Cairo to know he was accessible.
Close.
Always close.
“I’ll see you later.”
Cairo nodded.
Xander left.
The moment the door closed behind him, his expression changed.
A faint smile appeared.
He had accomplished three things today.
He had gotten Cairo’s attention.
He had removed an unnecessary man from Cairo’s immediate surroundings.
And he had Cairo’s phone number.
A good day.
A very good day.
⸻
The rest of the afternoon disappeared into meetings.
Xander returned to his work.
Contracts.
Calls.
Executives.
Reports.
He was still running Carrington Holdings.
Moving part of his operations into Harris Holdings hadn’t changed that.
He could manage both.
He always could.
By the time his final meeting ended, it was after eight.
Xander glanced at the clock.
His first thought was Cairo.
He stood and walked toward the window.
Cairo would be gone.
Probably hours ago.
Nathaniel had told him Cairo’s schedule was flexible.
Five.
Sometimes seven.
Never this late.
Xander checked his phone.
Nothing.
He smiled faintly.
Of course.
Cairo wasn’t going to call him.
Not yet.
Maybe tomorrow.
Maybe next week.
It didn’t matter.
Xander had time.
He had waited four years.
Now Cairo was only a few floors away.
Only a phone call away.
Only a short drive away.
No more Milan.
No more oceans.
No more waiting for updates.
Cairo was within reach.
And Xander intended to keep him there.
He slipped his phone into his pocket and walked out of the office.
For the first time in four years, Xander drove home with something dangerously close to peace in his chest.
Cairo was home.
Cairo was working in his building.
Cairo had his number.
And tomorrow, Xander would see him again.
That was enough.
For tonight.
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