Chapter 3: One Hell Of A Holiday

Red didn’t breathe for a full three seconds. It's him, it's really him and she's here…in this rather suggestive position with her boss!

The knock echoed through her apartment again. “Red? Babe? Are you in there?”

Her heart plunged.

“Oh my God,” she whispered, sliding off the table so fast her knee almost buckled. “No, no, no, no…this isn’t happening.”

Alton didn’t flinch. He didn’t even turn his head toward the door. He straightened, his hands sliding from the table as he watched her scramble. His expression remained unreadable, calm in a way that made the panic claw harder up her throat.

“Red?” Darren called again.

She rushed toward the sofa, snatching up the first shirt she found, a loose grey tee, and tugged it on, dragging the hem down her torso. Her fingers shook so badly the fabric caught at her wrist.

Hell, her boss saw her in her underwear! Goodness, everything seems to be going wrong tonight!

Alton’s gaze lowered, following her movements in silence, hands in his pocket… but she could see the flicker under it. He seems to be enjoying this for some reason.

She turned toward him, breath still caught in her lungs.

“You need to hide,” she hissed.

One brow lifted. “Hide?”

“Yes!” she whisper-yelled. “You… you can't be here!”

Alton’s lips curved, not a smile.

“Why?”

She wanted to strangle him. What the hell did he mean by why?! What business did he have stopping by her apartment in the first place?!

“It’s late at night and you're here. He's going to misunderstand this.”

He smirked, “Will he?” He heads towards the door, reaching for the door.

“What are you doing?”

“Letting in your guest.”

“What? No! Mr. Alton, please,” she begged in a rush, gripping his arm as he stepped toward the door.

“Did you do something wrong?” he asked mildly.

“What? No!”

“Then let him in.”

She grabbed his wrist harder, panic crackling in her chest.

“Please. I’m asking you. DON’T open…”

He reached the door anyway.

“Alton,” she pleaded, breathless.

He paused. Only for a beat. Just long enough for his gaze to fall to her hand still wrapped around his wrist. His eyes swept up slowly, meeting hers.

“Alton?” he said in amusement.

“Please..”

But he was already turning the knob.

The door swung open.

Darren stood on the other side, hand half-raised like he’d been reaching to knock again. His brows shot up when he saw Alton standing there.

His gaze shifted between them, taking in Red’s flushed face and the suited man standing by the door with a cold look in his eyes.

“Um… I…hi?” Darren said, voice faltering. “Red…? What’s going on? Why is… he here?”

Red rushed forward. “Darren, hey. Uhm...he's…”

“Good evening,” Alton said smoothly, stepping aside just enough not to block the doorway but not enough to look harmless. He folded his arms behind his back. “You must be Darren.”

Darren blinked.

“Uh…yes. And you’re…?”

“Her boss,” Alton replied.

The words landed like dropped plates.

Red almost screamed.

Darren’s eyes widened further, snapping toward her and back to Alton. “Her boss? At your apartment? At eleven-thirty at night?”

Red felt her throat close. “Darren, it’s not what it…”

“Why are you here?” Darren demanded, turning to Alton.

Alton didn’t answer. He didn’t even shift. He watched Darren with a cool, observant gaze that made Darren straighten, suddenly self-conscious in his wrinkled casual shirt and tired eyes.

Alton didn’t flinch. He tilted his head slightly, studying Darren. “I could say the same for you. Why are you here so late? Making a visit to a woman who isn’t yours?”

Red’s stomach twisted. She knew this could blow up at any second. “It’s… it’s a work thing,” she blurted, stepping slightly in front of Darren. “We… We needed to discuss something urgent. That’s all.”

Darren’s eyes narrowed, his gaze moving over to Alton. “Work at this hour?” Darren asked cautiously. “Are you serious?”

Red didn't say much about Alton but Darren already knew all there was to know about the man. She was always busy and barely got a break like everyone else. It is clearly because her boss was a complete jerk who had no respect for her time or privacy.

Alton stopping by her apartment to discuss work, seems rather expected.

Alton's gaze narrowed. “Is that a problem? Red sent me a message that I couldn't possibly ignore…”

Her eyes flickered over to him in shock, is he really going to…

“Yes!” she said quickly, forcing her voice steady. “It’s… it’s important. You know him. You know how impossible he can be.”

Darren’s eyes flicked to Alton, who simply arched a brow, expression unreadable. “Oh, I know. You've worked with him for five years without breaks. He's the reason we broke up in the first place..”

Alton's eyes narrowed on him. “Red knew what she was signing up for when she decided to apply for the role.”

“Its not an excuse to show up at her place at midnight. She's a lady, a person and she deserves her privacy.”

Red glances from one man to another. If she doesn't intervene, there will be a fight. A nasty one at that.

“He's about to leave…Darren. Mr Alton?” Red started but he didn’t look at her.

“Late-night visits are… unnecessary,” Alton said smoothly. “And a responsible man wouldn’t intrude on her at this hour unless it was… warranted.”

Darren’s jaw clenched, tension rolling off him in waves. “Warranted? She’s at home and you came all the way here to discuss work.”

Alton didn’t flinch. “Which is why I suggest we leave her to handle things herself. We both have responsibilities, Darren.”

“What's that supposed to mean?”

“Like you said, visiting Red so late at night is inappropriate. We should give her the privacy she needs.”

Red’s stomach lurched. She knew the tension could explode, but Alton’s calm voice seemed to infuriate Darren even more.

Neither of them moved. She stood there, suddenly aware of both men, unsure how to navigate this without making it worse.

Finally, Darren’s gaze softened slightly. “Fine,” he said, “She’s had a long day anyway, she needs a break.”

Alton’s smirk was subtle, yet it sent a shiver down her spine. “ Darren…”

Darren smiled, finally meeting her gaze as he got closer. “We'll talk tomorrow. Okay?”

Red sighed and nodded. Darren placed a kiss on her forehead. He stepped out of the apartment, his eyes fixed on Alton to follow suit.

Alton approached the door but leaned closer to Red, his voice brushing against her ear. “Don’t send a man a picture like that,” he said, “unless you’re ready for him to show up at your door.”

Her lips parted, but nothing came out. Alton turned and walked out of her apartment. Red slammed it shut almost immediately.

She tried to breath, tried to calm her racing nerves. Having the two of them in her space was not on her bingo card for this year and hell was it cracking with tension. Her phone beeped, she picked it up.

Alton: Lock your door, Scarlet. Next time, I may not knock.