Chapter 16The ride was awfully quiet as Hayley sat next to the window with her eyes constantly following the buildings and cars they were zooming past. She wished her thoughts were not as organized as those buildings, but she knew better than to expect good things always. Alex watched her from where he sat just a few feet away from her, he could tell she was angry or maybe worried, but he couldn't understand why. Was it the kiss? He tried to think about it too, because he was already feeling guilty for it. Had he not said he would not regret it? "Is something bothering you?" He asked suddenly, she did not respond, because she had not heard him. He reached out and tapped her lightly, just like yesterday, she jumped up at the sudden contact. "Don't tell me I scared you again." Hayley sighed and fell back on the seat, "I get scared when my thoughts are interrupted like that." By my very problem, she wanted to add, but she stopped there. "Hm. So what is bothering you?" She shook her
Chapter 17Hayley was rounding up her art when Alex came in later that afternoon, she barely glanced in his direction as he walked into the room. But she was all too aware of his burning eyes which were following her as she packed the brushes into it's container. "Can I see what you made?" He asked nicely. But he was already reaching out to touch the neatly covered board. She reached out and slapped his hand away, then she realized what she had done and straightened, "I'm sorry, sir. I just… I don't like my work being seen before I'm ready to show it." He frowned, "But I'm your boss and I would love to see." "Yes, but this is a test and I would love for it to remain a surprise."He actually grinned, "So you are preparing for a big reveal. Uhm, I trust you will blow our minds tomorrow." "Tomorrow?""Actually, yes. I came to tell you that Rosewood had an important meeting to attend so he will not be here, and if he's not here, your presentation will have to wait till tomorrow." "O
Chapter 18It was impossible to remain in her seat. Hell it was impossible not to fret. Leaving work before time was not a good start for a new employee, not even if she had nothing to do at the moment. Laurel squirmed uncomfortably in her seat, unable to think. If she tried to leave, would he not ask where she was heading to? She would take her chances, she decided. She opened her mouth to speak, but Alex's voice silenced her, "We should head to the hospital now." He told her."Hm? What?"He frowned, "You seem lost. You wanted to go to the hospital with me, right?""Ah, yes." Alex waited to be sure she had run down, then hid a smile behind his wine glass. Whoever had called her to make her giggle so much and look so uneasy now would have to wait. "Then let's go. I think I'm done here for the day."Not wanting to arouse any suspicions, she grabbed her phone and her purse and made for the door. But before she reached it again, someone opened the door and walked in, it was a fancily
Chapter 19Her only luck was that Claire Xander was nothing like her eldest brother, Larry Xander. It was the only reason why Alex had even allowed her say half the things she had said in front of Claire. As he sat there waiting for her to show up to work, Alex thought of all the bad places Hayley would probably be in now if she had made that mistake she made yesterday in front of the wrong places. But he was somewhat glad that she cared about who he screwed. He chuckled at his own stupid thoughts, her revelation to Claire had done more good than the harm she intended. For one thing, he now had Claire visiting the girl at the hospital. It was a relief for him, really. He was going to tell Claire anyway, but she had helped him. And in so doing, she had gotten into Claire's good books. "Good morning..." Hayley started to say the minute she opened the door, but she paused when she saw Alex.Alex looked up from his coffee and flashed her a grin, "I believe the word you are looking for
Chapter 20Hayley hurried towards down the corridor, her pulse racing. She was angry, but not with Alex, she was angry with herself for allowing her emotions to get into her head. Even as she arrived at that conclusion, she pondered on the kind of emotions she was referring to, what could she possibly be thinking of? "Hey." A voice she could not recognize called her from behind.Hayley stopped walking and turned to see who was calling her. "Hi." She greeted with a warm smile when she turned.It was a lady, she could tell by the wrinkles on the side of her eyes that the lady was older than her, but she couldn't help but miss the heavy amount of makeup that this lady wore. Her hair was tied up in a bun while some part of it fell on each side of her face in scanty curls. "You are the new girl, Hayley right?"She nodded and offered her hand for a handshake, "Yes, I'm Hayley. And you are?"Surprisingly, the lady refused to take her hand, she asked instead, "What did you do to let him t
Chapter 21The presentation hall was filled with workers, both the ones she had met before and the ones she had not. The fact that Alex was the only person she recognized there did nothing to pacify her, his wicked smile. If anything was making her legs go weak underneath her.She scanned the faces around her, the majority were serious looking men in suits with mean scowls in their faces. Others were either looking at her with or a frown, there was no encouraging face in that crowd. She could tell Mr Rosewood apart from the rest, he was a gray haired man with round lenses and his face held this unimpressed frown that seemed not to be wavering. He was sitting on a very reserved table where other men dressed as smartly as him sat, topping the head of that table was Alex, and on each side of his hands sat two men and a woman. She assumed they were the team that made up the Board of Directors. When the last piece of the three paintings she had made was hurled in by the two men whom Bet
Chapter 22Hayley woke up in a dark room. The only thing she was certain of in those first slow minutes was that she wasn't in her bed back in her parents home, neither was she in Logan's bed, or even any of her siblings' own for that matter. The luxury of this bed was felt even before she opened her eyes, the scent of the sheets, the texture too was too smooth. She didn't have to be rich to recognize the difference between luxury and average. Neither did she miss the faint, restful scent of a familiar cologne that clung to the pillows in which she'd buried her face. As an uncomfortable thought formed in her head, she stretched out a cautious hand to make sure she was the only one on the bed. To her relief, the large bed was empty except the soft throw pillows that surrounded her and the smooth sheets and cozy blankets. "This large cozy bed all to myself, Sweet Jesus, dreams do come true." She muttered as she rolled over to the center of the bed. As she struggled to piece images to
Chapter 23"Hayley!" Alex called as he ran after her, "Stop running this minute!" "You dare not tell me what to do, sir!" Hayley called amidst ragged panting, "Incase you haven't realized yet, I'm no longer your employee!" Alex stopped running after her when he saw that she had entered a room and the only way she would leave was through the door and he was standing by that door, arms crossed over his chest, his expression leveled curiously on her. "What do you mean you aren't my employee?"She realized too late that she was trapped inside the room and stopped to catch her breath, "I quit." He laughed, "Why?" She shook her head, "Why did you follow me here? What are you doing here?""You mean in my house?" A frown settled between her brows as she took one more look around, "This is not your house?" He nodded with amusement, "So it's yours then?"Realizing her error, she flashed him a quick, cheeky smile that tortured his already active libido, "I forgot for a second that you are