An Invitation

Chapter 4

Hayley Mikael hurried out of the hospital, this was the fifth place she was applying this week and in her resolve, it was the last one. She was angry, more with herself than with her father, and she hated herself already for having let him push her to take on this silly career. She was out of his house now, and hopefully he would let her be, she didn't mind being disowned, didn't even consider herself as his child to start with.

As she waited for the elevator to open, her constant sighs were the only thing that filled the chilling silence in the empty hall. She glanced warily about, hoping that someone else would not join her in the elevator, she felt close to tears but she managed to hold herself.

That man had been mean, too mean for a doctor. How was she supposed to answer all of his questions like a pro surgeon? It was why she was interning in the first place, to learn! She shook her head again, the embarrassment from that interview was still burning her cheeks red.

A part of her still wanted to make her father proud, but another part knew that it was totally impossible. Hayley sighed again for the humpteeth time and clutched her art book closely to her chest, it was her only friend now, her only hope. She had her whole life to live now, and she would make the most of it without her father's constant nagging.

The elevator stopped and she stepped out, but without looking up, she bumped straight into a solid wall. No, it was not a wall, when did walls grow in front of elevators? But this wall smelt so nice, she took a moment to inhale the beautiful scent of his perfume, and then her eyes traveled slowly across the wide chest she was still dreamily resting on. Hayley didn't realize when she let her books go, and her hand traveled dreamily across that chest, savoring the feel of his well tailored shirt against her palm.

She heard someone clear his throat, and then a husky male voice followed, "Hello?"

Strange, that voice was soothing, and yet it sounded rather familiar… No, She wanted it to be familiar, it took a light tap on the shoulder to snap her back to reality. And then she saw his sparkling shoes, damn! She needed no one to tell her that this was a bloody rich man! Probably one of those high and mighty doctors, hump! How she hated them now.

"Miss, are you okay?"

"Huh?" She looked up immediately, and then she saw what appeared to be one of the most beautiful faces she had seen in her lifetime, but that was not all. His eyes widened at the same time as hers and she shifted back in shock.

"You!"

"What… ah… what do you mean?" Hayley stuttered.

"You are the girl from the accident." The man said with the same husky voice, "I mean, you are the girl who helped me perform first aid on the little girl I ran over last week!"

Hayley's mouth fell open in a big o, "Oh… oh that. It was you."

Alex frowned, it was unlikely that she didn't recognize him. Not when his name was everywhere on the news and certainly not when she was standing inside his brother's hospital. "Your books," he nodded at the books scattered on the floor, but something caught his eyes even there, the beautiful paintings.

Hayley hurriedly bent over and picked the books, but he also tried to assist her, that assistance ended in their heads bumping straight into each other. He stood up first and rubbed the spot lightly, she hurriedly picked the books and nodded her thanks.

"Thank you and I'm sorry for… being such a mess." She was too ashamed at how stupid she had acted before him, gosh! Did she really feel his chest with her hands? And how long had she leaned against his chest? Aish, how stupid. She couldn't even raise her head to look at him. "I'll be on my way now, Sir. Sorry again." She made to move away but Alex drew her back.

"Not so fast, Miss." He gave her a light smile to lighten the air, "Nice paintings you have there." He nodded towards the books in her hand.

Hayley frowned, somewhat proud that he had noticed that, "Thank you."

"We have not really had a proper introduction, have we? And I never got to thank you properly for what you did the other day. You saved that girl and saved me too."

"You don't have to sir, it was… the least I could do?" All the while, she still kept her eyes leveled on his shoes, her cheeks were burning red with such embarrassment that she feared she would cry.

"That was brave of you, Miss…"

"Hayley. Hayley Mikael, sir."

He stretched out his hand for a handshake and flashed her a gentle smile when she slowly raised her eyes to meet him, "Alex here, Alex Xander Jr."

Hayley nodded. Indeed, she knew him, it was one of the reasons why she had disappeared that day, at first, she hadn't realized when that girl's life was at stake. But when the ambulance came, she had taken the liberty to look at him closely as he thundered instructions to his guards and from all the cameras flashing in his direction, it didn't take her long to figure out who he was.

She had barely managed to avoid the cameras herself, being seen with this multi billionaire could bring her trouble, bad trouble. And she knew better than to get involved, she could still remember vividly what his wife had done to that musician who had risked an affair with him. Why were her thoughts going so far?

"It's nice to meet you sir, I'll be on my way." She didn't take his hand and that earned her a frown.

"We are not quarreling, are we, Hayley?"

"No, sir."

“Alex."

She only nodded.

"I was hoping we could have dinner, I never got to thank you properly."

"No, sir… Alex." She stuttered.

He nodded towards the book she was clutching closely to her chest, "Your paintings, I could check them out. I'm open to taking in new artists for my upcoming exhibition. Who knows, you could just be the icing I need for the cake."

Hayley frowned, "Are you offering me the opportunity to be your artist?"

He tilted his head and then smiled, then he brought out a card from his pocket and stretched it out to her, "My card. You can call me when you are done thinking about it."

He didn't wait for her to take it, he gently tucked it in her book and walked away, two guards followed closely behind him.

"I'll be waiting for your call, Hayley, don’t keep me waiting for long." He called after her as he went.