Chapter 4

“Alicia, you’ve been smiling like you just pulled off insider trading and got away with it,” Zara said, narrowing her eyes from the video call window. “Thirty minutes of that face is suspicious. Something happened with Alex, don’t even try to deny it.”

Alicia exhaled, trying and failingto smooth out her expression. Her fingers drifted over the stack of books on her desk, more for distraction than anything. The smile returned anyway, slow and involuntary.

“I don’t know,” she said quietly. “He’s… interesting.”

Zara recoiled as if the screen had slapped her. “Interesting? Alex? Are we talking about the same man? What exactly happened between you two last night?”

Alicia paused, then delivered it with carefully manufactured nonchalance.

“I kissed him.”

An heavy silence descended between them.

“By accident,” she added, barely convincingly.

Zara’s jaw dropped. “You! Kissed! Him! Alicia, have you temporarily lost your sanity?!”

“Yeah I guess.”

 Do you understand the magnitude of what you’re saying? How, how does one even accidentally kiss him of all people? What sequence of events could possibly lead to this?”

“He said something about what happened with me and I remembered Renad. The painful memory took control and I cried. He then..he then held me in his arms to comfort me. I can’t even Dave him right now! I’m so embarrassed!”

Zara laughed heartily. “You should be jumping with glee. Do you know how many ladies out there would want this closeness? So what’s next?”

Alicia shot her a playful glare. “Are you supposed to ask me that when I just told you I’m confused as well? Zara, don’t add to my worries please.”

“Just get to talk to him like adults would. I’m sure he isn’t a jerk.”

“I’ll try. Just let me think.”

“Should I go off to give you time?” Zara let out a muffled giggle.

“You crazy girl. Yes, you need to. See ya.”

Alicia landed on the bed with a thud. Staring at the ceiling, the memory of last night flowed in again. What was she even thinking?

She had to see him and explain. She had to.

At that moment she got a text from an unknown number yet she knew instantly that it was from the man she could not stop thinking about.

“Can we see?”

She immediately responded.

“Why?”

“I want to see you. I want us to discuss the other day.”

She blushed remembering.

“Play hard to get. Say No!” Her mind was saying.

She didn’t respond for a while. She was feeling so much excitement and her heart was racing.

“Yeah. Where should we meet?” She texted back.

-----

Alex arrived at her hotel room, with flowers in his hand. She texted him to meet her here. Unfortunately for him, his goofy best friend Adrian had seen him buying the flowers and stubbornly followed him.

When Alex stood at her door he didn’t knock. He was nervous and didn’t know what to do.

Until..

“Don’t tell me you’ve been pacing around here for minutes and you’ve still not talked to her?”

He heard the annoying voice of his goofy best friend. So he had even followed up upstairs?

“Adrian, you don’t know this girl, so just let me do it my way. Don’t worry. Just get going.”

“I think you need help.” Adrian drew closer to her door and knocked.

“Adrian, what do you think you’re doing?!”

Adrian tilted his head and smirked. “I’m helping a friend who doesn’t know how to approach a lady.”

At the second knock, Alicia opened the door.

“May I ask who….”

“Oh, such a beautiful lady you are. I’m Adrian, a friend of Alex. He’s been pacing here for a while and I just thought to help him call you out. Do you mind?” He smiled.

Alicia’s gaze went to where Alex stood. He looked away. Her eyes fell on the flowers. Was that for her?

She smiled. “I don’t. I’ve been wanting to talk to him too. Thank you.”

“Really?” He laughed.

Alicia nodded. “Yes. So you just helped both of us.”

“Wow, then good luck to you both. My wife is calling.” He waved and walked over to Alex. “If you like, mess it up.” He patted his shoulders and left.

Alex walked over to her. Her gaze was no longer the fiery one. Did last night change it?

He was blushing and he handed her the flowers.

“This is for you,” he said shyly.

“Oh thank you,” she said. It was an assortment of several beautiful flowers.

“I didn’t know which one you would like.”

“It’s fine,” she smiled.

“Do you want to stand there or come in?”

He knew it. She was back to being herself again. “I’ll come in. Thank you.”

She closed the door behind him and sat.

“So, should I go first?” she asked.

“I know what you want to say exactly so let me just go first.”

“You know what I want to say? Are you reading my mind or what?”

“Alicia, please. Not again. Can we just have a normal conversation?”

“No,” she said, pouting.

They were silent for a while. Just staring at each other and not knowing what to say.

Soon he drew closer, staring intently into her eyes.

“May I?”

She nodded and he pressed his lips against hers. He kissed, playing with her tongue. She dropped the flowers, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him back. His arms moved to her waist pulling her closer and kissing her deeply. She moaned a little.

It went on for minutes. She kissed him, twirling her tongue around his warm mouth, his grip tightening around her waist.

She could feel her legs turning to jelly. Her thoughts went on hold and all she could see was them.

His hand started to move slowly up her skirt and thigh. She didn’t stop him, even drawing closer to him so he could touch her more. Just as his hand was finding its way to her forbidden fruit a phone rang loudly.

 The two jerked back to reality. Alex stared at his phone to see a coded message. He’d check that later.

“I’m sorry for this now. Because….”

“No, I should be. I’d been cranky with you since the first time we met. I’ve had my own share of bad past relationships and I just see all men that way.”

“Including me…now?”

“You can never tell. But maybe not.”

Alex drew her closer. She could hear the rhythm of his shallow breath as his piercing gaze was on her right now. “I don’t know what you’ve used on me but since the first time I saw you, I’ve been very intrigued. No lady has ever been that daring and confident to speak to me that way. No lady but you and I’m glad that fate keeps bringing us back here. Here and now.”

Alicia went mute for seconds. She couldn’t explain what she was feeling. She didn’t even know why she did what she did. Could this be real? It looked so sudden.

“Alex, I have nothing to say. I just need time to process all these things going on. I…I…”

A knock at the door. Alex stood up.

“Who is there?”

“Boss, it’s me, Tan. Sir Adrian directed me here. There’s an emergency that needs your attention now. A message has been sent to your phone, Sir. Did you check it?”

“No. I'll be with you shortly.”

“Alright, Sir.”

Footsteps faded away.

“Is there something going on?”

Alex faked a smile. “It’s nothing. I’m sure it’s one of these troubles of being the most notable billionaire in Texas.”

Alicia rolled her eyes. “Don’t start with me. And I’m sorry that my father placed a watch on us. He’s just been too protective of me since I was little.”

“You knew that? That’s quite impressive. I’ll get in touch with you when I get to Texas. Don’t run. You mustn’t.” He headed to the door.

“You should be telling yourself that.”

With a last smile, he walked out.

She wasn’t stupid. She knew something was up and she hoped her father wasn’t the mastermind