Four. The Devilish Boss

Weekends were always unpleasant days for Angel. She couldn't see Xander on weekends. She preferred weekdays, where she could always see Xander and do all the tasks Xander gave her. She had been daydreaming more in her room since returning from the party. She thought about what Xander would do with the burgundy at his villa in the mountains.

That would be fun, she thought bitterly. There was nothing unpleasant during that time with Xander. She even felt very comfortable working with Xander as his secretary for many years. Thanks to Finn, who gave her the job.

When she first told Finn that she needed a job, Finn immediately offered her to be his brother's secretary. His brother's secretary had just retired. Finn complained about how difficult it was to find a secretary who could work with his brother. All of his new secretaries were very flirtatious and liked to tease his brother in the office. Some even did it straight away on their first day of work. That was something Xander really hated. Even though he was famous as a player with dozens of women he had slept with, Xander didn't like people who were unprofessional when they worked with him.

So far, Angel had succeeded in overcoming all the obstacles she and Xander faced. On her first day of work, she encountered several obstacles. She needed to adjust to Xander's very fast work rhythm. After a week, she started to get used to her job and Xander didn't yell at her anymore. But one thing that Angel never liked was Xander's habit of dating his female clients, which sometimes crossed the line. In between their meetings at the office or in other more private places, they would steal the opportunity to just have foreplay or even quick sex. Angel had to witness it all the time. She couldn't share it with anyone because it was one of Xander's privacy that needed to be protected. She always had to pretend she never saw all those scenes and worked professionally.

"Angel, can you come to my room now?"

“Yes sir."                                               

Angel got up from her chair and entered Xander's room. The masculine scent always made her heart pound. She walked over to Xander with a faint smile and stiff steps.

"How is your condition?"                            

"Sorry?"

“You were sick last week because you were on your period. Are you okay now?”

Honestly, Angel was a bit surprised. This was the first time Xander asked about her condition.

"I'm fine. Resting for a few days was enough to recover my condition. How about you, sir?”

"What?"

Angel bit her lip nervously. She cursed herself for suddenly asking that question. Xander watched her intensely, one of his hands playing with a pen on the table.

“Your weekend. Did everything go smoothly?”

"Yeah. I had fun.”

Angel nodded slowly in disappointment. There's no way Xander isn't having fun, she thought angrily. Xander spent the whole weekend with the sexy burgundy.

“I played golf with Finn and had dinner with my mother who had just come from Milan. The two of them completely slaughtered me at the dining table because of my lifestyle.”

"Sorry? Didn't you go to the villa with that burgundy? Uh, I mean..." Angel suddenly stopped her words in confusion. She forgot the woman's name.

“That burgundy? You mean Laudya?"

“Oh yeah. Sorry, I forgot her name."

“I don't go anywhere with her. Right now, I'm not in the mood to flirt with anyone.”                                                                                                 

Angel was shocked, but she restrained herself from acting as normal as possible in front of Xander. After all, this was something very surprising for her. Xander suddenly got bored with those sexy women? Hard to believe!

“Sit down. You'll get tired if you keep standing there.”

“You want me to do something for you?” Angel tried to confirm as she pulled up one of the chairs in front of her.

“I want you to give me a solution.”

“A solution?” Angel asked hesitantly.

“Yeah. Sit down.”

"Okay. Maybe I can help. But don't expect too much, sir.”

“Sometimes I feel uncomfortable hearing you call me too formally like that. Just Xander. We're not working right now.”

“Oh, I'm sorry. This has never happened before.”

“And stop apologizing,” Xander growled. He slumped back against the back of his comfortable leather chair. One of his elbows was placed on the chair handle in a bossy style.

“I just spoke according to the etiquette I learned.”

“To hell with etiquette. You and Finn can get along really well with each other without having to use etiquette.”

“Finn and I are friends. We are familiar with each other.”

"What about me? You've been my secretary for over four years. Don't you want to consider me your friend?”

Her forehead furrowed faintly. “You are my boss.”

“Alright. Forget it. So, My mother set me up with a woman. Actually, we were arranged to be married since we were little. I just never took it seriously. Besides, I haven’t seen the woman in a long time.”

“That’s good,” Angel smiled bitterly.

Nothing hurt her more than hearing that her crush had a fiancée since he was a kid.

“Do you agree?”

“Fuck no. Of course not. I don't like old-fashioned methods like that. I prefer to live freely without ties.”

“But maybe that's what's best for you. Your mother wants you to start getting serious about your life. You have to think about family.”

“I don't want to have a family. I don't like children. They are troublesome little creatures.”

"Actually, they are very cute and adorable."

“You're the type of woman who likes children, huh?”

“I don't have any problems with children. I have several nieces and nephews in Virginia. They’re cute.”

“Yeah, I can't imagine myself with those naughty boys who make a lot of noise.”

Angel laughed at Xander's disgusted expression. He wasn't just grumbling, but it seemed Xander really didn't like children.

“Before you grew into a man, you were a child.”

"I know. That's why I don't want to have children. Life from childhood to adulthood is not easy. I grew up alone, without a father figure beside me to help me grow into the ideal man, according to my mother. I have a responsibility to my mother and Finn to ensure their well-being.”

"I understand," said Angel stiffly. "You still have deep sadness over what happened to your father?"

"Sometimes. Life must go on. I can't wallow in that sadness forever.”

Angel stared at Xander for a long time before she decided to say it. "Have you tried seeing a psychiatrist?"

“You think I'm crazy, huh? I'm not crazy, Angel. I am sane and have all my senses to the full.”

“That's not what I meant. You may be able to ask for professional help with your problem.”

“No one understands my problems. Nobody understands me."

If she could, Angel really wanted to scream in his face that she understood Xander quite well. She knew his likes and dislikes. She always served Xander as best as possible while being his secretary. But did Xander ever realize it?

“You can get out now and get back to work, Angel.”

Angel nodded stiffly. Her heels turned quickly, and she pushed herself up to quickly reach the door. She couldn't stay in Xander's room for long this time. Especially, with all the sadness that spread in her heart.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you."

Angel stopped in the doorway, almost pushing it closed.

“In ten minutes a representative from the agency's office will come. Sarah Houston. She and I will have an hour of important time. Don't let anyone in.”

“Yes sir. I understand."

The door to his room closed without Xander ever realizing the stiff expression on Angel's face.