Candice giggles as I relay everything that had happened to me yesterday.
After that whole heated incident, I had stuck to his words and had gone home.
And now here I was the very next day at lunch with Candice.
As soon as I was given my break by Alexander I had rushed over to the finance floor and had grabbed her hand as I dragged her to the small, one of many, cafeterias.
Luckily we both had our breaks at the same time.
Candice fiddles with her fork as she looks up at me with a smirk on her lips.
I can tell she wants to say something so with a roll of my eyes I motion with a wave of my hand for her to go on.
"He totally has the hots for you" she says giggling once more.
I look at her dubiously and snort, totally unladylike.
"I'm sure". You can hear the sarcasm in my voice.
"Oh come on Nora, why else would he be so handsy with you and act all Christian Grey like?".
I laugh at her words and answer back "Because he's a horny man that can't keep it in his pants".
"Well you should be flattered he wants you. He's never looked at me like that" she says almost mournfully.
"Oi, you have a boyfriend" I can't help to say but laugh as well.
"I know I know, but it's nice to feel appreciated once in a while especially when it comes from a guy that looks like that".
I nod along with her, agreeing completely.
We talk a bit more here and there through lunch while she eats her salad, that looks completely unappetising to me, and I eat my sandwich.
Just as I am about to take another bite, a hand on my shoulder stops me.
Just from the look on Candice's face I can guess who it is.
She gawks as if she doesn't have a care in the world.
Looking up and behind my shoulder I see Alexander with one hand still on my shoulder and the other typing away furiously at his phone.
"Come on Nora, we're going to be late" he says still not looking up from his phone.
"But I'm having lunch" I say mournfully looking down at my sandwich.
Finally coming to stand in front of me, he looks down at my sandwich, then at me before rolling his eyes.
"You can have lunch later on when we get to the restaurant, now come on lets go. It's like I work for you not the other way around" he says exasperated.
Huffing I get up and search for my handbag which is already in Alexander's hand.
Thanking him, I swing it over my shoulder before saying a bye to Candice who still sits there in shock as she stares at the man beside me.
It's like she's seeing her favourite actor for the first time in the flesh or something by the way she just stares.
Seeming to snap out of it, she replies back by getting up to hug me, while Alexander stands to the side impatient.
He looks at Candice and just smiles before he grabs my hand and drags me to God knows where.
Looking back I see Candice with a creepy & smile on her face as she waves at me.
*****
Stepping out of the car and rushing after Alexander I manage to reach him just in time.
He holds the door open and motions for me to go in.
Thanking him I do so and stare at the interior of the restaurant.
Taking in the red painted walls of the reception, I could look into the main dining area where numerous chairs and tables were placed as well as beautiful chandeliers that hung from the ceiling casting the room in a soft glow.
Looking down at my attire and then at the people already seated, I couldn't help but to feel insecure.
Draped in designer clothing in the form of long gowns and tailored suits, where I stood
in my normal everyday work clothes.
I go over to the reception area where a waiter stood.
I clear my throat to grab the guy's attention.
"Um hello, we have a reservation under the name of a Mr. Alexander James".
"Let me check, just one moment please"
I nod my head and look for Alexander through the small growing lunch crowd.
"Looking for someone" Alexander whispers in my ear from behind me.
Jumping at the close proximity I just shake my head and follow the waiter whom motions us towards him.
Sitting at our table, I ask Alexander who we are waiting for.
"A person who owns several hotel chains. I want him to invest in my company".
Nodding my head at his serious tone, I know this is one thing I have to not mess up.
We wait a further ten minutes and I can tell Alexander is getting impatient, since we were already slightly late.
Just as Alexander opens his mouth to say something, a chair scrapping across the floor, cuts him off.
A shadow looms over me as Alexander briskly stands up to meet the person.
I stand up as well as a smile makes its way onto my face.
Extending my hand towards the man, I look up and stop short.
"Well well if it isn't Nora Davis". -
Gulping, I quickly extract my hand from his grasp, using force as he wasn't letting go.
He looks exactly the same since the last time I saw him.
His light brown hair that usually flopped carelessly over his eyes, is now combed back and neatly in place. His almost square jaw now covered in a slight, tamed looking beard.
And his blue eyes the same colour of the sky, with that glint in them most people missed.
He crosses the table and hugs me as if nothing had ever happened.
As if he hadn't ruined my life.
My arms hang limply by my side, as I stand completely ridged in his embrace.
"Oh cmon Nora, don't be like that" he says laughing lightly.
Taking a step back and leaning more towards Alexander who stands there with a confused look on his face.
Sitting back down as does everyone else, Alexander places his arm behind me on my chair as he looks to and from me to him.
"Sorry about that Mr. Alexander, it's just been such a long time since I've seen dear Nora here that I just couldn't help myself" he says smiling lightly.
While I just sit there saying nothing.
"And you two know each other how?" asks Alexander quirking an eyebrow up.
My stomach twists and I feel sick as I know what is coming.
"Oh Nora didn't tell you?".
I plead with my eyes for him to shut up but he just smirks and looks straight at Alexander.
"Im her old boss. Dear Nora used to work for me, that is until I fired her" he says, voice mocking with sadness.
Oh how I hate Sam Jenkins with every fiber in my entire being.
******
The lunch was quite simply awkward.
Alexander didn't really comment much on what Sam had said and for that I was incredibly grateful.
Though I knew that's a conversation that i would
be making an appearance soon, I would do everything in my power to prolong it as much as I could.
I still could not believe how unabashed Sam was about everything, he didn't even try to be subtle in his advances towards me.
It seemed like he was more interested in making me angry or to get a reaction out of me than he was in the real reason this lunch was held, to invest in Alexander's company.
I kept silent throughout the whole thing and I could tell Alexander was getting antsy about my change in behaviour.
The lunch was nearly done and my food was still untouched which was surprising since I never wasted food.
I just kept pushing my food to the side with my fork but never once did I look up from my plate to the person across me.
By now Alexander's arm had slightly slid from the back of my chair down to my shoulders and I didn't mind one bit.
I actually sought comfort in the warmth that emitted from his suit clad arm.
******
Peeking a glance at Alexander I could see still how tensed he was. Ever since Sam had stepped foot into the room Alexander's shoulders had gotten stiff and even his posture seemed unrelaxed.
He must be having a busy day ahead of him or something.
Finally the waiter comes back and asks us if we need anything and we all shake our head before he goes to pick up our plates.
Alexander looks down at me and gestures to my still full plate but I just shake my head and whisper out a "I'm not hungry".
When it is finally time to leave I almost fall out of the chair in a hurry to get out of that god forsaken mans sight.
Alexander and Sam shake hands once again before Sam turns towards me with a devilish smirk on his face.
I much prefer when Alexander gives me that look.
Iam stunned as Sam takes my hand in his and , places a soft lingering kiss on the back of it.
Disgust fills me as all I want to do is curl my hand into a fist and sock him one right in the face but somehow I manage to restrain myself.
Alexander and Sam say one last goodbye.
As they shake hands I can't help but to see the strained smile on Alexander's face.
Sam strides ahead of us and walks out first while I wait for Alexander who is once again on his phone.
Putting it away, he motions for me to go ahead.
Grabbing my handbag I take a step but stop short when Alexander's warm palm presses against my back.
He pushes me ever so slightly to continue walking as he guides me through the restaurant all the way to the car.
*******
Striding into his office I timidly enter behind him.
The whole car ride back had been completely silent except for the light shaking of my leg,
a habit I had acquired since a young age that occurred whenever I was nervous.
I knew it looked ridiculous, me sitting there with my leg moving up and down but I couldn't control it no matter how hard I tried.
Luckily for me Alexander didn't seem to notice and if he had, he didn't call me out on it.
And now here I stood as he paced back and forth while I stayed next to the door, ready to flee at any chance I got.
I had a feeling that the conversation I so badly wanted to prolong would be coming sooner than I had anticipated.
Looking up at me sharply he says "What the hell was that?"
"What was what?" I say innocently.
"Don't play coy with me Nora. I wanted to have a decent lunch where I could land an investment from one of the biggest companies there is and all the both of you cared about was flirting with each other".
My mouth drops open as my cheeks burn at the accusation.
"Don't pin this on me, I did nothing" I say in indignation.
"Exactly, you just sat there" he says.
What the hell does he mean by that, what else was I supposed to do?
Searching for words to say, my mind comes up blank as he approaches me.
He ventures into my personal space once again.
He had gotten a bad habit of that.
"What is going on between you two" he says with a clenched jaw.
"What? Nothing's going on" I say incredulously.
"Well clearly something had" he says looking me in the eyes.
Memories come rushing at me and I try so hard to push them back while at the same time I try to blink away the tears.
Gritting my teeth together I see surprise flash through his eyes at my sudden display of emotion.
"Nothing happened and even if I did why the hell would I tell you. It doesn't even concern you".
Smirking at me, he comes even closer making me look up at him as he was a head taller than me.
"Because I can fire you right here right now and you wouldn't be able to do a thing about it".
Not knowing where this new found confidence comes from I do not question it and simply embrace it.
Squaring up at him I look him dead in the eyes and say "but you won't".
Smirking, Alexander leans impeccably close to me. His lips right above mine, nearly touching.
"You're right" he whispers and then brushes his lips against the corner of my mouth before pressing a firm kiss on the spot.
I stand there, stunned, not knowing what to do as he walks over to his desk and sits down while opening his laptop.
With one last smirk my way he motions me out the office, taking his advice I rush out into the hallway closing the door behind me as I stand in the hallway my back to the door.
Why had I enjoyed that.