FOURTY

In Yalda’s absence, the conversation between Alexander and Jaxon continued to flow smoothly; they spoke about work and random stuff before Jaxon brought Yalda up.

“So, you really gonna act like you don’t know?” He asked him.

Alexander arched a brow slightly.

“What?” He in turn asked.

“Yalda. You gonna at act like you don’t know I’m hitting on her?” Jaxon clarified.

“How does that concern me?” Alexander asked.

“You’re her boss.”

“So?”

“So, you know her.”

Alexander took a sip of his champagne as his gaze flickered around in search of nothing in particular. He hadn’t wanted to discuss this; he had merely wanted Jaxon to do his thing while he watched from the sidelines. But he was bringing it up now and he decided he might as well talk about it.

He nodded.

“I do know her.” He confirmed. “And I know you. What do you want with her?”

Jaxon rolled his eyes humorously.

“Come on, she’s a lovely lady; what could I possibly not want with her?”

Alexander was about to say something when Ryan Blackwood walked up to them. He was in no mood to engage him in talks but he couldn’t avoid it; after all, he was throwing this fucking soiree in honor of their sealed deal.

“Good evening.” Ryan greeted as he walked up to them.

Each one of them responded in their own way before Ryan’s gaze narrowed on Alexander.

“Wonderful party.” He commended.

The tension between both men was almost palpable. Of course, Ryan knew Alexander was fucking his father’s widow but there was pretty much nothing he could do about it. Alexander merely nodded.

“Everyone seems to be enjoying the evening.” Rya said before taking a sip of his drink.

Alexander nodded once more.

“We aim to please.” He said simply.

Ryan nodded. And for a moment, nothing was said till Jaxon spoke.

“Well, excuse me. I better go find Ms. Harris.” He said to Alexander.

Ryan’s gaze flickered to his.

“I saw her heading towards the restroom; she seemed unwell.” He told him.

The information bothered both men but Alexader maintained his cool, he raised his flute to his lips and took a sip while Jaxon walked away determinedly after appreciating Ryan for the information. Left alone, both men stood saying nothing till Ryan spoke again.

“You know I know, don’t you?” He asked him.

Alexander’s brow arched once more.

“What exactly do you know?” He asked him.

Ryan chuckled humorlessly.

“You and Maya.” He elaborated.

Alexander’s gaze briefly travelled to Maya Blackwood who was still conversing with the group smoothly.

“So?” He asked him when his gaze returned to his. He truly was in no mood for this.

“So, you just into older women, or?” Ryan asked him. The darkened look in his eyes spoke volumes.

A dark smirk curved Alexander’s lips and he rolled his eyes subtly.

“Ryan, you’re just a boy, I do not have the time to waste having this conversation with you.” He said to him. “I fuck whomever I please without having to answer to anyone.”

Ryan’s gaze darkened even more but there was absolutely nothing he could do but stand there and glare daggers at him.

“I’ve had no problem working with your family for years, don’t try to stir up trouble now.” Alexander added.

“Who the fuck do you think you are?” Ryan asked him.

Alexander’s gaze narrowed on his before he took a sip of his drink.

“Alexander Monroe. And if I were you, I’d know better than to fuck with me.” He replied. The warning was clear as crystal and the look in his eyes told him that he was done her. “Fuck off or we’ll have the cops looking into you for substance abuse.”

Maya Blackwood had a big mouth; she told him literally everything about her late husband and his sun, she told him all he needed to know to destroy them all.

Ryan chuckled humorlessly; he obviously knew when he was defeated. Saying nothing, he turned around and walked away while Alexander stood there sipping his drink with darkened eyes, his gaze lingered on the area leading to the restroom.

….

In the restroom, Yalda had taken a moment to breathe and calm herself. And when she wasn’t feeling like she was about to pass out, she decided to return to Jaxon, but on stepping out of the ladies’ area, she found him leaning against a wall tapping on his phone. The sound of her heels had his gaze snapping to hers.

“There you are. I was just about to call you.” He said as he pushed himself off the wall and walked up to her. His gaze raked over her form quickly “Someone said you seemed unwell.”

She smiled and slid her hand into his as he offered her support.

“I’m good.” She replied. “Was just a little lightheaded; it’s a bit stuffy in there.”

He nodded.

“Would you like to go out and get some air then? Or would you like to leave?” he asked her. His gaze raked over her form once more and she noticed his eyes darkening as he stepped closer to her. “We could go somewhere less stuffy, somewhere quiet.”

The suggestive tone he used was nothing new to her, and perhaps she would have been swayed by his charms if she wasn’t in such a wretched mood. She offered him an apologetic smile as she shook her head.

“I can manage.” She replied. “Let’s return to the hall.”

She made to walk past him but he stepped in front of her and gently backed her against the wall he had been leaning against.

“Yalda, I’m leaving tomorrow.” He told her.

Her eyes widened slightly as disappointment stabbed at her heart.

“That’s…..sudden.” She replied quietly.

She had known he’d eventually leave, but she didn’t think it would be so soon. He nodded.

“When will you visit again?” She asked him.

He shrugged.

“That would depend entirely on when you would like to see me again, Ms. Harris.” He replied. “But first, I’d like to know why you’d like to see me again.”

She knew what he meant; he obviously wanted her to give him a solid reason to come back.

“You’re….a good friend to me.” She replied.

And she totally friend-zoned him.

He chuckled, and for the first time, it sounded humorless. He stepped closer to her and she realized that she was beginning to find the proximity uncomfortable.

“Come on, Yalda, don’t play.” He said. “We’re just friends?”

Her gaze darted around uncertainly as she tried to come up with what to say. She knew he had always had a thing for her, she wasn’t sure if he had only wanted to get into her pants or if he actually did like her, but one thing she was sure about was that she had led him on, and she felt sorry for that now.

“Jaxon, I….we…” She stuttered quietly.

Her gaze returned to his and the intensity of his eyes made her even more uncomfortable.

“We’re friends, but I really do like you.” She told him. “Very much, but we’re friends….”

Now that he had her backed against a wall, she was beginning to realize that she didn’t really feel as much as she had thought she felt for him. Or perhaps she was just confused; she had a lot on her mind.

“Wow. You flirt with all of your friends, Yalda?” He asked her as he placed his hand on the wall beside her head to completely trap her. “Or is it just me?”

Her eyes widened slightly; the proximity was getting even more uncomfortable.

“I’ll like to return to the hall now.” She told him.

He shook his head.

“You seem a little conflicted; allow me to put an end to that.” He said.

She was about to ask him what he meant by that when his lips suddenly crashed onto hers in an almost bruising kiss. It had been so long since another man kissed her that her body screamed in protest from the contact; she tried pushing him away but he effortlessly grabbed both her wrist and held them down while his lips continued to move against hers demandingly.

Her heart hammered against her chest as her body continued to ring with urgency. She tried to struggle but she had absolutely no energy at all, not when she felt so unwell.

“Stop it.” She managed to say when their lips parted.

“Tell me you didn’t feel anything.” He said, his eyes dared her.

“I didn’t.” She bit out almost angrily. ”Let go of me.”

Of course, he ignored her protests and crashed his lips unto hers again. She tried moving her head from side to side but the lightheadedness wasn’t helping; it made her feel unbalanced and dizzy.

“Stop it.” She said though her words were muffled by his lips.

She was beginning to really panic now. What if he didn’t stop? What if he decided to drag her into the male restroom and have his way with her? What if she passed out from the lightheadedness and he kidnapped her? But then, all her worries were alleviated on hearing Alexander’s voice from the entrance.

“You heard her, Jaxon. Let go of her.”

Jaxon’s hold on her loosened due to the shock of hearing Alexander’s voice, and she used the opportunity to push him back and hurry towards Alexander. She found herself staggering slightly with every step that she took and she was surprised that she would have fallen if he hadn’t stepped forward and held her; his arms wound around her securely and his gaze raked over her quickly.

“What’s wrong? Why are you this way?” He asked her.

She shook her head.

“I don’t know. I suddenly felt so lightheaded and dizzy. I don’t feel so good.” She replied quietly. And as she blinked, tears she hadn’t realized had been lurking close went streaming down her cheeks.

“It’s alright, don’t cry. We’ll go to the hospital, you’ll be fine.” He assured her.

All the while, Jaxon watched the exchange as realization dawned on him. He chuckled humorlessly.

“So that’s how it is, huh?” He asked. “Both of you, playing me for a fool.”

Their gazes returned to his at once.

“There was nothing between us; we were just friends.” Yalda said to him almost angrily, she was really crying now, from the ache in her heart to all that had just happened and everything else. “What has gotten into you?”



Jaxon’s gaze flickered to Alexander’s and he chuckled humorlessly.

“You know, all you had to do was tell me from the start that she was yours.” He said before he stormed out angrily.

A moment of silence stretched between them before Alexander spoke again.

“Let’s get you to the hospital.” He said. “We’ll use the back door.”