Chapter 16 VATOS LOCOS

"VATOS LOCOS" Rachael scribbled on a piece of paper, tapping her finger incessantly on it as different thoughts clouded her mind. Her hand stretched across the table to grab her phone. She searched for the word and the result stunned her “criminal term used by many gangs across the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Now, why would Xavier have a Criminal name tattooed on his hand? Did he see it as some kind of morale boost or did he have a connection to the crime, was it a tattoo he got while still a teenager to seem dangerous? All these questions kept going to and fro in her heart with no answers.

He was strict and all, but she didn't consider him dangerous. This realization was made after she got to know the kind of person he was. A man of standard but wasn't the type to be involved in crime. Maybe she needed to stop overthinking this. He probably had a teenage fantasy while younger, but has most definitely gotten over it. That she hoped.

The door opened. Rachael immediately hid the paper that she earlier scribbled on under another document. It was Jerry.

"Boss sends for you"

"Got it" she stood up immediately, walking towards the door. She left after him shutting it behind her. At least he didn't make any nasty remarks about her office. How grateful she was for that.

She got to Xavier's office but hesitated to get in. The thought of the previous encounter with him made her cringe. Ignoring him wasn't an option if not she would have stayed away from him for a while before having to face him again.

"Come in" his husky was heard after she knocked. Still not ready, Rachael went in nevertheless. He was just about to leave his office, coming towards the door but stopped when he saw her. His tie was gone with his shirt's first and second buttons undone as always.

"What happened to the tie?"

"It was choking. I could barely breathe in those"

"You sent for me?"

"Yes, I did. We are going together"

Rachael furrowed her eyebrows in confusion "to where?"

"The business meeting"

Oh dear

"What about Jerry" she couldn't bear to seat for hours while the members of the board meeting argued, relentlessly. It triggered every bit of nerve in her body.

"What about him?" He rested his tall self against the table as he dug his hands into his pocket. How irresistible he looked at this point. Other employees might see him as their boss, but Rachael inwardly saw him as a snack that couldn't get off her mind. It was inappropriate and but sure couldn't help it.

"He is your secretary and..."

"I get to decide who accompanies me to any business trip, Miss Anderson" he completed the statement for her.

"I know, but I don't like seating for long while you do your lecture"

"Lecture" he chuckled, standing up straight as he walked towards her. She stood her ground even though she already felt intimidated. Whenever he got an inch close to her, she always felt butterflies developing in her stomach, accompanied by her wobbling legs.

There he was standing in front of her, looking as ravishing as ever. He bent to her level as she gulped. "Now you sound like you have a choice"

His hot breath on her ear made goosebumps appear on her skin which made her shudder.

"Yes sir"

"Good girl," he remarked. Oh, his husky voice was such a turn-on. What was even wrong with her? Why did she react to the slightest detail in his body?

"When are we going?"

"Right now" he brushed past her, walking towards the door. Rachael didn't need to be told as she followed him. Another thing she hated about following him to his business meetings was how fast he walked. He was tall alright, but maybe he should consider her a bit by slowing down his pace. He didn't even spare her a glance while struggling to get to his side. Well she never did.

The elevator opened and he walked in. Rachael ran towards it before he tried to close the door. He was capable of doing that just to make her suffer. When she got in, she pressed the floor number and the door was shut.

His eyes were on his phone while Amelia stood there, hands behind her as she tapped her feet on the floor nervously.

"Can you stop that? It's distracting" he said concerning her little coping mechanism.

"Sorry I couldn't help... " Her sentence was cut short by the sound the elevator made. It stopped moving. They both looked at each other in confusion. The elevator dislodged and went down with great force, but stopped again. Rachael fell to the floor in fear. She had thought the elevator was going to fall freely and probably get the both of them killed.

"What happened?" she asked, getting up from where she squatted. Xavier didn't give her a reply as he punched a number on his phone.

He placed the phone ok his eyes. "The elevator is bad" he paced around. "Fix it as soon as possible" his eyes narrowed. "what? I can't stay here for 30 minutes" he yelled impatiently. "Fix it quickly. I have a meeting to attend"

The phone was dropped from his ear as turned to look at her angrily.

"30 minutes is long" Rachael folded her arm, leaning on the wall. "Why does the elevator always have to be faulty? I hope the air conditioner doesn't go off as well" she puffed out air from her mouth. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

"That's because I don't have anything to say"

Rachael scoffed. "If you had just let me focus on my job, then I wouldn't have to follow you to your “ business meeting” I'm sure Jerry wouldn't mind being trapped with you in an elevator" of course Jerry would be a better option. Xavier was the bossy type and she knew it wouldn't take him a long time before he begins to lecture her on the right way to breathe.

"Miss Anderson you seem to forget that even on the elevator, I'm still your boss. Try your possible best to fix that tone in your voice" he pointed at her in frustration.

"Sorry sir" she muttered underneath her breath.

After a brief moment, she decided to overstep her boundaries by taking advantage of the situation"Why do you have a gang term tattooed on your hand?"