Chapter 23: Xavier's crankiness.

"Can you hurry up a bit?" Rachael said precipitously to the waitress at the same time, gazing around to see if Magnus was anywhere close so she could ditch the place before it was too tardy. If there was any other restaurant nearby, this would surely be the last one she would go to, judging from the fact that this was Magnus's regular restaurant.

"Here" the lady handed her the coffee over the counter.

"Did you add sugar?" She inquired and the young lady nodded positively. The last thing she wanted was to come back if Xavier rejected the coffee.

Rachael scurried back to the firm, guiding the coffee with both of her hands. While still on the first floor, she almost crashed into Claudette, but she didn't, which she was grateful for because that would have been awkward_Standing in awe, gazing at each other with a coffee-stained shirt_.

"Angela" Claudette beamed at her.

"It's Rachael" she corrected.

"Sorry about that Hun, I'm not very good with names"

"Yeah it's fine" Rachael tried leaving before the coffee got cold, but Claudette called out to her again.

"What order did you sort the documents after you typed them?"

"I didn't sort them. You didn't ask me to sort it"

"Oh, that's fine. I just got a little bit confused"

"alright" Rachael tried once more, but Claudette called her back. She groaned inwardly in frustration.

"What do you think about my lipstick? Do you think it's too sharp for my skin tone"

"No, it suites you"

"I don't like it. Fredrick is just too obsessed with it. I feel like the nude goes better with my dark skin. What do you think Rachael?"

"Anyone would look good on you. I have to go now. I got coffee for Xavier and I don't want it getting cold" Rachael complained.

"Oh, he doesn't like cold coffee. Hurry up" she cheered and Rachael scrambled through the hallway.

When she got to Xavier's door, she touched the coffee cup's body to make sure it was still hot enough. It wasn't steaming hot anymore, but could still be managed. She just prayed Xavier won't be such an asshole and ask her to get another one.

She was just about to knock when she heard the sound of a lady weeping inside. Slowly, she lowered her hand from the door, placing her ear instead. Being nosey was something Xavier had warned her about, but she couldn't help it. Especially at that point.

"I can't do this anymore," the lady spoke amidst a sob.

"You have to. it's not like you have a choice" Xavier asserted in a frustrated voice.

"You think it's easy, going to the bathroom to take shots while having a good time with friends?"

"It's for your good, Phoebe. The doctor made it clear that you are meant to take two shots a day, but you missed yesterday's. Do you want to bloody pass out on the street?" He yelled out to her.

"Don't fuckin yell at me if you don't have diabetes "

"I don't have diabetes, but I care about you Phoebe" he lowered his voice. That was the first time Rachael had ever heard him talk so sweetly to anybody. "I don't want you to...."

"Die" she completed. "You see I had hopes before while still in type 1. The doctor even bloody assured my remission. Now look who's going higher"

Rachael heaved closer, pressing her body on the door to avoid missing out on any details of the conversation, but that was a mistake on her part.

"Damn it" Xavier cursed from inside louder than before. That was because he was closer to the door this time. Before Rachael could comprehend what was happening, the door opened and she fell flat on the floor, spilling the coffee on the floor.

Fuck! She cursed inwardly as she gathered the right amount of courage to get up.

A nervous smile appeared on her face while she looked at both of them and got up almost immediately. Xavier had his hands folded, waiting for an explanation while the lady stared at her perplexed.

"You have a lot of explaining to do Miss Anderson"

How the hell did he know someone was at the door? Did he possess superpowers overnight? Rachael asked herself inwardly.

"I was going to get you coffee" she pointed at the squished coffee cup now on the floor, lying on its juice.

"Xavier I'm leaving" the brunette lady who Rachael learned was Phoebe said grabbing her bag from the table. Her red heels made clicking sounds as she walked with a stern look on her pale pretty face. Rachael didn't fail to notice the striking resemblance between the two of them, but Xavier looked older.

"Your sister?"Rachael asked as soon as she left.

"Miss Anderson" Xavier called her, making her aware of the supposed crime she committed.

"I'm sorry, I heard cries from inside.. I didn't want to knock to avoid the situation getting awkward. So I waited outside"

"With your ear right on the door. You do realize it is a glass door and I can see you from my office"

"Oh" Rachael face palmed herself mentally. That was stupid of her.

"I'm sorry"

"I don't like that word, don't fucking say it" he snapped at her angrily.

"What should I say Sir " she bit her lips nervously at him.

He shook his head, staring down at the coffee. The frown on his face deepened. "One job and you ended up messing it up"

"You opened the door without giving me any warning. That's why it got spilled"

"If you had stuck to your job and minded your business, this wouldn't have happened"

"Is this about my job or the coffee?" she asked with furrowed confused eyebrows.

"Jesus" Xavier muttered underneath his breath. She was really good at getting on his nerves. He left his initial position and walked back to his table without saying another word. If he exchanged words with her, he might just end up losing the remaining self-control he had.

"Should I get another coffee?" she asked, but Xavier didn't give her a reply.

"Should I just go back to work?"

Still, no response as he tapped the keyboard with a stern look on his face.

"Fine" Rachael sighed in frustration turning to leave.

"Get a janitor to clean up the mess you created" he spoke coldly when she got to the door. At least he didn't ignore her for too long.

"Ok sir" she mouthed before leaving through the door. His crankiness knew no bounds at that point