Chapter 8 he cares!

The moment she got into her office, her heart skipped a few beats. She was wrong. Xavier knew she left because he was right there, seated on the table!

Tears gathered in her eyes as she stared at him. She broke down, sobbing inwardly with her eyes still not leaving his green intense eyes. The hard stare on his face was dismissed and his eyes softened. This was the first time Rachael had seen him show an ounce of emotion. It was always a roller coaster of creepy smiles and a grimace on his face. It was for a short while as his usual cold look found a spot in his eyes once more.

"Where did you go?" he got up from the table. Her heart skipped a few beats because she thought he was coming toward her, but he sat on a chair instead.

"To the hospital" she bit her lips. "My mum isn't fine"

He paused, not saying anything while Rachael wiped the trickled tears from her cheeks, still sniffing silently.

"You didn't tell anyone".

"I was going to come back before you needed me"

"Not me, Jerry," he said, and she scrunched her eyebrows in confusion. "You meet Jerry for anything, not me. He said and Rachael nodded. He just made it clear that he had no use for her. Why the hell did he hire her?

"I'm sorry"

"Sorry doesn't cut it"

"Then what should I do to fix it?" she asked, and he chuckled. Rachael couldn't figure out what he found so funny. He twirled the chair which he sat on around and faced her again. "I have a meeting to attend to" he stood up, not paying notice to the question she asked.

"OK sir"

"You are coming with me" he tapped her softly on the shoulder when he got to where she was and walked past her, giving her the room she needed to breathe. Rachael puffed air from her mouth with her hand on her chest as she sat on the same seat he did. She sucked in his manly cologne that still lingered. It sent thrills to her body as a sigh of relaxation left her lips, but soon snapped out of it when she found out how weird she acted. Plus she had to get ready for the meeting.

Oh! She forgot about the article which she planned on reading the moment she got back. Her eyes drifted to where she first saw it, but couldn't find it. She was sure it was there before she left, but now it wasn't. She could check better when she gets back, but now, she had to leave.

. **********
"Yeah make sure it is certain" that was the last word he said as the phone dropped from his ears. Rachael shifted uncomfortably in the car when he turned to look at her. The car was big enough, but Xavier's presence made it less, judging from how nervous he made her feel. Her head turned to look at the window. At least that way, it could take the nervousness.

The car ride went on smoothly until Xavier called her, and she paused, turning to look at him with her button lips placed between her teeth.

He handed her a paper. "Read it carefully and give the public reports about it. I'll tell you what site to upload it to". Rachael nodded her head slowly as she took it from his hand.

"Remember you work for me now" he blurted out, adjusting the button of his suit. Rachael was initially confused at his statement, but when she read the write-up, she realized what he meant by that. Her eyes widened in shock as she turned to look at him in profound disbelief.

"You want me to write about Magnus"

"Exactly"

"I live in his apartment!"

"His apartment?" He sat up, peering his eyes into hers like she had grown two heads.

"Well, not really. It was part of the deal" she paused, biting her lips. "You know, for the article"

"That's your problem" he settled back on the chair.

"He doesn't even know I took down the other article about you, if he finds out about this...." she puffed out air in distress. "Isn't this petty?" she blurted out, even before realizing how that sounded. He was her boss and she couldn't speak to him like that.

He sighed. "It's not petty. Your instructor ran off after giving you the article. This is a way of bringing him back"

Rachael found it offensive when he called Magnus her instructor. If this was a way to mock her then he did a good job.

"What do you have with him?"

"That doesn't concern you. Your job is to write anything I tell you to"

"Why?" She paused, letting the anger settle back in her before she exploded. "Why me? There are plenty of other bloggers out there"

"They didn't try to tarnish my reputation and I also need a more flexible system. Since you are a popular blogger. You have more people in your story. Taming you is the only way to ensure you don't repeat what you did"

Rachael let out a chuckle. "Taming me?" This was absurd.

"You know Miss Anderson, I like being in charge"

"I figured"

"Have that done before the end of today" he addressed the paper in her hand. She desperately wanted to complain about the stress of typing everything and uploading it just in one day, but she knew Xavier won't care about that. She didn't see him as heartless. He just liked things being functioned in his way, despite the odds.

"What if Magnus comes for me"?

"He won't come for you," he said with so much reassurance in his voice. She believed him, surprised at the sudden trust she had for his word.


*****


The door was opened and Rachael stepped out. Xavier followed suit from his side, adjusting his blue tuxedo that he had earlier taken down its button. She clutched the paper to her chest, standing until he finally walked over to where she was, hovering his tall figure over her frail nature.

"Should I make a call sir" Mr. Caleb, the man who drove them asked. His brown eyes held anticipation as he gazed at Xavier.

Rachael stepped away from them, deciding to take a look at the building. She didn't know what it was at first but soon found out. Her mouth parted slightly as she read the big inscription on it. "Jexs union inc" her eyebrow furrowed in confusion. Was this also part of his company?

"Yes," she heard Xavier say to the driver and turned to look at him.

"Let's go in".he instructed and Racheal trailed from behind. They made their way into the big white structure. Rachael's mouth dropped when they got in. It was huge on the outside and mind-blowing on the inside. This place was busier and more lively than the first building with different people going to and fro. Rachael noticed how some workers straighten up when they saw Xavier. The receptionist who was busy with her hair and also on her cellphone almost passed out when she saw Xavier. She left her black hair, letting it fall back on her shoulder as she stood up, giving off a faint forced smile.

"Rebecca, gather everyone for the meeting now," he said authoritatively, not paying attention to the previous neglect of her duty.

"Ok sir" he didn't let her finish before he left.

"Is this part of Jexs?" Rachael asked, running after him. Walking was harder because of how fast his strides were.

"This isn't part of Jexs. This is Jexs"

"So there are two different companies?"

"one company, two buildings"

"Then what is this building for"

"Miss Anderson" he turned to look at her with frustration written on his face. "This is where the cars are being produced. Now I'll appreciate it if you keep your questions to yourself until we are done with this meeting"

"Ok sir" she mouthed. It wasn't okay at all. She still had many questions. Like why, she had to be here when this wasn't part of her job? He already gave her a tasky job of writing against Magnus. She should have felt more than overjoyed about blogging about the man who got her into this mess but instead felt scared. Her timidity was something she couldn't tame. It was also that timid self that prevented her from running away from San Diego.

They got to the board room and Rachael was told by Xavier to seat by. She was in the room, but not with the other employees that sat around the huge table. Some glanced at her with confusion while the others didn't pay her any attention. Rachael noticed Jerry seated at the edge of the table. Speaking of Jerry. Why wasn't he the one who stayed in the same car with Xavier? He was the secretary after all.

The meeting started and ended eventually. Rachael still didn't know her importance. The only thing she did was sit on her seat, hearing inaudible words from them, judging from how big the place was and how far she sat. Xavier stood all through the meeting, lecturing the rest of the members. Rachael wasn't sure of what he said, but she was sure about the profound furiousness he developed afterward.

He didn't beckon on her as he marched past her. She followed him nevertheless, struggling to keep to his strides, but his long legs kept making it difficult.

"Get in," he said without sparing her a glance the moment they got to the car. Rachael didn't want to trample on his nerves the more as she entered in obedience.

"Did something happen?" she asked immediately after she got into the car.

"What happened to keep your questions to yourself" he snapped at her. She swallowed hard, resting her back against the chair while the ride went on.

Rachael sat up when she realized they weren't going to the office, but instead to the street where her house was located. She looked at Xavier in confusion, but he didn't look back at her. They stopped at her house.

"Get down" he instructed, still not giving her a single glance. At this point, Rachael wondered what it was she had done. She pressed her lips together and got down. Just when she was about to leave, she heard her name and turned abruptly.

Xavier's eyes met hers from the creek of the car window.

"Why were you crying earlier," he said with genuine concern in his eye. Rachael was taken aback by the question, she didn't expect him to have her in mind to the extent of asking her a question regarding what happened hours ago. Her mouth gaped. She was stunned at the realization that he did care.