Chapter 4 Chapter 4
Chapter 4
XADEN
I sat in my boardroom, surrounded by my workers, directors, and managers, some I had retained after my father passed away, and others I had employed because they were worthy to be in that position.
Men who were older than me but would tell me because I am the reason they all still have food on their table. Men who look up to me and used to shake my hand because I am their boss and the reason they are still millionaires.
I had to step in, I had to do what my father could not do, better still, I had to finish what my father started.
But for the last five years since I took this position, today is ty first day, my mind is completely elsewhere. I can see the person talking, his lips moving, explaining something that had to do with the file in front of me, he sounds so convinced and versed with whatever he is saying but his voice was muffled in my head.
My whole being is back at the dinner table, eyes glued to the one woman my stubborn heart had yearned for. The woman whom I had yearned for every single day since that night at her father’s garden.
The woman I had used as a blueprint for blind dates… well, not that I attended the blind dates because I wanted to, I just have a very stubborn mother who believes her oldest son should settle and have a child already.
But it’s not like I don’t want to. I love my mother and I’ll do everything she wants but marrying someone who is not Sloane is just…, something I can’t do.
I am obsessed with her. I couldn't forget her for the last five years. She always appeared in my dream, tormented me but didn't leave without kissing me deeply like she did that night, reminding me that, my first was from her and that she tastes heavenly and that I would never meet another girl like her.
That girl was sitting in front of me at the dining table, hands on her fork, cutting through the chicken. I wanted to look at her till she threw her spoon at me and warned me to stay away from her because I left her.
But I couldn't look at her without drawing attention from my mum or Xaden who looked me in the eye and told me she belongs to him.
Belongs to him?
She belongs to him?
What is she? A pet? A toy? Sloane doesn't belong to anyone, he doesn't have the right to decide whether she should talk to me or not. And I can bet every billion in my account that Jasoer doesn't even know about our kiss, so he is not doing this to protect her from me because of what I did.
After Jasper told me to stay the hell away from her, I couldn't bring myself to swallow any of the food in front of me. I got up and left.
Sloane didn't say anything either. Dressed in that ugly shirt and trousers that I am very sure she hates.
I let out a loud sigh, frustrated. I slammed my hands on the table.
Does this mean I get to live in the same house as Sloane but I can’t talk to her or even share the same space with her?
How do I apologize to her then?
How do I tell her that I never stopped thinking about her? That I never meant to leave?
That I just had to leave…
Ah… then it dawned on me. Would I be able to tell her why I left? Would I be able to pull myself to say those words?
I let out a scoff, realizing how much of a coward I was. I can’t tell her. I knew that dawn well.
So I guess I might need to avoid her.
But can I?
Is it about time I move out of the house?
Mum is fine now…. At least she has Sloane… Ah, now that I remember, is Sloane even safe in her hands? Mum has always wanted a baby girl and Sloane has always been he favorite. She would turn Sloane into her baby doll, play dress up, and treat her like a doll.
Ouch.
What should I do?
As I leaned back into my chair, my eyes finally zoomed back to reality, to the people I call my workers sitting next to me, all eyes on me, eyes flickering in confusion as they stared at me.
Shit.
“Are you okay?” The lady next to me, darkskinned, with grey eyes, full hair tied in a ponytail. Her hands found my biceps, tilting her head a little.
I forced a smile and nodded. I leaned closer to her, “I didn't hear shit… can you wrap up the meeting and just come up with an excuse as to why I am like this, I have to head to my office.” I whispered.
I pulled away, grabbed my phone, and walked out of the room, I was standing behind the door when I heard Jane say.
“He is feeling under the weather. So after everything you’ve said, the bes…”
Feeling under the weather? Is that the best that monkey could come up with?
I slid into my chair in my office, wondering how to fix myself around Sloane when my phone dinged.
It's mum. A message.
MUM: Sloane is home alone she mentioned this morning that the faucet in her bathroom seems to have a problem. You’re the handyman, can you help her fix it?
I am here, thinking of ways to avoid her and my mother is busy giving me reasons to see her.
Should I scream out of frustration or should I make good use of this chance to get close to her again?
As I stood outside the door to my house, the smell that erupted almost set my heart ablaze, not in a good way. In a very “the house is on fire” way.
I burst the door open, threw my phone and bag containing documents on my bed, and ran to the kitchen.
And there she was. In my mother’s apron and glove, coughing and used her hands to blow the smoke that erupted from the pot of whatever the hell she was cooking.
Oh God.
She turned around and her eyes locked on mine, her face had blackened from the smoke. She pouted her lips, “Help me.”