“Harper just tendered her resignation.”
Looking up from where he was staring far too intently at the mobile phone in his hand, Alex blinked at his assistant, his eyes muddled with bafflement. He straightened and crossed his legs under the desk.
“Harper who?”
Lucas sighed. “Ms. Fritz, Alex.” He made sure the door was closed, walked over to Alex, and sat on the chair in front of Alex’s desk.
“Ah. Your ballsy little helper.” Alex crossed his arms over his chest, unsure what to say next to continue. “She’s pushed with her resignation, huh. Well, we offer comprehensive employee benefits. I’m sure you’ll find a suitable replacement in no time.”
He had once told Lucas to talk to Harper to stay, but he clearly had no intentions to be swayed again.
“What do you mean by find a suitable replacement? You clearly don’t understand, Alex. Harper is a really good employee. She’s diligent and―”
“Oh my god, you like her, don’t you?”
“What? This isn’t about me liking her or not, and you know it.”
Alex laughed at his assistance’s slight annoyance. “Come one, Lucas, if the girl wants to leave, then let her. She’s a little bit pesky if you ask me.”
There’s a pause, and then Lucas replied, “She’s leaving because of you.”
Alex raised one brow and looked straight at him. “And what do you exactly mean by that?”
“She told me everything, Alex.”
“And could you elaborate?” He glowered. He knew very well what Lucas meant now. His earlier conversation at the elevator with Harper was now playing on his nerve.
“What you did with Mira on your desk. I smelled her the minute I walked in here the following day, you know. Your phone conversation with her in the elevator and what almost happened in here, again, today if Harper had not walked in on you and Mira.”
Alex wasn’t sure if the anger that seemed to simmer in his stomach was because Harper had gone straight to Lucas despite telling her not to tell a single soul or because she didn’t seem to care about his threats at all.
Alex let out a soft sigh. “She saw me fucking Mira on my desk, huh.”
“Harper is definitely not most women around you, Alex. Your careless, mindless screwing actually affects how she sees this company. She’s a very sensitive person, and it’s such a discouraging thing for her to work for someone like…you―a careless and mindless Casanova.”
He crossed his arms over his chest, looking petulant. “If you weren’t my best friend, I would have you beheaded for calling me a careless, mindless fucker, Lucas.”
“Casanova.” Lucas corrected casually.
“Means the same thing, buddy.” Alex had to laugh softly, shaking his head in amusement. He arched an eyebrow, becoming more curious about what he wanted from him. “And did you come here to tell me to stop fucking around because it makes your little helper uncomfortable? If that’s it, then you’re wasting your time.”
Lucas knew that Harper’s discomfort and dismay for working for such an arrogant womanizer would not change Alex’s ways, but he was really hoping his best friend and boss would at least try to be more heedful next time.
“I guess I’m just hoping you’d be more conscious of your surroundings next time, Alex.”
“Are you really telling me that?” Lifting his chin a bit, Alex shook his head at Lucas slowly, a flicker of slight disbelief in his gaze. “Why should I adjust my behavior to accommodate Ms. Fritz? Who the fuck is she in this company?”
“Alex, it’s not like that―”
“Then what is it because that’s what I really think you’re asking from me. And what is she to you, anyway? Is she your mate? Is that really what this is all about? Is that the reason why you don’t want to discomfort her? Is that why you don’t want her to go?”
Lucas’ jaw twitched at the suggestion, and he shook his head. “She’s not my mate. She’s human, for fucks’ sake!”
Alex glanced at his mobile phone on the desk. No messages. He looked back up at Lucas. “Then why are you so concerned?”
“Because I think it’s stupid for her to leave the company because she’s seen your ass. She has such potential to grow here. And she’s my friend too, Alex. Remember that intern who scored the highest in this company’s aptitude test and whom your father thought promising? That was all Harper, Alex. Your father’s right. She could do more in this company. She’s an asset.”
“Ah! An asset,” pausing to read the tight expression that swept over Luca’s face, Alex cracked a sliver of a smile. “You’re fucking in love with her, man.”
“I am not! Alex, didn’t you hear what I just said? And can’t you really see how your attitude affects people? Why can’t you just look for your mate already so you’d be done fooling around.”
“And now you sound like the rest of my family,” Alex replied firmly and released a deep breath. “Perhaps you’re forgetting something, Lucas. I’m a master lycan; I’ve earned the right whether or not to look for or have a mate.”
“A privilege you’re lucky enough to be born with.”
“Don’t test my patience, Lucas. Even if you’re best friend, you’re still a mere werewolf, don’t forget your place.” He sneered. “And how about the possibility of your little helper obsessing over me?”
“Are you kidding me?”
“Think about it. Maybe she’s desperate for my attention…”
“You’re losing it, Alex.” Luca’s got up from the chair, shaking his head at how pointless the conversation had turned out. He moved towards the door, and she stopped at the door once more, glancing over his shoulder. “Collette may be right…”
“Right about what?”
“You’re hopeless.”
When he was again alone in his office, Alex let out a sigh as he sat in his office chair and stared at his laptop for a moment before clicking open his emails. He tried to compose one reply when he abruptly paused.
“Ballsy little helper,” he mindless mumbled while he half-mindedly picked up the phone and slotted it in between his shoulder and ear and dialed a number. “Connect me to Ms. Fritz now.”
After a few seconds, "Ms. Fritz. My office. Now,” he said. His voice deep and stern.
"Are you supposed to have a meeting with Lucas..."
“No. I want to speak to you. Alone.”
Then he dropped the call dropped and went back to the email. He quickly typed out a message then pressed sent. Then he went to send Lucas a personal message on his mobile phone.
Have you already booked my flight Frankfurt?
He hit send and then went on to replying some of his email messages. And then about ten minutes later, he heard a knock on his door. And just as he had expected, the door opened after a couple of seconds and Harper made her way inside, closing the door behind her.
“Ah! Come closer,” Alex gestured as he got up from his chair. He went past his desk and stood right next to Harper.
He grunted and didn’t say anything. He just stared at her, being utterly intimidating. “Amazing. You can actually follow a simple instruction without opening your mouth,” he said without taking his eyes off her.
“I’m sorry?”
“Nothing.”
He sucked in a breath and exhaled. “Ms. Fritz, do you have any hidden feelings for me?”
“I’m sorry?” Harper asked again, bewildered. Whatever she was expecting, it was definitely not this.
Alex closed the distance between them, stopping directly in front of her to make her a little more uncomfortable. “I am absolutely floored with your attitude, Ms. Fritz. You speak to me as if I’m an ordinary guy. Well, let me remind you that I’m not.”
Her eyes met hers. “I really don’t understand what this is all about, Mr. Carmichael. But if this has anything to do with what happened at the elevator and in your office,” she paused and swallowed.
“No, this is about you and me now.” Alex grunted.
Harper couldn’t help the blush on her cheeks. He couldn’t help but notice and this somehow made his lips twitch into a very light smile.
“Lucas told me you’re not most women around me…” he whispered then another long pause and he started staring at her again.
“Mr. Carmichael…”
Then he gently placed a finger to her lips.
Harper gasped and froze.
Alex’s other hand went slowly up to her body, drawing a line from the waist and higher, then finally tracing her collarbone. Suddenly, he pulled her ever closer, up to the point where Harper could feel his hot breath.
The moment felt so surreal that Harper looked like she absolutely had no idea how to react. The room suddenly felt hot and toxic for her at the same time.
Alex slowly licked his lower lip. His eyes, never leaving Harper.
The back of Harper’s neck started to prickle. She curled her hands into fists. She didn’t want to back down so she held Alex’s gaze, studying his face.
“I want you to paint a picture for me in your head, Ms. Fritz,” Alex finally spoke again in a husked but demanding tone.
“Mr. Carmichael, I don’t think―”
“You, on my desk. Your legs over my shoulder.”
“Mr. Carmichael―”
“I said paint a picture for me in your head,” he ordered, brushing his thumb over her lips. “Don’t lose focus or you wouldn’t know how my fingers feel like when they touch ever curve in your body and my tongue licking that wet and throbbing flesh in the center―”
“Stop it!” Harper exclaimed and red as a tomato. She took a step back, mouth slightly open as if to catch her breath after a quick marathon.
But Alex only smirked, obviously enjoying her reaction. “What?” His eyes wandered down to her mouth.
Harper swallowed and cupped her warm cheeks between her hands.
“I just thought you need a little attention, Ms. Fritz, so you’d stop being pesky. I mean, you’re not really as gorgeous as the women I had, but I gotta admit, you’re cute enough.” Alex’s voice stayed calm the entire time.
“You’re an unimaginable asshole!” Harper said loudly and stormed out.
Alex blinked. All of a sudden, he was alone in his office again. He shook his head, smiling to himself.