Alex's POV.
“Good job, now swallow”
I smirked at my phone. It was lying on the bathroom counter while I styled my hair back.
Sounds like someone is having a good time. “Steve?” I called.
“Yeah—oh” he groaned.
My smirk deepened.
“We don't have to discuss business if you're in the middle of something.” I heard some shuffling.
“Oh, okay, we'll talk la–wait!”
There was a long pause and I wondered if he was still on the line.
“What the hell, Alex!” he shouted from the other end.
I let out a laugh “I'm serious Steve. You sound busy.”
“Damn right, I am. Try feeding cereal to a toddler someday.” I frowned.
“That's what you were doing?”
The alternative sounded better in my head. Must've been my damn hormones. I still haven't gotten over my debauchery with Sophia.
“Yes, that's what I'm doing, Alex. Though I wouldn't have minded what you were thinking, not everyone has the best mornings.”
“Of course,” I chuckled.
Steve has been my best friend since middle school— after I saved him from a bunch of bullies. He was so thankful that he got me a large box of M&M's.
Now I was the one grateful for his friendship. Although I couldn't help but wonder where this toddler was coming from.
“Whose toddler is that anyway?” I asked to satisfy my curiosity as I walked out of the bathroom after my shower and slipped into the closet.
“My sister Nicole is visiting.”
“And you're babysitting?” I asked nonchalantly while buttoning my shirt and fixing my tie.
“Apparently” he sighed.
I couldn't help but laugh at his situation.
“Seeing as I can't stop by the office to collect the files we need to bring in the shipment, I've sent someone else to get them,” Steve said.
“Okay, I'll let Sophia know," I remarked.
“Uhhh, the hot secretary.” I could hear the smirk in his voice.
I rolled my eyes. “Oh please, shut up and watch where the cereal is going, Steve”. He let out a laugh and finally hung up.
I quickly went downstairs to find Mrs Andrews, my 52-year-old cook, setting breakfast on the dining table. She used to work at my parent's mansion but I brought her along with me when I moved out.
I’m such a terrible cook and as for my mum, she's an amazing cook and wouldn't need Mrs Andrews that much. I felt like it was a win-win for everyone.
“Good morning, Alex,” Mrs Andrews greeted me with a smile.
“Good morning, Mrs Andrews” I smiled back.
She had cooked my favourite: egg white omelets and blueberry pancakes.
I was halfway through my breakfast when my phone rang. It was an unknown number. “Hello,” I answered.
“Hi, baby,” a woman spoke in a seductive tone.
I stared back at the phone with a frown.
“Who's this?” I asked.
There was a long sigh and then a slight chuckle.
“This is Cassie since you didn't bother to ask when we hooked up at the club.”
Oh! I was suddenly reminded of a brunette I hooked up with at the club. I had been way too wasted to even ask her name when she threw herself at me in that club. All because I was trying to avoid a certain brown-eyed girl.
She was wearing a short black dress and that was all I remembered about her.
“I was too wasted to ask for a name,” I muttered.
“I know” she retorted, her words followed by an obnoxious giggle, causing me to cringe.
“So when am I seeing you again? What would you be doing tonight, Alexander Hayes?”
“Sleeping," I chided while shoving a piece of pancake in my mouth. How did she even get my number?
And then, suddenly, I remembered how she abruptly asked for my phone to make an emergency call. What an idiot I was! My reputation as a manwhore was getting the better of me.
“I saw your interview one time in a magazine but I just didn't imagine that those pretty blue eyes would look as sexy in person.” She whispered the last part huskily.
I should've been flattered but she was telling me nothing I didn't already know and wasting my time.
“Alright. Look, Cassie, I'm running late for work and I'm gonna have to hang up now” Before she could say anything else, I hung up and continued eating my breakfast.
My chauffeur, Josh, was waiting in the parking lot as I got into the car and we both headed to the office.
***
Sophia's POV.
The weeks went by thankfully fast and uneventful and finally, it was the Friday scheduled for the send forth the company was organizing for Mary.
Avoiding Mr Hayes has been easy as he had been all but professional towards me. We had both subconsciously decided not to talk about what had happened between us.
He's also hardly ever in the office except when there's an important meeting or a meeting of the board of directors.
Is he trying to avoid me too or am I just reading too much into the situation? Anyway, I'm happy for tonight's festivities and ready to let off some work stress.
Trying to sort out and clear my desk to get home early and dress up, I drifted off to the phone conversation I had some days back.
“I would love us to meet up one of these days, I've missed you."
Why on earth would Michael even think he can just call me?” How did he even get my number?
Last I saw him at the mall, he had a fiance so wouldn't he be married now?
***
*Flashback*
We had just graduated college and Michael promised to meet me at our usual spot (at the oak tree behind the Department of Physics) after the ceremony.
It's already been 30 minutes with me sitting here all alone, waiting for Michael. I got up from where I was sitting and walked inside in search of him.
You see, I and Michael were the type of couple that everyone automatically assumed would end up together.
We did almost everything together in high school where we met and throughout college.
After wandering around for a while, I finally found him. He wasn't alone though. He was with a girl. Her name was Samantha Brooks, she was a bitch to everyone except Michael.
I've always found this weird and suspicious but anytime I bring it up with Michael he'd always dismiss it saying “Oh don't worry about her, we are just friends”.
I walked up to them and said “Oh hi, Sam”. She rolled her eyes and walked away.
Michael looked at me and said, “Hey babe, sorry I lost track of time, what did you want to talk to me about?”
I took his hand and dragged him until we were both sitting under the tree.
"So....about what I wanted to talk to you about...I'm moving to New York, I got a job offer over there” I said, looking down.
“What! I thought you were waiting a couple of months. You promised you would wait for a little bit longer before applying for jobs”.
I looked up in shock. Michael never yelled at me or even the people around him.
Yes, we did talk about waiting but what was I supposed to do when Stephanie helped me secure a job at a company in New York? Reject it?
I needed the money. I stood up and so did he.
“Why are you acting like this? I thought you would be supportive of me Michael!” I yelled back.
He looked down at me, angrier than I had ever seen him and blurted out.
“If you are leaving, don't you ever try and come in contact with me again!” And with that, he walked away leaving me under the huge oak tree ready to cry my pretty little eyes out.
His words hurt me like a thousand needles plucking pieces of my heart out one by one. That night, I just couldn't sleep as I kept tossing and turning with tears running down my cheeks. I missed him!
“I missed Michael.”
The next morning, I decided to go over to his place and apologize. I knocked on the door and Samantha Brooks opened it.
“Yes? How can I help you?” she said with her hand still on the door like she had no intention of letting me in.
I stood in stunned silence. She was wearing a bralette with a revealing mini-skirt.
“Who's at the door?” I heard a voice say from within the house. A voice that was undoubtedly Michael's
“Michael!” I yelled. Just then In the blink of an eye, he was at the door after pushing off Samantha, shirtless and staring at me with rose soulful eyes of his that I've always found hard to resist. Not this time though.
“What's she doing here?” I asked swiftly, with tears already pooling in my eyes.
“C'mon, baby...I told you Sam and I are just friends,” Micheal responded.
“I can't believe you still have the nerve to lie to me!” I yelled. He said nothing. “How long has this been going on?”
I could see the resignation on his face when he replied “About three months now”.
“And to think I was going to give up my dream job and come apologize to you!”
I hated myself for crying. He wasn't worth my tears but I was so hurt.
“I'm sorry, baby-” he pleaded.
“Now, I don't want to have anything to do with you again! Enjoy your life with that bitch!” I yelled, cutting him off as I stomped off.
The next morning, I left for New York and barely said a word to my mum. Oh how much I thought Micheal would come looking for me. But alas! That was the last I heard of Michael.
*End of flashback*
***
That was the last I heard of him until I saw him at the mall, and the unexpected call he gave me.
I'm not surprised he hadn't changed seeing as he had a fiancé and still wanted to hang out with me.
“Miss O'Brien?”
I nearly jumped out of my seat in shock at the sound of my name.