Chapter 6: chapter 6

In Love with the CEO

Chapter 6

Author: Alexander Smith

WILLIAM

I was at home when I got a call from Mina. It’s a bit strange since we saw each other at the prayer ceremony for the repose of the soul of Alexander’s late wife. What’s wrong? I hurry to answer the call before it cuts off.

Me: “Hello?”

Mina, with a voice full of worry, says, “Sorry to bother you, but I’d like to know if my son is with you.”

I’m a bit surprised by her question.

Me: “No, he’s not with me. Is there a problem?”

Mina says, “Since the prayer at the church, he hasn’t come home. He told me he just wanted to get some air and would be back before noon. I’m very worried about him. You know he still can’t handle his wife’s death. I’m afraid he might do something foolish.”

Me, in a calm tone, say, “He’s not with me, but don’t worry, I’ll bring him back to you.”

Mina says, “Alright, thank you so much.”

I hang up the call and grab my car keys. I head toward his favorite bar, but I try calling him first, and it doesn’t go through.

A few minutes later, I park in front of the bar. I go in and head to the counter, but he’s not there. I’ve come to pick him up so many times over the past two years that the bartender knows us.

Me: “Hey.”

Bartender: “Hey, looking for your friend?”

Me, a bit embarrassed, say, “Yeah.”

Bartender: “I haven’t seen him around. You want to grab a drink while you wait?”

Me, making a fake annoyed face, say, “No, I’d rather head out. We were supposed to meet here, but I’m a bit late. I think he got impatient and left. I’ll give him a call. Thanks.”

Bartender: “Alright, have a good evening then.”

I leave the bar, a bit frustrated. I’ll go check the office. Often, when he’s feeling down, he prefers to hide in his work.

I head toward the company. When I arrive, I greet the security guard, who’s surprised to see me. I don’t wait for his response and take off. I take the stairs, and when I reach the top floor, I notice the lights are on. But I never would’ve imagined stumbling upon what I just saw: my friend having a good time while his mother is dying of worry at home. Poor Mina. They were so caught up that they didn’t even notice my presence.

I was so stunned, even shocked, that my car key slipped from my hand and hit the floor. Alex hears it first and freezes like a robot, giving me a look full of confusion and shame. But Alexander, on the other hand, was so far gone, so carried away, that he kept going at it passionately. Alex tries to stop him, but in vain. Her reaction in the seconds that follow shocks me to the core.

SLAP

A slap. With the silence in the room, that slap echoes so loudly that she’s shocked herself by the act she just committed, and she’s gripped by fear at the look Alexander gives her.

Alex, stammering, says, “I…I’m really sorry…sorry.”

With those words, she takes off running and heads downstairs. I approach my friend, who’s still out of it, and help him up and into the car without saying a word. He doesn’t say anything either. I think that slap just sobered him up.

I take my phone and call Mina to let her know her son is with me and that he’ll sleep at my place. I’ll bring him home early tomorrow. She thanks me and hangs up.

When we get to my place, we take the elevator to my apartment and settle on the couch.

Me, breaking the silence, say, “Want a coffee?”

Alexander, looking pensive, says, “No, no, I’m good.”

Me, getting straight to the point that’s been burning my lips this whole time, say, “What’s going on between you two? Are you sleeping with your assistant?”

Alexander, a bit embarrassed, says, “No, not at all.”

Me: “Then what did I just see?”

Alexander, running his hands through his hair, says, “It’s nothing. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Me: “You know very well I’ve never judged you, and I never will. But sleeping with your assistant is really dangerous. In this day and age, when everything gets taken as sexual harassment or assault, don’t you think you’re risking getting into trouble with this girl?”

Alexander says, “There’s nothing between us, and there never will be.”

Me: “That’s not what I saw just now. The way you were kissing her, caressing her, tells me otherwise. That girl seems like a good girl. If you know it’s just about sex, leave her alone because she gives the impression of being in love or really attracted to you.”

ALEXANDER

Me, trying to deflect, say, “Come on, you see me with a kid like that? She was burning up, and I was just trying to put out the fire.”

I knew perfectly well that wasn’t the case, but just because I had a moment of weakness due to alcohol doesn’t mean I’m already thinking about a relationship and marriage with this girl who came out of nowhere.

William says, “I’ve known you to be very truthful, and if there’s one quality no one can take away from you, it’s your honesty. If you’re lying to me so blatantly while looking me in the eye, it means this girl is having more than just an effect on you.”

Me, losing patience, say, “What’s with all of you and this girl?”

William replies, “See, I’m not the only one who’s noticed the chemistry between you two. You need a woman to support you through these tough times, and Julia needs a mother. You could start with a marriage of convenience. If after five years you don’t fall in love with her, you could divorce.”

Me, in shock, say, “Are you serious? Marry a girl I know nothing about and bring her under the same roof as my daughter and me?”

William gets up for a moment and comes back a few minutes later with an envelope, which he hands to me.

William says, “I had some research done on her. Everything’s in there, from her birth date to her medical records. This file has everything you need to know about her.”

Me: “You talked to my mother, didn’t you?”

William: “I did have a conversation with Mina, indeed.”

Me: “Why do I feel like you’re all plotting against me?”

William, sitting across from me, says, “You know very well that neither I nor your mother would ever do anything to hurt you. In any case, this is just a little push. The decision is yours in the end.”

I don’t respond and start flipping through the file in my hands. I have to admit, they didn’t hold back—they dug into every detail of this girl’s life. I don’t know why, but it feels like I’m being a voyeur, and it really makes me uncomfortable. I’m sure if she found out about this, she wouldn’t like it at all. I’ve always done background checks on my collaborators and shareholders, and it’s never bothered me. I even did one on my wife. So why does it bother me so much for someone who means nothing to me, a simple office employee whose life I don’t give a damn about? Why do I feel like I’m doing something wrong?

I quickly close the file and set it aside, like a misbehaving child or as if it’s burning my hands.

William says, “What’s wrong? You done?”

Me, a bit embarrassed, say, “I don’t know. I just don’t see the point of doing this. I think it’s unnecessary.”

He looks at me for a long moment before responding.

William: “You should keep it with you, just in case.”

Me: “I think I’m going to head home. I’m really tired.”

William: “I promised Mina I’d look after you and bring you back in one piece tomorrow.”

Me, chuckling, say, “Don’t you think I’m old enough to take care of myself?”

William: “I’m serious. You shouldn’t drive in this state.”

Me: “You know very well if I don’t feel capable of doing it, I’d never try. The last thing I want is to make my daughter an orphan of both her father and mother, believe me.”

William: “You’re right.”

I grab my car keys and head toward the exit, but he stops me before I reach the door and hands me the folder with the information about that girl. I hesitate for a moment before taking it and leaving.