Chapter 47 47
The taxi slowed to a stop in Blair’s neighborhood—older buildings, narrow streets, laundry lines swaying like tired flags in the evening breeze.
“Here,” Alexander said quietly.
He paid, stepped out, and stood there for a moment, staring at the door across the street.
Her door..
He crossed the road just as a couple of neighbors lingered nearby, voices low, eyes sharp. One of them squinted, recognition dawning a little too fast.
“Wait…” a man muttered. “Isn’t that the Bur—”
Alexander turned with an easy grin, lifting both hands. “Whoa, relax. If I were that guy, do you think I’d be standing here without security?”
A woman frowned. “But you look exactly like him.”
He chuckled. “I get that a lot. Must be my unlucky face. Probably just a doppelgänger living his best broke life.”
A few awkward laughs followed. Doubt lingered, but curiosity slowly lost to disinterest.
Alexander faced the door again.
He raised his hand and knocked.
Once.
Twice.
The door opened.
Blair stood there, loose sweater slipping off one shoulder, hair pulled back messily like she’d rushed from the kitchen. Her eyes widened the second she saw him.
“Alex…?”
Her voice hit him straight in the chest.
“Hey,” he said softly, suddenly very aware of how close she was. “I hope this isn’t too weird. I didn’t want to stand you up.”
Before she could respond, a neighbor leaned over the railing again.
“Blair,” the woman called teasingly, “your friend looks an awful lot like that billionaire on TV.”
Alexander leaned closer to Blair and whispered with mock seriousness, “See? Even your neighbors think I’m famous.”
Then louder, he added, “I wish. Rent would be a lot easier.”
Blair laughed despite herself.
Blair stepped aside and let him in.
Alexander took it in quietly, like he was memorizing a place he never wanted to forget.
“Please, sit,” she said, gesturing to the couch.
He did, hands folded, posture careful—as if any wrong move might break the moment.
Blair moved to the tiny kitchen, pouring coffee into two mugs. As she worked, Alexander’s gaze never left her.
The way she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
The way she hummed under her breath without realizing it.
The way she existed so… .
If only you knew, his thoughts whispered darkly.
How I searched for you. How I tore the world apart and still couldn’t find you.
And now I’m here—breathing the same air you breathe.
She turned.
Their eyes met.
She caught him staring.
Heat rushed to his face as he quickly looked away, clearing his throat. “Uh—sorry. I didn’t mean to stare.”
She smiled, soft, a little shy. “It’s okay.”
He accepted the mug when she handed it to him, their fingers brushing for half a second too long.
“You’re really nice,” he said, voice low. “You barely know me, yet you invite me in for coffee.”
Blair shrugged lightly, settling into the chair across from him. “You saved our lives. That kind of kindness deserves coffee… at least.”
Alexander’s grip tightened around the mug.
Blair took a small sip of her coffee, then tilted her head, studying him with curious eyes.
“So… Alex,” she said casually, “what do you do?”
Alexander almost choked.
He coughed once, twice, then forced a smile. “Me? Oh. Um. Nothing exciting.”
She raised a brow. “Nothing exciting usually means something exciting.”
He laughed nervously. “I run a… small company.”
“Oh?” She leaned forward, interested. “What kind?”
His brain scrambled.
“Logistics,” he blurted out. Then quickly added, “Very boring logistics.”
She smiled. “Logistics sounds important.”
“It’s not,” he said too fast. “I mean—it is—but not important important. Just boxes. Moving boxes. Lots of boxes.”
Blair laughed, the sound light and unguarded. “So you’re a box man.”
“Yes,” he nodded seriously. “A proud box man.”
She bit her lip, amused. “Where did you grow up?”
“Ah—everywhere,” he said. “You know how it is when you’re… poor.”
Her eyes softened instantly. “That must have been hard.”
Alexander nodded solemnly, guilt stabbing him in the chest. “Very. Had to… struggle. Sometimes I even—” he paused, lowering his voice dramatically, “took public transport.”
She gasped. “That bad?”
“Tragic,” he confirmed.
She laughed again, shaking her head. “You’re funny.”
He smiled, watching her like she was the only thing in the room. “Only because you’re easy to talk to.”
She hesitated, then asked softly, “Do you live alone?”
Alexander froze for half a second. A mansion with forty staff flashed through his mind.
“Yes,” he said smoothly. “Very alone. No butlers. No drivers. Just me and… silence.”
She nodded sympathetically. “Lonely can be hard.”
He swallowed.
Lonely is not having you, his thoughts screamed.
Instead, he took a sip of coffee and said lightly, “So… what about you? Coffee seller by day, superhero by night?”
She smiled, unaware that the man sitting across from her owned half the city—and had just lied about every single detail of his life… just to stay.
A small voice cut through the room.
“Are you daddy?”
Blair froze.
The smile on her lips stalled, breath catching in her throat as she turned toward the doorway.
Maverick stood there in his pajamas, rubbing one eye, curls messy from sleep. His innocent gaze locked onto Alexander like he’d found something he’d been looking for all along.
“Baby—” Blair started, panic flashing in her eyes.
Alexander stood up before she could finish.
He crouched slightly so he was eye-level with the boy, a gentle smile softening his face. “Hey there,” he said warmly.
Maverick stepped closer, studying him seriously. “You look big like daddy.”
Blair’s hands trembled.
Alexander glanced at her—just once—then turned back to the child. He carefully lifted Maverick into his arms, light as if he’d done it a thousand times before.
Maverick giggled, wrapping his arms around Alexander’s neck without hesitation.
Alexander’s chest tightened painfully.
I wish I was, his thoughts whispered.
God, I wish I was.
Blair forced a smile, eyes shining. “Mav, sweetheart… he’s not—”
“It’s okay,”
Alexander said gently, still holding the boy. “I’m Alex.”
Maverick grinned. “I’m Mave.”
“Nice to meet you, Mave.” He tapped the boy’s nose lightly. “You have a strong grip.”