Chapter 88: Chapter eighty eight

Alexander.

“Oh… I hope I’m not interrupting?”

The voice made Brandon pull back slightly, his hand dropping from me as his whole body went rigid. His eyes widened—shock, disbelief—fixed on whoever stood behind me.

I frowned, confusion creeping in as I turned.

The moment I saw him, recognition hit.

“It’s… you?” The words slipped out before I could stop them. It was the same guy from the trip Brandon had taken me a few months ago, and I have seen him a few more times where he had tried speaking to me but I didn’t really pay him much attention…. At least then I was still very much drunk on Brandon to even think about talking to anyone.

“It’s him?” Brandon asked, turning to me this time. The disbelief was still there but now it was mixed with something else.

Fear.

“Oh my god… you know him?” he pressed, his voice sharper, almost frantic.

I blinked, thrown off by his reaction.

Why was he panicking?

“I mean… not exactly… we—”

“Of course you know him!” he cut in, dragging a hand through his hair. “Fuck… you knew him.” He let out a hollow laugh, pacing a step back like he needed distance. “Was this all—” he stopped himself, shaking his head. “Now it all makes sense.”

I stared at him, completely lost.

What the fuck was he even talking about?

“Brandon,” I snapped, irritation cutting through my confusion. “You’re not making any sense.”

“I don’t really know him like that.”

“That’s a bit harsh, Alex,” the man said smoothly, like he was amused by the whole thing. “We’ve met a few times. I’d say… what, your second week working here?”

“That’s not true,” I shot back immediately, my brows pulling together. “We only met a few months ago.”

Why was he lying?

“Alex,” he continued, unfazed, like he was the only calm one in the room, “he’s going to find out anyway. There’s no need to lie now. Don’t worry… I can handle him perfectly well.”

Something about the way he said that didn’t sit right with me.

I turned to Brandon.

He looked… worse.

Way worse.

His fingers were tangled in his hair, gripping so tight like he was trying to rip something out of his own head. His breathing was uneven, his eyes darting between me and the man like he was watching everything fall apart in real time.

“What the hell is going on?” I demanded, pushing myself off the desk.

“What the fuck is he going to find out? Why am I the only one in the dark here?” I snapped, my patience snapping along with it.

“I’d like to speak with you,” he said calmly, this time directing it at Brandon like I wasn’t even there.

“I don’t think so,” I cut in immediately. “I think you should leave. And last time I checked, you don’t have an appointment.”

“Oh, I do, darling,” he replied smoothly, like this was all some kind of game. “Perhaps you’ve forgotten. I texted you earlier.”

The words barely settled before—

“He texted you?” Brandon’s voice cut through the room, sharp and disbelieving.

“No, he didn’t!” I shot back instantly, turning to him. “What the fuck are you on about?”

“I’d like to speak to you privately, Brandon.”

His tone had changed—colder, sharper—as his eyes locked onto Brandon like I wasn’t even in the room. If he wasn’t such a fucking liar, I might’ve admitted he had a beautiful face. But right now? I just wanted to wipe that calm look right off it.

“Leave…” Brandon’s voice came out low. Small.

I nodded, stepping forward. “You heard him, please lea—”

“No,” Brandon cut in.

I froze.

“I’m asking you to leave, Alex.” Alex? My own name suddenly felt like an insult.

“Excuse me?” I asked slowly, not sure I heard him right.

“Get out,” he repeated, not even looking at me now. “Don’t make me say it again.”

My jaw tightened, teeth sinking hard into the inside of my cheek as I tried to process what the hell was happening. My gaze flickered between him and the stranger with triumphant smiled on his lips, I wanted to punch his fucking face.

Sometimes I really hate that his office was sound proof, I can’t hear a thing from here. It’s been an hour. My mind wasn’t at ease, I can’t seem to wrap my head around why that man was lying about knowing me?

The first time I met him was at the conference party with Brandon…. What was his name again?

“Jesus fucking Christ”, I whispered out. He’s Drake… he’s Drake! His name is Drake, he’s Brandon’s ex. I stood up almost immediately, wanting to head straight into his office. Something isn’t right.

But before I could reach the door, it opened.

He stepped out like he owned the place, that same irritating smile stretched across his face.

“Alex… Alex… Alex,” he sang, my name rolling off his tongue like we were old friends.

I stopped in front of him, my patience snapping instantly. “What the fuck are you doing? You’re lying to him.”

“Oh, please,” he said lightly, completely unbothered. “A little lie doesn’t harm the soul. He’s used to it.”

I almost choked on air.

Used to it?

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I snapped, staring at him like he’d completely lost his mind.

“Nothing”. He pouted

“You’re his ex?” I asked the obvious.

“Oh?” he tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering in his eyes. “That’s surprising. He told you about me?”

“About how you left him?” I shot back. “Of course he did.”

“Well,” he said lightly, like none of that mattered, “I’m back now.”

I stared at him. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he stepped closer reaching up to adjust my collar like he had any right to touch me.

I slapped his hand away.

He just smirked.

“It means,” he said, voice dropping, eyes locking onto mine, “whatever is going on between you and him… is about to end.”

My jaw tightened.

“And I’m back to take him.”

For a second, I just stared at him.

Then I almost laughed.

“You think he’d take someone who left him back?”

“Oh, darling,” he said, that same smug smile settling on his lips. “There’s a difference between you and I. He tops you, I top him”.

“Wow,” I said dryly. “Is that supposed to impress me or make you feel better about yourself?”

“Let’s put it in a simpler way, he would never ever pick you over me. I was his first in everything, well aside the sexual part but whatever. And you know what they say about first love, huh? They never forget them”. He added, taking a step back.

“One more thing, baby,” he said, his grin widening as he leaned in slightly. “I know everything about him. Anyone would pick the devil they know over the angel they just met. Don’t get too attached—I wouldn’t want to see tears on that pretty face of yours. And if you’re up for it… well, we could have a little fun together before I make him dump you.”