CHAPTER 78

His Little Secret

Alexa's question made Maurice experience a lot of emotions at once and it was like his brain was expressing a tornado.

Maurice looked at Alexa, and he wondered if he should tell her about his deepest fear…the trauma he has been living with all his life.

He pondered if he should tell her the incident that has been eating him up and making him show his worst side.

"Maurice, are you okay? Why are you not talking? Should I be worried?" Alexa asked, panic evident in her voice as she placed her hands on the man's head checking for fever.

Warmth spread through Maurice's heart with Alexa's gesture, and instead of him to answer Alexa's question he decided to embrace her.

Maurice dragged Alexa's body to his and it was like he was trying to merge their bodies together as he held her tightly.

"Are you okay? What's wrong?" Alexa was surprised by his sudden gesture, but Maurice just smiled.

"I am fine, I just want us to stay like this for a while," Maurice says, and he buries his face in Alexa's neck.

Alexa hugged Maurice back even though she didn't know what she was doing she felt like the man needed her support.

"Ok, you don't have to tell me…I am going to just stay here," Alexa says, reassuringly patting Maurice's back without asking any more questions, and the man also did not say anything.

Alexa's mind was filled with questions about the vulnerable Maurice she just witnessed, and there was no way she was just going to forget it.

She remembers Benedicta talking about it at the dinner and she makes a mental note to ask in the morning…there was no way she was sweeping it under the mat.

She was definitely going to find out.

The couple later went back to sleep, with Alexa tucking Maurice in, and she makes sure that he is comfortable before she also goes back to sleep, but immediately Maurice notices Alexa's soft breathing his eyes open immediately.

He got out of the bed disentangling Alexa's hands from his, and he went towards the cabinet picking up a pill bottle and he picked a tablet from it swallowing it up.

"This is going to be a long night," Maurice sighed and he went back to join Alexa in bed.

******************************

The air carries a gentle breeze, carrying with it the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the earthy fragrance of dew-kissed grass. The chirping of birds creates a melodious symphony.

Alexa stretched lazily on her bed as she was welcoming consciousness slowly, but her eyes widened open feeling the empty space beside him.

"What? Did he go to the study room again?" Alexa thought, but her doubts cleared when she felt the other side of the bed warm.

'No, he did sleep here' she thought smiling, and she decided to take her bath so that she would not be late for work..she still had to resume even though the day off she signed off for was still yet to be over.

After getting dressed Alexa gets to know from Freya that Maurice left for work early, and Penelope tagged along.

"What? That fish…you mean she tagged along too?" I asked Freya and she nodded her head.

Alexa was furious with the information, but she decided not to dwell on it but instead go to report to work.

Alexa got to the coffee shop and the people were all happy to receive her, and Alexa handed out the souvenirs she wasn't aware that Maurice got for her.

The man was really thoughtful to even think of going to extra lengths to get things for her coworkers.

"Wow! You are really thoughtful Alexa!" One of her coworkers, Elena beamed happily looking at the bracelet Alexa gifted to her, but her eyes widened taking in some details.

"Is this the bracelet, Eyes of Tears, released recently?" Elena blurted, and the other colleagues also checked theirs and they all affirmed.

Alexa was confused hearing that because 'Eyes of Tears' is a luxurious jewelry brand that produced high-end jewelry, and there was no way the souvenir from Maurice could be from the brand.

"What are you saying? There is no way that is real, I mean there are many replicas out there," I say waving it off and we all burst into laughter easing the awkwardness that is about to set in.

"I know right…I mean if you get money for this kind of jewelry then you don't need to be here but a CEO," Elena says, and the rest agree but they were all urged to go and prepare for work by the Manager.

Alexa went to the changing room and she was tying her apron when the door to the room opened.

Alexa looked at the person that just entered and she was surprised to see Jason.

They hadn't met after his confession and seeing him at the moment she felt awkward.

"Hi," they both chorused and they both chuckled.

"How was your trip?" Jason asked, and Alexa replied that it was fine and the room went into silence, but it wasn't long before Jason broke the silence.

"About what we discussed, you never gave me your answer," Jason says shyly, and Alexa sighs as she ties her apron and faces the man.

She doesn't know how to tell him politely to keep off, but she also does not want to give him bloated hopes.

"Hum…I am really happy about how you think highly of me and deem me worthy of your feelings," Alexa says, and Jason chuckles heavily.

"Ohh…I know this line…are you going to reject me?" Jason asked, and Alexa felt herself being placed in a tight position.

She doesn't know why the man has to make it hard for her when they have been good friends all this while.

"Jason, about that…this is complicated, but I really can't accept it, I am sorry," Alexa says, sighing deeply hoping the man would understand her and really let her go.

"What! Are you sorry? What are you sorry for…it's not your fault that I am not likable," Jason says, and Alexa gasps, shaking her head.

"Don't say that Jason, you are a loveable guy that any girl would be lucky to go out with..trust me," Alexa says, with reassuring eyes and Jason beamed her a weak smile.

"You think? He asked, and Alexa nodded her head.

"Then why don't you want to go out with me?" He asked, and Alexa raised her eyebrow at him..

"Hun? What did you mean?" Alexa asked, wondering what part of what she was saying that Jason didn't understand.

"You said it yourself that anyone would be lucky to have me..so why don't you want to be the girl," Jason asked, and Alexa decided to tell him why she couldn't go out with him.

"I can't go out with you Jason because…. I'm married!" Alexa exclaimed.

'Wow, that came out wrong?'