Chapter 19

*Tina's POV*

"Yesterday was just the worst!" Kelly wailed dramatically as she made her way around me and dropped her bag on the desk. As usual,the weekend had passed quickly and it was a typical and grating Monday.

"What happened this time now?" I sighed as I took my eyes off the system and to her.

"Nothing," she huffed and switched on her system.

"Then why is that a bad thing?" I raised an eyebrow at her.

"That's the point," she replied. "Nothing happened. Nothing exciting happened. I just stayed at home watching pointless TV programs and surfing the net. Even the Internet world was boring!"

"It beats getting arrested, you know," I said.

"You're no fun." She jabbed my waist.

I winced. This woman should have known by now how strong she was. Even a light jab had the possibility of leaving a bruise on my soft skin.

"So" —she faced me— "how did your Sunday go?"

My mind flashed back to the dinner and I cringed. I prayed that there would be no conflicts during the event. I was dead wrong. Everything was going well at the beginning stages. Discussions centered around business and other less trivial matters. It was when tried to get the least acquainted with Alejandro's mother that things spiraled out of control. His mother had asked some personal questions about me that gave a hint that I was interested in the family fortune. As offended as I was, I tried to be casual and stave off the topic but she kept on steering me back. Things were about to escalate and Alejandro had to take me away from the dining to the garden. I knew he didn't want to enter another conflict with his father because from the way his fists had been clenched during his mother's interrogation of me, he was going to explode. I couldn't help but feel that I ruined dinner although Alejandro convinced me otherwise. I tried to prob him further about his mother but he could only give me minute details.

His mother was Joan Taylor —formerly Gonzalez. She was a model who divorced his father fifteen years ago. That was all the info I could get.

My mind wandered away from the past to Kelly's eager expression. I still hadn't told her about my relationship(If I could call it that. I don't know where we were heading)with our boss.

"My day was..well..pretty bland." I shrugged.

Her full lips twitched a bit as her eyes regarded me. She could tell I was hiding something.

"That's it?" she asked.

I pursed my lips. "Yeah."

The elevator dinged and Alejandro walked in. As usual, he donned his stoic demeanor which he wore like a mask. I suppressed a smile as he approached our table.

"Miss Campbell and McPherson." He stopped by our table and nodded curtly. "The both of you will be heading on an assignment in the next hour."

He glanced at his gold watch. "Make that fifty five minutes."

"Yes, sir." Kelly raised her hand and made a saluting gesture. Alejandro and I gave her a blank expression.

"Sorry." She laughed in an awkward manner. "Movie habit."

"Location of the assignment?" I turned to Alejandro, trying to keep my face as stoic as possible. Kind of hard to when those mesmerizing greens were making my stomach do flip flops.

"Sacramento," he replied. "We've received distress calls about a meter request."

His brows creased as he stared at his watch. "That would be all. Carry on."

He made his way towards the office.

"Sir," Kelly called after him.

He turned around with his eyebrows raised, although I could see the mild impatience in his eyes.

"Thanks," Kelly's voice was surprisingly low.

"For what?" Alejandro mirrored my confused expression.

"For the weekend. You know, bailing me out. I didn't really have the time to do that properly. It's rare for people to come through for me." Kelly cleared her throat. For a moment, I could see something in her eyes. Some kind of sadness. Alejandro's eyes softened and for a split second, they landed on me. The side of his lips curled a bit, but for a very split second that only someone with enhanced sharpness would detect.

"It's alright." He turned around and walked towards the elevator. "Just be careful next time."

He stepped into it and it closed.

"Alright, spill." Kelly turned to face me.

"What do you mean?" I turned to her curiously.

"Come on, Tina, I'm not dense." She rolled her eyes. "Something is going on between you and our boss."

Her statement took me off balance. And her eyes on me told me she wasn't going to take a lie. I twirled my thumbs under her gaze.

"You're hesitant," she said as if she caught my hand in a cookie jar. "Something is really going on with the both of you."

I looked around the office at the workers to make sure none of their eyes were on us. I wasn't ready for any intruding gossip. I turned back to Kelly's waiting eyes. I sighed as I knew I had no choice.

"We...well..." I rubbed my forearms.

"Come on." Kelly was practically bouncing at her seat like an excited toddler. "What happened?"

"We kissed," I whispered. Goodness, I could feel my heartbeat tripled.

Kelly's bouncing abruptly stopped. For what seemed like a long agonizing minute, she just stared at me blankly. Then a huge smile broke out on her face as her eyes widened.

"I knew it!" she squealed.

"Keep your voice down!" I whispered with my index finger to my lips. I looked around frantically at some of our coworkers whose attention were on us due to her outburst."

She giggled nervously. "Sorry."

She waited until everyone went about their business. " Ha! My gut was right. I knew something was going on. The way you both looked at each other discreetly every time, thinking I wouldn't notice. And there was the time when he stared into your eyes this morning while I was giving my appreciation speech."

"You saw that?" My eyes widened in surprise.

"Of course I did," she replied, stifling a giggle. "Like I've said several times, I'm not dense. You're such a bad girl."

"Please don't say it like that," I groaned, placing a hand over my face.

"I'm so happy for you!" she cried. "My baby is growing up. Getting all Romeo and Juliet with our boss of all people. Who would have imagine?"

"Don't say it like that!" I repeated with a slight playful glare.

"So, how were you able to snag him? I'm sure you did so with that big butt of yours. He must be an ass man." Her eyes twitched with mischief. "Have you gone further?"

My mouth dropped at her forwardness as I knew what she implied. And of course she just had to make the obligatory butt joke. My cheeks reddened a bit as my mind went back to that night. That night on the couch. His lips on my skin. His fingers dangerously close to my private zone. I clamped my thighs together.

"No," I said. "We just kissed. Twice."

"Aww." She pouted.

The smile was back on her face seconds later. "Well there's still hope."

"But please let this stay between us." I grabbed her hands. "I don't want this getting to extra ears at the office."

"I know what you mean, girl," she replied. "You're in safe hands."

She made an imaginary X sign over her large chest with her index finger. "Cross my heart and hope to die."

I breathed a sigh of relief. I hope she kept her word. It was early stages and I don't know if I could say Alejandro was officially my boyfriend.

***

*Alejandro's POV*

I typed furiously at my keyboard, stopping momentarily to wipe a sweat off my forehead. Ironical as the air conditioners were on. I had to focus on work and only work. I didn't want my eyes to wander to the face of that beautiful woman I saw moments earlier. The beautiful woman who was with me just last night. The woman who I had the urge to grab in that office if not for the fact that there were people there.

I paused for a bit and leaned back in my seat. Was I losing my edge? My touch? Was the powers of my strictness going away. Was I losing my identity as the playboy.

I saw the door handle twist and the door creak open slowly. I waited in anticipation, hoping it was her although upset that she didn't even bother to knock. I knew we were slowly out of the border of friendship but at least she should know this was an office.

To my surprise and disappointment, my father made his way into the office.

"Padre?" I stood up. He hadn't come here in almost four months. What was the occasion?

"Alejandro," he nodded as he made his way to the seat adjacent my desk. I took in his slow footsteps. He seemed to be getting more tired nowadays and I couldn't fathom why. I was the one doing the brunt of the work.

"How is business going?" He sat down.

"Exhausting." I rubbed my forehead.

"That is the perks," he replied. "Managing a business was never going to be easy. You've been in this company for three years. You should have gotten accustomed to this by now and finally get used to this in the future because you would be doing more."

I raised an eyebrow at the last sentence. That sounded cryptic.

"I have been hearing news about Mayor Watson making attempts to but shares in this company." My father cleared his throat.

I sighed. "Yes."

"To think he has been trying to reach you and not me." His upset tone was very evident. "What percentage does he propose?"

"Fourty percent." I replied.

"Outrageous." He shook his head and I nodded in agreement. That fat, greedy, racist bastard of a mayor was a scheming opportunist. If people thought I was ruthless, then they would change their mind if they met him. He was devil incarnate. A man who had put down my father's company during some of his interviews and speeches during the past now showed interest after seeing the success it had made over the years.

"What have you told him?" my father asked.

"Of course I declined his offer," I replied. " That man is not to be trusted."

My father relaxed a bit. "Well, that is one of the reasons I came here," he said. "Your aunt wants us to pay her a visit this weekend."

"Really?" I said. "It has been a while."

"Indeed it has," he agreed.

Aunt Marina was my father's elder sister. She lived in Mexico with her husband. The last time I saw her was a decade ago while I was about finishing high school. A warm smile appeared on my face. I hoped she hadn't changed much. Her no nonsense personality was a force to recon with. Truly, she and my father were related.

"I'll leave you to your work now." My father stood up and made his way to the door. He paused.

"You can bring Miss Campbell along," he said.

"What?" I raised my eyebrows in surprise. "Why?"

My father turned around. "Because I want her to see who my son is involved with."

"Padre-"

"I'm your father, Alejandro," he said. "You can't hide it from me. I've seen the way you treat her. The way you stood up for her last night, you've never done that to another woman."

I paused as I took in his words.

"You're gradually becoming the man I hoped for," he continued. "She has changed you. And if that's the case, I want my family members to know about your evolution. It has been a long time."

I paused as I let his words sink in. Truly, I had defended Tina but that was because mother was going too far. But from the look in father's eyes, he was interpreting something different.

"I'll see you at home, son." He slowly made his way out.

I sighed and relaxed in my seat. The more I think about it, father was indirectly responsible for my evolution as he put it. If it wasn't for him, I would never have met Tina. And now he seemed please to see our relationship. I narrowed my eyes in suspicion. Did he orchestrate the whole thing. Because he had always been on my case about my rendezvous with women. I shook my head and chalked it off. He wouldn't stoop that low. I guess everything happened was because of his mere kindness and obligation.

Well, now what's left to do is convince Tina to accompany me to my ancestral home.