Chapter 24

*Tina's POV*

When I woke up the next morning, the bed was empty. Alarmed, I jerked up and began to worry when I spotted Alejandro by the window. He was making a call to someone. He was now dressed in a white boxer shorts which hugged those perfect buns to perfection. I smiled as I stared at his toned back. I couldn't hear what he was saying bit I could see the frown on his side view. I presumed it was business as usual.

When he finished the call, he spun around and his eyes landed on me. He smiled and made its way to the bed.

"Good morning." I felt his weight in the bed as he sat beside me. "Did you sleep well?"

"You know the answer to that," I replied with a lazy chuckle.

My laughter seemed to be infectious and he laughed along.

"Who was that?" I asked, referring to the call he made earlier.

"It was Diego." His eyebrows formed a straight line. "The power has been restored and everything is back to normal."

"Oh, thank goodness."

"Are you relived about the power or just looking forward to leaving this place so quickly and going back home?" He feigned sadness.

"Alejandro!" My eyes widened. "How could you assume something like that. I'm not so eager to just leave like that."

I saw the cheeky smile on his face and I knew he was teasing me.

"Not funny." I smacked his forearm.

"I wouldn't agree." He leaned his forehead against mine. "Its always fun to tease you and see a frown once in a while."

"If I didn't know better I would say you were a closet sadist.

"Well you know better," he said. "Considering the fun we've had couple of times.

I turned beet red at his sentence.

Just then my phone rang. I turned around and spotted my skirt, then fished it out. My eyes glazed in surprise and anger as I saw the name on the screen. It was a name I thought I would never see again.

Mike.

I mentally smacked myself in the head. Why the hell had I not deleted his number since. I felt Alejandro's eyes on me as he looked at me expectantly. I picked up the phone.

"What the hell do you want?" I snapped.

"Tina, it's me, Mike." His voice on the other end was still as pathetic as ever.

"Of course I know it's you. Surprisingly, I was dumb enough not to delete your number," I said.

Alejandro's eyebrows had perked up in interest.

"Tina, please listen to me," Mike said. "Look I'm sorry about what happened that day. I've been finding a way for us to get back together. You mean a lot to me and you are one of the best women out there."

"So you knew this and you still went ahead to toy around with that bitch?" I shook my head, laughing grimly. "Can you hear yourself right now? So what happened now? The sank left you? Figured out you were a useless excuse of a man? What's the story this time?"

"Tina, please I—"

"Get this into your thick skull," I said, cutting him off. "Don't get your hopes up, we are never getting back together. I didn't just throw you out of my apartment, I threw you out of my life. I should have also thrown you out of my contact list but I forgot to do so. Anyway, thanks for giving me a reminder."

"Tina-"

"Good riddance and fuck off." I cut the call.

Angrily, I scrolled to my contact list, blocked and deleted his number. After what I went through last night, I didn't see anyone spoiling this day. I was done with garbage.

Alejandros eyes were on me when I looked up.

"Ex?" he asked.

I nodded and ran a hand through my hair, feeling an overwhelming need to explode.

"He seems very persistent?" Alejandro said.

I looked up and I could see the anger in his eyes. For a moment, I was seeing the old Alejandro resurface and it scared me.

"Hey." I cupped his face. "I know that look and I don't like it. I don't care how persistent he is. We're not getting back together. I live by the saying once bitten twice shy."

The frown disappeared from his face and he sighed.

"I just don't want to see you get hurt," he whispered. "The funny thing is I don't know why. Tina, I don't even know my self again. I don't know if I'm losing my edge."

I smiled and kissed his nose.

"No, you're not losing yourself," I said. "It's the contrary."

"What do you mean?" He raised an eyebrow at me. I realized that he still didn't know that I was aware of his past. I was willing to keep it that way though.

"It's a secret." I stuck out my tongue at him.

"Oh Tina, you don't want to go that path with me" I saw his eyes darken with a mixture of lust and mischief.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

I gasped when I felt his hand slip under the cover and grab my left breast. He squeezed it softly and I moaned.

"I'll just have to force it out of you." He pushed me gently to the bed and straddled me.

I was so going to be late .

***

As soon as I took a seat by my desk, Kelly did not even wait to accost me.

"Well, someone was fucked today," she said in her way of greeting.

"Jesus, Kelly!" I sent her an embarrassed glare.

"What, just saying." She shrugged. "So how was it this time? Was it doggy style? Cowgirl? Or was there chains and whips involved? You look like you haven't seen the light of another day in ages."

I rolled my eyes at her but switched on the laptop nonetheless.

"It was okay." I tried to keep a straight face but felt myself heating up at the cheeks. Who was I kidding it was more than okay. I nearly blushed of my seat as I remember how powerful Alejandro was on top of me. He seemed to be full of vigor earlier that morning and I wondered if my voice was loud enough for the other occupants of the house to hear.

"So, something did happen." Kelly was laughing hysterically. "I can practically see your face trying to explode. I hope he didn't go too rough on you. Well, you're still able to walk properly so I think he didn't go hard enough."

I smacked her shoulder. "Could you get less of a potty mouth?"

"No," she giggled.

All was silent for a while. I glanced at her and discovered a faraway look on her eyes.

"It looks like something is going on with you too," I said.

She blinked rapidly and faced me. "What do you mean?"

"Don't try to play dumb, Kelly," I said. "I'm just as sharp as you and it looks like we have the same kind of intuition."

"You are something else." She chuckled nervously.

"Dont try to change the topic." I wagged a finger at her. "Well, what is it?"

She cleared her throat and glanced around the office. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Oh, so now she was being considerate.

"I think things may begin to get serious with Tito and me." She finally dropped the news.

"Hold on, you mean you guys are dating?" My eyes widened.

"Not dating per say. We've gone on some few outings. That's just it."

"And?" I prodded.

"He seemed genuine." I could see the distant look in Kelly's eyes. "For once, he didn't make any flirtatious comments. I didn't see the usual lecherous look in his eyes. He seemed so...serious. And when he smiled, it was so sweet. Who would have thought?"

"It looks like he might be getting genuinely interested." I smiled.

"So you think we should go further?"

"I think you should still give it some time. You do realize he runs a strip club and sees varieties of women there every day."

"So you're saying I should not give him a chance?"

"What, no! That's not what i mean," I replied. "I'm saying you should be cautious. Don't push him away but still try to be observant."

"Thanks." She smiled. "You rock."

I returned her smile. "Don't I know it."

My cellphone rang and I picked it up to see my mother's I'd on the screen.

"Mom?" I said. "How are you?"

"Kelly," I could hear her sniff on the other end. My heart jolted immediately. "You need to come over. Your father collapsed."

"What!" I shrieked drawing a worried look from Kelly.

"What's going on?" she mouthed. I signaled for her to be calm.

"Mom, what happened?" I turned my attention back to the phone.

"I don't know. I don't know how to explain it. He was working on the air conditioner and he just collapsed all of a sudden."

"I'll be there," I said.

"Alright, we're expecting you, baby."

I cut the call and quickly stood up.

"What happened?" Kelly asked.

"It's my dad," I replied. "He collapsed."

"What!"

"I can't explain details now but I need to see him." I made my way around the desk towards the elevator.

"Will our boss be okay with you taking a leave?" Kelly asked from behind me.

I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Point taken." An embarrassed look appeared on her face.

I arrived at Alejandro's office door and knocked.

"Come in," he called from the other end.

I opened the door and walked in. He was busy with some paper work in front of the laptop. A cup of coffee stood beside the laptop and steam could be seen coming out.

"Tina?" His eyes perked when he noticed my worried demeanor. "Is everything okay?"

"Sorry to disturb you," I said.

"Don't apologize," he replied. "Something tells me this is for a very good reason. What's the matter?"

Perceptive as ever.

"I need to take a leave," I replied. "My dad collapsed and he's in the hospital."

"What?" Alejandro's eyes widened in shock. "How? What happened?"

"My mom didn't explain the full details but I have to be there." My eyes brimmed with tears. "I have to see him."

"Your request is granted." Alejandro stood up.

I teared up and rushed to envelope him in a tight hug.

"Thank you!" I wailed. "Thank you so much."

"We don't have time." He gently pulled me back and gazed into my face.

"What do you mean 'we'?"

"I'm coming with you."

I was surprised.

"But the company-"

"Won't collapse if I'm not around for one day." He put a finger over my lips. "A life is at stake at the moment."

He wrapped his hand around my shoulder as we moved to the door.

"Let's hurry."