Chapter 3: NOT INTERESTED

“Shut up!” Val exclaimed, simultaneously dropping her cup of coffee down on the kitchen counter in shock. Her wild brown hair stuck out from every angle and with the stress lines beneath her wide hazel eyes, she looked very much like a zombie running on crack and two hours of sleep.

“What is it now, drama queen?” I rolled my eyes and inserted my bread into the toaster on the counter before taking a seat by the kitchen island. Considering our small 2-bedroom apartment, the white themed kitchen was averagely big and contained all the needed necessities.

“Are you shitting me right now? You met the Lennox Wilder, and you think I’m being a drama queen about it?” Val’s mouth still hung open as she stared at me as if she couldn’t quite believe the little story I’d told her.

Taking up my cup from the island, I took a sip from the hot coffee Val had earlier poured out for me and formed a grimace from how bitter it tasted. No milk or sugar, just how she liked it.

“And what is he supposed to be? The Michael Jackson of the business industry? That dude was an absolute jerk. I mean, he hates Christmas. Who the hell hates Christmas, Val?” I frowned, almost pouting.

In her floral sleeping robe, Val groaned and picked up her cup of coffee, then sat beside me by the kitchen island.

“V, he is Lennox Wilder! Of course, he doesn’t give two flying fucks about Christmas or whatever world exists outside his busy schedule. He’s literally, like, the god of Wild Industries. I can’t say CEO because he blows every other average CEO off the scale. How the hell haven’t you heard of him?” She ended her rant with a glare at me, like I was supposed to be aware of every business tycoon who walked the earth. That was what happened when you were a business major like she was.

Valery Gilbert was an A class nerd, complete with the geeky glasses and zero social life. Well, except for me and her boyfriend. But she more than made up for her lack of a life with her top-ranking gossip blog, The Hive. Val was aware of every single trendy news and deep inside scoop on literally everyone from our college and beyond. Knowing who Lennox Wilder was had just been another perk to being Valery Gilbert.

“Blah, blah, blah. All I’m hearing is that Lennox Wilder is just another asshole who thinks he can get away with it because he’s rich. It doesn’t appeal to me.” I drank from my cup.

Val’s brow flipped up and one corner of her lip curved into a knowing smirk. “Hmm, you don’t say, V. Is that your way of saying that you don’t think he’s sexy as hell?”

I mulled over the question even though I definitely knew the answer. Not just one feature made him attractive. It was a combination of several things—his voice, mischievous smiles, smouldering eyes, perfectly shaped body wrapped up in that suit. I wondered what he looked like underneath and what he felt like. Maybe tanned and tight with muscular arms? I could tell from when we shook hands the last time, they were firm and inspired a type of electricity when he touched me. I’d felt it all the way down there.

My cheeks burned at those lewd thoughts. I guess that was what a man like him does to you. Truth was, Lennox Wilder was lethally alluring in a way no lady could ignore.

Yet, I said, “Nope, not at all. He’s cranky, possibly hasn’t gotten laid in years. That explains why he hates Christmas.”

Val threw her head back in laughter. “Girl, you’re crazy. You definitely have to get your female anatomy checked because hell knows that if Lennox Wilder met me, I’d be damned if I don’t get him to fuck me. And between you and I, we both know you’re the one who hasn’t gotten laid in years!”

I flipped her the bird and laughed. “Last time I checked, you have a boyfriend, Val. And for the nth time, I’m not interested in Wilder. Sure, he has a good face and body but what matters to me is what’s underneath?”

“A big ass dick, I bet.”

“Val!” I gasped, almost choking from my laughter. “You know, you’re awfully dirty for the supposed nerd.”

“I’m honoured, thank you.” She beamed. “So, do you think he liked you?”

“Isn’t it too early for that?”

“Hmm, I don’t think so. Study shows that 75% of men and women show signs of attraction to who they like from their first meeting. Were there any signs?”

“Hardly. He’s impossible to read. It’s like one second, he’s something else and in the next, it’s almost like he can’t stand me. Well, I’m too good for his ass anyway. Not that any of that matters. He has a daughter and possibly a wife, and he’s my client, and I don’t like him.” I ended firmly. It was still difficult to believe he was married. I was almost very certain that he wasn’t, given the missing ring on his finger.

Val rolled her eyes and gave out an exhausted sigh. “For a moment, I actually forgot that you lived under a rock. Lennox Wilder is a widower, V. He lost his wife years ago and it was all over the news. Great tragedy. I heard rumours that he shut down for years after that. He might be seen as one of the most ruthless men in the business industry but truthfully, I think he’s just hurting.”

My heart clenched and somehow, I remembered how soft he was when speaking to Shaye and how much he warned me about taking care of her. Something about him caring so much about his daughter warmed my heart to bits. It was so clear that she meant a lot to him, and he possibly didn’t want to lose that. Like he lost his wife.

“Oh…” I mumbled. “I feel so stupid.”

Val nudged me and laughed lightly. “Cheer up, loser. This is Christmas and he might not believe in it but maybe by some Christmas miracle, you two might get along. Who knows?”

“Yeah, I’m not looking forward to that.” I tried laughing but her words lingered.

What was the possibility that Lennox Wilder and I would get along? He was the big shot billionaire from L.A., and I was the struggling local dance instructor. There were no similarities, but then, opposites were always bound to attract.

Just like Val had mentioned, what if he was really hurting? Loss wasn’t easy to deal with. I would know. It leaves you lonely and in desperate need to understand all the emotion and baggage. What if his way of living through the hell was acting like they didn’t exist? Like he was truly heartless.