Chapter 89
Elizabeth's POV
Alexander watched me, his deep-set eyes as placid and unreadable as a windless lake.
The silence from him only amplified the knot of tension tightening in my stomach.
"Mr. Windsor, you aren't angry, are you?" I ventured cautiously, probing for a reaction.
In response, a smile touched his handsome face, but it didn't reach his eyes, which suddenly took on a predatory gleam.
Alexander took half a step toward me. While he didn't completely block my path, the proximity was enough to trigger a panicked sense of being trapped in a cage.
"I misspoke!" I immediately bowed my head, admitting fault, terrified he might close the remaining distance.
His hand shot out, his fingers closing around my wrist. Alexander leaned down, and as he stared at me, I saw something flicker in his gaze—interest.
I froze, certain I had to be mistaken. But then his face loomed closer, the interest in his eyes now so direct and undisguised it was impossible to misinterpret.
He wasn't angry. His attitude, in fact, was something else entirely.
"It was just a joke. Why are you so nervous?"
I swallowed hard, quickly trying to play along. "Yes, it was just a joke. I'm glad you're not taking it seriously. Um, I have to get to a meeting."
Alexander was still blocking my way, showing no intention of letting me leave.
The rest of my team was waiting for me, and if I didn't show up soon, they might send someone to investigate. If anyone saw this…
The thought alone made my nerves fray. I reached out a hand, intending to push him aside and make my escape.
But a noise from the doorway told me I was too late.
"Ms. Spencer…"
My team lead's voice was laced with confusion; he clearly hadn't yet registered who was standing in front of me.
The unexpected interruption sent my heart into a frantic, uncontrolled rhythm.
My mouth opened, but no words came out. Then, my lead finally recognized the man before me.
He sucked in a sharp breath and quickly turned his back, his voice a flustered mess. "I didn't mean to interrupt, I'll leave right now!"
As he spoke, he pulled the door shut behind him. The soft click of the latch felt like a needle pricking my most sensitive nerve.
I didn't know where the courage came from, but I shoved the man in front of me and scrambled back several steps.
"Mr. Windsor! This is going to cause a misunderstanding!"
I watched the completely unconcerned expression on his face, which only deepened my confusion.
Did things like this truly not matter to him? Wasn't he worried about the gossip that would inevitably spread through the company?
While I was still trying to process his indifference, Alexander casually sat down in my chair and arched an eyebrow. "What did you think I meant when I asked you to the gala?"
I stared blankly for a couple of seconds. "To pretend to be your girlfriend and help you fend off some trouble?"
A man in his position must have had countless troubles I couldn't even begin to comprehend, chief among them being his marital status.
If he remained single for too long, countless people would likely try to push all sorts of women on him.
From what I knew of Alexander, he wouldn't be inclined to entertain them. Bringing me to the gala as his pretend girlfriend was a way to use me as a shield.
His comment now… could it mean…
An answer crystallized in my mind, and understanding dawned. "So you came to find me to tell me that I need to keep up the act here at the office, too?"
After all, Carter didn't seem like the type to be easily fooled. If we were going to create a façade, it had to be convincing.
Still, Alexander's performance was far beyond my expectations. He seemed completely unbothered by it all. Didn't he feel even a little awkward maintaining this level of intimacy with me?
"It's part of your job description," Alexander stated as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. I pressed my lips together and nodded.
I couldn't really argue with that. I wasn't entirely blameless in this situation; the child growing inside me was his. It seemed I had no choice but to follow his lead.
"Can I go to my meeting now?" I managed, forcing a small curve onto my lips, trying to appear as unaffected as he was.
Since there was nothing to be surprised about, I might as well get back to work.
The longer I stayed here, the more salacious the office gossip would become.
Alexander didn't move aside immediately, his gaze dropping to study me. "What are your plans?"
I blinked. "For the project? I'll proceed as I outlined. You don't need to worry about anything else. I'll show you results."
He was bringing up something we had already agreed upon. Did he not trust me? Was he seeking reassurance?
I looked up at him, my expression earnest. "Mr. Windsor, if you have any concerns, you can tell me now." It would be better to clear up any misunderstandings before they could fester.
"I have no concerns," Alexander replied.
The room fell silent again. I bit my lip, then took the initiative once more. "Then I'll get back to my work."
Standing here was becoming unbearably awkward; the sooner I left, the better.
This time, Alexander didn't stop me. Once outside the office, I practically fled.
When I arrived at the conference room, the low murmur of conversation ceased instantly. Every head turned in my direction.
"Ms. Spencer!"
It might have been my imagination, but the way they looked at me seemed different. Many of them appeared far more respectful than before.
"Let's begin the meeting." I distributed the documents. The room remained silent, the team members barely daring to meet my eyes.
It wasn't until I announced that the project would continue that someone finally spoke up.
"Ms. Spencer, I know you and Mr. Windsor are on good terms, but the project has already run into problems. Continuing down this path is not a solution."
"That's right, Ms. Spencer," another chimed in. "I think you need to be responsible for us, too. If Mr. Windsor is funding you personally, what happens to us if the project incurs a loss? It will affect our careers, won't it?"
A few others looked up at me, their faces a near-uniform mask of apprehension mixed with suspicion and distrust.
I could understand their worries. They had been in excellent positions before being transferred to my team. If this project failed, it would undoubtedly impact their professional records. Their hesitation was perfectly understandable.
I met their gazes, my voice firm. "There is no budget from Mr. Windsor."
As the words fell, the room was first plunged into a stunned silence, then erupted in a few angry shouts. "What?"
In an instant, the entire conference room descended into chaos. All eyes were fixed on me, and one man shot to his feet, his voice trembling with agitation.
"Ms. Spencer, are you joking? Without funding, how are we supposed to move the project forward?"
I walked over to him and placed a calming hand on his shoulder. "Don't get excited. I have my own considerations, of course."