CHAPTER 31

Xander's POV

Mr. Christopher Scott is going to be a big pain in my ass.

After a long hour of meeting where words were exchanged with nothing promising out of it, I call off the meeting and leave. The man is getting on my nerves, purposefully trying to prey on my need to buy out his restaurant which I heard is crumbling with low sales even though it is one of the best restaurants we have in town.

“What did I miss?” I ask Carly as soon as I get back to the office, settling in my chair with a frown on my face.

“Nothing much. Mr. Allen called and Chairman Zanders is proposing a meeting with you…” Carly drones on to all the other meetings I have scheduled for the day and I feel my headache build.

“Clear my schedule for tomorrow. I won't be coming to the office.” I tell her.

“Sir,” Carly begins with a sigh as she holds her tab to her side. “You can't afford to miss any day if you are bent on going on your honeymoon soon.” She tells me.

Annoyance snakes off my vein at her words and I arch a questioning brow at her. “Tell me something, Carly. Who is the boss?” I ask her.

She swallows, her face softening. “You, sir.”

“Good. Now, when I tell you that I won't be at the office tomorrow, you do not question me. Do what you have to do but make sure tomorrow's appointment are taken care of. Am I clear?” I ask her.

“Yes, sir.” She nods.

“Good. Now, go prepare. We are going for an inspection around the building in thirty minutes.” I dismiss her.

I turn on my laptop and get to work, making good use of my time to do what I have to do. I keep counting the days until I can retire and hand over the company to someone else to take charge of while watching from the sidelines but sadly, that won't happen anytime soon. I really do enjoy doing my job. It can just be overbearing sometimes.

By the time Carly comes to remind me that it is time, I have finished with what I am doing. So, we leave and make the rounds. Despite the terrible day I am having, none of my employees manages to offend me further. I am tired and about ready to take a break when I return to the office. That is until Carly comes in to inform me that Dave is around.

“Let him in,” I tell her as I take off my tie.

Dave comes in a moment later and a smile instantly forms on my face at the sight of my best friend who I haven't seen in a while. I stand up from the seat and we exchange hand shakes which graduates into a tight hug.

“Feels like I haven't seen you in forever,” I tell him as we pull away from each other.

“That's because you haven't. Although not forever,  a little over two weeks ago.” He tells me as he crashes into one of the couches in my office.

Walking up to my wine collection in my office, I grab one of our favorites with two tumbler glasses and go to join him. He pries the suit jacket he is donning off his body, already texting away on his phone.

“Sofia?” I ask.

“Yep,” he answers as he takes the glass from me. I pour the wine open and then fill his glass before filling mine.

“How is it going with Alexa?” I ask as I settle back into my seat.

I have been itching to call or text her all day but I don't want to interrupt whatever they will have going on. Besides, I prefer if I am in bed with her at night when I can listen to her tell me about her day.

“Seems like she has made a new best friend. If the excited texts are anything to go by.” Dave mumbles with a smile like a love sick puppy.

“Splendid then.” I tell him.

Dave raises a brow at me. “You know what that means right?”

“What?” I pass him a quizzical look.

He shakes his head. “Oh, man. You are definitely in for it. Now, I don't know how Alexa acts but my wife with any woman as a best friend is a cause for alarm. And she is with your wide. More alarms.” He tells me.

“Well, in that case, cheers to what is to come.” I smile as we click our glass together.

“You really don't get it, do you?” he asks after taking a huge sip of his wine.

“Huh?” I ask.

Dave grins at me. “You will see,”

Placing my right leg over my left, I lean into my seat and turn to him. “We were supposed to meet for drinks tonight.” I point out the obvious.

“Yeah but I decided to do you one better and come now. Those meetings are killing me man. I need a vacation.” He says as he runs a hand into his dark curly hair.

“Bro, you just came back from a vacation.” I tell him.

“So?” He looks at me as if to say, ‘what’.

“You do you.” I laugh and gulp down the remainder of my wine before pouring myself another glass.

“Working should be a crime,” he grumbles as he helps himself to another glass.

“Not working should be a crime.” I retort. “Tell me what's bothering you, Dave. I can help.” I offer.

Dave stares at me for a few seconds as if to convince himself that it isn't necessary only to launch into his latest business rendezvous. We talk for a while with me offering him viable solutions from my perspective. He seems relieved by the end of it, that is until I bring up Christopher Scott and his sinking restaurant.

“You know I hate the Scott's. They are greedy people. Go to them with your business and they will milk you dry.” Dave says with a scowl.

“Wanted to see things for myself,” I tell him.

“Xander, you can do anything. Money is not a problem. Talk to some estate agents or scope out viable places you are willing to buy and build your wife the damn restaurant. You have time.” He tells me.

I nod, agreeing with him. Carly also suggested it. “I can work with that. How about Sofia? How is her trendy boutique coming along?” I ask.

“She doesn't know yet. It's going to be her birthday present, you know?” He tells me like we haven't discussed about this a million times already.

I open my mouth to say something when a knock from Carly grabs my attention. After asking her to come in, she does.

“Two women are here to see you. They call themselves sexy modellas.” She says.

Frowning, I share a look with Dave while wondering who it could be. I certainly do not know or have a need for anyone with those names. Dave shrugs too, sipping his wine.

“Let them wait. They don't have an appointment, do they? I won't be seeing anyone.” I tell her.

“I’m afraid she can't deliver those messages to us.”

A familiar voice says just as I see Dave perk up in his seat from my peripheral view. Carly moves out of the way just as Sofia in company of my wife walks in.

My wife.

It feels good to think that someone is my wife.

“Carly, you know Sofia. And that is Alexa, my wife.” Even better when I say it out loud.

Carly passes me a look that tells me that she was in on it. After mumbling an apology, I watch her saunter out of the place and shutting the door behind her. Sofia hops off to meet Dave, throwing herself at him like a child.

Honestly, she loses all common sense when she is with her husband just as he does with her.

I stand from the couch and walk over to Alexa who has walked up to my table. She looks…different. It only takes me a second to see why. Her hair looks different than I had seen it in the morning as it is now a fine shade of blonde, platinum. And they look well taken care of too.

“Like what you see?” She asks, a smirk wounding uts way up to her lips.

Alexa has no idea how truly stunning she looks in her new hair and the black dress which I'm guessing Sofia must have put her to. She looks absolutely stunning and sexy, her green eyes popping even more with the red lipstick painting her pouty lips.

“Did that come from my money?” I ask her as I close the gap between us.

“Unfortunately, no. Sofia paid for it.” She tells me.

“Oh, really?” I smirk at her. “That's a bummer then. I bet my money would look very good on you.” She flushes at my comment and I take the opportunity to lean in and press a kiss to her kissable red painted lips that I can't seem to look away from.

“Hi,” I say to her as I pull away. She looks dazed, totally not expecting what I have done.

I inclined my head toward my friends in the room smoothly and she nods just as smoothly, getting the unsaid words.

“Hi,”

Then, she steps forward and presses her body to mine, her hands thrown around my neck with her sweet perfume teasing my nostrils. I wrap my hands around her waist as if to flush her against my body even more, taking in every inch of her sweetness and the smile on her face.

“You look absolutely stunning, Alexa. I love the new hair too.” I tell her.

“Oh, I'm sure you do. I spent hours at the salon so you better like it.” She says, still pressed to me.

Her snarky response surprises me but it's not the bad kind. It only makes me smile just as I realize that Alexa has no means of paying for whatever she wants. Handing her one of my black cards would be one of the things I would do once I get back to the house.

“I do,” I tell her with laughter in my voice as I feel the soft strands of her hair.

She pulls back then and looks toward Sofia and Dave. Alexa almost staggers back at the look they are giving us but I hold her waist, wrapping my hands around her and pulling her to my side. My friends are nosey people.

“You guys are so cute,” Sofia pouts with glee, now sitting on her husband's laps. She is one shameless woman. Dave passes me a lopsided grin.

Before I can say anything, she shoots out of  Dave's laps and rushes toward me to give me a hug. I hug her back as she buries her head into my chest briefly before I let her go. She pulls my cheeks fondly and I slap her hand off which makes her laugh. She can be so silly sometimes.

“Thank you,” I tell her quietly, nudging my head toward Alexa.

She rolls her eyes. “Oh, please. It was nothing. You don't have to pay me or whatever to hang out with my best friend.”

Dave passes me a knowing look which almost makes me laugh. He had mentioned it earlier as though he knew.

“So, I know you guys are super busy and all but we were dining at the restaurant when Dave informed me that you were here. I suggested we come but it was Alexa who had the sense to come with lunch.” Sofia explains.

I nod in surprise just as Alexa excuses herself from me to talk to Dave while Sofia unpacks the take outs they came with. I won't be surprised if she decides that she is going to eat again. She loves food like that.

“You know what?” Alexa calls from where she is talking to Dave on the couch. I look at her, nodding for her to go on.

“How about I make dinner tonight and you both dine with us?” She asks.

Dave looks at his wife while I silently nod at Alexa. She smiles back just as Sofia gives a shout of glee.

“Thank goodness! I was beginning to wonder when you would ask. I guess my best friend's benefit has started already.” She says as she continues to take out the food they brought.

The three of us share silent looks and as if on cue, we bust out laughing. It's going to be a pretty good day from here, I can tell.