Chapter 59

Chapter 59

"Hey," Dave whispered next to me.

"What?" my focus is still on the screen as I work on my billings.

"Isn't that your boyfriend?"

"What? I don't -" my voice faltered when I turned and saw Axel striding down the hall with a one-track mind on Harper's office. He knocked as he reached the glass door. Harper rose from her seat in delight and they exchanged pleasantries. "What is he doing?"

"I was about to ask the same thing." Our eyes were glued to Harper's office, mouths parting in wonderment.

I craned my neck to see what was happening. Dave did the same.

Cassandra walked by us to pick up a document that was freshly out of the printer, "What are you guys looking at?" She followed our gaze, "Oh."

Harper's fingers touched her lips as she nodded, intently listening to what Axel was saying. His hands were all over the place trying to explain something.

"Do you know how to lip-read?" I asked.

"Never really tested but I'll try," he cleared his throat and focused. "My... dog... is outside."

"Huh? Does he have a dog, Lauren?" Cassandra said.

"Not that I know of."

"Shush, I'm trying to focus." He looked back to Harper's office, "I'm trying..."

"Uh-huh?" I encouraged.

He squinted then confusion spread across his face, "Not to shit my pants?"

"Okay," I slumped back on my seat, "You're useless."

"Hey, at least I'm trying. Unlike others," he gave Cassandra the side-eye.

"Oh, wow, don't look at me. Look at Lauren, she's the girlfriend." She turned to me, "How did you two even get together anyway? I mean we all know what happened in Manila. You two were fighting like cats and dogs."

"Yeah," Dave nodded. "And I almost got attacked by girls."

"Wasn't that one of your wildest dreams?" Cassandra said.

My mouth parted in an attempt to say something but Axel stood and caught my attention as he shook Harper's hand. He walked out of her office and went over to our cubicles, his forearms resting on top of the partition. "Hey, guys, can I borrow Lauren for a second?"

I glanced at Dave and Cassandra and she said, "She's all yours."

I gave her a look, "Seriously?"

She shrugged, a teasing smile appearing on her face. Dave's shoulders shake as he covered his mouth, trying not to burst into laughter.

I walked over to him, hands in my pockets, "Hey, what's up?"

"Can we talk in private?"

I scratched the back of my head, "It isn't my break yet."

"Don't worry, I asked for Harper's permission."

I glanced at her office and she gave me the thumbs up. "Alright then."

We walked to the elevators and he pressed on RD. As soon as the elevator closed, I spoke, "You're scaring me. What's happening? What are you doing here?"

He exhaled loudly, "I told Harper everything."

"Define everything."

"Well, everything she needs to know."

My tongue ran across my lips, "Care to explain further?"

The elevator opened to the roof deck.

"Harper deserves to know what was happening behind that lawsuit. It is her company after all."

"And?"

"I told her that Katie was trying to get back at us."

"You didn't tell her about Randall, did you?"

"Of course not. I would never do that." He said it like it was the most ridiculous thing he had heard in the world. "I told her that Katie was the one who actually copied the photo, that she had some hacker fake the date of the post."

"Okay, what did she say?"

"She asked me if I had any evidence. I told her I don't and she told me I need to get concrete evidence that will be useful."

I nodded.

His chest heaved up and down, "Don't be mad at me."

"What for?"

His eyes closed as if he was scared of what will happen to him, "I took a photo of Clark's letter."

"You what?"

"And I showed it to my lawyer."

My mouth parted in shock, "Axel, I trusted you."

"I know, I know, and I never meant to break that trust, I just wanted to know if we could use the letter as evidence. After all, it is a written admission. But my lawyer told me it was inadmissible."

"Of course, it was. The names were vague."

"I know, but I didn't know that then. I thought we could, somehow, prove that you were Pixel and he was GAAP. But apparently, it wasn't sufficient."

I exhaled through the nose and looked away.

"Look," he turned my body and held my arms. "I'm sorry. I was just looking out for you. I thought it would help. Besides, I personally showed it to my lawyer and I already deleted the photo. I assure you; it wouldn't get out."

I nodded, "Thanks."

He lowered his head, looking directly at me, "Are we good?"

I returned his gaze and saw how sincere he was. It was a different Axel, better than the one I'd met that night at Corrigan's. I nodded slowly and he smiled bringing me into a hug.

*       *       *

The time has come for Thanksgiving week.

Katie and Clark haven't bothered us and I haven't talked to Dean since that grueling night. It was a pretty peaceful interval, I should say, but it seems like Axel and I could never be scot-free of challenges.

Over the course of two weeks, Hailey has set up five double dates, three lunch dates with me, and six surprise visits at home.

The first time she came by my apartment, she asked if Axel has ever stayed over for the night, and being my panicked self, I said yes. When I excused myself to the bathroom and she thought I was out of sight, she searched my apartment for Axel's stuff. Good thing I saw her; I can't imagine what would happen if she'll bust us and ruin Josh's proposal. So, I texted Axel the same night and he came in just as Hailey was leaving. He made sure to bring some of his stuff and leave the shirt he wore the night Hailey saw him.

True enough, Hailey visited just the next day. She brought dinner, I apologized for the mess and she thought I didn't see the way her brow raised when she saw Axel's shirt on the couch.

From then on, it has become a daily routine for Axel to stop by and change up some of his stuff in my apartment. Three days in, he started to bring dinner so we could eat together, just in case Hailey shows up, of course. At first, I was against the idea, but it made sense. And who am I to pass up free food? Plus, the company wasn't so bad.

Last weekend, Hailey gave me two movie tickets. She said Josh and her were supposed to go, but their schedules changed last minute and that it would be such a shame to put those tickets to waste so, she asked if Axel and I can go.

"Sure," I said hesitantly. "I'll ask if he has the time."

"Oh, come on, if he really likes you, he'll make it work. Besides, it would be a waste to not use the tickets, right?"

"Right."

So, we showed up at the movies. I was laughing at one scene when Axel suddenly leaned closer to me and whispered, "Hailey. 8 o'clock."

"What?"

"See for yourself but don't be obvious." His arm extended to my seat. To outsiders, it might look like he was making a move to get me close to him, but I know he was only doing it to shield me so I could have a better view of Hailey. I cuddled closer and angled my face by his neck to see where Hailey was. God, he smells good. His breath hitched and I glanced at him for a second. His jaw ticked but his eyes were still focused on the screen. I focus back on Hailey and saw her three rows above us. Her hand tipped the baseball hat under her hoodie hiding her face.

"I can't believe her," I whispered amused.

"Kiss me."

My head moved back away from him, "What?"

"For show," he nodded a little bit in an attempt to convince me then a crooked smile appeared on his face.

I bowed and rubbed my forehead to hide my smile. "She's crazy."

"Yeah, she is," he leaned in and we made out in the theater trying to convince Hailey that we're the real deal.

And now we're at JFK, trying to catch our flight to Raleigh.

"You know we could've gotten here earlier if it weren't for your dang supplements."

"I didn't know you shouldn't bring the whole bottle! See, if you had allowed us to use the private jet, we wouldn't have this problem."

"Everybody knows that you can't put all of those in your hand carry."

"They were important to me. And you can't say everybody because I didn't know. Ergo, it doesn't equate to everybody."

"Since when did you know ergo?"

Someone cleared their throat loudly behind me. "Trouble in paradise?" I turned and saw Hailey with Josh a few steps behind her carrying some of their bags.

"Oh, come on, babe. Let's not bother these two lovebirds. They're just probably practicing what it's like to be married for ten years."

"Gross, why would I be married to him?" I regretted it as soon as I said it. Why can't you keep your mouth shut, Lauren?

I dared to look at them: Josh was covering his eyes with spread-apart fingers, Hailey was trying to digest what I said as her mouth parted and her brows knit together, and Axel? Axel was simply panicking on the inside.

Shit.

"Babe," Axel spoke. "You don't mean that." I looked up at him and saw his worried expression. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sour your mood. Come here," he stretched his arms and wrapped them around me, one hand on my back and the other smoothing my hair. He brought his head closer to mine and whispered something in my ear, "For what it's worth, I really am sorry." Then he released the hug but his touch didn't leave my shoulders as he stared at me at arms-length. "Are we good?"

I gave him a small nod, "Yeah."

"What the hell just happened?" Hailey asked Josh.

"I believe they just made up."

"This is confusing," her eyes turned into slits. "Why don't we go? We're gonna be late for our flight." she walked ahead of us, still sporting the confused look.

Josh let Hailey walk a few paces ahead then scolded us, "Get your act together."

"Yes, chef," Axel replied.

Josh shook his head and went to follow Hailey.

I slapped Axel's arm, "Ow! What was that for?"

"'Yes, chef?'"

"Oh, you're making fun of that? How about 'Gross, why would I be married to him?'"

"I do not sound like that!"

"Whatever you say, my goddess," he snatched my bag and walked ahead of me.

"What did you call me?" My legs tried to keep up with him.

He turned to face me then walked backward, flashing his ever-famous crooked smirk, "You heard me just fine. Why? Do you have a problem with that?" His eyes traveled from my head to toe then back up, "My goddess?"

I grimaced in disgust and reached for his baseball cap to cover his eyes. I walked ahead of him to the gate and I heard him chuckle behind me.

This thanksgiving will be one for the books.