Red String of Fate

Chapter 8: Leverage

"Ay, sorry!" Alexa said and she opened the door only to find Eunice and Alexander waiting outside. She was tempted to throw an insult at him but she stopped herself because Eunice was there. "Pasok." She told Eunice opening the door wider. She immediately tried to slam the door close as soon as Eunice got in but Alexander stopped it with his arm. She frowned at him and he smiled.

"Hi." He greeted but she only arched her brow at him before she turned to Eunice who was standing in the middle of the office; that's when she noticed that she was carrying a paper bag. Eunice smiled and handed her the paper bag when she saw her looking at it.

"Lunch po ninyo."

"Aww, thank you, Eunice! This is rather sweet of you." Alexa sincerely said as she took the bag from Eunice's hand.

"Hindi po yan galing sa akin, Atty. Carbonel. Si Atty. Sandoval po ang bumili nyan." Eunice replied and Alexa smiled.

"Pakisabi kay Nickolai na salamat." She said and Eunice shook her head the second time.

"Kay Sir Alexander po yan galing." She uttered and was surprised when the smile disappeared from Alexa's face.

"Ahh, okay." Alexa replied and Eunice bowed her head slightly before she excused herself. Alexa heard the door click close and she spun around to face Alexander. "Wow, sinusuhulan mo na ako to sleep with you?" She sarcastically asked and Alexander laughed.

"Hindi tayo nagkita ng dalawang araw tapos yan ang una mong sasabihin sa akin?" He questioned. "Hindi yan suhol. Why would I do something like that when I know that I can have you for free?" He teased with a lopsided grin and Alexa fought to keep her temper in check. She walked with purposeful strides towards the trashcan which was on the other end of the large room and unceremoniously dumped the paper bag inside it before she went back to her father's desk and sat down.

"If you have nothing else to say, please leave because I'm very busy." She dismissively said. He stood there and said nothing before he walked towards the table and sat down on one of the chairs fronting it. 

"Tell me, bakit ba ang init ng ulo mo sa akin?" He asked and Alexa's mouth gaped open in disbelief as she looked at him.

"Seriously, are you really that stupid? I am losing my faith in the Philippine Bar exam if someone like you passed!" She bit out and he smiled that slow crooked smile that lifted the corners of his mouth and crinkled the sides of his eyes. Alexa averted her gaze as her heartbeat doubled.

"Alexa, it's not as if I forced you to sleep with me. It was an act agreed upon by two consenting adults."

"Clearly one of the adults lost her mind." She mumbled to herself.

"We needed to be with each other that time and it isn't my fault that we felt the need to be with each other intimately three times."

"Will you stop talking! My God! What did I do to deserve the misfortune of meeting you?" She blurted out before she inhaled and held her breath. She expelled her breath and closed her eyes and Alexander looked on with amusement. When she opened her eyes again, he was surprised to see her change. She looked calm and composed, a far cry from the volatile young woman that was angrily dicing him to pieces with her words. "You may leave." She serenely commanded and Alexander was in awe. Ang bilis naman magbago mood nito? He thought as he studied Alexa's profile. She went back to reading the files in front of her and totally ignored him.

"Alexa." He called.

"Leave, I'm busy." She replied not looking at him as she continued to peruse the document in front of her.

"Too busy even for me?" He teased. Wala man lang reaksyon? Dalawang araw kaming hindi nagkita? He thought.

"Especially for you." She replied.