Red String of Fate

Chapter 8: Leverage

"Ouch." Alexander said and somehow he felt hurt by her indifference.

"Go away, Atty. Sandoval. I will contact you when I need your help." She airily said.

"It's past 12, eat lunch with me." He tried again but she kept her head bowed, her eyes still on the files.

"I don't eat." She muttered.

"Baka magkasakit ka nyan."

"My mother died three years ago and the possibility that she possessed you to show concern is very unlikely."

"Alexa, stop. You're being immature." Alexander said and Alexa slammed the folder that she was reading down. "Now we're talking." He added seeing the angry spark leap back into her eyes. "Let's have lunch."

"Were you dropped head-first when you were a child that even the most brutal of rejections doesn't deter you?" She asked and he laughed aloud. The timbre of his voice filled the office and Alexa's head making her dizzy as her heart pumped faster.

"You are really something else." Alexander said when he finished laughing. "You're so demure, para kang hindi makabasag-pinggan; you're so smart, you're a Harvard graduate and a US bar topnotcher; you have a very beautiful face matched with an alluring figure; you curse like a sailor; throw insults like an expert and you're a wildcat in bed." He uttered and Alexa felt her face flare. "And you still wonder why I'm crazy about you." He added and she felt butterflies in her stomach.

"You're just plain crazy; don't drag me into the picture." She replied as she stood up. She intended to walk to the door and leave if he insists on staying but he moved and pulled her to sit on his lap. Alexa stiffened instantly.

"Atty. Sandoval, this is getting old. You're not going to force yourself on me, are you?" She asked as she tried to stand up. "Ano ba, Alex! Hindi ka na nakakatuwa!" She hissed as he tightened his arms around her.

"Pareho pala tayo." He said against her hair.

"I don't remember harassing you!" She spat as he inhaled the sent of her hair.

"Hindi na ako natutuwa sa nararamdaman ko." He said with a sigh before he guided her stand on her feet and leave without looking back.

They were inside the conference room discussing one of their cases. Nickolai was showing his brother, father and Dustin all the evidence that their team managed to gather in their favor. Atty. Ferdinand Sandoval was nodding his head in approval and Dustin was writing something down but Alexander was staring intently at his pen.

"Alexander!" Nickolai called. "Alexander!" He bellowed and his younger brother looked at him in surprise.

"Do you have to shout?" Alexander asked and Nickolai shook his head in disbelief.

"Alam mo bang kanina pa kita tinatawag? Dini-discuss ko ngayon yung mga evidence na nakuha ng team natin and you're staring at your pen like an idiot!"

"Jeez, Nick! Give me a break! Hindi ba babasahin ko rin naman yang mga evidence na yan? Bakit ko kailangan pang makinig sayo?!" He asked, a trace of anger in his voice and his father, brother and bestfriend looked at him in surprise. Alexander's a normally happy-go-lucky guy, palabiro at di mo halos makitang magalit so his outburst came as a surprise.

"Are you okay, son?" Their father asked and Alexander sighed.

"May problema ba, Alex?" Dustin, his best friend of fifteen years, asked and Alexander shook his head before he looked at them and smiled.

"May iniisip lang." He retorted.

"Let's have a break." Atty. Ferdinand Sandoval said as he pointedly stood up. "Nick, mamaya na natin ituloy at may ka-meeting ako." He said and Nickolai nodded his head in agreement.