February, 2019.
****
Song: Get up- Ciara ft chamilionaire.
The club was at its peak, various jams blasted through the speaker. Bodies rubbed against each other. The smell of sweat, sex, liquor filled the air.
For the umpteenth time that night, Lexis cursed under his breath. He threw a disdain look at his ringing cellphone. Frustrated he couldn't hear a damn thing due to the loud noise, Lexis successfully excused himself, squeezing his way through. Exiting the VIP section, he muttered to himself, not the least disappointed that his best friend, Carl, hadn't showed up yet again.
Lexis couldn't help but feel disappointed and disgusted. Disgusted with the fact that girls wouldn't get the drill and still flaunt themselves flirtatiously at him. The girls at the club wouldn't even help matters. He has no interest whatsoever in them. Doesn't their peanut sized brain get the drill?
"Hey handsome," A half clad lady winked seductively at him, flaunting her exposed thigh.
'You asked for it by coming here. What else were you expecting?' His mind mocked.
"Geez!!" Lexis murmured, hastening his steps, subconsciously bumping into someone. "Ow. I'm so sorry."
The lady in question fixed her face cap, hurriedly picking up her fallen wallet. Lexis bent to pick up his dismantled phone, hoping to catch a glimpse of her face but the girl was smarter. Graciously avoiding him, the lady in question muttered some incoherent words under her breath and walked off. He didn't even make out her face. She was clad in black overall and it was dark in there already.
Lexis dashed after her, but was utterly disappointed when he caught no glimpse of the stranger. How strange? He thought.
She literally vanished without a trace. Lexis shrugged, returning into the bar, where he was hit with mixture of sweat and excitement. He dipped his hand into his denim pocket to retrieve his credit card, only to discover his business card missing. It was still there couple of minutes ago.
It literally vanished when the stranger showed up. Uh-oh.
What da hell?
........
"Are you even listening?!"
As if sensing being talked to, he untangled and lifted his legs off the desk and lazily sat upright, removing his ear buds. "You talking to me?"
A round of sigh echoed throughout the board room. Rolling his eyes, he muttered something like 'geez, these old cargos' and proceeded to insert the ear bud in once again. He had barely survived the hangover of last night, and the board room was the last place on earth he needed to be at the moment.
"Don't you dare!" David chided frustratedly. Then added in a somewhat mild tone, "We are asking for your contribution for this upcoming project. Any idea, sir?" He gritted out.
"Do whatsoever you deem fit, do i look like I give a damn?"
David carried on, pretending that didn't just happen. Bored out of his wits, he subconsciously tapped the marble desk as the sound reverberated round the silent room. Eyes turned to him once more.
"We won't tolerate this insolence any longer." David, his general manager of seven years gritted out.
Frustrated, he stood.
"Where to?" David questioned, but he merely shrugged, putting on his sunglass.
"Alexander Nicholas Roy!!"
Lexis screeched to a halt. "We aren't done here yet."
"But I am." Came his abrupt reply.
David ran a frustrated hand through his short, bald hair. With the way things were going, Lexis would be the end of him.
"You can't just walk out of an extremely important executive meeting."
"Oh well, I just did."
David gritted his teeth. "Till when are we gonna do this till, huh?"
Lexis turned to face him and he finally sighed when he saw David's aged, wrinkled face. Lexis could swear the grey hair and wrinkles were his doings. David Beckham was only forty five years, yet he looked 60!
Lexis gave him his usual boyish grin. David groaned as Lexis placed his arms tenderly on his shoulders. Lifting his sunglass above his eyebrow, "I trust you to make it worthwhile. Do it like you've always done," when David opened his mouth to protest, Lexis cut him off. "I trust that genius brain of yours to come up with something worthwhile. It's not like my presence there would actually make a difference." Lexis shrugged, voicing out his mind.
Lexis fixed his tie, an helpless look in his eyes, "I dread meetings." He faced David, "Cook up excuses as usual. Make up something they'd believe as reason for my absence." Lexis winked.
David closed his eyes and counted to ten, clenching his fist. Migraine had become his inseparable pal, for the past seven years. He couldn't help but think Richard's choice of CEO was a complete mistake. Of course, Richard Roy was his really good friend and had personally handed Lexis over to him, on his sick bed, back then. He'd entrusted David with his only son and had made him vow he'd look after him.
Only David had really underestimated Lexis' nonchalance and Richard's hesitation, about handing over his company to his son. Richard had so fretted about handing over his CEO position to his son. Now, David could really understand the poor man's plight. Alexander Roy was nothing to write home about!
"You're the only one that knows the real reason. I don't do meetings. And hey, that stays between us!" David heard Lexis say and before he could utter a single word, Lexis had already vanished.
And then and there, David knew one of them would be the end of the other. And he knew whom.
Lexis entered the lobby, his sunglass back to its previous position. Already accustomed to attention drawn to his masculine aura, Lexis didn't spare anyone any glance. His hangover was long forgotten by now.
Few minutes being seated in his office, his receptionist entered and brought forth some files,
"Sir, these are the list of applicants."
Lexis' eyes shot up. He'd completely forgotten about the interview for PA selection. All the more reason to conduct the interview and have his PA read his schedules to him and serve as a reminder. And it is like what? The twentieth interview he'd be conducting and the year had only begun.
Ann exited the room and the first candidate entered. Lexis scrunched up his nose in disgust. She was way too fat and even had to squeeze her way into his office.
"Disqualified. Next, please?"
The lady looked up at him, puzzled. "Bu-but sir, I haven't even presented my résumé-"
"Next person?" Lexis interjected in a bored tone. The lady sighed dejectedly, squeezing her way out.
An extremely skinny lady made her way in, her clothes were so tight that Lexis wondered how she managed to breath. If there was any breathing space at all in the dress? Or if it were mere suffocation.
He threw her a skeptical glance. "Good morning sir," her voice came out squeaky, making Lexis cringe.
"What the hell?"
"I beg your pardon, sir?" Came the prickling voice again.
"You're unqualified for this job."
"But sir, I -"
"Next, please?"
It went on for an hour more. Lexis saw faults one way or another. Most of them had no qualifications whatsoever. The part that pissed Lexis off so much, was the man that came in and had the gut to flirt with him.
Lexis was on the verge of giving up, about to call it yet another unfortunate day, when a lady entered. He was suddenly intrigued. She was unlike the ones he'd come across.
"Good morning sir," She dropped her credentials before him.
His brows furrowed, "Have we met before?" He asked instead and scrutinized her features. "You look familiar."
She fidgeted rather nervously on her seat, averting her gaze from his. "I'm afraid not,"
Lexis nodded, not at all convinced. "Pardon my outwardness then."
"So tell me, why do you need this job? And why you find yourself eligible and fit for it?" He briefly scanned through her résumé.
She took in a deep breath. "Well.. Firstly, I'd like to..." Lexis zoned off and focused rather, on her lips. It was moving in a perfect up and down motion.
No, he wasn't a pervert. But there was something about the girl that intrigued him. Made him want to know her better. And damn, did she look pretty? Even with a bare face, a face devoid of any make up.
And staring intently at her, Lexis was convinced she was someone he knew but couldn't place where he had seen her. He racked his brain on where he had seen her before, but it came out blank. Her striking emerald green eyes shone as she spoke with pride, only he wasn't listening to what. And every time their gaze locked, she would look away, avoiding eye contact. Lexis observed.
Her short black hair was neatly packed in a bun. She was putting on a loose fitting shirt. That was as far as he could see. He glanced away and reminded himself.. He isn't a pervert. He saw her lips moved once more and he broke off his trance. Right! He was meant to be interviewing.
"You know what? I like you." He said straight forward and grinned.
"I love your fierceness and you have the traits I like," Her eyes held that defiance and Lexis knew, she would be the right person for the job.
And oh yeah, someone to finally deal with the so exhausting and super annoying David and put him in his place. To kick his sorry ass.
He couldn't help but laugh when he pictured the look on his poor, wrinkled face. "What's so amusing?" She asked carefully.
"It's nothing." Lexis paused dramatically, savoring her uneasiness. "And just so you know, you are hired."
Lexis leaned back in his seat and saw the surprise expression on her face, her eyes lighting up. He fought back a smug smile.
"Alexander Roy," He extended his hand out for her.
"Rose." And then added, "Roseline Wilson." She grasped his hand.
"Nice to meet you. And welcome to my company."
She smiled slightly, "My pleasure. Thanks for giving me this job and I assure you, you won't regret it."
"I hope not,"
Looking away from his heated gaze, Roseline gently unclasped her hand from his.
Roseline could feel his eyes on her as she turned to leave, after giving him a curt nod. He then said after her, "Bye sexy."
She scoffed, "You know, you really are annoying." Roseline hurriedly left the office, after realizing her stupid mouth had almost landed her into trouble, hoping he didn't hear her outburst. But of course he did.
"I'm your boss, you know!" He reminded as he shouted after her.
"Fuck you."
Lexis heard her say at the same time the door shut with a bang. He threw his head back and laughed.
Damn! He loved the girl already.