ALEXANDER

Chapter 11

Aaah!!! Mentally, I scream.

Waking up in an unfamiliar room, plus feeling something heavy on my waist while hearing somebody’s breath near me, is frightening.

I only get calm when I remember I no longer in the apartment and I’m in Alexander’s

Right, Alexander!

And as I check, he is cuddling me. The one and only, Alexander.

I don’t know how it happened. I was hugging him, too. But whatever!

He is sleeping like a child. He looks innocent at some point.

Slowly, I remove his arm as I try to get up.

But I wake him up. Ugh!

“Hi. Good morning.” His voice croaked.

“Good morning.”

He removes his arm, and I take that as my chance to quickly get up. Then scamper into the bathroom without saying anything.

Am I acting weird??

*Sigh*

After locking it, I immediately do my morning routine. He shouldn’t smell my morning breath. That’s embarrassing!

Try to find my tooth brush but I remember I haven’t unpacked my things from last night yet.

Instead, I wash my face and urinate after.

He’s no longer in the bed when I come back.

I scurried to where my luggages are and took my toothbrush, including my other toiletries, then put all of them in the bathroom.

Once I’m done brushing my teeth. I fix the bed and go back to the wardrobe. Unpacking all my things.

I am just on the first luggage when his deep voice startles me from behind.

“What are you doing?”

“What the f**k?!” I exclaim out of surprise. “Oh, sorry. You startled me.” I quickly apologize.

“Why are you here?”

“Can't you see? Unpacking my things.”

“Let’s have a breakfast first. Come.”

What?

But I follow him while looking back at my luggages and take a deep sigh as I leave my clattered things inside the extensive wardrobe unattended.

“Hmmm... smells good in here.” I told him as we walked into the kitchen counter.

“I have prepared you a breakfast. Not sure if you will like it.”

“Wow! You did all of this?” I am in awe while looking at the luxurious meals in front of me.

“Yeah.”

“Thank you. I’m sure they are all delicious.” Then sit on the chair that he pulls for me. I didn't know a billionaire can cook.

He is also sitting in front of me.

“Eat..” He says as he offers the Belgian waffle that has Lotus Biscoff crunch on top and almost covered with choco fudge.

“Oh- Okay!” Then I take a bite.

“You like it?”

“Uh-hmmn...”

He smiles and digs in the food in front of us. Honestly, I enjoy having breakfast with him.

Alexander is surely letting me to experience the life he has.

We do some basic getting to know each other while we’re having breakfast. Then after our breakfast, I go back to unpacking my stuffs while he is taking a shower.

This is far from what I have planned my life ahead, but life is full of surprises. Also, let the saying goes, “Expect the unexpected”.

Finally, contented with how I put all my things and my other stuffs in the wardrobe and on the vanity.

Gosh! This is good to be true.

Adoring the view in front of me. After I’m done with everything, I go out and walk to the balcony. The sunrise and the skyscrapers around here are all breathtaking.

Inhaling and exhaling as I take my time feasting on the view outside.

Oh- I haven’t changed into my regular clothes yet. I’m still on my pjs. Though I don’t want to go back inside and leave the beautiful sight in front, I still force myself to.

However, the sight inside is more breathtaking that the outside.

Immediately covering my eyes as I squeal.

Oh, God! Forgive me, for I have sinned.

My silent prayer. Then I spun around to go back to the living room.

Alexander chuckles. “Learn to knock next time, moya printsesa.”

“I didn’t know you were there! Oh, God!” I say.

He’s in the wardrobe as well. I forgot that his wardrobe and mine are connected.

I attempt to scuttle off, but he grabs my arm.

“Aah!”

“Haha! I will not eat you.”

“But you’re- you’re naked!” I can’t believe I stutter. I’m still avoiding to look at him.

“Get a shower. We will go out in an hour.” That’s all he says.

“Okay.”

I walk sideways so I won’t see his body. Suddenly, I feel dizzy when he takes my left hand as he twirls it along with my body and there he corners me.

“Oh, please! Don’t- “ My eyes shut close.

“Open your eyes.”

“Nope.” I quickly answer.

“Why?”

“I don’t want to.”

He says nothing. Yet he’s still holding me, and I can feel his shirtless body. He has his pants on. That's better.

His deep breath fans on my ear as he whispers. “Are you?”

Wondering what he’s trying to ask since he just stops asking.

“Cassidy-“

Don’t turn, Cassidy. Don’t look at him!

But my bad side has its way of disobeying me. Crap!

Slowly, opening my eyes while turning to my left to meet his gaze.

“Wah!” I yelp as I cover my mouth to avoid from shouting. I am about to kiss him. I didn’t know his face was so close.

“You’re blushing...”

“Aaist! I am not!”

His smirk grows wider. “What’s wrong, Cassidy?”

“Nothing. Just get off me, please...”

“Don’t you know every time I kiss you, you always blush? Every time I get close to you, you’re always red.”

“May- Maybe I’m just feeling hot. You know the temperature. Just like now. Whew! It’s so hot. Can I go to shower now?”

But he doesn’t let me go that easily.

“Have you?” He is asking me again.

Ugh! Is he enjoying my suffering? Why can't he just ask me once and for all?

“Have I what??” I'm getting impatient.

“Have you--- ...ever get laid?”

Oh, crap!

His question struck me. I swear my face is redder than ever. I'm not expecting him to ask that. And he notices that. He stares at my face, back to my eyes, then to my lips.

“Have you?” He’s persistent.

There’s just a few seconds of silence before I gather myself.

“No. I haven’t.”

I can’t look into his eyes, but his next move always makes my heart crazier.

He captures my lips. Giving me a kiss that I am getting addicted to.

This is not part of the deal, Cassidy. Have a grip on yourself!

“You’re mine, moya printsesa. Take a shower now...” He says after the kiss, then he pecks on my forehead before he lets go of me and walks out.

“Wait! What did just happen?” He left me in a daze and I'm still holding my lips.

*********************

“Where are we going?”

I ask him as we walk into the elevator. He holds my hand, as always.

“We will meet a friend of mine. He will get your size for the dresses you will wear in the event.”

“An event? You didn’t tell me.”

“I forgot to tell you last night. You fell asleep so fast.”

“Oh-yeah. Uhm, what event are we attending to? Do I need to remember some important people or memorize something?”

“No. Just tell them I’m your boyfriend. And if they will ask you more. Don’t answer. I will introduce you to my parents in a few weeks from now. We need to appear in the public to get more publicity. Also, don’t forget the data along with the pictures I have sent to your email. You need to read those carefully. My parents’ and grandparent's bibliographies are there as well.”

“What should I tell them if they’ll ask about my family.”

“Tell them the truth.”

“That you were the one who helped my mom’s operation? And you also fully paid my brother’s tuition fees? And about your townhouse?”

“No. You don’t need to go into details. My parents won’t instigate you to tell them more. Trust me, once you get their trust, they won’t question you anymore.”

“How about where and when we’ve met?”

“In the club. You don’t need to hide where we’ve met. They won’t judge you. My grandfather is a pricky one, so he is the one you should worry about. We can’t make any single mistake in front of him.”

“And the date?” I ask again.

We’re now in the elevator going to the parking lot, while Reezo is waiting for us there.

“Tell him we have met a year ago, then we’ve lost contact? It’s up to you what you’ll tell, I will just pick up on what you’ll them him.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. What if right there, he notices something off between our words?”

“He won’t. That is why we’re practicing right now so you won’t make any mistake.”

“Uh, when is your birthday?” I just remember to ask him. Now that I notice, I haven’t even asked more about him yet.

“December 25.”

“Oh- It’s Christmas!”

A big smile appears on my face.

“Yeah. I rarely celebrate my birthday and I don’t want to either.”

“Your birthday is just near.”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t you know that those who were born on Christmas destined to find their love ones before they turned twenty-five?”

He laughs. “Where did you get that information?”

“Why? Don’t you believe me?” I ask and make myself more serious this time.

Please believe me. Believe me. Believe me. I chant those words while staring at him.

But the elevator opens, which cuts me off from my chant.

I didn’t insist on asking him again. I was just trying to fool him, to see if he really believes in destiny or not.

*******************

“Come in. Come in.” A handsome guy lively greets us when we get into the store.

“Good morning.” says Alexander.

“Good morning.”

“This is my girlfriend that I was talking to you about.”

“Oh, she’s Cassidy...” he then looks at me. “What an exquisite! Call me Nala, dear.” he says as he leads me to another corner. All I could do is to look back at Alexander, who just gives me an assurance smile.

“Okay. Nala. That’s an interesting name.”

“Well, if you read it backwards, you would come up with Alan. But since Alan is more masculine than my personality. I have that changed into Nala. Isn’t it fabulous?”

Oh! He is gay. I didn’t notice it at first. His voice didn’t really change into more feminine.

“Anyway, Alexander-“ Nala turns around as he faces Alexander. “I now have an idea for the design of her dresses that you guys will definitely love.”

“Great. I need them to be done within two days.”

“Of course. And, shall we?” He sways his hand towards the next door.

As I step inside, the beautiful dresses on the mannequins catch my attentions. All are beautiful and expensive, I should say.

Nala takes my vital statistics. He also asks me what color I prefer and the style of the dress I want. But if it’s too plain for his taste, he doesn’t agree.

Alexander is giving us the time we need while he is sitting on the couch in the waiting area.

“Oh, dear. I assure you’ll be the most gorgeous lady in the event.”

“Thanks. Uhm, would you mind me asking?” I ask him.

“No. I wouldn’t. Go ahead, dear.”

“Weren’t your store closed before we arrived?”

“Oh, that? Well, we still are. We're closed for other clients. Because, your boyfriend paid the whole day so we can create dresses for you. And while waiting, you may go back to Alexander and check the dresses that I have showed to you in the showroom. Alexander has bought all of those already. You just have to--“

“Wait, hold up... Did you say he bought all the clothes I saw earlier???”

“Uh-huh! Everything you see is all yours.”

“What??!”

"What's going on here?" Alexander comes in and all I could do is to stare at him in disbelief.

Was this how he pampered his ex-girlfriend before?