Gambling Hearts with the CEO

Chapter 9: Curiosity

The sky has become dark and the day is about to end in a while. I am already dressed in my pajamas and doing my skincare as the only thing left to do. However, my mind still drifts to that attack Brandon made earlier.

He was serious about that deal. If he wasn’t, then he wouldn’t even bother doing what he did earlier. Those mischievous smiles and the way he moves closer to me, as if he doesn’t hate me the same way I do. But what bothers me is how I can’t even fight back against him despite wanting to.

When he said that I had already lost, admitting it was hard, but a part of me indeed knew that I had been lost at that scene earlier. He was so steps ahead of me, as if he really planned everything before the day could even arrive. He got the upper hand, which prevents me from fighting back even if I want to do that. Then that is when realization hits me.

I just needed to be the first one to attack. He showed that technique works and I only need to remember how he did it. That way, he could get flustered like I did earlier and the score would become a tie.

As a sigh escapes my lips, I comb my hair smoothly and nicely. My gaze went to the bandage part of my elbow as all the memory of what happened earlier came back to my mind again. The way Brandon’s eyes change from a seductive one to a deadly one. The way his voice changes from a mockery to a serious one. The way his hold became tighter and tighter until I experienced pain from it. Lastly, the way he looks so quiet after the incident.

If I am being honest, I was most flustered when I saw him react like that after I tried touching his scar. A scar means a lot to some people, that it makes them protect it as if their lifeline depends on it. I know that what I did when I attempted to touch it several times got me into that trouble which made him mad. However, I was just being pulled in closer the more I looked at it.

Seeing something so meaningful for Brandon that made him mad like that is a new feeling. In the past years, he never really showed anger. He only showed coldness to the people he was not close to. Maybe he is completely different in front of Tyra as his former girlfriend, who had the privilege to see a possible different kind of Brandon’s side, but that is just an allegation. But that scar… that one scar that is almost hidden in his face… he showed his anger towards me.

Whenever I think about his reaction when we were inside the infirmary, I didn’t know how to actually take it. My manager insisted that I should stay away from Brandon as far as possible, despite the bet and the deal. She said that it was for my own safety, and I couldn’t agree more. But, for some reason, I was waiting.

I was waiting for him to say something… to even just apologize for what happened… but it never happened.

The rest of the week went on, but I still hadn’t heard from Brandon. No calls. No messages. No apology and it is starting to irritate me already. He did something bad! The least he could do was apologize to me. But, he didn’t. So I made a crazy idea without letting my manager know.

“Ms. Borres, is there something we can do for you?” Brandon’s secretary, Mr. Centino, greeted right away upon seeing me enter the floor.

“Hi! I just wanna know if Mr. Styles is in his office? I just need to discuss something with him.” My sweet smile returned with a suspicious look. What is this? Like boss, like secretary? What in the world!

“Let me check first, ma’am, if Mr. Styles is accepting any visitors for now. He is not really in his best condition for the past few days already.” He politely answered.

With a simple nod from me, he left his desk and went inside Brandon’s office while I took a seat on the couch provided on the floor. So Brandon wasn’t in his best condition for the past few days? Was he still bothered about the fact I tried touching what he prevented me from doing so?

Mr. Centino came out and told me that I could enter the room. He didn’t give me any warning nor anything to remind me, just in case his jerk of a boss acted all weird again. I doubt that he is clueless of what was going on between me and his boss. I’m pretty sure Brandon told him about it since he is his most trusted person as of the moment, if I am not mistaken.

“What are you doing here, Alexandra?” A cold, serious tone of greeting welcomed me as soon as the door closed. His eyes focused on the computer before glancing back at the papers on his table, then doing the same routine over and over again. He looks busy.

I gulped hard, not even knowing if I should do what I planned. “I just came to see if you are still alive.” But my confidence backed out of fear.

Despite what happened the last time I came here, I actually planned on returning the favor to him for trying to seduce me, which ended in a different way. My confidence was so high as I walked in the lobby with my heels making such a loud noise. However, it all drifted away after I walked in here and stood in front of him. It was like I was eaten by my own fear all of a sudden.

He puts down his papers and gazes up at me with a blank stare. “Is that the only reason you came here and disturbed me?” He sounds annoyed and not even a bit interested in my presence. What a f*****g jerk indeed.

“No. I came here to take an apology from you as well.” His eyes squinted before a sigh escaped his lips. Now he knows what I wanted. “Turns out, you became a complete ghost and decided not to give me any calls or messages as an apology for what happened. In case you are not completely aware, I got a bandage on my elbow that I can remove completely before the contract signing tomorrow.”

“I can give you an apology right away without any problem. But how about you? Don’t you think you owe me one as well?” He puts down his papers before standing up. I watched him get out of his chair then walked towards me while fixing his blazer. As soon as he stood in front of me, I felt that weird feeling of agitation. “I already gave you a warning, yet you still went for it.”

“It’s because you are being insensitive over such a small scar.” My eyes widened as those words came out of my mouth subconsciously. What have I done?

The next thing I knew, Brandon was at it again. He steps towards me, closer, before turning and trapping me with both his arms while holding the edge of his desk with his hands. I could hear my heart beating so fast with the sudden closeness and his sudden action as well. His face is a few inches away from mine but close enough for me to see that scar again.

“You never know what such a small scar did to my life, so I suggest you do not underestimate its meaning. If your only purpose of coming here today is to annoy me more just so you can say that you won, then just leave. I don’t need any trouble today, if you haven’t noticed that we are busy.” He firmly said each word like his main purpose was to actually kick me out of his office completely.

My breathing was heavy but I was trying to control it with him just in front of me. I wanted to push him away, but I suddenly felt scared of just simply touching him. What the hell, Alexandra? You used to say that you would bring pain to him, but how can you suddenly be so scared of just pushing him away? Ridiculous!!

We stayed in that position for a while. My gaze is fixed to the side as I look down, avoiding his deep stare. I could feel his stare right into my whole existence, deep. He didn’t even bother to, at least, just notice that I feel uncomfortable having him this close now. He didn’t even bother to let me go… only until a sigh escapes his lips, then he backs away surprisingly.

He turned his back, then took a deep breath. “Don’t come here unless you have a purpose. I am not the kind of person you could just mess with in your free time.” He harshly said.

My lips parted as a scoff escaped my lips in disbelief. The kind of person I can't just mess with in my free time? Did he already forget that he was the one who suggested a deal with me because of that bet Kai made? He could have just simply said no but he wanted to push through with a deal with me, but now I can’t mess with him? What in the world is this?

Without getting an apology and giving one, I left his office in frustration. I tried to control my anger but it seemed uncontrollable that I even ended up just passing by the employees in a speedy manner without even noticing that some actually wanted a photo with me. It is their boss’ fault for making them waste the opportunity to have a photo with me. He just never really changed. A massive jerk, no matter how long it has been.

The anger only subsided when I found myself in front of my sister’s doorstep. I am not really sure why I came here instead of going to Aisha or any of my friends. Maybe I just want someone really close to me by blood to spend the day with so I could set aside my disturbing thoughts about that jerk.

“Alexa? What are you doing here? You didn’t even give me notice.” My sister came towards me with confusion in her face.

“I went somewhere near here so I decided to visit you already.” A lie.

She welcomed me warmly before excusing herself to prepare some food for me even though she has her own maids. My sister lives in a different home than our parents as well, which technically means all of us live outside of our family home now. She has a massive house here in the country, even though she usually stays abroad for her job. She told me it is for investment, so I assume it's not really a waste of money.

“I heard you are signing a contract with the Styles Group tomorrow,” She exclaimed while placing a plate of pasta in front of me.

“How did you know that?” My question betrayed me right away when I just realized it was a little late. “Of course, you will. It’s in the news.”

“Yes, it is.” She lets out a soft giggle. “I thought you hated the CEO? But you ended up working with him.”

My sister knows it all. The bet. The deal. The past.

“And I’m regretting actually accepting the offer of the contract. I think I made a very wrong decision in this case.” A sign of frustration escaped my lips.

“Look, you might have thought that he was a jerk. But Leon says a different thing. He says Brandon is actually a great man.” She spilled.

“Leon? Our brother?” She nodded. “They know each other?”

“Brandon was Leon’s junior abroad because he graduated from high school there. You didn’t know?” I shook my head in response.

If my brother was that jerk’s senior, then he must have known what that scar is about. If Leon could easily say that Brandon was a great man, he must have been close to him. I need to ask him about that scar.