Indulging the Billionaire ✔️

9. Something flowery

/Zander's POV/

After lunch, he had some stupid stuff to sort out. Conference calls he means. It was annoying him that he couldn't talk to Sanaah during lunch. She was purposely avoiding talking to him. For some reason, it didn't sit right with him.

His nose flared whenever she giggled at something stupid Neil said. Why was she finding him of all people funny? Granted he did have a better sense of humour than Zander but it still doesn't cut it. Maybe it was because of the fact that they worked together.

Lenon briefed him on the way that he while he was sorting the bills of the orders Sanaah was reading the book. He felt happy that she straightaway didn't get to picking. Zander wanted them to do that together.

Fine. He liked her. What's not to like? She was graceful, funny and well had a knack for embarrassing herself. Everything he wanted in a girl. There was just this one problem he couldn't avoid. She was also new to town and his employee.

Zander believed that relationship among workplace ruin everything. That's why he had no relationship policy across all the orchards he own. Total ten orchards actually.

Also what if she didn't like him? Or had a boyfriend back home? Anyone would be stupid enough to have not tried to secure a date with her. She was a sight to behold with her delicate features.

"Zander?" A voice interrupted him. He raised his head up only to notice Nina.

His eyebrows shot up at that and he shifted his attention towards the clock. Why was she still working after hours? He thought everyone left already.

"Can I talk to you about something?" Nina softly said as she closed the door behind her.

"Umm... sure" He shrugged.

Nina pulled the chair in front of him and sat down. It was quiet for a few seconds as she looked around and he wondered if it was something important. Nina had become his partner in crime sort of thing because they were only two years apart.

She would always drop by when he was sharing the room with Neil. Sometimes he didn't get her need to rebellion and keep on failing in college. It's like she was acting out for her parents but they never talked about it because she got sensitive whenever he mentioned her parents.

"What is it?" He broke the silence in the room.

She looked up, her green eyes widening as words slipped out of her mouth, "I was hoping we could get dinner"

Zander laughed, "That's what we are doing tonight at my place"

Her face fell for a second and before he could ask her about it she laughed, "I almost forgot about it"

"Don't worry but you'll be joining us right? I asked Mel to bake lasagna today"

Nina stood up, stumbling into the table and he winced cause that might've hurt. She brushed it off like it was nothing and gave him a smile.

"I'll be there. Bye"

"Wait I can drop you on the way"

Nina yelled over her shoulder, "No worries"

He sat there confused as she dashed out of the office hastily. What did she want to say to him anyway? With a sigh he closed the file, noticing the papers on the side to be signed. Avoiding them he stood up. He needed a drink.

***

After dinner he was holding a scotch glass in his hand, staring at the lights from his third-floor balcony. His body was aching from missing the workout in the morning.

A bitter laugh escaped his lips as he stared at the view. He had everything he had hoped but nobody to experience it with. It was sad how he thought that his mother and sister will be finally family again. His story seemed like every other family.

He was angry at his mother while his sister was angry at him for not sending her money. His sister and mother were not on talking terms because of the fight last Christmas. It's so pathetic that he can't even remember the last time they all sat down and ate dinner together.

He hated staying alone. That's why he made it a mission to distract himself and hang out with his friends as much as possible.

Taking a sip he winced at the bitter taste. Just then his phone rang and he stared at the number on the screen and gritted his teeth together. Why was his mother calling again? Didn't he make it clear that he was not ready to talk to her?

"What?" He barked clutching the phone tightly against his ear.

"Are you still angry at me?" His mother's soft voice echoed. That's the thing which irked him the most. She was always calm and patient no matter how much he yelled at her.

Clenching his jaw he spat, "It's been a f*****g month mother what do you think?"

"Zander language!"

"Yeah well, I f*****g don't give a f**k" He yelled and hung up the phone before she could say something. It was all a show anyway. She would ask for his apology and then a few days later it would be something else. He had enough of that.

"f**k this" He huffed and stood up from the ottoman chair he was sitting on. The glass in his hand was lying on the table nearby but he didn't care.

He just wanted to sleep and forget that his life is also f****d up like everyone else.

***

Zander is the first one to get to the orchard obviously. He had no meetings today because Elijah was pushing them for tomorrow. They were a nightmare and he was still reeling from previous day meetings.

Keith and Kenny showed up a few minutes later and we're already marching toward the trees. They decided to start with the honey crisp for a change.

By the time Sanaah showed up, it was eight-thirty. He was stalling in the front, admiring the flowers around the farmhouse. The store was yet to open as Neil was still packing the apples from cooler.

"Wow, am I getting punished for being late?" Sanaah asked with an amused smile on her face.

He couldn't help but smile at the clothes she was wearing. Through and through a city girl. Lenon did tell him that he told her to get something from local shops or Walmart and she just pretended not to hear him. Sanaah Davis was definitely one of a kind.

"That depends your highness" He teased.

"On what?"

"On how many apples you pick today"

Her face broke out in a challenging smirk, meeting his eyes, "We will have to see then"

Lenon cleared his throat, making Zander move his eyes away from her. He handed out the bags required to store the apples from trees. Sanaah eyes narrowed at the bag.

"Good luck" Lenon smiled

"I don't need luck" Sanaah scoffed, crossing her arms against her chest.

Lenon shook his head, "Oh no I was telling Zander here good luck because he'll be working with you"

She gave him a finger and he rushed back to the office.

"Ready to pick?"

She blinked her eyes, "With that?"

"Yeah, you gotta have something to put the apples in, don't you?"

She stared warily, "But-"

Zander laughed again, "Oh come on princess I will make you a proper apple picker by end of today"

***

Zander decided it would be best to start in the already picked row so that Sanaah doesn't get overwhelmed. Keith and Kenny sometimes don't want to climb up the ladder simply because they wanna get work done faster. Most of the times they pick the apples from below and usually, they are enough to fill up the bags.

"Am I supposed to put this on?" She wrinkled her nose lifting the bag towards him.

"Yes," He hummed while wearing his own bag.

It was his favourite task to do, pick atleast half a bushel at once and stack them back in trays.

"I think it's loose on me" Sanaah's voice rang in his ears. He snickered as he turned to look around as the actual bag which was supposed to be at belly level was hanging around her thighs.

"Or maybe you are just too short" Zander snickered as he walked closer to her. His eyes rolled back as he got a whiff of her scent. It was sweet, vanilla and something flowery.

Her hair was tied back with a bow for the first time and he wanted to bury his face in her neck, sniff more of her scent. Was it weird?

"I'm of average height i***t" She grumbled while slapping at his arm which was enough to jerk him out of his fantasy.

"Sure" He held back while tightening the bag around her stomach to which she scowled.

Before he could move away she held his arm and smashed the half mushy apple on his face and started laughing, backing away.

"Sanaah!" He glared at her for a few seconds before joining in the laughter and it felt nice.

***