Alyssa couldn’t believe her ears but she couldn’t protest either since he was her employer. Nicholas grabbed her hand to stop her from going into the elevator with Darren.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Nicholas. I didn’t know,” said Darren, rushing into the elevator, eager to escape a confrontation with his boss.
The moment he was out of sight, Alyssa turned toward Nicholas angrily. “What is the meaning of all this? Why did you lie to him?” she demanded angrily but Nicholas just steered her away towards his office room without answering her.
He closed the door and turned to look into Alyssa’s curious eyes. “Why did you lie?” she demanded again.
He walked slowly towards her, his ocean-hued eyes holding her gaze, only to stop inches away from her. Alyssa didn’t budge an inch from her place as she defiantly stared back at him, waiting for an answer. “I just saved you from the likes of Darren,” he muttered in a low growl. “I haven’t employed you to flirt with my employees.”
Alyssa’s face flushed with anger at the insinuation. “Going to the cafeteria to eat lunch with a fellow worker isn’t flirting,” she pointed out. “And yes, I can save myself, thank you.” She moved away from him, to march away angrily towards her cubicle, her appetite completely leaving her but he grabbed her wrist instead.
“No one talks to me in that tone,” he pointed out angrily, pulling her flush into his chest. A gasp escaped Alyssa’s mouth when her soft body collided with his chest.
“Nicholas, can we keep it professional, please? I’ve come here to work and only work.”
“But I haven’t appointed you only for work. For that, I had many options. I appointed you for completely different reasons,” he whispered in her ear, making a shudder go down her body. Why had he appointed her then?
“Why have you appointed me when you had other options?” she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. “I don’t need your pity, Nicholas.”
Nicholas laughed at her and leaned in towards her. “Why would I pity you?” he asked, his eyes searching hers. Was she dumb? Didn’t she realize just how much he desired her? It was driving him crazy, forcing him to stalk her around. “I think you already know why I appointed you.” He released her and moved away when his phone buzzed with an incoming call from Lucas.
Seeing him busy on the phone, Alyssa quietly left his office and escaped to the cafeteria to grab a sandwich. Nicholas was like a jigsaw puzzle and she hardly understood what he was trying to imply. What exactly did he want from her? She brought her food to her cubicle and munched it in privacy, while her mind worked overtime. What could Nicholas need from her? What was it that made him stalk her?
Nicholas left his office immediately while Alyssa checked her inbox for any work-related emails. Her eyes widened seeing not one but five emails from Nicholas. Getting down to work, she didn’t see two other female employees approaching her desk.
“Are you Nicholas’s girlfriend?” asked one of them, making Alyssa look up to see a dark-haired woman of the same age as she was, glare at her.
“No wonder you’ve got this job,” said the short woman standing next to her. Her outfit was too tight for her and looked like it would burst at the seams at any time.
“I think you should mind your own business or I could complain to Nicholas about you two,” said Alyssa, her face grim and menacing. The women looked scared out of their wits, not having expected that from her.
“Are you threatening us, bit*h?” seethed one of them.
“Yes, I am. Can you see that surveillance camera there? It’s recording everything you are spewing out. So if you really need this job, you should be careful,” she warned them. They looked up at the camera and rushed out of her cubicle, muttering curses at her. Alyssa laughed at their petty jealousy and continued with her tasks. It was obvious that the whole female population at the office had a crush on Nicholas Donnelly! Well, she wasn’t one of them.
It was afternoon when Nicholas returned and immediately summoned the accounts team over to his office for a discussion. Alyssa sat beside him and noted down the minutes of the meeting. At 5:30, they all left and Nicholas turned towards her, relaxing in his chair.
“Just send me the minutes of the meeting and you can leave for the day.” Alyssa nodded and got up to leave. She had just taken two steps towards the door when Nicholas called her. “Think about my offer. You can move in any time you want to.” Alyssa nodded and went out, totally confused by his behavior. Why was he helping her so much? What could be his motive?
She sent him what he wanted and then left to go home. All the way she thought about Nicholas’s offer. She didn’t wish to impose upon Eva for long. It was uncomfortable to share the same bedroom with her. So, should she accept Nicholas’s offer? Was there a catch?
She parked her car and went upstairs to the apartment. However, the minute she unlocked the door, she froze seeing her brother in the living room. “Alexander, what are you doing here?” she asked with surprise.
“Just came over to get acquainted with my new neighbors,” he said with a smirk and Alyssa just gaped at him.
“What utter shit is he saying, Eva?” she asked her friend who placed a plate of chicken wings and mozzarella sticks on the rug.
“He’s moved into the apartment next door. So he brought these to treat us,” said Eva with an eye roll and she helped herself to the food. Alyssa sat down on the rug with them, picking up a chicken wing and munching on it.
“But why did you move in next door when we clearly moved out because of you? This is so frustrating. Go back to your house Alexander,” she said but he sat munching on his food without paying any heed to her.
“I’m staying here till you two return home with me,” he shrugged.
“I’m staying here because this is my home,” said Eva with determination while Alexander looked a little annoyed.
“Neither am I going back. In fact, I’m moving out of here as well. My company is providing accommodation and I’m shifting there soon.” Both Eva and Alexander gaped at her with surprise.
“Which company do you work for that’s offering you an advance as well as an accommodation?” demanded Alexander angrily. Alyssa paled and wondered if she should tell him.
“No, you aren’t going anywhere, Alyssa. You’ll stay here with me,” said Eva but Alyssa shook her head.
“With Alex as your new neighbor, I don’t want to stay here anymore,” she protested and Alexander glared at her.
“I’m not going anywhere,” said Alexander with a brooding look at Eva. “Come over and help me fix that damn button.” He marched out followed by Eva and Alyssa rolled her eyes at the two of them. Alexander’s previous question had her worried. How long could she save herself from his wrath? Now he would ask her again and when he found out, he would definitely create problems for her. This was the reason she had moved out but now with him right beside them, it was impossible to avoid him.
She went towards the washroom to freshen up. No, she couldn’t live here anymore. She needed to leave. It was best to let Eva sort out her relationship with Alexander. Maybe she was the reason why Alexander moved in here in the first place. Alyssa was sure that her brother had feelings for Eva. She absent-mindedly started packing when Eva came into the room.
“Where are you going?” she asked her friend.
“Nicholas has offered rent-free accommodation within walking distance from the office. I think I’ll take up his offer,” she said but Eva sulked like a child hearing her decision.
“What’s wrong with my apartment? It’s not like you’re on the streets,” she pointed out with a pout.
“I can’t live here with Alexander continuously barging in all the time. He was the reason I shifted here in the first place,” said Alyssa.
“He isn’t that bad, just a little lonely maybe,” said Eva as her cheeks flushed seeing the jaw-dropped look on Alyssa’s face.
“I really can’t believe that you are supporting him.”
“I’m not supporting him. I’m as angry as you are seeing him dump himself upon us but I can’t ignore the fact that he is dependent on us in some way, mentally or emotionally maybe,” said Eva.
“Not us, he is dependent on you, Eva. He has moved in here only for you,” pointed out Alyssa while Eva blushed crimson, making Alyssa gape at her. What was wrong with her friend? Eva quickly escaped to the kitchen to make dinner when her phone buzzed with an incoming call. Alyssa rolled her eyes hearing her speak to Alexander over the phone. She was determined now to leave them alone to sort things out between them.
Packing everything, Alyssa was ready to move into her new home the next day after work.