Chapter 6... Mum took a loan

Date.

Alexander exhaled and turned to Sophia. "Is it today?"

"Are you asking me that?" Sophia scoffed and sucked in her flushed cheeks. As her eyes darted around, it landed on Rosalie, "what're you doing here? Get away from here" she growled and her hands balled into a fist.

Rosalie sniffled and nodded rapidly. She turned around and scurried into her office leaving Sophia with Alexander.

"Why'd you send her off? I'll need her" Alexander queried as he strode to the couch.

"Need her? For what Alex? I just told you we have to go on a date. You gave no answer. I met her on your thighs, in your arms Alex and you said nothing about it. Nothing Alex," Sophia groaned as raw anger shot through her.

Just by thinking of that secretary in Alex's arms, the loathe rose in her like a tide. Her blood steamed and rage swelled in her. She'll make her pay.

She'll get her out of Alex's office no matter what.

"Why're you angry?" Alexander questioned and she turned to him with raised brows. Was he asking her that?

"Oh wow, that's what you're going to ask?" She clicked her tongue and nodded her head. "I'm starting to think you like this secretary."

"You're crazy," Alexander retorted as he grabbed his files. Liked his secretary? The clumsy lady? He scoffed at the thought.

He gave her another chance because he understood what it was to be anxious. She was lucky he was kind. He made up his mind to give her three more chances.

Three more; and after that, if she makes any more mistakes, she'll never get to enter his office again.

"Alex!" Sophia called and he looked up at her. "You went off angrily that day. We were supposed to discuss Alex, and now, you don't want to go on our date anymore" she bit on her lips as she fought back her tears.

She wanted him. Couldn't he see that?

"I'm always busy Sophia, I told you from the start" Alexander mumbled and threaded his hands through his scalp.

He was tired. He hated her around him. He clearly communicated that with her but of course, she never listened.

"Make time for me, please Alex" she leaned into his chest and a tear ran down her cheeks. "Let's go on a date Alex" her lips formed into a pout as she looked up at him, her eyes hiding the desperation in her.

"I am busy today. I have a lot of work" Alexander pulled away and walked to his table while Sophia watched.

"Okay, let's fix another date huh?" Sophia asked and it caused Alexander to whip his head to her. He scoffed once his brain registered what she said.

"No," he retorted quickly.

"Why? Why Alex? You're clearly avoiding me. If you actually wanted to do that, you could have told my dad and stopped avoiding me. Stop with all this Alex " Sophia shot and sucked in a breath to push back the tide of anger that rose inside of her.

Sophia was right; Alexander condoned her because of her father. They had a deal together and until it was done, he had to put up with Sophia's nags.

Alexander took in a deep breath and tugged on his black hair, "if we pick a date again Sophia, I'll forget" the words rolled out of his mouth like it meant nothing.

"You'll forget huh? Really?" Sophia scoffed and shot him a glare.

"Hmm" Alexander nodded and settled on the chair. "I have a lot of work to do Sophia," he flipped the books on the table so he could go through William's biometrics.

Through his lashes, he saw her gaze was fixated on him. She probably needed him to speak. He shrugged and concentrated on his work until her voice boomed again.

"Alex?" Sophia called and he raised his head to her while all the nerve in him fought back his groan.

"Include it in your schedule Alex," she smiled at him when he raised his brows. He clearly didn't expect that.

"I can't, my schedule is for office" Alexander retorted and directed his gaze back to the file in front of him.

"Yeah, you have to postpone some work to go on a date with me after all. So, include it in your office plans" she stated and he sighed.

He knew there was no other way around it. He raised his head to her and her face held a smile. He knew she wouldn't stop unless they went out together. He had no other choice.

"Okay," he answered casually. Perhaps a date with her won't hurt.

"Really?" Sophia leaped for joy with a gaping mouth. He agreed. Her feet barely touched the floor as happiness radiated in her.

She was going to trap him in her alluring beauty that day.

"Pick a date and tell my secretary to include it in my schedule."

Secretary. Sophia frowned but when an idea clicked in her head, her lips broke into a smile.

She needed ways to eliminate that secretary. Perhaps she got the perfect one and just as she promised her, she was going to get her fired.

"Alright," she grinned and stood up with her plan clicking in her head. On that day, she would put all her acting into practice until the secretary was out of the office and out of Alexander's life.

"Thank you" she gave Alex a smile and headed to Rosalie's office.

————

"Put that away" Alexander ordered icily. His voice was a monotone as he watched his secretary nod. Her phone has been beeping and he wondered who it was that kept calling her.

"Yes sir" Rosalie nodded and slipped the phone into her bag. It was one hour past working hour and there was still a load of files they needed to access.

"Your phone shouldn't be with you when you're working Miss Jones" Alexander scolded and she nodded. She forced a smile and kept her gaze back on the file.

"Two more and you can leave."

You? Rosalie raised her head to him with furrowed brows. Wasn't he leaving? "I will be working till tomorrow morning" Alexander said as if he read her thoughts.

"Oh" her lips formed into a thin line as her thoughts wandered about. He could just employ a real PA then. Her eyes traveled to him and her brows creased when she didn't notice any look of weariness.

His eyes were still sharp open and he looked like he was refreshed. She sighed and darted her eyes back to the load of work in front of her.

"Done sir" she mumbled and Alexander raised his head to her. "Alright, put the rest into the drawer and come sit here, I have to lay a warning."

Rosalie paused. Her body froze at his words. A warning. When her brain registered that word, her pulse quickened and her lips quivered.

"Do that and come here" Alexander demanded and Rosalie whipped her orbs to him. His face was plain and she wondered how he managed to control the frigidity and temerity even with a plain look.

"Miss Jones!" He barked, causing her to jolt out of her thoughts. Her body shook and her eyes widened. She sniffed and hurried to the drawer.

When she got back to him, she entwined her palms and ducked her head down. She blinked rapidly as she awaited his speech.

"Remember our rules Miss Jones, eye contact" he snarled and she forced her head to him. She bit on her lip and struggled to keep up with his gaze.

"I have never done and I clearly won't tolerate any form of incompetency from you Miss Jones. So, I have a choice for you. You quit the work now and go get a better experience."

Huh? Rosalie batted her lashes as she fought to push back the tears that pooled in her eyes. Quit? No, she was sorry.

"Or there's another choice," Alexander clicked his tongue and stood up. He strode to her but maintained a distance from her, "brace yourself up and stop being clumsy."

"Yes…I'll stop" Rosalie stuttered and licked her lips. She sniffled when a tear ran down her face. "I'm sorry… I just…I lost control of my thoughts when I—"

"Lost control? Exactly Miss Jones, you should keep your thoughts in check. Have control over them" he ordered strictly.

Why will she be clumsy over mere thought? He had a load of thoughts inside of him and he never allowed them to get to him. She could do it too.

"Yes, please don't fire me sir" Rosalie held out her hands and ducked her head down. "Please sir " her voice broke as she tried her best to fight back her tears.

She couldn't lose the job.

"More chances" Alexander clicked his tongue and examined her. He couldn't understand the feeling that brewed inside of him. "Misuse them and you leave the office."

"You can leave," he walked to his seat and Rosalie nodded. "Thank you sir" she stuttered and he forced his orbs back on her.

Her voice was back to normal. He watched as she grabbed her bag, gave a small bow and dashed out of the door.

He released a heavy breath and rested on the chair. Putting up with women was a big task; first Sophia then his secretary.

He should have never employed a female secretary. It was a lifelong mistake.

….

Rosalie maintained a natural gaze as she walked past the receptionist. The woman eyed her but she cared less. She swallowed thickly when she got out of the gate and flagged down a taxi.

As she sat, she slipped into her thoughts immediately.

It wasn't willingly. She just wasn't able to control herself. She sighed and rubbed her temples.

How would she put a stop to that? Her life depended on her job.

The ringing of her phone jerked her to life. She gasped and grabbed her phone immediately. How did she forget the persistent call?

Her brows furrowed when she saw it was a strange number; she picked nevertheless.

She regretted it as soon as she picked it up. She knew the owner in an instant.

"You didn't want to pick my call pretty? I was thinking —"

"I will never pick your call again Mr. Williams" Rosalie retorted and clicked the red button at once.

How dared he call her? She was still brooding about the day's event and he called her? She scoffed in pure disgust. Was he a friend to Alexander? She didn't know.

She only hoped he wouldn't cause trouble for her.

The taxi reached the gate and came to a halt. She hurried to her apartment where she stayed with her mum.

As soon as she pushed the door open, her brows creased at the sight in front of her; her mum was pacing around the room.

Her fingers bunched into a ball and she tugged on her hair at intervals while Rosalie watched puzzled. What was bothering her mum?

She stood for a couple of minutes before the woman turned to her, "Rosalie…" she blinked rapidly in a bid to cover her worry but Rosalie saw it already.

"Mum?" She walked in and grabbed her hand. "What happened mum?"

"Happened? Nothing of course" Pamela shook her head and forced a smile but despite that, Rosalie could sense the fear.

The worry was accompanied with a glint of fear and it was buried deep inside her eyes.

"No, something happened, tell me mum" Rosalie licked her lips as she awaited her mum's words. She tried to keep her heart rate in check but as soon as the words slipped out of her mum's mouth, everything around her stopped.

"I owe…I owe them money. They'll come for us Rosalie."

Pamela's hands shook as she spoke. Color drained off her face and her lips quivered.

"Money? When?" Rosalie asked with wide eyes.

"I used the money to set up the business Rosie but you saw it burned. I—" her mum bit on her lips as she choked on her words.

"How much mum? How much do you owe?" Rosalie asked with her head ducked toward her mother in curiosity. If she could, she'd force the words out of her mother's mouth.

"Rosie— 30, 000" Her mum cried out.

Everything around Rosalie stopped. Her head spun as she digested the amount of money. Where in the hell of New York was she going to get that?

That's her six months salary!