CHAPTER 5

Axel knew Donald was baiting him again, but he couldn't bring himself to care. Her question had stumped him. Granted, all she had done since he had met her was surprise him. He had not been paying any attention to what Lisa was telling him. All he heard was her voice as she reacted to Donald's teases. She even teased him right back!

Lisa was right. He had changed. He had never enjoyed female company. Now, all he wanted was for their banter not to end. He sat back in his seat and let Donald work his magic. Donald was more than a friend to him. They had been together through thick and thin. Anyone who could pass Donald's "like" test was one step closer to being Axel's acquaintance.

He completely trusted his judgement, and apparently Donald was quite taken by Claire. It was not easy for Donald to trust anyone. His background made sure of that. Yet, Claire had snuck past all the walls of hate that injustice had built in his heart. She had snuck past all of Axel's defenses too, and so easily, it was as though there were no walls at all.

He was sure Donald wanted him to make a move now, but he could be patient. He could wait till the interview tomorrow. He already knew Claire will get the job. He was attracted to her, and even though the feeling was strange, it was very welcome. 

He was pulled out of his thoughts when Donald slammed an elbow into his ribs. If he had done that to someone else, the person would have gone straight into respiratory shock. But years of working out had steeled Axel's ribs, and lungs, from such attacks. Claire visibly winced when the sound of elbow connecting to ribs reached her ears.

"Why did you do that?" She cried, "that must hurt a lot."

Yet, Axel casually took a sip of his drink like nothing had happened.

"Trust me, it doesn't." Donald answered in his behalf.

Claire gave him a dubious look. "Why don't I hit you with my elbows, see if it hurts?"

Axel made a sound that almost sounded like a laugh. "A woman willing to take you on, Donald? That's a first."

Claire looked confused, so Donald explained.

"He just gave you a compliment."

Claire didn't look like she believed him. "I thought he was mocking me."

Axel furrowed his brows. "Why would you think so?"

"You're frowning," she pointed out. "People don't give compliments with frowns on their faces."

Axel shrugged. "I do."

He said it like it was the most natural thing to do. Claire narrowed her eyes at him.

"How much do they charge?"

The question made absolutely no sense. Axel felt she had lost him again. She always did that, made him stumble around trying to figure out what she was thinking. He kept silent until she repeated the question, and Donald came to his aid.

"What are you talking about, Claire?"

Claire frowned at him, but Donald smiled the frown away. This was one of the very few times Axel could say he was jealous of Donald. He had good communication skills, but only for situations he could control. He soon realized his knowledge of the basics of communication were useless when it came to her.

She was not a situation he could control. Heck, he could not even predict what she would say the very next minute.

"Congratulations," Donald held his hand up for a high five, "you have successfully confused Axel. It's something I've been unable to do all these years."

That earned him a burning glare from Axel, which he promptly responded to with an Oscar worthy smile.

Claire reluctantly took the high five, looking everywhere but at Axel. "You guys known each other for long?"

"Yes," Donald said simply. "Now, what were you saying?"

Claire shrugged. "He seemed to pay a lot for every word he said. Maybe that's why he keeps quiet a lot."

Axel raised a brow. Donald shoved him and he shoved right back.

"Say something."

"No."

Claire hid her smile. "No what?"

"No, I don't pay to speak," Axel sighed, "and even if I did, I assure you I can afford it."

"How arrogant." Claire muttered under her breath.

Axel shrugged. "I am arrogant. Get used to it."

"Did you know she called you Mr. Arrogant?"

Claire's eyes widened. "Hey! That's not fair!"

"It's okay." Donald assured. "He doesn't take offense with the truth. He's even proud of his arrogance."

"That's true." Axel agreed quietly. "Besides, I've been called worse." 

Their conversation pretty much died out after that. Claire kept getting seconds, and Axel was only too happy to let her eat. The amount of food she ate made him wonder just where all the food was going to. She was still lean after eating that much. He could not hold in his curiosity anymore.

"Do you drink slim tea?"

Claire froze, her hand halfway to her mouth. "I guess that's my cue to stop eating."

Axel felt his heart twitch. "I'm only asking."

Claire put her fork down and pushed the plate away. "Because I've been overeating, no?"

"No. I asked because you seem to not have any excess fat on your body." He pushed the plate back and picked up her fork. "Here," he extended it to her, "don't let me stop you."

Claire held his eyes for a while, then she took the fork. "I've lost my appetite though." She put it back in the plate and rose. "Please, finish your meal. Don't stop on my account."

Donald rose hastily. "Now, now, Claire, don't be like that. Axel meant no harm. He is generally blunt and might sound abrasive sometimes."

Claire smiled. "It's fine, you don't have to explain. My appetite won't return again until I'm hungry. But thank you for trying."

As she walked back to her seat, Axel felt like a part of him walked away with her. It reinforced his decision: he would keep her close no matter what.

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

Lisa stood at the entrance, watching them talk and eat like old friends. Bitterness welled up in her, and she had to grit her teeth to keep herself from screaming. She almost dislocated her jaw in a bid to prevent any sound from escaping.

Axel would only say she was throwing a tantrum. He didn't understand, though. He had to be hers, and hers alone. No one else had been with him for so long, no one else had tolerated his insolence and inflated ego. She had to have him, or die trying. 

Axel was sure to concede, sooner or later. Now, Claire had to come along and make things difficult for her. She was a very big inconvenience she had to get rid of. She didn't seem to have a thick skin, so Lisa felt she would be easy to dispose of.

There was no way she would just sit still, fold her arms and watch as Claire destroyed all the plans she had worked hard to make. Marrying Axel was important to her, but it was not at the top of her list. Being the wife of the CEO and next in line for the presidential position of a conglomerate came with their own privileges.

Yes, her parents were wealthy, but it wasn't enough. The wealth was theirs. They could easily remove her from their will, given her nature and how easily upset with her they got. She had no shares in any company because she had not bothered to buy any.

Lisa had felt secure in Axel's friendship and her parents wealth, but she knew. If anything made them leave her, she was nothing. So she swore that she would not let a nobody like Claire McLennie take this opportunity away from her.

She was happy when she heard Axel throw that subtle insult. Maybe he had come to his senses, Lisa thought. She felt it was safe to go in and talk to Axel again. She waltzed to her seat in high spirits and ran her hands along Axel's shoulder. He didn't shrug her hands off, so she took that as encouragement and hugged him from the back.

"Did you enjoy your meal?"

Axel shook his head. Lisa donned on a sympathetic look.

"She caused you to lose your appetite, didn't she? By eating like a pig?"

Lisa heard Donald's sharp intake of breath and smiled inside. She turned and gave Claire a vengeful glare. 

"Perhaps if I had been here, you would have felt better." 

Axel pushed her away. "I felt better watching her eat. You don't eat when we have a meal together. Watching you pick at your food doesn't exactly help with my appetite."

Lisa colored in embarrassment. "But you said you didn't enjoy your meal!"

"And I didn't. I stopped enjoying it when she left."

That was not the answer Lisa had been expecting. Her expression turned really ugly and she turned away from him. Axel was being a great inconvenience. Lisa knew she would have to fix him too, after getting rid of Claire. He didn't leave her with much choice. And when Lisa wanted something, by God, she was going to get it.