INSANE CONFRONTATIONS

CHAPTER 4

The last person Xavier expects to meet sitting in the office is the frowning woman he met at the elevator a few minutes ago. He barely hears a word his father says.

Alara Bancroft, he tests the name in his mind as she takes his handshake with a stiff smile. Her hand is soft and warm in his. A perfect fit for when he pins them above her head.

For one long, sinful moment, Xavier forgets himself, thereby forgetting where he’s at. His mind strays to places it shouldn’t, lingering too long on how good she would look pressed against the desk. 

The smokiness in those grey eyes pin him with a strict look that is all too familiar. 

Eyes that have featured in several of his twisted fantasies; one where she gazes up at him from a kneeling position, another where her thighs are wrapped tightly around his waist. Lips parted and eyes rolling, she would be calling his name in a tone far different from irritation.

His father’s voice yanks him back to reality,same time when she pulls away with a weird look at him.

“Miss. Bancroft,” The man starts, oblivious, “I want to entrust Xavier into your hands and I trust that you’ll put him through the workings of this company. Seeing as he is—how should I put it—woefully unprepared.”

Xavier’s lips twitch. “Now that’s a little harsh.”

His father’s phone rings.

Alara on the other hand smiles even though the smile doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Don’t worry, Mr. Jericho. I won’t let you down.” She turns slightly to award Xavier a withering look. “I’ll also take care of his punctuality habits.”

His father hums in approval and excuses them to take the call. 

Instead of feeling offended, Xavier’s grin widens. Alara’s nostrils flare in anger before she schools her expression into a polite mask. But he sees right through it. 

He knows that expression. He’s ruffling her feathers and she hates it. Possibly hates him already for it.

His smirk only grows bigger. He enjoys how he gets under her skin.

His father returns to his seat and begins a full lecture droning on about the stock market, investors and other corporate jargons that make Xavier’s head throb. 

He leans back in his chair with arms crossed, barely paying any attention—not when it is on her sitting across from him—until his father turns to him again. 

‘No need to worry, old man,” Xavier says lazily to which Alara’s eyes narrow at him. “I’m sure Miss. Bancroft will make my time here..smooth and memorable.”

His obsession for her is more than a fickle crush. It has managed to, over the years, turn into an unhealthy addiction. It drips from his tongue like honey, all the charm and allure he needs to have her look his way. 

Alara glares at him, but his smirk deepens. 

Mr. Jericho, once more oblivious, simply checks his watch. “I have to go. I have another meeting with my other son.”

Xavier resists the strong urge to roll his eyes. Of course, Charles needs him. Always showing up where he isn’t wanted just to prove a stupid point.

The older man exits, following a slender woman who called for his attention. 

And now, the room is filled with a silent tension as they stare at each other. Xavier with a concentrated look at Alara who tries hard not to look in his direction. 

Irritation clearly marks her features like she’s a teenager who has been ordered to take care of a kid when she should be doing something else.

He decides to break the tension first. “You look very familiar. It’s why I haven't been able to stop staring.”

A white lie. But he leans back and lets his eyes trace her curvy features with slow, obvious intent. He’s curious to know how she reacts. 

Alara inclines her head. She makes the mistake of crossing her arms under her chest. The moment she does, she realizes it’s a wrong move when his eyes drop to the action. 

She cocks a brow regardless. “Do you?”

He leans forward. “Perhaps I should introduce myself all over again.”

Before he can, the door swings open. 

Charles. His face twists into a scowl which drops when he notices Alara’s gaze. 

Her composed mask slips and she stiffens. Her eyes narrow with blazing anger and something akin to pain. 

He studies this with new interest. 

Charles as usual is stiff, rigid even as his cold gaze sweeps across the room. The ever-disapproving elder brother. His gaze first flits to Xavier and it’s colder than ever.

“You should resign,” he says flatly. “Before you sink the company into the ground.”

Xavier’s lips curve slowly into a smile. “Charles, what a surprise. Checking in on me like the perfect gentleman you are.”

Charles snorts. “I was worried you’d have bent half the women in this company over their desks by now.”

She cringes visibly before she lifts her chin with her eyes burning with spite. “Xavier is my charge, and I’ll make sure he becomes a responsible, passionate and dedicated learner. Unlike certain people whose attention span only lasts a few seconds before it’s pinned on the next flattering thing.”

Xavier bites back a laugh. He likes her sharp tongue, he like that she knows exactly where to land a blow. But most importantly, he likes seeing bullies being put in their places by women. 

Charles' face reddens in anger and with his jaw clenching hard, he goes in for another bite. “You’re wasting your time. He’ll fail, like he always does. Mr. Jericho made a mistake choosing him.”

A scowl forms on her lips. “And who else do you think would have been the best judge of character? Who do you think he should have picked?” She doesn’t wait for his response. “Xavier is still a much more trustworthy person than you.”

Xavier whistles under his breath. Now that’s a blow below the belt.

Charles releases a sharp bark of laughter. It sends a chill down Alara’s spine. “You’re still bitter, aren’t you? Because I dumped you?”

Alara flinches. Barely. But Xavier catches it.

His face straightens and for the first time, he has the coldest expression replacing his usual joviality. He leaves his seat, coming to stand head to head with Charles.

They are almost at the same height except that Charles is bigger, despite Xavier having a sleeper build.

“That’s enough.” His voice is eerily calm but the edge in his tone is hard to miss. “Get out, we have actual work to do.”

Charles stares at him for a long time and as though deciding Xavier is beneath him, he shakes his head. “A leopard never changes its spots.”

Alara steps between them, folding her arms. “Who are you to pass judgement on someone who just resumed today?”

He steps closer, getting into her face. “Well for your information, we’re brothers—”

“Correction,” Xavier interrupts smoothly. “Half-brothers.”

With a scowl, Charles ignores him. “And I’ve known him longer than you. If you let yourself get roped in by his charm, I’ll make sure you’re kicked out faster than he can sleep his way through an entire brothel.”

Alara is in complete shock, rooted to a spot as she looks between the half-brothers. She missed the eyebrows and blue eyes. How did she not realize this earlier on?

“Your insecurity has fouled the room, Charles. The only thing she has done is be in charge of ensuring I know how things work in the company. She hasn’t done anything so bad to warrant your

threats. And even if she does fall for my charm, —” Xavier smirks, “--it’s none of your business.”

Charles throws his head back and laughs. “I forgot. The only thing that turns her on is pouring herself into work and tuning out the rest of the world.”

She sighs, rubbing her temples. “Enough. Charles, please leave. We were in the middle of something before you came in with your nauseating presence.”

He sneers at them. “Pathetic pair. When this all blows up in your face, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Alara gives a sickly sweet smile. “At least I won’t end up with a shameless cheat.” She does a mental double take as though the words fall out of her lips.

Charles' jaw tightens, but he doesn’t respond. He simply glares at them both before walking out and slamming the door behind him.

Then silence. 

Xavier turns to Alara, one brow raised. “So…I take it he’s your ex?”

She turns away from him to catch her breath before tossing her reply over shoulder. “No, shit sherlock. He’s your brother?”

He shrugs, lips tilting into a lopsided grin. “Fair enough. You have quite a flavorful taste in men, no offense.”

“None taken. I love them as much as you love your many women.”

He frowns slightly. Why does her words rub him in a wrong way?

“If we’re going to work together and fix your shitty reputation before they get to the public, you’ll do everything I say. Do that, and it’s smooth sailing for us and the company.”

Xavier watches her for a beat. Two, then a slow smile spreads across his features. 

Alara frowns, uneasy. “What?”

He tilts his head in a manner that makes her breath catch. “You really mean all that, didn’t you? About being with me—”

She cuts him off with a glare. “How old are you?”

He grins, leaning in and letting his voice dip into something low and teasing. “Old enough to do very, very bad things to you, Miss. Bancroft.”

Her eyes drop to his lips for a millisecond but she catches herself immediately, clearing her throat. 

Xavier smirks knowingly. This is going to be fun.