8.2 Lonely nights, ugly tables and job offers

(Logan)

He knew it was done, and he had expected a call from Alexandra. But no, the stubborn woman was still not calling him.

One of the delivery men had called him to give that news when it was done.

"You two are fighting, Mr. Forte?" He had asked. "Mrs. Forte was surprised, yes, but she was still angry, I think."

How did everyone knew they we're fighting, dammit? It wasn't like he wanted to announce it to the whole world.

But he was curious enough to ask, "why do you think that she is still angry?"

"She said you are not her husband." The man had chuckled then, as if it was all so amusing.

It wasn't. Not even a little bit.

He stared at the phone, again. It had been an hour and some.

She wasn't going to call him, was she? No matter how long and hard he stared at the phone, it stayed silent. The useless thing.

Damn you.

"Boss? You want some iced tea?" It was Tom. The man was like a constant pain in his ass, next to Alexandra. "You are kinda overheated. It will cool you!" He continued, a look of amusement in his face.

"I want you to stitch your mouth shut."

"Umm? I would, but then who would read you all your meeting schedules?"

"You can sign it." Logan grunted. "Better yet, I will hire a new assistant."

"Oh, boss. You are so naive. Nobody will last a day with you."

"What do you mean? I am not a horrible boss." Logan narrowed his eyes at the now smirking man.

"No? You sure, boss?"

Maybe, just this time, he wanted to give in to his need and throw the paper weight at his PA's face, but because Logan had some semblance of sanity still left -- even though everyone around him were testing its limits-- he restrained.

Professionalism. He thought.

"Tom. One day or the other, I will tell myself it is okay to be unprofessional."

"Boss, that paper weight is Ms. Fortes' gift to you. You break it, they are going to break your head." Tom said with his all-knowing smirk.

"How do you know?" Logan looked at him with doubt.

"You keep looking at it and I can almost understand. My wife does that all the time, looking at her rolling pin."

"Did she ever throw it?"

"Plenty of times. Woman is a wicked witch. I love her, so much."

"I am really proud of Alice for doing that." He said as he closed his files. "Now, I am going home."

"Hope no rolling pin is waiting for you there." Tom said with a chuckle. "Since your new friend moved in, you have become an enigma to me." Tom said as he walked out and this time, Logan almost reached for the paper weight.

He sighed as he stood up. It was all his fault. His fault was showing all his emotions like an amateur.

He had never been stupid enough to wear his feelings in his face. He had always been closed off. Private. And now, here he was.

Since Alex... Since Alex, everything was changing. And he hated that, but he couldn't hate her, now, could he?

"When Mathilda calls, tell her I have found someone she would like."

"The mystery woman." Tom said.

"Yes. You know her name is Alexandra."

"And still I know nothing else about her."

"I am not inviting you to my home, no matter how much you want me to. Get it?"

"Have some pity, boss. My head is going to burst if you keep up with it."

"I would want to see that day. See you tomorrow, unfortunately. " Logan said as he walked out. Tom chuckled.

"Oh, you won't admit it, but you can not live without me." Tom laughed as Logan stepped inside the elevator. And then his PA threw him a kiss and Logan swatted it away.

The man was such a pest.

He opened the car door when Amelia, one of his workers came running.

"Mr. Forte. Wait, sir."

"Yes, Amelia?" He looked at the petite woman in front of him.

"Ms. Rose from Lowell lightings called. She said it wasn't possible for them to lower the proposed rate. What should we do?"

"Ms. Rose." He sighed. That woman was a boulder to move. Stubborn like his Alex. "I would have preferred to talk with Jack. But okay, if that is the case, find me another supplier. With proposed budget and equal quality."

"Yes sir, I will do that." Amelia walked away and Logan started his car.

If he waited any longer, he was going to burst, too. He needed to see her right this instant and bring back their banter and friendship.

Yeah, that is why you are working so hard. For your friend.

"Shut up, mind. No one is asking your opinion."

When he reached his home, he opened the door and sneaked it.

How did it come to this? Sneaking inside his own house like a thief?

Since Alex.

Most of his questions had only one answer these days.

"And stop. Don't disappear." He said when she stood up from the couch when he walked in. "We are talking."

"I don't want to talk with you." She sounded like a disgruntled child.

"You have no other option, Lex. Sit or I am making you sit."

"Jerk." She muttered as she sat down. "Arrogant moron."

"That is my girl."

"I am not your damn girl. Don't patronize me."

"Do you need a spanking?"

And her cheeks reddened. Her eyes shot bullets as she bristled. And he really wanted to do all the bad things that sprung up in his mind when he looked at her red stained cheeks, to her.

He felt hot. His body was tensed, and he was so ready to break his vow.

But... Shut up, stupid imagination. Stop torturing me.

Her lips were so pink and it was now in a moody pout and would they taste just as sweet as they looked?

No. No. Don't you dare go there.

"Smug little..."

"Stop being so difficult, Lex."

"I am bring difficult? The nerve. You are... Are- ugh!"

"Can we talk like adults now that you have finished with your tantrums?"

"Why waste time talking? You can go type a long document and we can save both our time. And then I can sign with my fist. In your face."

"Can we move past that, Alex?"

"Oh, why? Because you bought me this damn table? You think you can buy me with a table? Bribe me into talking with you for this? I won't talk with you even if you give me hundred tables."

He laughed. He couldn't help himself. She was just so cute when she was angry. Oh so cute. And at that moment, he realized he had never thought of an adult woman as cute, never in his life.

"Jerk." She spat. "Smug jerk. Moron."

"I know you are this close to giving in to my charm. But I have something else. A bribe, if you may. And then you will talk with me."

"No, I won't. I won't talk with you even if you are the last man in this universe." She rolled her eyes. "And what charm? You have a charm as much as a fire breathing dragon has. Not Toothless. But the monstrous one."

He laughed. "You watched how to train a dragon? Are you sure you are 23."

"I am almost 24 and how did you know Toothless is from that movie if you haven't watched it." He gave her a sheepish look.

Caught red-handed.

"It was Daniel. And stop changing the subject. As I said, I have something that will make you talk with me. I am so sure of that."

"Ego. Your ego is amazingly big. God has wasted all these attractive features on your stupid self. You open your mouth and I, I just want to- strangle you." She gritted her teeth.

"So you think I am attractive?" He smirked as he looked at her green eyes, which was now wide and startled as she stared at his face. She blinked twice and shook her head.

"I have seen better and that is not the damn point."

"Have you?" He joked and she blushed and he stared at her with wonder.

She was so beautiful when she did that: blushing. The red stain in her cheeks always made him think thoughts he shouldn't. God, she always made him think of things he shouldn't.

And he wanted her. It was like a burn deep in his gut. The urge to kiss her was so strong and... Would it be so bad to do that?

No. He shouldn't want her. He couldn't. He couldn't mess this up.

"Shut up." She crossed her arms across her chest and angrily stared at him, a frown lifting her lips.

"There is this big house that needs an interior decorator." He said and watched her with a small gloating smile.

She instantly perked up. And her green eyes, like magic, altered. The gold in them intensified as they reflected her eagerness. Excitement.

She stared at him. He stared back at her.

The minutes passed. The clock ticked. His breathing was wayward, so was his thoughts.

Could he just pull her and kiss her and then give some excuses? It was physically hurting to stand there and watch her, without kissing her. Without touching her. Without having her.

"Are you not going to say anything?" She huffed as she uncrossed her arms.

"What? You wanted me to shut up." He stifled a chuckle when she glared.

"You think you are very funny, do you?"

"Don't you? I think I am totally amusing."

"Haha. You can do your own circus act when the circus come to the city. Now speak."

"Your wish is my command."

"When did you turn this annoying?"

"Since you walked into my life." He said. Since you.

You changed every dynamics in my life. Strangely enough, I don't abhor most of it.

"Dan called and he said many annoying things, but he also said that you are looking for a job?"

"Yeah, I thought why not. I have time now and means to actually try. I mean I am not hungry anymore and living in the motel..."

"Yeah. That is why I said no to Ms. Hot."

"Your interior decorator? What?" She looked at him, confused. Oh, he so wanted to see the look on her face when he breaks the news. God. His eyes were intense on her and he didn't want to look away or blink. He wanted to see everyone of her expressions.

"You will be perfect for Mathilda Shine. She bought this new/old house. She needs a interior designer."

Her mouth hung open. Oh, she was so expressive. Her eyes were as big as saucers.

She gasped. She opened her mouth. She closed it. She looked like an adorable gold fish. Her hands flailed, but...

She was speechless. His firecracker was speechless. He did that!

He smiled.

"The Mathilda Shine?" Finally, it seemed like she had got herself together.

"Yes."

"The Hollywood celebrity? That Mathilda?"

"Yes."

"Oh, oh, God, God, Logan, I love you."

And she was hanging off his neck and kissing him.