Page 12 of Alex

I grab a crisp button-up shirt from my closet and a pair of slacks. If I’m going to play the part, I might as well look the part.

It doesn’t take me long to get dressed and head downstairs. Knowing Dad, he’s already impatiently waiting to see how long I take to get ready.

When I round the corner to head to the garage, I run into the maid.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.” She says quietly as she scrambles to pick up her things that fell to the ground.

Squatting, I help her gather up her belongings and apologize for running into her. “It was my fault. I’m sorry I didn’t see you there.”

I don’t know her name, but I know she started a week ago.

Dad let me know that we would have a new maid starting, but neglected to tell me her name.

She nods her head and scurries away like a scared mouse.

What did Dad tell her?

Why is she so shy and nervous?

I shake those questions away as I open the door to the garage. Just like I assumed, Dad is waiting inhis car. He glances down at his watch before glancing back at me.

I dig my keys out of my pocket and unlock my car doors, deciding to drive separately and stop to pick up doughnuts for the staff.

Dad used to do this, but things changed after Mom left us. I think she was the one that always ordered food for the meetings.

The employees seemed to enjoy the food, and Dad didn’t mind the munching.

I park in front of the local bakery and run inside to pick up a dozen assorted doughnuts. The cashier, Kayla, smiles at me as I hand her my card to pay.

“Hey, Alex. It’s been a while.”

She’s not referring to how long it’s been since I’ve been in the bakery. I’ve never been here before. She’s referring to the last time I was in her bed.

“Yeah, it has.” I want to add that it won’t happen again, but someone is standing entirely too close to me right now, and I need to stay professional, especially since Dad wants me to take over.

Her grin widens as she hands my card back with the receipt. “I hope to see you again soon.”

“I’m sure someone else will buy doughnuts from now on. My responsibilities and goals have changed.”

Both in the bedroom and in public. I have the company’s reputation to think about now.

Her smile disappears, but I pick up my box of doughnuts and walk out the door to my car. I have a meeting to get to.

Luckily, with us living in a small town, everything in town is close by, so it only takes me a few minutes to get to the office.

The building isn’t as modern as the company. There aren’t floor to ceiling windows like the office building in the city has.

This one is a small, two-story brick building with an elevator that feels like a metal coffin. I always take the stairs because it’s quicker and probably safer.

Downstairs has cubicles for most of the employees, while upstairs is my dad’s office, the conference room, and a couple of other offices, including mine.

Several employees look my way and gasp as I walk towards the stairs. I guess Daddy-dearest didn’t let them know I was coming in today.

I don’t care how they feel about me or what they say behind my back. Right now, there’s only one face I want to see.

And I see it as soon as I get to the top of the stairs.

She’s staring at her computer screen. Her eyebrows are furrowed and her bottom lip is pulled between her teeth.

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