Chapter 40: fourty

•Lexus

I opened the door of the meeting room and all the people present there turned their attention to me.

"I sincerely apologize for being late."

I look at all the people present there, staring at me silently. "I-uh-" I licked my lips in confusion, "I overslept." I closed my eyes in embarrassment.

"Well Lexus." I opened my eyes and saw one of the senior members, Ryan, speaking, "It's understandable. We all know you were up all night." He grinned, followed by everyone in the room grinning.

I looked around the room. What's there to grin about? I barely sleep every night. I began walking towards the chair but just before I could sit down another senior member spoke.

"I hope the young lady you took home is okay." Miss Martha, a shareholder in her mid 40's spoke, "She looked like a minor too."

Fuck...

This is what they were all grinning about.

I hesitated between sitting and standing for a while. I couldn't decide.

In the end I stood up.

"I think you guys have the wrong idea." I started but was immediately interrupted.

"Ayy~ No wrong ideas son."

"Just look at your complexion. So fresh."

"Must have gone strong all night to over sleep like this."

"My my. To be young."

The senior members kept blabbering while the junior members tried their best to keep their lips from curling up. Either by biting their lips, by pursing them, by hiding their smile with the documents or simply by turning their chairs in the other direction.

"Poor girl though, she's so young."

"And beautiful."

"Son. Won't you get in trouble?"

"And he did her all night too."

I must be looking like a homeless jerk, standing there in front of them without getting an opportunity to say something. Every time I try to speak up someone interrupts me.

"We can't really blow the whistle about this, our president gets in trouble otherwise." They all snickered.

God. They all are having the time of their lives.

I just folded my arms against my chest and looked down.

Wait.

Why am I looking down?

I'm not in punishment!

I looked up at them again.

Their creepy smiles still stuck on their faces.

"Your love must have been intense for you to carry her home on your shoulder." They all giggled.

I pursed my lips and closed my eyes in frustration.

Okay.

I admit doing that as a public figure was not a good idea.

"You like her that much huh Lexus boy?"

I opened my eyes and saw all of their gazes fixed on me.

I finally decided to sit down, "Yea. Very much." Everyone hooted ,"AND!! She's not a minor." I gritted my teeth.

All of them hooted and I slammed my hand on the table.

"We're here to work." I said,

"Says the one who's TWO hours late." All of them laughed.

God Dammit!!

***

"Sir here is the proposal for winter wear." My secretary, Katelyn, handed me the file and I went through it.

"It's not good enough." I said and looked at her. Her complexion paled. "Is something wrong?" She shook her head and I nodded, "I pointed out the things I didn't like, review them again and give me the report by tomorrow."

I held out the file towards her but she just looked at me with wide eyes, "You pointed out the mistakes yourself?"

I nodded, "Is something wrong with that?"

For some reason she was stunned.

I moved the file in my hand, she came to her senses and took it, "You're not going to fire me?"

"Why would I fire you?"

"No!" She shook her head, "It's nothing. I'll do a thorough review and make a better report! Thank you!!"

I nodded, "You can leave."

***

I stood in the female clothing shop trying to decide which dress I should buy.

Hmm.

Which color would suit her the most?

Red? Black? Pink? Blue? Green?

Whatever I imagine her in. She looks good.

I smiled to myself.

Since she's small, maybe something cute? Something classy?

"Sir can I help you with something?" The employee approached me, "Are you perhaps looking for a dress for your girlfriend?" She asked.

"Ah." I nodded, "Yes."

I heard some squeals from behind but I decided to ignore them. "Do you have something class-" I stopped when a dress caught my attention.

It was a simple black dress with bell sleeves and net overlay attached with the bottom.

"That one." I pointed at the dress, "Have it delivered to my place."

"Right away sir." The employee lightly ran to the counter, squealing along the way.

Is it only me? Or is everyone around me acting strange today?

I walked out of the store and was about to head back to the office when a shop caught my attention.

A jewelry shop.

***

I went back to the penthouse. I bought her a smartphone as well.

Now that she's free to go anywhere she wants and I can't track her, might as well get her something we can communicate with.

As I entered the house I saw her sitting on the kitchen counter chair, lost in thought and somewhat a bit distressed?

"Rosalie?" I called her name and she snapped back to reality.

"Lexus..." I stepped towards her and she flinched, "Is- something wrong?"

She shook her head.

"Are you sure? You look-"

"Lexus? I-uh- I read something today. An online article."

Article?

"It was really old. Like really old." She bit her lower lip as I just responded with a nod. "I just wanted to ask."

"Hmm?"

She gulped, "The article said-" She looked straight into my eyes and chewed her lower lip before continuing,

"You 'accidentally' murdered your father when you were 15."

My eyes grew wide.

She found out.