Find Me Alastar(45)

“Tough shit.” I hang up. Fucking hell, who in the hell does this guy think he is?

Damn, I would have liked to hear what he said, though. I smirk when I imagine his face when I hung up. Conceited prick. I get back to work, but five minutes later the lift double doors open with a ding and I glance up. It’s rare anyone comes in at this time of the day. Wait. Don’t tell me.

Alastar

He’s standing in the lift with his hands in his sports coat jacket, his just f*cked hair resting wavy on the top of his head, and his big beautiful lips pursed.

Damn it… he looks orgasmic. And furious.

Dread fills me as he storms though the office like a raging bull that’s heading straight to my desk.

“I would like to see you, please.”

Travis and Deirdre look up from their work. Shit, shit, shit.

“And I said I am working. Go. Away.” I turn back to my computer and pretend to type.

Holy f*cking shit, what next?

“I am not moving until you come downstairs with me for five minutes.”

Fury starts to pump. Is he kidding? He’s a spoilt f*cking brat.

“I’m not allowed to leave my desk,” I grind out through gritted teeth.

Alastar turns to Deirdre. “I need to talk to Emerson about a customer relations emergency.”

I narrow my eyes as I start to hear my pulse pick in my ears. Is this a joke?

“That’s fine, Emerson. You go,” Deirdre replies. Her and Travis exchange looks.

I close my eyes and stand in a rage. “Fine. Out!” I snap as I walk toward the stairs in the foyer. I don’t want to walk past the management offices.

Stupid Stephanie is sitting at the upstairs reception as we walk past toward the stairs. I glare at her.

“Excuse me,” she calls to us.

I turn around to face her as Alastar heads down the stairs.

“The broom closet is that way,” she snickers through a fake smile. She points toward the management offices as if trying to be helpful.

I walk back to her desk as my fury hits another level. “Stephanie.” I put my hand on her desk and lean over into her face.

“Yes.”

“Go f*ck yourself.”

She smiles sarcastically. “Oh I do… often.”

My eyes hold hers.

“I personally don’t do it in cupboards, though. Although, I’m sure you would.” She raises her eyebrow in a silent dare.

I glare at her.

Game on, mole.

I turn and storm to the staircase. That f*cking bitch is going down when I get back.

I take the stairs two at a time with Alastar hot on my heels. I stop at the landing and turn to face him. “Okay, what do you want?”

He frowns. “I want ten minutes.” My eyes widen. “I’m at work. You get five.”

“Your boss said you could take fifteen minutes. I want to grab a quick coffee.” “Are you deaf? I am at work. I can’t go for coffee. What is so damn desperate that it can’t wait until tonight?”

He looks at me. “I just

want to explain myself and after our ten minutes at coffee you will never have to see me again. I promise. Okay?”

My heart deflates at the thought of never seeing him again. I do want to hear what he has to say. Damn it. “Fine.” I turn and start walking down the stairs and he follows me silently. We get to the bottom and he gestures to the door. We walk out onto the street.

“Which way?” I ask.

He points to the café down the road, and two minutes later we have ordered coffee and are sitting at a table for two in the back of a trendy little space.

I sit still, unsure what to say.

He appears nervous, although I know he can’t be.

He grabs my hand across the table and my face drops. Please don’t touch me.

“The things that you said to me on the weekend are playing on my mind and I can’t stop thinking about them.”

I raise an eyebrow. “That was five days ago, Alastar.”

“I know.”

“What’s changed?”

He shrugs. “I was just going to leave it but I can’t until you know that I’m not the person you think I am.”

“And what kind of person is that?”

“Married and in love with someone else. Or that I used you for sex.”

I frown.

“You lied to me, straight up. You got a text and I asked you who sent it and you said nobody. I heard the text come through, Alastar. I’m not stupid.”

His eyes hold mine. “I had a photo shoot six hours north on the Saturday morning. Thomas was coming with me and we were going to spend the weekend away.”

He squeezes my hand in his and I find myself watching his face.

“Thomas was staying at my house because we were leaving early. When he went to bed, I was meant to be going to an auction for just two hours. He had no idea where I was when the alarm went off in the morning, telling him it was time for us to leave. That’s when he text me.”

I frown, hmm, is this true? “Then why lie?”

He shrugs and his eyes meet mine. He fiddles with my hand as he tries to articulate his thoughts.

The waitress puts our coffee on the table. “Thank you,” we both reply in unison.

He swallows as if contemplating asking the next question. “I have to know something.”