Chapter 22

*Louise's point of view*

Being dragged around by Alex was a feeling i had sadly already gotten used to. The man seemed to take a hissy fit over every little thing then had the nerve to call the female sex the most emotional. Rolling my eyes at his behaviour, I counted to ten to try and contain my anger and irritation at being dragged around like a ragdoll. When we had finally came to a stop I was fairly in control of my emotions and silently surveyed Alex who although was standing directly in front of me, was still glaring at everyone else in the room easily over the top of my head. I had no clue what had got him into the state he was in right now and quite honestly I was very hesitant to ask because I was no longer aware as to where I stood with the infuriating man.

'Alex?' I asked quietly trying to get his attention but it seemed like he was blanking me off. Narrowing my eyes at him i suddenly found the backbone I was born in and found myself pinching his arm much like his mother had a while back. Hard.

Almost instantly he let out a little yelp and snapped his eyes towards me.

'What the hell was that for?' He growled at me as he rubbed his poor biceps. I sniggered internally at the image he made before remembering my reasoning.

'Do you care to explain why you thought it would be acceptable to drag me halfway across the room, Mr Hoffman?' I asked quirking one of my eyebrows up wondering what kind of bullshit excuse he was going to use on me. I saw his eyes darken and harden almost dangerously and I felt a shiver run down my back, leaving a trail of goosebumps.

'Look can we not got there,' he demanded more than asked and for once I was tactful so as not to barge ahead with the questions his evasiveness had stirred.

'Of course sir,' I said politely. I had to understand that everyone had personal barriers that they didnt allow people to cross and apparently I had stumbled upon his.

'Ok stop with this sir and Mr Hoffman rubbish!' He suddenly growled out as he grabbed me by the waist and backed further into the shadows of the room, 'I'm sorry okay? I know that I was acting a bit like a douche but some of it was your fault!'

Narrowing my eyes at him I was about to refute that statement before remembering the fun times where I purposely annoyed him and reluctantly grunted an agreement but I was not letting him off that easily.

'Ok, while I may admit that I sometimes purposely annoyed you for my entertainment, would you mind telling me what I did so wrong for you to be so cold and fling so much work on me that i literally could not get any sleep just so that you could have a roll in the hay?' i asked him slightly hurt as i remembered the stressful night i had, 'notes for which you haven't properly looked at all meeting!'

A look of complete and utter guilt seemed to take over his feautures.

'I do apologize for that, those notes were not as urgent as I made them out to be but I just wanted for you to feel the same amount of hurt you made me feel,' he explained the look of guilt not quite leaving his face.

'What do you mean? what did I do?' I asked confused. I mean, I know that sometimes I act before I think but I honestly couldnt remember doing anything so bad it hurt him. I felt him stiffen at the question before turning his face away from me and mumbling something I couldn't quite make out.

'What?' I asked leaning closer so that i could here him.

'You said another guy was the reason you were smiling all day,' he grumbled still refusing to look at me.

'huh?' I asked leaning even closer towards him.

'I said I was jealous that you said another man made you happy okay!' he growled out in annoyance. Smiling, I leaned over and kissed his cheek before wrapping my arms around him and inhaling his scent. good I loved how he smelled.

'When I said that, I was just being really stupid and shy and shit,' I said awkwardly to his chest as I refused to look up to his face,' It was you and the fact that you were trying so hard to not be as high handed that had made me so stupidly proud and happy. I just don't really understand why.'

The more i explained the more his hold on me seemed to grow tighter before he let out a low expletive.

'I messed it all up though didn't I?' he asked me gently lifting my chin so that he could read my expressions better, I only nodded my head, 'I'll do better next time, promise.'

'Promises are easy to be made but hard to be kept, ill believe it when I see it,' I replied lightly, I was not stupid to take anything he said at face value. He looked as if he was ready to argue with me when the buzzer that indicated the meeting was to resume rang. He sent me a look promising of later.

Later never really came.

The moment the car pulled to a stop at the end of the driveway, Alex was out the car and into the apartment. it was like Dejavu. Rolling my eyes, i sauntered into the kitchen and that was where I stayed for the next two hours as i argued with Agatha about going sightseeing. I was trying to convince her that I would have no time with having to type up and translate the notes from this mornings meeting but she didnt seem to be having any of it, so when Alex strolled in, I was only too relieved.

'Alex tell her that i'm not going to be able to go sightseeing anytime soon,' I begged him as Agatha gave a huff of indignation.

'Do you know how long i had to beg for my familia to escort you and now you say you don't want to go?' she cried out dramatically, I wanted to roll my eyes at her theatrics but wasn't too keen of being pelted with a wooden spoon. But I didn't fancy going exploring with strangers that were most likely blackmailed into accompanying me even less.

'It's not that i don't want to go, i would love to explore Paris but I just don't have the time, I have to type up and translate the notes from todays meeting and you know how long it took me last time,' I said for the third time before pulling out my trump card, 'besides you heard alex, this is not a vacation right?'

Suddenly, everyone was looking at Alex who seemed slightly alarmed, probably wondering what he had gotten himself into.

'Louise its fine, i thought we cleared this all up earlier, those notes dont have to bed done for tommorrow moning, for god sake the meeting took half the day' he said passing me a bewildered look to which i replied with a glare. Why the hell was he Okay with this?

Where the hell was the possessive 'mine' 'no other male friends' blah blah blah arrogant man i had become used to. I was relying on him, to get me out of this.

'look im pretty sure you girls can go shopping in the city of fashion or whatever and do what you girls do, enjoy yourself, I'll even pay for your night out as my way of saying sorry for my behavior.' He said throwing me a smile. I could tell he was trying to get better but god damn it, couldnt he have chosen a better time!

Just then the door bell rang and Agatha sent me a victorious smirk before scurrying to open the door for the guest, glancing at the clock, i saw that it was already half past seven and that it was likely my guide for the night. I let out a loud groan of despair.

'Cheer up pumpkin, She probably isn't really that bad and you should probably soak Paris up since were leaving two days,' he said grinning at me.

wait. She?

'Alex?' I said tentaively while trying to suppress the urge to jump up and down at the fact that I had found a way out, 'It's not a girl. It's her godson.'

Almost instantly, he tensed up and his eyes darkened a shade.

'Whats his name?' he asked me as his fists clenched and unclenched. Again, an unjustified feeling of proudness rushed over me. I just shrugged in response. I didnt want to mess up when dealing with an irritated bear.

'I'm sure he wont be that bad, is probably just some teenage punk,' he said, his voice strained. Obviously he was forcing himself to remain calm and say this but i didnt believe him and from his demeanour he didnt believe those words either.

It was around that time that we heard footsepts approaching.

'Look who's here Louise dear,' i heard Agatha say as she rounded the corner, 'meet my godson.'

Within two seconds flat, I had Alex infront of me, blocking everything but his broad back that was pretty darn sexy.

'OH HELL NAW!!" He roared. I had never heard him so damn american before and honestly, I think I just came a little.