Chapter 4: Time to Think

(Alexander’s POV)

I swirled my drink around in my glass as I sat at the bar with Harry, fascinated with the dark color of the bourbon combined with the clear ice. All night women had been constantly coming up to him at the bar, hoping to get a dance from him or a sliver of his time. But tonight, I wasn’t in the mood to fool around, tonight I had a lot on my mind.

Harry interrupted me from my thoughts when he spoke, “You’ve been acting strange all night Alex, what’s up with you?”

I merely took a sip of my drink, “Nothing, I’ve just got a lot on my mind lately.”

Harry nudged me with his elbow, “Ah still worried about the fact that you still have yet to find a woman to get engaged to and that your father approves of.”

I simply nodded and took another sip of my drink, I wasn’t concerned about that at all. I had found the perfect person to marry, even if I was a simple waitress that barely made minimum wage. Yes, I was indeed the perfect candidate and I had known it from the moment that I had first seen her, crying because she couldn’t pay for her education.

Reagan Taylor, I had seen her before mostly when she had been mopping or sweeping or taking other people’s orders. But in reality, I hadn’t noticed her, it was like when you saw someone in passing and didn’t take notice of them because they weren’t important. But today after I had heard her situation I had decided to take action because I knew that we could both benefit from each other.

When Reagan had spun around I had almost been caught off guard thinking that she was going to slap or punch me. Her deep blue eyes had been filled with annoyance, her raven black hair was pulled into a messy ponytail with tendrils that framed her face. Even though she was small she still looked like someone that wouldn’t take crap from anyone and that’s what had drawn me even closer to her.

I wasn’t attracted to Reagan in the slightest, even though she was quite an attractive woman but her fire, her defiance, and of course her looks had me determined to make her accept my proposal. I knew that we could benefit from each other and not only that but Reagan would make a good wife, even if the marriage would be fake. She seemed like someone that could adapt very quickly to my world and someone that would be just as powerful as I was. Yes indeed, if she would accept my engagement we would most definitely be a force to be reconned with.

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket and looked down to see who the text was from, my father. He was instructed that I again come to the office tomorrow morning to discuss more the marriage. I had an inkling that my father had a candidate already picked out for a potential fiancee. I downed the rest of my drink and asked the bartender for another, there was no way that I would let my father control this situation.

The next morning, I awoke with a pounding headache, regretting having as many drinks as I had consumed yesterday. I sat up in bed and rubbed my temples in an attempt to alleviate the pain that I was going through, but to no avail. Deciding that the best thing that I could do was shower and get something for my headache. I quickly showered and got myself ready before heading downstairs and being greeted by Albert.

“Here sir, I assumed that after your night last night you would be needing this.” In his hand, Albert held a silver platter with a tall glass of liquid that looked quite thick and red.

“Thank you, Albert.” I took the glass off of the platter and took a sip, almost gagging and spitting the drink right out. I had come home drunk many a time and Albert had made this drink for me many a time but that didn’t mean that I ever got used to the taste.

I quickly downed the rest of the drink and made my way into the dining area inspecting the array of food that was placed on the table. My head was pounding so furiously that the mere idea of food disgusted me, so I grabbed two croissants and a glass of orange juice, downing both quickly before heading out the door.

“Good afternoon, sir.” Mike, a security guard that worked at Griffin International greeted me as I entered the building and I in turn gave him a nod to show my acknowledgment of his greeting.

I made my way to the elevator and entered when one opened, pressing the number that corresponded to the floor where the CEO’s office was located. When I reached the floor that I had designated on the elevator, I made my way to my father’s office this time not even bothering to knock as I entered.

“Father, what is this about this time?” I demanded before noticing that we weren’t alone in the office. In the chair seated in front of his father’s desk sat a woman, which I could only tell from the long red hair that flowed down the back of the chair.

The woman stood up and turned around and I tried to keep my face stoic and blank as I stared back at a very familiar face. Victoria Copenhagen, someone that I had once slept with and who also had a very close relationship with my family, particularly my father. Instantly, I realized what this meeting was going to be about. Victoria was here because my father saw her as an option to be my potential bride and I would be damned if I let my father go through with this.

Victoria came up to me and gave me a sultry, sweet smile flipping her hair over one shoulder, “This is a surprise Alexander, I didn’t know that you would be here.”

I merely grunted, I knew all too well that was bull, she knew I was going to be here. Victoria had no part in the company, so why else would she be here. My father must have made her aware that I would be at his office today.

“Is this some sort of ambush?” I asked, now annoyed with the whole situation.

“Son, I was just telling Victoria how lately you’ve been wanting to settle down and we thought that it would be a good idea if she was your escort for my upcoming event.”

I chuckled sardonically and looked at Victoria, “I don’t know what my father told you but I don’t plan on bringing anyone with me to the event let alone going in the first place.”

For a moment, something flashed in Victoria’s eyes, an emotion that I could not read but she plastered that sweet smile on her face again and touched my arm gently, “Oh Alexander there’s no harm in the two of us attending together as friends.”

I shook her hand off of me, “You should quit while you’re ahead Victoria, nothing will ever happen between the two of us.”

I wasn’t someone that hoped for miracles but in this situation, I needed one badly. If Reagan did not accept my proposal then my father would push for Victoria, and that marriage would never happen not if I could help it.