The Brunette With Angelic Face

Norah rushed down the steps toward him with a worried face, they knew about his arrival from her brother but they didn't expect to see him with right leg in walking boot.

He was dashingly handsome with his casual attire, navy long-sleeved shirt hugged his well built body, denim jeans and trimmed leather sneakers.

Norah circled her hands in his arm, "What happened to your leg, Xander? Why are you wearing a walking boot?"

His green eyes gazed at the woman standing by the front door, look at her as if what happened to him was her fault.

"I sprained my ankle from playing tennis. The tears of tendon area is not that severe, so the doctor expected I'll be wearing it for three to four weeks."

"Oh Gosh! That long? How do you go to work in this state?"

"I can deal with it."

They walked together to the front door, had to be careful when Norah assisted him up the stairs. Clara and Noah were already waiting there.

With a solemn look, Clara greeted. "Hello, Xander. What a terrible accident! Hope you feel better soon." There was no concern on her face.

She was reluctant to be here, but Norah kept asking her to go down and waiting for his arrival.

"I can help you in the company until you heal, sir." Noah said.

"Appreciate it, Noah. But I need you to stay here."

Noah nodded, "I understand, sir."

They walked inside and Clara followed behind, she thought her duty was done so she took a step upstairs when Norah called her.

"Clara, don't hide in your room forever. Let's sit at the living room together." Norah invited.

"She was too lazy to go down, so I had to persuade her until she melted. She even bring the novel with her." She chuckled, added that little piece of information to Xander.

"Really?" He lifted one of his eyebrow to Norah and leaned in, "You don't need to waste your effort on her, Norah. I only await your warm welcome."

Clara had brace herself for his painful words, but with him delivered that line in front of Noah made her blood boil.

Noah watched her with pity.

Norah blushed, "Xander! Stop it, don't be so cruel to Clara. I'm sorry, Clara. Please don't be mad at him."

"I'm used to it.. So if you don't mind, I'll retreat to my room. I don't want to disturb you two." She turned to the stairs.

"I'm sorry Clara. I don't know what came over me to speak like that. Maybe because my leg hurts like hell. Will you forgive me and join us?" He pleaded with such a cute face.

He never asked for her forgiveness. It was a charade in front his girlfriend.

His glare challenged her to refuse.

Clara nodded her head, "Fine.. But I can't stay for long."

"You guys enjoy your afternoon, I still have some works to do." Noah turned to his office.

"Wait, Noah. It's saturday, you don't have to work this day, right?" Clara held him off.

At least with Noah, Clara didn't have to sit alone beside the lovey dovey couple. But the man shook his head.

"Maybe next time, Clara. I have a lot of works piling up."

Then he closed the office door. Something was off with him, Clara had to speak with him when they have time alone.

Xander was seated on the center of the big and comfortable custom-made sofa. Last time she was in this living room, she sat on his lap getting her first shot. She shuddered at the thought, soon she would get that injection again.

Gemma had prepared fruits and drinks on the table.

"Would you like to eat apples or grapes?" Norah asked, she sat next to him.

"Grapes, but I want you to feed me." Xander opened his mouth to her.

Norah laughed, "You're such a baby. It's your leg that hurts, not your hand." But she fed a grape into his mouth.

"Hmm.. Somehow it tastes sweeter when you feed me." Xander winked.

Norah buried her face on his chest, "Ohhh.. You embarassed me."

"It's the truth.. Are you embarrased because someone else is here? Okay then, next time I'll compliment you when it's just the two of us. But I can't help it.."

Clara sat by the end of the sofa, reading her book and thinking why was she here just to be that 'someone else'. But she wants to show him this didn't bother her a bit.

Norah fed him some more, "So tell me the details how it happened, Xander. I can't believe you were so careless."

"Ankle sprains are the most frequent type of sprain in sports, Norah. I was just too excited to win the game, but maybe I should blame my friend because he distracted my focus." He munched on the grapes.

"Oh yeah? What did she do?" Clara couldn't help but butt in.

"I play tennis with my business friends and all of them are male, Clara. So one of them mentioned a club, sorry Norah.. It's a night club. They told me this club offered an amazing stripping performance."

"You mean, pole dance performance." She interjected again.

"Have you been there, Clara? I feel like a child overhearing your conversation because I've never been to a place like that. My brother wouldn't let me." Norah sulked.

Clara flushed, her tounge was tied so she took a sip of orange juice. Thankfully, Xander continued his story.

"So the subject was about this particular girl, she hasn't been to work for a long time, all the men there awaiting her return. They said the brunette has an angelic face."

"Oh, so you sprain your ankle because he mentioned a beautiful girl and it distracts your focus?" The question was meant to provoke him.

"This is where the story got interesting." Xander gleamed, Norah sat straighter.

"When I was jumping to hit the ball, he shouted her name and that name is similar to your name."

Clara choked on her orange juice.

"Are you okay, Clara?" Norah asked with concern.

Xander just continued, "Or maybe I heard it wrong, I don't know because by that time I had sprained my ankle."

Clara was still coughing.

"I'll go get you some water, Clara." Norah got up.

"Please get a cup of milk for me, babe."

She waited until Norah disappeared behind the door before she yell at him.

"Are you crazy? What if Norah realize you talk about me!"

Xander chuckled, "Why is her judgement about you matter so much?"

This man was impossible!

"Of course, Xander. You forced me to be in this situation."

"But it is the truth, you're a stripper." He tossed a grape to the air and catch it with his mouth.

"Ugh! You're so thickheaded!"

She might explode anytime soon if she was here with him, so she got up.

"Where are you going? You're not worried about me?" He furrowed his eyebrows and make a puppy face.

Ok, she had to admit he was cute and charming. Xander never banter with her like this.

"Nope."

"Ok, I won't mention it to Norah again. But you have to come here."

Clara just stood there with uninterested face.

"Come here right now." He said with serious tone.

So Clara walked to his side. "Now what?"

"Kiss me."

Clara widened her eyes, "No! Norah could come in anytime soon!"

"That's why you have to be quick. I don't care if she saw us, do you want that?" He persisted.

Clara glanced at the door, then lowered her head and kiss his mouth. He seized the back of her neck and pull her closer in a deep kiss.

They didn't know the girl was standing outside the door, beyond their sight, and heard everything.