Beautiful Rose (Elixir Billionaires #1)

17. Rose

17

ROSE

When I get up this morning, I have a big smile on my face. I don’t remember the dream, but it was about Zander and his sensual voice from last night. As I brush my teeth, I remember his words: fucking cute and adorably sexy. As much as the words scare me, they also give me a sparky, warm feeling.

His late-night words took away the sting of the previous incidences. Vanessa’s outburst and me sharing the most shunned part of my life.

Before his phone call, I googled Vanessa and Zander’s name together but came up empty-handed. It quieted my insecurities, especially the voice in my head that repeatedly questions me. What is Zander doing with me?

Lost in my thoughts of the pivotal night, I have no idea when Kristy entered my room. She stares at my reflection, and when I meet her gaze in the mirror, I see the weirdo she sees. Toothpaste foam drools from one side of my mouth.

Crab.

She smiles, but a moment later, her smile falters. “Rosie, as much as I want you to carry on with the hallmark movie running in your brain, there’s something we need to see. I just received a text from Oscar about some updated company policies. Let’s see what’s happening in the actual world, lover girl .”

Lover girl!

I wash my face in record time and meet Kristy in our open space kitchen. She logs in to the office server while I prepare coffee. Adding sugar, I take a whiff of the warm smell when she curses. “Fuck.”

I peer toward her laptop screen, and my eyes widen at the subject of the opened email. Non-Fraternization Policy.

The spoon slips from my fingers and falls onto the wooden counter, leaving coffee splatters on the surface.

“Rose, calm down. Take deep breaths.” Kristy holds my hand, and that’s when I notice my fingers are shaking like dry leaves in the wind.

I’m jolted from my seat at the ringing of my cell phone. Zander’s face appears on the screen. Weeks back, I downloaded one of his pictures from the internet and added it to his number on my phone.

“Hell-Hello.” With all the trembling, I have a hard time forming words.

“Marr. Are you okay?” Hearing his silvery voice, my breathing starts to pacify.

“Y-Yes.”

“I guess you’ve already seen the email.” He releases a deep sigh. “I’m so sorry. I should have been more careful.”

“Will I lose my job?” I ask.

Kristy cleans the counter with the kitchen rag next to me. The swiping motion distracts me, lulling my anxiety.

“Hell no. I’ll never let that happen.”

“Okay. We haven’t read the entire email yet.”

“Then don’t read it. Can I come over?” he asks hesitantly, and then adds, “This is not how I’d planned this morning. But I really need to see you and tell you everything that’s happening in person.” I can feel the frustration in his voice.

“Can you hold for a moment? I need to check with Kristy.” It’s the first time I’m inviting a boy home. I’m not sure what the protocol is and if we have some unspoken rule about not having guys over.

“Of course, he can come over,” Kristy answers before I can ask her.

As I place the phone back to my ear, Zander replies, “I heard her. Message me your address, and I’ll be there soon.”

It’s been an hour since Zander’s call. I showered and got dressed in my black jeans and checkered white-and-black flannel shirt. When the bell rings, I nervously open the door. And there he is, dressed impeccably as always. Today, he’s wearing a navy-blue striped suit, mauve shirt, and a purple tie. But there are some new tired lines under his eyes.

“Hi,” I whisper.

“Hello, Marr,” he replies with a smile, and some of those worry lines disappear. Taking my hand, he tugs me closer. Caught off guard, I stumble toward him before he steadies me with his hands around my waist.

I try to pull back, muttering a soft, “I’m sorry.” But he doesn’t let me go.

My face is only inches away from his broad chest, and I get the first close whiff of the woodsy vanilla scent, which is another of those things that remind me of Zander these days.

“Don’t be.” His amused voice is thick and warm.

We stand at the doorstep with his hand on my waist, gazing into each other’s eyes until Kristy’s holler breaks our trance. “Is that Zander at the door?”

I step back so he can come inside .

Before I can go far, he grabs my hand and intertwines our fingers. I don’t protest. Since last night, I’ve come to realize that I like Zander’s touch. His touch makes me feel safe—safe like I have never felt.

“Hey, Kristy. How are you?” Zander waves to my friend lying on the recliner as we both enter the living room together.

“Hey, boss. We were hoping you could enlighten us on what the hell is going on. But let’s sit first.” As we move to the living area, she sits upright and asks, “Would you like coffee or something?”

Zander settles on the couch and pulls me next to him. “I forgot to mention that Zach and Zane would like to come over with breakfast.” He glances at me for confirmation, and I look at Kristy. I’m still confused about the rules of my one-day-old boyfriend and his brothers coming over.

“What? Will you ask my permission for everything you do with him?” She squints, her eyes shining with mischief.

“No,” I murmur, my cheeks flaming at her question.

Zander puts his arms around my shoulders and pulls me close before looking down at me with his breathtaking smile. He then says, unexpectedly, looking between me and Kristy, “I never noticed you both have identical eye color.”

I giggle as Kristy laughs at his off-tangent remark. “That’s because you were too busy checking my friend out.”

He peers my way once more and arches an eyebrow before turning to Kristy. My insides tingle under his attention.

“My brothers aren’t too pleased with me. They think if I’d handled things better last night, we wouldn’t have such a mess on our hands right now.”

My best friend snickers. “They didn’t like your grand Romeo move?”

“No, they aren’t really Shakespeare fans,” Zander comments back and smiles at me when I giggle. “But they want to personally assure you before leaving that everything is handled, and you don’t need to worry about anything.”

My heart skips a beat at the sweet gesture of his brothers. I smile back at him until I realize what he just said. My eyebrows furrow in confusion. “You’re leaving?” It hasn’t been more than twelve hours since we decided to take it a step further in our relationship and he’s leaving already?

“No, Marr. I can’t go so soon. Can I now?” He smiles his oh so affectionate smile. I can’t believe this handsome man is here for me, even after knowing my truth.

“Okay, boss, tell us what’s going on, and then I’ll leave you lovebirds alone.” Kristy slides from the recliner and sits on the ottoman closer to the couch where I’m huddled with Zander.

“Vanessa is no wallflower. I’ve known her for many years now,” Zander says. He hasn’t released my hand since we walked into the house; it’s as if he’s worried I’m gonna run away.

No chance, mister.

I interrupt him. “Were you and her…ever?”

“No, Marr. Never.” He runs his hand through his hair, peeking at me under his lashes. “She tried to get close to me in the past, but when I didn’t return the gesture, she brushed it off with a laugh. That’s why I was surprised when she came on to me so strong last night.” His grip on me tightens. “Vanessa has no affection for me. I think when she saw you and me together, she somehow took it as a personal offense.” He looks between Kristy and me before asking, “You believe me, right?”

I reply to Kristy’s raised eyebrow with a subtle nod. Over the weeks I’ve known Zander, he’s given me no reasons to doubt him. But I’m not surprised like him. Even if they weren’t together before, why would Vanessa not hit on him? Zander is the complete package .

“Yeah, we believe you,” Kristy replies. “But we weren’t aware she was involved with Elixir Inc. directly.”

“She isn’t. We have a long association with the Hilberts. Mathew, Vanessa’s father, is not only one of our first investors but also a close friend of Beast.” He stretches his long legs under the coffee table.

“Beast?” My ears perk at the weird name.

“That’s what we call Ashcroft.” Zander chuckles.

“You call Ashcroft Miller, your guardian, Beast? Why?” I ask, thrown for a loop at the weird nickname.

He cracks up at my confused open mouth and wide eyes. “You’ll know when you see him.”

Sweet Sugar.

Are we already talking about meeting family members? Guess so. His brothers are on their way to my place and Kristy, my only family, is busy bantering with him.

“Vanessa supports Mathew in his business, and that’s how she’s aware of the internal company business and policies. But there’s nothing to worry about. You just need to know that the non-fraternization policy has not been in effect since last Friday.” His thumb gently strokes my hand when he feels me stiffening. “So apart from some internal office gossip, everything will stay the same.”

“I’m going to work tomorrow with a bag of popcorn.” Kristy wiggles her eyebrow at us.

The wide smile that grows on Zander’s face is reassuring, and I lose myself in it. Everything will be all right. I repeat the words in my head, over and over again.

After another thirty minutes, I answer the doorbell for the second time this morning and find Zach scowling at Zane.

“Would you have minded too much if we had one bagel on the way?” Zach’s serious eyes peer at me.

“Um…no,” I reply to his strange question with confusion.

“Did you hear? No one cares about one bagel.” Zach angrily points one finger at Zane.

“S-s-sorry, Marr. Someone’s cranky, as it’s past his br-reakfast time.” Zane smiles, handing me the bags from Hawthorne Bakery.

“You can’t stay hungry for fifteen minutes?” Zander asks his brother when we meet him in the living room.

Kristy helps me in getting the plates from the kitchen, smiling at the annoyed, yet amusing Zach Teager.

The three brothers fill our modest living room. Dressed in impeccable suits on a Sunday morning, they look perfectly out of place in our boho decor.

After wolfing down one bagel, two cupcakes, and half a croissant, Zach surprises me with his question. “Are you sure about this one?” He cocks his head toward Zander sitting beside me. “He can be grumpy at times.”

“What are you talking about? I’m a sweetheart.” Zander throws a bread piece at his brother before turning my way. “Don’t listen to him.” He smiles, showing me his perfect white teeth, and my breathing stops.

He is so beautiful.

There is no other way to describe him.

“You’re a guy who calls himself a sweetheart,” Zach comments. Sipping his coffee, his grumpy mood is forgotten.

“I am to her,” Zander mutters before pushing a half-bitten blueberry cupcake into his mouth.

My Sweetheart.

Holy Moly.

Zander’s brothers share stories and jokes about the office and their life in St. Peppers. I feel like I’ve known them for years and not just since last night. They treat me like I’m one of them, a part of their family.

I look around and wonder can this be my family? Zander and me, with my best friend and his brothers ?

Watching everyone interact gives me hope—hope for a new life filled with love. Love, which was always out of reach, always two steps ahead no matter how hard I ran. I know it’s silly to think about such things so early in our relationship.

But when does the heart follow logic?