Chapter 17 Declan
I watch and listen as Xavier talks to Jess.
Maybe I won’t have to make her disappear after all.
I’m glad Xavier put her on speaker during the call.
He paces the living area while they talk.
When he finishes the call and goes into the bedroom, I follow him on camera.
He stands, staring at the bed for a minute before he goes into the bathroom, out of camera range.
Was he remembering what I did to him on the bed?
I’ve never given a single fuck about what someone else is thinking, but right now I would give just about anything to know how he feels.
From the conversation, I know that he is determined to keep the shitty little job at the café.
I also know that he will be looking for something else.
He’s pissed that Ronan got him evicted, so how would he react if I made good on my promise to get him fired?
Jess suggested that he get to know me, but will he give me a chance?
I don’t think he will if he keeps getting pissed at me.
It’s a little after eleven, but I call Aunt Alessia anyway.
“What’s wrong?” she asks as a greeting.
“Nothing is wrong, but I have a question.”
“And it couldn’t wait until morning?”
“No. Xavier is in the apartment, but he still plans to go to work at the café, even though I told him I wanted him to work for me. He will have to leave early in the morning, so I need to talk to you tonight.”
“How did you talk him into the apartment?”
“He didn’t have a choice. Ronan got him evicted, so I brought him here.”
“Ronan got him evicted?” Her voice takes on that icy edge that we all hate to hear.
“Yes, but it would have happened anyway. Ronan just sped up the timetable.”
“If you and the rest don’t stop messing with the poor boy, he is going to hate you. Is that what you want?”
“No.”
“Then don’t mess with his job, Declan. Right now, he probably feels like everything is out of his control. You know what that feels like because control is one of the things that you crave. If his job at the café gives him even a little security now, then let him have it. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Aunt Alessia.”
“Good. Now go to bed, you have work tomorrow of your own.”
I do need to get some sleep, but I have one more thing to do. I pull up Xavier’s contact and send him a text.
Me: The keys to your new car are on the entryway table. Take the elevator to level one, and it is parked in slot 12.
I debate telling him what it is, but decide not to. He will see the Audi RS5 Avant in the morning.
Xavier: I have my own car
Me: Yes. It’s in slot 12
I watch for him on the screen, but I don’t see him.
He’s still in the bathroom. I’m starting to regret my decision not to put a camera in there when he emerges into the bedroom.
He’s walking with purpose through the apartment to the front door.
When he picks up the keys, he shakes his head and drops them quickly.
Xavier: An Audi?
Me: Yes, it’s one of the safest cars
Me: 5-star rating all around
Xavier: It’s too much. I’ll drive my own car
Me: Your car is no longer an option. Good night, Xavier.
On screen, Xavier throws his hands up and stomps his way back to the bedroom. He’s put on a T-shirt and sweatpants. I want to see him in my clothes. Xavier pulls back the covers and climbs into bed. He looks small in the king-sized bed. I watch for a few more minutes before I head to bed myself.
The alarm wakes me up at five. I grab the remote off the nightstand and turn on the TV I have hanging on the far wall.
Xavier’s apartment comes onto the screen.
He’s in the kitchen eating a bagel. He looks tired.
I watch intently as he finishes his breakfast and cleans up after himself.
There’s something in his movements that keeps my attention on him.
It’s just like the night in the club when I first saw him.
He’s got a graceful way about him. I grab my phone.
Me: The front door code is 0810. Don’t forget your car key
Xavier takes his phone out of his pocket and reads the screen.
Shaking his head, he doesn’t reply to my message and puts his phone back in his pocket.
And of course, he walks out of the apartment without the car key.
I change to the elevator view, then to the lobby.
Xavier steps out of the building and waits by the curb.
A few minutes later, a sedan pulls up, and after checking the license plate, Xavier gets in.
My stubborn boy has called a rideshare. He’s probably going to try to pick up his car from his apartment.
It baffles me why he would choose to drive a piece of shit over an Audi.
Maybe he wants a BMW or Mercedes instead. I’ll have to find out.
I decide to go to the office early. I still need a PA, and the last bitch has fucked up my schedule royally.
Xavier arrived back home yesterday, a little after four, so I plan to be back at his apartment by then.
I arrive at the office a little before seven.
Not surprisingly, my dad is already here.
He seems to live at the office most days.
It’s his obsession. At forty-five, he’s still young compared to other people who have accomplished what he has.
“Declan!” He calls out as I pass his open door. I stop and walk into his office.
“Yes.”
“Did you figure out your PA situation?”
“No.”
“That needs to be a priority. It’s hard enough to keep up with the important things without getting bogged down. Is your new toy not taking the job after all?”
“He is not my toy, Dad.”
“Kieran said he was your Alessia. Are you sure that is how you see him, and this is not just a whim?”
“I’m sure. But he is being stubborn about it.”
“I’m pretty sure he is not as stubborn as you are.
” Dad took a deep breath. “It’s only been a few days, and already you are too distracted.
Distractions are dangerous. Find your balance.
” I nod and leave his office. My father may not have shown love and affection as most dads do, but he has always looked out for me.
I understand what he was telling me, but I’m not giving Xavier up.
It’ll take as long as it takes to find my balance.
I work on my schedule well into the morning.
I have no idea what the twat has been doing with her day, but from the number of unread emails and unanswered requests, it certainly wasn’t work.
My next few weeks are going to be packed.
I check my phone for the hundredth time for a message from Xavier.
Not that I expect him to text me, but for some reason, I want him to surprise me.
There are several in the cousins’ group text that I have ignored.
Since I’m taking a break, I decide to read through them.
Liam: Declan told Mom about Ronan getting X evicted, and now he is in trouble
Finn: He tried to take me down with him since I was the one who mentioned it
Conor: Do you know what the punishment is
Liam: She is making him turn in his next two reports on paper. I think he is close to having a stroke.
Finn: Or an allergic reaction to the paper and ink.
Liam: Word of warning, Dec, he is not happy with you. I’d keep an eye on your credit score if I were you.
Declan: He won’t. You know the rule about retaliation for mom’s punishment
Finn:??
Ronan: Mom already warned me. I am supposed to apologize to X as well. Is he still at the apartment?
Declan: Yes, but stay away from him.
Ronan: Mom’s orders
I put my phone down when I hear a knock on the door. “Come in,” I call out. Brenda, the head of HR and Chris Waters, our attorney, enter my office. I rise from my seat to greet them.
“What can I do for you?”
“We need to talk about Nancy Stewart. She is threatening a lawsuit for sexual harassment.”
I motion for them to take a seat in the sitting area. I have a feeling this is going to take longer than I want. As far as I’m concerned, the matter should be closed, but apparently it’s not.
“Ms. Stewart claims that you made advances and that you were upset that she declined them, resulting in her loss of employment,” Chris says as he pulls out his legal pad to take notes.
“Lie. It was quite the opposite.”
“Do you have any proof of that?”
“I do because she is a fucking idiot.” I grab the cell phone that I use for business off my desk.
Pulling up the text thread, I hand it to him.
I don’t believe in deleting anything on my work phone.
Not only is it backed up to a company server, but Ronan also does his thing every few months to keep me from running out of memory.
Scrolling through, Chris reads several of the most recent ones aloud for Brenda’s benefit.
PA Nancy: You’re free for lunch starting at noon. Would you like some company?
Declan: No
PA Nancy: Since we are working late, would you like to get dinner together
Declan: No
PA Nancy: Reminder that the gala is in three weeks. Do you have a date yet?
Declan: No
PA Nancy: I would be happy to accompany you
Declan: No
Chris looks up from the phone, then back down to scroll more. “There are a ton of these types of messages. None of which was on the phone she gave to Brenda.”
“That’s because she gave me her personal cell number at first and said that it was an accident.
If you look at the one under PA Nancy work, you will see more professional texts.
As I said, she’s an idiot.” I’m bored with the conversation and have more important things to do, like opening the listening and camera app connected to Xavier’s phone and smartwatch.
“I’ll need to get these downloaded.”
“Ask Ronan for a transcript. That phone is backed up every night to the company server.”
Chris hands me back the phone and stands. Brenda does as well. “I’ll let you know if I need anything else. But these should be enough to stop her.”
“Your father said that you would be responsible for hiring your next PA. Until you do, I have assigned Claire to you. She can fill in for a while. I put her at your reception desk.”
I nod and follow them to the door. I’m briefly introduced to the older lady who will be my temp PA.
I go back into my office and shut the door.
It’s lunchtime, and though I don’t know Xavier’s schedule, I hope he has his phone close by.
I couldn’t tell this morning if he had the watch on.
I open up the program on my personal tablet.
Both the phone and watch are active. After putting my earbuds in, I click on the phone feed.
Xavier’s face comes on screen. He is sitting at a table, eating a sandwich, and scrolling on his phone.
The program gives me access to both front and rear camera angles on a split screen.
He’s in a small break room. No one else is visible.
I check to see what he is scrolling through.
As soon as the feed comes up, I smile. Xavier is scrolling through my Instagram account.
I open the app on my phone and take a selfie.
I add the caption, “I would rather be having lunch with X” and post. I watch as he sees the new post. I can see his blush through the camera.
It’s not my typical post. I never take selfies, but I want him to see me.
He stares at his phone as a small smile starts to form on his lips.
“Hey there, handsome,” an unknown male voice says from outside of either camera view. Xavier slams the phone face down on the table.
“Oh, hey Brian. If you are looking for Brad, he’s not here. He said he had some errands to run and should be back soon.” Xavier sounds off. He no longer has a smile on his face.
“Actually, I came by to see you. We didn’t have a chance to talk yesterday since you were in the middle of your shift. But you’re on lunch break now, so it’s the perfect time to get to know each other.”
WHAT. THE. FUCK. I can’t see the man who is talking to my Xavier.
From the camera angle, I can only see his arm on the table, but I can tell that he was leaning toward Xavier.
I grab everything and head out the door.
I barely have enough time to let the new PA know to cancel my afternoon meeting before the elevator door closes.
Juggling my tablet and my phone, I call my driver.
“I’m on my way to you, have the car ready. ” I never take my eyes off the screen.
“Oh, um, that’s nice, but I’m done with lunch, so I need to get back out there.”
“Nonsense, I checked before I came back here, and you still have twenty minutes.”
This guy is going to die a long, painful death.
If he touches what is mine, I’ll cut his finger off knuckle by knuckle and feed it to him.
I’m glad that I caught a glimpse of the name of the café on Xavier’s apron.
I never asked because I didn’t think he would still choose the job over working for me.
I give my driver the café’s name and tell him to get me there as quickly as he can. “Be there in six minutes, sir.”