2. XANDER
Chapter 2
XANDER
“ S o sorry…” I mumbled in my sleep, the image of a blonde-haired goddess floating before my eyes. She glared at me, yet her beauty was very irresistible.
Her long, straight blonde hair cascaded like a golden waterfall, framing a face that reflected an air of quiet strength. Her blue-green eyes reminded me of a turbulent sea, ready to fight and show me who's the boss. Long, dark lashes brushed against porcelain skin, adding a touch of mystery to the most gorgeous face I had ever seen.
“Who are you?” I asked in the dream.
Suddenly, the anger and irritation on her features melted into a flirtatious smile that seemed to electrify every inch of my body. She reached out to me, her fingers grazing my cheek before tracing my lips, sparking an intense desire within me.
“Wake up, Xander,” she whispered in my ear, her warm breath tickling my lobe.
“You’re so hot, Xander,” another voice murmured in my other ear. I was surprised. When I turned to the other side, I saw that it was also the same woman, gazing at me seductively.
I could feel the heat spreading throughout my body. Then the giggles made me open my eyes, pulling me back to reality. To my astonishment, two naked women were lying on either side of me, looking as if they were about to pounce. I felt like a trapped rabbit in a lion’s den.
Broken images from last night’s celebration flashed in my mind, making me groan and sit up at once. “Get dressed,” I ordered the two young women, oblivious to their alluring bodies. I didn’t even know their names.
I climbed out of bed, grateful that I was still wearing a pair of boxers. I suddenly wondered if we’d done it the previous night.
The three of us? Holy shit. Maybe not!
It might be a fantasy come true for many men, but I wasn’t interested. I remembered how Phil and the other guys had kept challenging me to drink more, saying that we had to celebrate my transfer to a new team.
I think I passed out before I even saw these girls. Anyway, I’m done with that playboy image my old manager wanted for me. Sure, it made me popular, but perhaps not in the way I wanted.
I dragged myself to the living room of the expensively furnished apartment, which was now a bit trashed. Sighing, I simply flopped onto the sofa. That’s when my phone rang.
“Yeah? Hello?” I answered without checking the caller ID. To my dismay, it was my old team coach.
“Listen, Xander, I’m sorry about last week’s incident…” he began. I felt as if I was still dreaming. Was he really apologizing for that fight? “I think we should meet up.”
“Yeah, well, what’s happened has happened,” was all I said, pressing my fingers to my temples. I could feel my headache worsening. “It’s all in the past now, Coach. Let’s forget about it, alright?”
“Of course. I’ve been chatting with Jimmy, though…”
My eyes widened. He’d been in contact with my former manager! Before I could say anything, he launched into a very lucrative offer.
“We want you back, Xander.” That was his ending statement.
An awkward pause followed as I tried to take in everything he had said. Finally, I spoke up. “I can’t, I’m sorry. I’ve already signed a contract with Steele Velocity Racing. I’ve made up my mind.”
I thought about my father, a man I mostly knew from the news and magazine articles. Mr. Don Steele, the owner of Steele Motorsport International, a billionaire whom I’d only met in person twice, as a child. Then, out of nowhere, he had called, setting up a meeting with me.
“Xander, I want you to know that I’ve been following your career and I’m very proud of you for accomplishing so much on your own,” he’d told me sincerely. I had felt a lump forming in my throat; I’d dreamed of hearing such words from him for so long. “Surprisingly, you’ve taken after me. I know that I haven’t been a good father to you, and I want us to have a second chance. If you’ll let me…”
I had hesitated, and of course, I’d consulted my mother who had never spoken negatively about him. She knew I had always wanted to build a relationship with my father, so she said yes. And then, I signed the contract.
This apartment was part of the deal. My father owned it and wanted me to use it so I could live nearer the headquarters of Steele Velocity Racing.
From the corner of my eye, I saw the two women exiting the bedroom and walking toward me, now wearing skimpy outfits. Their barely-there outfits made absolutely no difference; they might as well have been naked, just like they were some minutes ago.
“I have to go, Coach,” I said hurriedly over the phone. “I’ll always be grateful for all your help.” Ending the call, I forced a weak smile at the woman in front of me.
“Are you sure you don’t want to…” one of them said suggestively, sidling up to me.
“No,” I answered firmly. “Not in the mood, sorry.”
Both of them pouted.
“Your loss,” the other girl said, looking quite insulted.
“Yes, definitely,” I agreed absently. Honestly, they weren’t my type. They were more Phil’s type.
Once they’d gone out the door, I threw myself onto the sofa and closed my eyes, willing the headache to go away and regretting my decision to let the boys talk me into that party.
This could be a good restart for me , I thought. New team, new me.
I was just falling into slumber when a loud banging and crashing sound jolted me awake. The persistent drumming echoed through the walls, assaulting my senses. My head throbbed harder with each relentless beat.
I covered my ears and tried to hide under one of the throw pillows, but it was no use. “Fuuuccckkk!” I yelled, sitting up and shielding my eyes from the unwelcome daylight filtering through the windows. Squinting at the clock on the wall, I saw that it was still very early in the morning.
The sound outside seemed to reverberate directly into my skull, intensifying the pounding headache that was already plaguing me. “Aaarrrggghhh!” I groaned, now fully annoyed. I immediately rose from the sofa, wincing at the sharp pain that shot through my temples.
As I swung the door open, the drums reached a crescendo, and I was met with a sight that only deepened my confusion. A group of enthusiastic kids, donned in makeshift costumes, were engaging in what seemed to be an impromptu parade.
“What the hell is going on?” I shouted, trying to be heard above the noise. I still couldn’t make sense of it.
And that’s when the door beside mine swung open. A familiar face poked out, calling the children. “Time for milk and cookies, kids!” she said cheerfully, and then had the gall to grin at me!
God, she’s so damn beautiful , I thought.
I felt my heart skip a beat as our eyes locked. She gave me a meaningful wink, and I instantly recalled our encounter the previous night. Oh, shit. She did this on purpose to get back at me!
I could feel my blood boiling as she slammed the door of her apartment. As gorgeous as she was, she was getting on my nerves really fast!
At the same time, I felt something strong forming within me, bubbling to the surface. Revenge , I thought, my lips curling into a grin as I imagined several ways to get back at her.
Sweet revenge.