As soon as Alaric climbed the stairs leading to his bedroom, the thoughts flooded his mind again.
Nicolette.
Her lips.
Her response.
His erection.
He had told himself there was no other way to avoid Violet. He had told himself that the kiss was important, but now, alone with his thoughts, he knew he was lying.
But then, for a woman with a boyfriend and a betrothed, Nicolette didn't make it any better.
She had responded to him. She had parted her soft lips. She had welcomed him. She had enjoyed it too.
And that was what made everything worse—her response was the reason he was so lost in his thoughts.
Alaric shook his head, getting rid of the thoughts. As he opened his bedroom door, his German Shepherd ran out. He bent down and rubbed the dog. "Hey, Bagel."
Bagel wagged his tail, his mouth opened in excitement as he ran in circles.
"Wish I could take you out for a walk, but Daddy is tired," he said, taking off his shoes.
Alaric slipped out of his clothes and trudged to his bathroom. He took a quick shower, changed into a white tee and black shorts, and with Bagel behind him, he went to his study.
His mansion here was bigger than the one in Australia—bigger but less cozy, which was why he spent most of his time in the study.
The study was big too, but he liked the idea of seeing the four corners of a room—it… fixed his anxiety.
He crossed over to his table and sat behind his computer. He went through his emails, replied to the important ones, and ignored the rest.
He was doing this when his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen and saw that his mother was on the line. His pulse quickened as he remembered how dinner went.
He was supposed to ignore her, but he answered out of obligation. "Hello, Mother."
"I cannot believe you!" Clara spat. "I am really struggling to imagine that you picked that… that girl over your family."
Alaric groaned, tapping his forehead. "You were being disrespectful," he said through gritted teeth, fighting the urge to snap.
"I was being realistic, being sensible, which you obviously ain't," Clara said. She wasn't shouting, but annoyance was clear in her tone. "If you wanted a wife, you should have told me. I would have—"
"You think Violet is better than Nicolette," he interrupted, his brow creasing, "and that says a lot, Mother. I cannot trust your judgment on women, I'm afraid."
Violet was the most unhinged woman he knew. She had looked composed earlier, but that didn't mean she was still okay mentally.
His thoughts drifted to the kiss again, but he shoved it off. His fingers tightened around the phone as he pulled himself out of his thoughts.
"...better than a Voss," Clara said, then she paused. "Can you hear me, Alaric?"
"Loud and clear," he replied smoothly.
"So if you want to settle down, let it be someone else. Besides, we know Violet. She's different, she's—"
"You've said that before, Mother," Alaric interrupted, the corners of his mouth twisted into a frown, even though she couldn't see him. "You've made your point, and we get it."
"I don't think you do," Clara objected, her voice sharp. "Because if you do, you'd be asking about ways I could talk to Violet for you. In fact, I'm supposed to be on my way trying to convince—"
"That's enough!" Alaric snapped, anger coursing through him, and Bagel whined. "Thank you for your input, Mother. I will get back to you on it."
"Don't you dare hang up on your mot—"
Toolate.
Alaric exhaled sharply as he dropped the phone on the table.
Bagel nestled at his feet, sensing his tension. Alaric scratched his back.
"Sorry, Daddy is cranky," he said softly. "Your grandmother is really annoyed."
He straightened up and was about to return to work when his phone buzzed again. He groaned, reaching for it, but relaxed when he saw it was Richard.
"Hey, Cou, what's all this I heard about you?" Richard asked when he answered, his tone playful.
"Don't tell me my mother called you?"
"Oh, she did," Richard chuckled. "She wants me to convince you to drop Nicolette and settle with someone decent—in her words."
Alaric scrolled through his computer. "She's just being difficult."
"As she should," Richard replied. "Just because I support your marriage to Nicolette doesn't mean it's right."
"At least you're not giving me trouble for it."
Alaric's thoughts drifted to Nicolette again, but he shook it out of his head.
"Well, I have bad news," Richard said, his voice low.
Alaric stopped scrolling, his eyes moving away from the computer screen and settling on the door. "What's up?" he asked, his heart pounding with fear.
"Alejandro doesn't want to work with us anymore."
Alaric clenched his fist as pain gripped him.
Three artistes had left the firm in one day.
This was becoming crazy. This was becoming scary.
"Have you tried to convince him? Alejandro has been with my father for a long time now," he said, his voice a little bit hopeful.
"No, I haven't," Richard replied. "But then again, his agency wouldn't reply to any of my messages."
"Get me his number. I will talk to him myself."
Richard paused, and Alaric knew what he was about to say.
He leaned into his chair, bracing himself for whatever Richard's statement was.
"If it's not going to solve the issue, then it's pointless," Richard said.
Alaric sighed. He had guessed right. "The marriage is barely a day old, Richard. It needs time."
"But—"
"No buts. Don't worry, I'll sort things out. Find me Alejandro's personal number. Let me call him."
"Alright," Richard said with a resigned exhale. "I hope you're right, Alaric." Then he ended the call.
Alaric's heart pounded. This wasn't how he had hoped the day would end.
But the news had received positive feedback, so why was someone else still leaving?
He picked up his phone and dialed Tom. He needed answers.
Tom picked up immediately. "Hello, sir."
"I thought you said the marriage announcement was received well?" he asked, going straight to the point.
"Yes, it was, sir." Tom sounded confused. "It's the trending news at the moment, sir."
Then why had someone else left the firm? Alaric's jaw locked, but he was willing to believe his own theory.
Itwouldtaketime. Hejustneededtowait.
"Is there… something wrong, sir?" Tom's voice quaked.
"No," he replied. "I'll call you later," he said and ended the call.
Just as he was pondering on his next move, his phone buzzed with a message from Richard.
He unlocked the phone and saw Alejandro's number. He then dialed it immediately.
He waited for Alejandro to pick up, and after a while, he did.
"Hello," Alejandro answered flatly.
"Hello, Alejandro. This is Mr. Allens—Mr. Alaric Allens," he said, keeping his voice as professional as possible.
"Oh." This one was even flatter.
"I was informed that you left our firm. I would love to know why," Alaric said.
"Nothing," Alejandro said, "It's just that your company's ways no longer align with mine. I am grateful for the time we worked together, but it's time to move on."
"Bullshit," Alaric uttered.
He could always tell when somebody was bullshiting him.
"Excuse me?" He heard the shock and fear in Alejandro's voice.
"I said it's bullshit," Alaric repeated. "I can always tell when somebody is lying to me. It's like a weird gift—or curse—but I can always tell.
"See, I know your agency has crafted a good line for you, but lies wouldn't help either of us. I need to know why you ditch the company that helped you to fame."
"Nothing," Alejandro said again. "It's just the way—"
"Oh, come on, Alejandro," Alaric interrupted him. "Tell me the truth, it's the only way we can learn and move past this. If one of our services wasn't good enough, let me know. I'll fix it so we can continue our professional relationship."
Alejandro paused for a long time that if he wasn't breathing so heavily, Alaric would have thought he hung up already. "It's not your services," he said finally.
Oh good. Now they were heading somewhere.
"What then?" Alaric asked softly.
"It's… you," Alejandro admitted.
Alaric sighed. "I appreciate the honesty, but I can tell you—"
"I have three daughters, Mr Allens," Alejandro interrupted, much to Alaric's dismay. "When your father was CEO, they came in all the time, I don't want my girls terrified around you."
Alaric clenched his jaw.
It has been six fucking years! Why wouldn't anyone get over this lie?
Still, he kept his voice calm. "I understand you, Alejandro. Every father would feel that way. It's okay to want to keep your daughters safe, but all that is a lie. I didn't do any of that."
"Yeah," Alejandro said, sounding like he didn't believe Alaric.
And could he be blamed? Even his own parents didn't believe him.
"Thank you for trying but I already left," Alejandro said. "I already moved to the Voss house."
"Of course," Alaric said, his voice steely. He clenched his fist, his eyes fell on Bagel who was still resting by his feet.
Then a thought crossed his mind and he straightened up.
"I hope you don't run back too," he said firmly, waiting for the words to strike.
"Too?" He heard the shock in Alejandro's voice.
"I mean, my wife, Nicolette Voss, stopped working with her father. There has to be a reason for that, right?"
Alejandro scoffed. "You expect me to believe that? If Ronald Voss was your father-in-law, why hasn't it been announced?"
"Read the news, Alejandro. Enlighten yourself and call me back tomorrow," Alaric said and hung up.
He leaned in his chair, pleased with himself. The lie had slipped out too easily—but maybe it was time to make it true.
"Maybe it was time to change that," he said aloud and picked his phone again.
He dialed Tom again. "Hey Tom, you'll be coming with me to Ronald Voss's home. I'm going to meet my father-in-law tomorrow."