It was a task-full day at the office. The files he scheduled on attending to were all treated, all to his satisfaction. Appointments were fixed for the next day, and a part of him did not know how well he would attend, and what his words to the clients would sound like.

"Everything has been fixed," Jessica had announced earlier that afternoon. "Including her hair."

"Body parts movement?" He inquired, wanting to go with her to the space to see the creation. At least, a conversation with Synthara would not have been a bad concept. But then at the same time, he was unproductive from the day's activity and waited patiently for Nicholas to do what had to be done.

"Yes," Jessica replied. "When I say 'everything', I mean 'everything', boss."

"Good," he nodded, dismissing her from his office. He would check it out tomorrow, then put it out for sale and expect the creation to be purchased in at least, less than two weeks.

His phone beeped, and when he checked, it was a text from his driver who announced his presence in the Enterprise premises.

"I'm sorry," Nicholas said on his arrival. "My date took longer than I expected."

"Maybe you should stop going for dates on the day you should be on duty, Nicholas," the older man sighed, hopping in the car. "How is your lady?"

The driver smiled. His boss never took long to come around. "Amelia is well, she sent her regards."

"Send her mine on your next visit with her," Alexander replied. "But that will not be on the day of your duty."

"Yes," the younger man said. "I apologize again, sir."

The ride started, and the man at the gate did the needful as usual. Nicholas drove out of the Enterprise and into the streets of New York, playing a jam the boss likes and requests almost all the time.

"No, I don't want music today, Nicholas."

He did as told, turned down the volume and stared at the man with help from the mirror in front. "Is everything okay with you?" He decided to ask after a while, not liking the silence that ruled the automobile. "I'm sorry I came late if that is the issue."

"Nah," the CEO let out a laugh. "I was once in love and would do more than you, Nicholas."

Nicholas heaved a sigh. "What then is the problem?" He asked again. "This is really unlike you, silence while I drive? Nah. It has rarely been so."

"I'm fine," Alexander said. "I am just exhausted from the day's activity in the office. Jessica came up with a creation and we'd put it out for sale tomorrow, hopefully."

"That is great," the driver said, arriving at the gate of his destination. He honked his horn and said. "I'm certain we will have buyers. Prolly more than one that you will be confused on who to sell to."

"Don't start," the older man laughed. "Where did this guy go?" He wondered, watching the gate of his house open eventually. "I thought he's gone to see his unexisting woman like you've done tonight with your existing woman."

Nicholas drove into the compound the next moment, his next stop, the lot. Alexander hopped down with his suitcase, and waved at Nicholas, then the man at the gate before proceeding to the main door, leading to the living room of his apartment.

He pushed the door open and walked in to perceive the good aroma that came from the diner. Rachel has done it again, he mumbled in his heart.

After a bath, Alexander walked back into the quarter dressed in his nightwear. Rachel showed up in her apron with a jug of juice. "I'm sorry, I didn't know when you got back."

"About an hour ago," he answered. "Thank you, but I don't need that.

In no time he reached his room again and plopped down on the bed like a log of wood with thoughts in his head. Normally, he should think about tons of projects to be done before the month ends. But no, he thought of a woman this time.

Emily Hartley was in his head since that night in the hotel room. He thought he only wanted s*x and then wanted her to leave the next moment. But what was this he felt? He is not in love with the woman, is he?

Maybe it was time he reached out to her. For nothing but to hear her voice and see how she fared since the other night. Did she think of him like he thought of her? He wondered, reaching for the drawer next to his bed.

After a second thought, Alexander opened the drawer, dipped his hand in it and brought out a card.

♡

His hand rubbed on the skin of the card, a dirty smile on his countenance. The last thing to think of was the woman, but Alexander could not help but think about her.

There was just something special about her, something he could not bring his hands to lay upon. Heaven knew he didn't plan that s*x, but then Emily's beauty pushed him too much, and he could almost not rest because she was in his cranium.

What was the next thing to do with the entity in his hand? He wondered, his hands still getting on around it.

Call her.

Text her?

Which was better? He thought, reaching for his device that kicked back on the bed. He took the yield of it up and sat up the next moment, unsure of the right words to type.

Hello, he typed. Can we see tomorrow? I've got a thing to tell you.

"No," Alexander corrected.

How about we make out again? I enjoyed it the last time.

"No," he changed his mind, clicking on the minus sign at the end of the message page.

It was not the right way to speak to a woman, was it? He contemplated, his head shuddering while he dropped the card in the space he had it from.

Her phone number was copied already, and the only thing that stopped him from reaching out to her was reflections of what her reaction would be. What lady would want to communicate with a man who she had such an affair with, starting from the toilet in a hotel?

But she had given her number to him, a sign she didn't mind if he came after her.

But what if she minds? She may have dropped her card because he browbeat her, sort of.

"No, Alex. You should sleep."

He had a long day at the office, answering Jessica's questions.

He spent the whole of his day checking out Synthara and her new features.

Somehow, the creation made him think back to Emily. Her curves and hair colour were extraordinary, taking him back to the night at the occasion.

Moments later, Alexander was calling her number.

"Pick up, Emily," he wished, watching the number dial and nothing happening next.

Was she asleep? Did he call her at a late hour? These thoughts and more rammed his head, and all Alexander wanted to do was appear in her presence, wherever she may be.

It was late in the night but he didn't care, she was probably coming into her house from her place of work, or dealing with herself to a glass of water, or a well-cooked meal she made for herself.

She didn't take his calls.

But why?

He was disappointed, a bit and he let it be, dozing off moments later, to a dream with her in it—this time around, they had s*x out of their will, in a room well decorated and adorned.

She moaned more than she did the last time, turning to the other side for him to let himself in. There was no woman like her, not even a man. She was prettier in real life than in his dream and he was going to forever recognize her fragrance.

"Emily." He woke up to her name in his mouth.

The alarm chimed, announcing a new day and his need to be at the office, but Alexander, on the other hand, was not ready to leave the house.

Well, he wanted to.

He wanted to walk into his bathroom and have a good bath, then get ready and leave his apartment after a good banquet, well prepared by the cook.

But not with the way his head banged like a ledger of lumber was placed on it. He had slept with good dreams in his visions, how come he woke up to such a sickness?

He would not go to work, then.

He was the CEO of Stone Enterprise the last time he inspected and gave orders like a CEO should.

His hand reached for his device and he dialled Jessica's number, waiting for her to pick up. "I'd not make it to the office today," he said when he was greeted. "Pass on this information to the rest of the team. I am sick and want to take a day off."

"You should see a doctor if you have to," Jessica, who was worried, already, advised. "And let me know if you need help. I don't mind coming over to take care of you, myself."

There she went again, a woman he should be married to, someday. "I am fine, Jessica," he replied, laughing softly. "Tomorrow, I'll be there. I just need to cool my head off and have some time for myself. Forward to me important files and emails if necessary."

"Yes, sir," Jessica replied and he hung up the call. Alexander tossed a sigh, thoughts of the good side of being a CEO, playing in his head. He would fire anyone who missed a day at the office. Or better still, reduce their pay whenever the month ends.

Evening time arrived in no time. He was worried about Emily, and her refusal to reach back to him having seen a call from his number. Or perhaps, she didn't know it was him who called, and he should try once more for the final result.

This time around, her phone rang while he waited for her to take his calls. He would not give up on her, at least not yet. Emily Hartley does not have an idea of the kind of man he is, and how relentless he could be at times when he has his eyes on a thing, including humans although he never was attracted to a woman deeply.

Not until now.

"Pick up your calls." He cried, ending it and redialling.

Why did she avoid him this way? Alexander wondered. She didn't have an idea who called, after all, or did she have an app for the detection of unsaved numbers?

He was going to give up on her when he heard her voice clearly.