Chapter 5: Kiss me

Earl was shocked again.

His iceberg of a boss was carrying a woman in his arms.

Alex’s facial expression remained firm and flat, but the sight was still enough to shock Earl speechless. In all the years he had worked for Alex, he had never seen anything remotely like this.

And when he recognized the woman, his shock doubled.

She was the same waitress Alex had gotten entangled with earlier.

"Mr. Harris, this lady… what happened to her?" Earl asked in confusion, quickly opening the car door.

Alex did not answer. He simply pursed his lips and stepped inside with the unconscious woman still in his arms.

"Drive," he ordered curtly.

"Oh, yes sir!"

Earl scrambled into the driver’s seat, resisting the urge to question him further.

"Where to, sir?" he asked after a beat, glancing at the rearview mirror.

"The hospital."

Earl’s brows furrowed. He was certain the woman had been drugged, but who had done it?

Before he could process further, Alex changed his mind.

"No. Take us to Autumn Garden."

Earl nearly swerved the car.

Autumn Garden?

That was Alex’s private mansion, a place he rarely visited. The man preferred to stay at his presidential suite in his luxury hotel since it was closer to work and more convenient.

Yet now, not only was he heading back to Autumn Garden, but he was bringing a woman with him.

Unbelievable.

"Call Travis once we arrive and brief him on the situation," Alex ordered.

"Yes sir."

*****

Eve stirred, her body shifting slightly.

She was nestled on Alex’s lap, her fingers gripping his shirt tightly, refusing to let go. Her head was buried against his chest, seeking comfort.

The effects of the drug still lingered. She was warm, too warm.

Subconsciously, she inhaled his cool, crisp scent. It soothed her burning body, but not nearly enough. She sniffed him again, this time pressing her nose to his collar.

Alex stiffened.

He looked down, meeting her dazed, misty almond-shaped eyes.

Something inside him stirred.

That gaze, those mesmerizing eyes, reminded him of someone from long ago.

"You smell so nice," she murmured, grinning at him lazily. "I love your scent."

His entire body tensed.

For a brief moment, the world seemed to pause.

Her smile sent an unfamiliar ripple through his cold, guarded heart. A feeling foreign to him, one even his highest IQ could not analyze.

Then, as if that was not enough.

"Your body feels so good too," she whispered, rubbing her face against his chest.

Alex’s lips curled slightly.

"Really?" he asked, his voice low and smooth.

She nodded, looking up at him with that dazzling smile.

Without thinking, his hand reached out, brushing aside the loose strands of hair on her face. His fingers tucked them gently behind her ear, his movements slow and deliberate.

His eyes never left hers.

For the first time in a long time, a softness flickered across his usually stoic face.

Earl, watching from the rearview mirror, nearly choked.

His boss, the infamous iceberg, was gently tucking a woman’s hair behind her ear.

Am I dreaming?

"Kiss me," Eve whispered, her gaze dropping to his lips.

Earl did choke this time.

His eyes darted to Alex in the mirror, only to meet his boss’s deadly glare.

He instantly retracted his gaze and stared at the road like his life depended on it.

"Raise the partition," Alex commanded.

Earl pressed the button without hesitation. As the divider went up, he let out a breath of relief.

‘Whew. Boss moves fast. I need to tell the Old Madam.’

Behind the partition, Alex’s smirk deepened.

He was tempted. Very tempted.

But at the last second, he held back.

There would be plenty of opportunities later.

Besides, she was drugged. She was not in her right mind.

If he was going to kiss her, it would be when she was fully conscious.

He preferred it that way.

A wicked glint flashed in his eyes at the thought.

"If you do not shut your mouth, I will throw you out," he said coldly, turning his gaze to the car window.

Eve pouted. "Hmph. You are so arrogant."

Her fingers absentmindedly toyed with the buttons of his expensive shirt.

Alex gritted his teeth.

His patience was wearing thin.

This woman…

She was awakening something in him he had buried long ago.

He sighed in relief when the car finally pulled up to Autumn Garden.

Earl opened the door, and Alex stepped out, still carrying Eve.

The mansion’s butler, Clark, greeted them at the entrance. The elderly housekeeper’s eyes widened slightly at the sight.

"Young Master, we are honored to have you home. Shall I prepare dinner?" Clark asked respectfully, but his curiosity was evident. "And may I ask who this young lady is?"

Alex did not pause.

"No questions. Send a maid upstairs to prepare the guest room," he ordered, striding into the house.

Clark hurriedly signaled two maids before turning to Earl, who was making a call in the living room.

"Who is she?" Clark whispered excitedly.

Earl sighed. "A waitress from Mr. Harris’s pub. They met today."

Clark’s excitement grew.

He had taken care of Alex since childhood and knew how the man avoided women like the plague.

Yet here he was, carrying one inside his home.

"Incredible," Clark murmured. "What happened to her? She looked unwell."

"She was drugged," Earl explained.

Clark’s eyes widened. "Did he do it?"

Earl nearly choked again. "Of course not! Mr. Harris saved her."

Clark exhaled in relief.

"Do you think the young master likes her?" he asked, his eyes twinkling with hope.

Earl hesitated. "I do not know… Maybe he just pitied her."

Clark hummed, unconvinced.

*****

Upstairs, Alex entered the guest room..

The maids had already prepared a cold bath. They bowed and left without a word.

Eve was still restless, drenched in sweat. Without hesitation, Alex carried her into the bathroom and placed her in the tub filled with cool water.

"Ah! What are you doing?! It’s too cold!" Eve shrieked, struggling against him. Water splashed onto his shirt.

"Relax. It will ease your discomfort," he said calmly.

"But I hate the cold," she pouted, looking at him with pleading eyes.

He crouched beside the tub, his gaze steady.

"It is alright. Do not be scared. You will feel better soon."

She stared at him for a moment before slowly nodding.

Then, she leaned her head back against the tub’s edge, closing her eyes.

Alex took the opportunity to study her face closely.

Her delicate features, slightly furrowed brows, and cherry-red lips. He caught himself.

‘What the hell am I doing?’

Thirty minutes passed. She had finally fallen asleep. Alex called the maids to clean her up and change her clothes. Once they were done, he carried her to the bed and tucked her in. The effects of the drug were fading.

Just then, Travis burst into the room.

"Alex!"

He stopped short. Alex was taking care of a woman.?

"Did I enter the wrong house?" Travis muttered, blinking.

Alex shot him a look. "You should have knocked."

Travis smirked. "Earl called me in a panic. I thought you were drugged!"

He studied the situation closely as he put his things on the couch. But in the next second he was shocked to see the woman lying on the bed.

"She was the woman in the pub! How did she ended up in this state?" Travis exclaimed in surprise.

Ignoring his reaction, Alex gestured him to the woman on the bed, "Check her."

Setting aside his curiosity, Travis complied, and ran a quick examination to Eve.

"She is fine. The cold bath helped. I will just give her an antidote to flush out the drug completely."

After administering the shot, Travis smirked again before he started to tease his bestfriend.

"It's rare for you to see like this. Be honest, Alex. Do you like her?"

Alex’s glare was murderous but Travis just grinned at his reaction.

"Get lost before I withdraw my investments from your hospital."

Alex warned him mercilessly and he knew very well how decisive this man can be. Before anything goes wrong, it's better to hurry off!

Travis immediately bolted. "I suddenly remember i still have a surgery! Bye!"

Alex scoffed as Travis fled away. Then, he turned back to the sleeping woman.

And for some reason, he stayed..