STRANGE WOMAN

Alex’s POV

I had that dream again. The same one that haunted me every night since the day my parents died. I slowly opened my eyes as the sunlight that shone into the room made me squint.

I rubbed my eyes as I slowly got up from my bed, my head was throbbing from my hangover. I was shirtless, and the sheets were white, unlike the dark-coloured sheets in my room. Also, there was an unknown woman in the bed.

I stared at the ceiling and finally realised I wasn't in my bed. How drunk was I last night to end up in a woman's home and bed? I really needed to watch my alcohol intake. The body that lay beside me stirred and opened her eyes, staring at me with a hooded expression.

I couldn't even remember her name. She looked like a common face that you saw every day in the crowd. She had brown hair and brown eyes. She had freckles scattered across her nose, and her eyes were almond-shaped. She was pretty but she wasn't my usual type that I would fall into bed with. I must have been really hammered to have ended up in her bed.

She caught me staring at her and purred at me as she moved closer trying to cuddle once more. Her hand had snuck into mine and I felt repulsed to my bones as her breasts pushed up against me. I immediately pulled away.

It seemed that she didn't get the memo; she tried again to get close to me, so I pushed her away in disgust and checked the time on the clock at her bedside. It was 7:15am. I had a meeting by 8:30 am that I couldn't miss. I got out of bed and shrugged the sheets that clung to me, off.

“Baby, aren't you going to stay?” The nameless woman said to me. I didn't bother looking at her, talking less about giving her a reply as I put on my clothes back on from last night. I got my wallet from the back of my trousers and threw some hundred dollar bills at her. More like a whole wad. That should be enough for the night we spent.

Her face changed from the sickly sweet and supposedly inviting look she was giving to one of anger. She stood up, dropping the sheets from her body as she stood barely dressed in front of me. I averted my eyes as I continued dressing and picking up my things. I was almost out her room door when she left her spot, stood in front of me, and raised her hand.

I caught her hand mid-air and squeezed it hard. Did she just try to slap me? Does she know who I am?

“You— you, how dare you throw some dirty money at me like I'm some one-night stand whore?” she sneered at me, almost hissing like a pissed-off cat.

“Isn't that what you are?” I released her hand, and she immediately went to massage it. I walked out of her room and then her house not before hearing some profanities thrown at me though.

“Asshole” I heard her scream from her window.

I wouldn't care less what she said or thought of me.

I walked over to my Bugatti Chiron. One of my most prized possessions apart from my penthouse and lake house. She roared to life as I started her and I drove off. I had to stop at home to change my clothes. The unknown woman's cheap floral perfume clung to my skin and it irritated me. It made me want to puke.

I had a few minutes to spare before my morning meeting. I had already been informed by my assistant, Lisa, that the others would be there soon.

I needed to hurry.

I decided to stop for coffee to at least kick-start my day on my drive to work. There was a small Cafe shop that I had heard my sister talk nonstop about. I parked my car and walked in.

I hadn't even taken more than three steps in when I bumped into a small human and coffee rained down on me.

Could this day get any worse?

Fuck, now I'd have to change twice in one freaking day.

The coffee was hot and burned my skin. It soiled my suit and pristine white shirt. I kept cussing in my head to prevent me from causing a scene. The little creature that I had bumped into was still there for a while before she looked up.

I waited for an apology but when one didn't come, I looked down to see her ogling me.

Wow, typical reaction.

“Are you done ogling me?” I said with an eyebrow raised. I was so angry thinking of how I was supposed to go to work now.

She tried apologising but I paid no mind to it and dialled Luca's number. He picked on the first ring and I walked away to an empty booth while yelling at him to get me some change of clothes.

Luca was my cousin and since he was family, I had no choice but to be close to him. He was like a brother to me, an annoying one though. He sounded groggy over the phone. He kept complaining that I had woken him up and was disturbing his day.

We went back and forth till I felt someone stand in front of me and place a cup of coffee.

I hadn't ordered one.

“Excuse me, I didn't order—” I looked up to see who had brought the coffee and I caught the eyes of the lady I had bumped into earlier. I finally took time to look at her and her eyes…

She had the greenest eyes, I couldn't stop staring.

My staring must have caught her off guard. She went beet red and almost ran out of the building. I couldn't get her eyes off my mind.

I took the cup and brought it to my mouth. Plain Black just like I liked it.

I couldn't help but smirk at her getting it right.

“Hello? Are you still there Cuz?” I heard Luca say it over the phone.

“Get my clothes here and start, you leech,”, I said back to him.

He grumbled okay and ended the call.

I sipped on the hot, black coffee still thinking about the most beautiful green eyes that I had seen this morning.

Maybe the day wouldn't be so bad.

—

I spoke too soon. I had gotten to the office by 9:00am. Way later than I was supposed to and the investors I was supposed to meet had left in anger of me standing them up. I rubbed my face in frustration as I sat behind my desk in my office.

Three knocks sounded at my door and I muttered for the person to enter.

Lisa, my secretary, came in. “Mr Kane, what should I do concerning the investors? We might lose a big deal if we don't try to contact them back, Sir.

“Send them an email and call their secretaries. Try to set another meeting for Thursday. They might be acting all high and mighty today but they will accept your invite because they have reasons for wanting to partner with us in the first place.”

Lisa nodded to this, scribbling all I said down.

“You may leave”

“Sir, I have one more thing to inform you. You have received another letter from the Harmony Initiative Group to attend their next Charity Gala since you had turned down to sponsor them. They said they would settle with you as their guest. What should I reply with, Sir?”

I sighed, rubbing my temples. “Accept the invitation. They are as persistent as ever and we cannot keep turning them down.”

“Yes, Sir.” My doors closed with a click and I relaxed into my office chair, running my hand through my hair. I had only closed my eyes for a brief second when green eyes flashed behind my eyelids.

I needed a drink.

I walked over to the bar I had in my office and poured myself a glass of vodka. I let the drink burn my throat as I drank it before setting the glass on the table. My phone beeped and I took it out.

It was Lisa, she had sent me my schedule for the morning. I had a meeting to attend in 5 minutes.

I walked away from the bar, rearranged my suit, grabbed my files and walked out of the office. It was going to be a very long day.

I could already tell.