Alex felt nervous and tried to calm herself. He didn't know how much he made her feel every time they go in a room alone. Every part of her body was in full alert.
"Can we... sit in the terrace instead?" she asked. Her eyes couldn't look straight to his eyes.
Robbie scoffed. "I'm not even interested, Alex. So, you don't have to worry."
She felt embarassed.
"I am not even thinking that!"
"Okay then. It should not bother you that we sat on the bed."
"Fine," and she sat at the edge of the bed but instead of sitting beside her, he pulled the blankets off. He sat on one side, leaning his back on the headboard.
"Sit here," he said tapping the empty space beside him.
What is he up to? Is he trying to seduce her?
"Robbie, are you playing a joke on me?"
"What are you afraid of, Alex? I just want you to get used to this kind of set-up because we will be doing this a lot in the future when we get married."
She scoffed. "What is this? A training?"
"Well, you could say that. You see, by tomorrow, Mom will be here and most often this will be the only place we can actually talk without anyone hearing our conversation."
She rolled her eyes. Whatever he was up to, she was not feeling comfortable with it especially if he was just a few inches away. Her whole body still had traces of what transpired this morning that she couldn't stop the thoughts that came with it.
"Okay. What are we going to talk about?" she asked as soon as she settled herself beside him.
Robbie took her hand. He wanted to tell Alex about the proposal in the most calm way since she knew how she would react. So he had to swallow his pride for a second to convince her... and this is the only way.
"T-There was a proposal," Robbie told her, trying to stay calm as possible since his body was suddenly reacting to the sudden nearness of her. He tried to focus his mind on what he was about to say rather than on her lips.
"What proposal?" Alex asked as she stared on their intertwined hands. She suddenly felt that something was up and she knew she would not like it.
Robbie took a deep breath before speaking.
"Ms. Edlena Brovinchi, who owned half of the companies in Italy, asked for a collaboration between our companies," he said.
"That's great!"
"But... there was a catch."
"What's the catch?"
Robbie held her hand tighter and it made Alex nervous.
"She wants Sasha to be the top endorser."
"What?!" and she tried to pull her hand away but Robbie held it tighter.
"Nothing was settled yet, Alex. That's why I'm asking you."
"What do you want to ask me for when you already planned to agree?"
"I haven't agreed to anything yet."
"But you're planning to?"
"But you said it was great."
"Yes, but that was before I heard about the plan. Why would you let your daughter be involved in this? Isn't it enough for people to know that she's your daughter and now, you wanted to sell her to the media?"
Robbie released her hand.
"Well, why don't you ask yourself, Alex? Who was actually selling her in the first place? She had her own Youtube channel. To think she was only ten and you allowed it. Now, what she was about to do is not even close to what she was already exposed herself into!"
"Oh, I see!" and she crossed her arms. "So you're using this to put the blame on me. To tell me how recklesss of a mother I am for allowing our daughter to flaunt herself on social media! Is that what you're saying?"
"I am not saying that!"
"Well that's what it sounds like, Robbie!"
"Alex!" his nostrils were about to breath fire, and he closed his eyes for a minute to calm himself.
"This is the biggest investor I will ever have in my company. All I'm asking of you is to have your consent as a parent of Sasha, nothing else. Have it ever crossed your mind, that I have at least some decency to ask you when I can make my own decision without consulting you?" he told her.
Alex sighed and rest her head on the headboard. She looked away. As much as she tried to resist this, Robbie would still find a way to convince her.
"Are you sure about this?"
"Damn sure, Alex! I have always wanted to expand my brand and having Ms. Brovinchi will open more opportunities in Europe as well."
"How can I be sure that our daughter will not be eaten alive by these vultures? I don't want them to hover around her invading her private life like what they did to us."
Robbie sighed and rest his head on the headboard as well.
"That's why we'll be there to make sure that won't happen."
"And how will you do that?"
He smiled. "Alex, you know I will do anything for our daughter and I won't let these stupid gossip reporters to ever feast around her when she gets famous. I actually set up a team already when it comes to her social media accounts."
Alex sat up suddenly and looked at him.
"You did that?"
"Yes," and he straightened himself. "I will never allow anyone to ruin our daughter, too, so I made sure someone watches over her accounts. I hired two geeks for that."
"Two geeks you mean..."
Robbie smiled. "Leandro and John Carlo, the great hackers in highschool."
"Oh my god! I can't believe you still have connections with them."
"I had my ways."
"Thank you."
He smiled.
"Of course. So, what do you think of the offer?"
She sighed.
"If you're really sure about this, then yes," she answered and smiled.
"Thank you, Alex," Robbie almost exclaimed. "Now let's go to bed."
She looked at him like he was out his mind.
"You know that I'm sleeping with Sasha tonight, right?"
He leaned closer to her and her breath hitched.
"Can I give you a kiss goodnight then?" he whispered as his eyes dropped to her lips. He longed to kiss her but he needed to control himself for now.
He needed to remember his original plan and he would wait till she was the one who begged for it.
So despite of his desperation, he waited for her response and as if he expected it, she parted her lips as her eyes lingered on his lips as well.
'Be strong, Robbie,' he reminded himself as he bit his lip and took a deep breath.
"O-okay," she stuttered as heat filled her cheeks, and it turned red.
Robbie gripped the sheet as his heart raced and his breath blew on her face. His mind was arguing whether he should kiss her or not as Alex closed her eyes.
She was waiting for it and it took all his strength not to give in as he leaned closer and his kiss landed on her cheek instead.
"Goodnight, Alex," he whispered in her ear.
She felt like she peed a little in her panties by the way he said it and she felt embarassed for even thinking he was going for her lips.
She opened her eyes suddenly and their eyes met. Her whole being shook and suddenly it felt familiar. Those butterflies in her stomach whenever he smiled at her before.... the simple touch that made her feel warm inside.
She felt it again but then she didn't know if it was right. Her mind reminded her of who he was.. the disappointments she had of him and so she stopped herself before she could continue being a fool.
"Goodnight, Robbie," and before she could let her feel the same feelings she had before, she moved away from him.
Standing up from the bed, she almost ran towards the door leaving Robbie more confused than before.
He thought he won over her but then, why did he feel guilty?
He saw something in her eyes. For the first time, he saw it and somehow he wondered if it was true.
Could she be finally falling for him?
He could only hope as he watched her walked out of the room.