"Lexi!" Evan bellowed, his nostrils flaring.
Seeing his wife kissing another man---and not just any man but the dangerous Damian Blackwood, his business rival---got Evan so angry. He was clenching his fists angrily.
"What are you doing, woman?" Damian asked Alexis, his voice husky, after the latter stopped kissing him.
Alexis looked up at him and saw an amused smile playing across his lips.
"Yes, he is exactly who I need." She thought to herself, then turned to face Evan.
"Evan, I need you to pack your belongings and get out of this company as soon as possible." Alexis stated firmly.
The statement hit Evan like a physical blow, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion.
"What do you mean by that?" He asked, his voice low, dreading what her explanation would be.
"You are fired, Evan!" Alexis announced, sounding casual as if she was talking about how great the weather was.
Evan's eyes widened in shock and his lips parted.
"Do you know the meaning of what you just said, Alexis?" Evan asked, purposefully calling her by full name.
Alexis scoffed.
"I have someone else to take your position now, Evan. So you are no longer needed in this company." She informed him.
"Really? And who might that be?" Evan inquired, swallowing hard. His face hardened.
"Him." Alexis replied curtly, briefly looking back at the man behind her.
At that announcement, Damian let out a dry chuckle, gaining the attention of the duo displaying before him.
"Does anybody cares to let me know what is going on here?" Damian asked, raising his perfect eyebrows.
"You should take your leave, Mr Blackwood. Trust me, you don't want to get caught up in this." Evan replied Damian, his voice stern and cold.
"The one who should leave is you, Evan." Alexis snarled at her cheating husband.
"I don't ever want to set my eyes on you again. Just go and never come back. Go and follow your affair partner." Alexis added, sounding pained at the mention of 'affair partner.
Evan caught that and thought to use the opportunity of her temporary vulnerability. He moved closer to her, his face sullen.
"My darling Lexi, please give me a chance to redeem myself. I am so sorry things played out this way but I am ready to make amends." Evan began pleading, reaching out for her hand.
"Get your filthy hands off me, you cheat!" Alexis screamed, slapping his hand away.
"No amount of your apology can fix this, Evan." She told him firmly, then turned back at Damian.
"I am Alexis Sterling." She introduced herself to the man.
"Damian Blackwood." The man responded, the amused smile still on his face.
"Mr Blackwood, I have a mouthwatering offer for you." Alexis told the man standing before her, extending her hand to him for a handshake.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Mr Blackwood?" Alexis called out, wanting to know if the man seated before her, just staring at her blankly, was still with her.
The duo had gone to the coffee shop opposite Alexis' company to discuss about the supposed mouthwatering offer the boss lady seemed to have for the man.
Damian blinked then he cleared his throat.
"Excuse me, Mrs Ster..." Damian had just began saying but Alexis interrupted him.
"I am no longer a Mrs. Just call me Miss Alexis." She informed him.
"I don't think that it is how it works. Legally, you are still married. And I don't want to be seen fooling around with another man's wife." Damian maintained firmly.
Alexis pressed her lips into a thin line, staring at him.
"Now, can we talk about the surprise kiss earlier? I deserve an explanation for it, don't I?" The man asked, cocking an eyebrow.
Alexis swallowed hard, the consequences of her earlier impulsive action crashing down on her.
"Okay, let's start from there." She began.
"That was actually nothing... It happened in the heat of the moment." She told him.
Damian let out a dry chuckle, devoid of any real humor.
"What exactly are you playing at, woman?" He asked, tightening his jaw. He felt insulted by how casually she had said it.
"Does she think I look like someone she can push around anyhow?" He thought to himself, getting angry.
"Am I a pawn in your game of revenge against your cheating husband, woman?" He inquired further, his voice firm and a frown appeared on his face.
Alexis shook her head, firmly.
"No, Mr Blackwood. Please, let's maintain a corporate tone as this is a corporate discussion..." She was saying but got interrupted by the man who surprisingly found what she just said funny.
He chuckled.
"Oh, Mrs Sterling, I see you start every corporate discussion with a kiss at your company?" He asked rhetorically.
"Let's not get angry. His reaction is normal." Alexis thought to her and heaved a sigh. Then she forced a smile.
"Mr Blackwood, trust me I wasn't thinking straight earlier but now I am. And I want to offer you a position in my company." She informed him, cutting to the chase.
"The position of your husband... Or rather... Soon to be ex-husband?" He inquired, furrowing his eyebrows.
But before Alexis could reply, he spoke up again.
"No, I don't want that. I believe we are done with this discussion, right?" Damian asked, standing up.
"Wait... Please!" Alexis said. Damian exhaled sharply but stood still, waiting for her to talk.
"This is a good deal for you, Mr Blackwood." She maintained sharply. Damian huffed.
"Well, thank you. But I would decline." He insisted.
"Okay, fine. Let me explain my situation to you." Alexis began, heaving a deep sigh.
"I don't want the position to be empty because I am getting a divorce. That will actually make my soon to be ex-husband think I still need him and might come crawling back. That, as well as the successful running of my company. The position can't be vacant." Alexis quickly explained to the man.
"Are you going to help me, Mr Blackwood?" She asked the man.
"You are playing a dangerous game!" Damian smirked.