Falling for the Alpha

Layla

Layla was busy but her thoughts were consumed with the promised visit to her dad the next day. She could almost taste the homemade butterscotch cookies he prepared in advance specially for her.

Dunking them in milk or coffee was akin to pure bliss. Ah. She sighed longingly.

Layla stared at the time on her computer. Just ten minutes past the hour of eleven. The day couldn't be any slower.

"Secretary Kilton," a loud booming voice rang out and in the next moment, the door to the office Layla was in, typing away at her computer, was banged open.

"Ms Kilton." The voice repeated just as Layla looked away from her computer to acknowledge the intruder, who actually was her boss, Sydney, as she insisted on being called.

"Oh hello, Sydney."

Layla had found it difficult to address this middle age woman that way at the start but had eventually got used to it.

Sydney smiled briefly in return, eyes crinkling at the corner. Layla wondered at her presence as part of her routine was reporting to Sydney everyday with a cup of freshly brewed hot coffee, which she had done just a few hours earlier.

"Well, Ms Kilton, there's a very big emergency and I must go. Check in on the other staff today and be sure to report the detailed review on customer's reaction to our latest designs straight to Secretary Dunson."

Layla rolled her eyes in her head once she heard the word emergency. Emergency coming from Sydney in other words meant "the world tires me today and my body desires a much needed break at a five-star spa joint."

That's where Layla had been asked to meet her when something came up after she had left for one of her emergencies.

Well, it wasn't Layla's business and Sydney had the money to fund her lifestyle.

"I'll be sure to, Sydney." Layla replied with a swift smile.

Sydney was already turning away and hurrying off. She had to be a great actress, making it seem like something was really up. Or maybe the emergency really was Sydney having to get away from the confinement of her company.

Sydney didn't check in on secretary Dunson that Layla had been asked to report to whose office shared walls with Layla's. Secretary Dunson didn't actually work under her but her younger brother, also named Sydney. The both Sydney's co-owned the company together.

Layla was aware that female Sydney despised the fact that their father, the first Sydney (the family had a thing for that name), refused handing over the company fully to her on the basis of her being female.

As a result, female Sydney didn't get along with her brother, male Sydney, who handled the business and entrepreneurship side of things, and in addition, Secretary Dunson and Secretary Kilton maintained a very rigid and cordial relationship. Secretary Dunson made sure of that, with his off-putting demeanor.

This was why some hours later, Layla sat ignoring his footfalls, the only sound loudly interrupting the serenity of the environment, as he paced around his office. Prior to this, he had been in a lengthy call which Layla at that point hadn't thought anything of but thinking now, felt it might be responsible for his present agitation.

Layla excused herself for the ladies bathroom and came back into her office only to hear him still pacing.

Her curiosity was definitely peaked now. What could have shaken the rigid Robert Dunson enough to evoke such a reaction? Layla wanted to see if his usual expressionless face finally showed some form of emotion as well.

Layla gathered the files she was to report and headed out. His footsteps at that moment, sounded particularly close to his office door. She knocked twice.

There was silence followed immediately by a sharp scurry all in a fraction of a second.

"Come in." His deep voice ordered. Layla was already opening the door before he finished speaking and didn't hide her puzzlement when she saw him settled down perfectly and reclining on his seat.

Layla swept her eyes across the room as she moved closer to his desk. Everything was as it always was. There was no dried out ink pen to be seen, or crumpled paper ball by the bin. Every folder was stacked neatly in their respective locations. Secretary Dunson was a neat freak.

"Yes?" He said when she was finally in front of his desk, one eyebrow raised, questioning her wandering eyes. Another good actor, thought Layla, as though he wasn't just strutting across the length and breadth of his office.

Layla promptly handed him the files.

"To be reviewed by Mr. Sydney. I await your immediate response so the necessary departments can resume work."

She looked up only to see his deep sea green eyes already on hers, luscious black hair framed across his forehead. Layla involuntarily drew in a sharp breath as she got drawn into his gaze. Had Layla also mentioned that Robert Dunson was a movie star level of handsome?

He didn't look away, instead, he leaned forward, placed his elbows on his desk, and hands under his chin, intensifying his gaze on her.

"Is that all?" He asked softly, breaking the spell he had put on her. She blinked repeatedly. He might be a Greek god descended from heaven, but his cold and rigid personality was certainly not her type. Or so she told herself.

"Yes. But ... I hope there's no problem?

"Why do you ask?"

"I heard you pacing." She gave him a look, daring him to refute it.

He leaned back against his seat and picked up a pen on his table, slowly spinning it with his fingers. "So?"

"I - I'm just asking to know if it's work related. Your pacing was getting me distracted."

"Well, Ms Kilton, there's no problem if you must know. Nothing that's any of your business at least."

She glared at him.

"Sorry for trying to show some concern." She said sarcastically.

"Apology accepted." He said with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Now if you don't mind, can we go on keeping to our separate affairs as we always have."

She shot him a killer look just as his phone rang. The phone was out of his desk and on his palms at superhuman speed before she could attempt checking for the name of the caller.

He shot her another one of his fake smile. "Since there's nothing else, do show yourself out Ms Kilton. I need to take this call."

With another glare, she stomped out as best as she could on her four inch stiletto heels.

"Such an *ss." She muttered under her breath once she had closed his office door with a slam

She heard him chuckle which annoyed her all the more. There's no way humanly possible he could have even heard what she said so what was so funny to him?

And why was she getting so worked up over his attitude? This was how things had been. He had made it clear from the onset that even friendship was out of it for them.

A newly recruited worker was hurrying towards her. It was time to get to work and forget all about him.