CHAPTER 33: COEXIST

[Reid Enterprises — Alexander’s Office]

Lucas sprawled on the couch across from Alexander’s desk, tossing a stress ball in the air. "You know—" he said casually, "You have been smiling a lot lately."

Alexander didn’t look up from his screen. "Shouldn’t you be at work?"

"Technically, yes—" Lucas nodded. "But it turns out, when you own the company, you don’t have to go to the office everyday."

When Alexander sighed, Lucas added, "So back to the smiling more often thing—"

"No, I haven’t," Alexander cut him off.

"Liar," Lucas said cheerfully. "You have got that subtle ’I am pretending to be fine but secretly in a good mood’ vibe. It’s unnerving."

Alexander sighed. "You have too much time on your hands."

"And you have a woman on your mind," Lucas shot back, grinning. "So how was dinner with Miss Carter? Did you manage to talk like a human being or did you just brood into your pizza?"

Alexander’s lips twitched. "She talked. I listened."

Lucas groaned dramatically. "Of course you did. Classic you—" He chuckled, "Stoic, unreadable and devastatingly boring. How are women supposed to survive that?"

"It seemed to work fine," Alexander said dryly, finally glancing up. "She smiled."

Lucas pretending to freeze, he widened his eyes. "She smiled? Oh my God, that must have left as good as an orgasm."

Alexander threw a pen at him. "You are sick," he frowned.

"What?" Lucas said as he dodged the flying pen coming right at him. "People out there are getting horny and having s*ex on their first dates and here you are feeling happy because she smiled."

Lucas helplessly shook his head and sighed, "Sometimes I wonder how we are friends?"

Before Alexander could respond, the door opened without a knock, as usual.

A soft, honeyed voice filled the space.

"Well, this looks cozy."

Both men turned to see Olivia Reid standing in the doorway looking flawless in a tailored ivory suit, diamonds glittering at her ears and a smile that could cut glass.

"Mrs. Reid," Lucas greeted with a smile but his tone was sweetly sarcastic. "To what do we owe the pleasure? Auditing the office or blessing us with elegance?"

Olivia’s eyes narrowed slightly, though her smile never faltered. "Always a delight, Lucas. I was actually looking for Benjamin. Is he here?"

Alexander’s tone was cool and distant. "He is in an external meeting. Try his secretary."

Olivia took a few slow steps inside, pretending to look around. "Such a lovely office, Alexander. So much calmer than your father’s. I can see why everyone prefers dealing with you."

Lucas smirked. "Well, is that why you are here?" When Olivia gave him a look, he added, "I mean, are you here and not in Mr. Reid’s office because somehow Alexander’s office feels calmer?"

Olivia shot him a sharp look before turning back to Alexander. She then said in a sugar-sweet tone. "You have been hard to find lately. Even Benjamin mentioned it."

"I have been working," Alexander said simply. "That is generally what people do in an office."

Olivia chuckled, feigning affection. "So serious. You really should relax more or you will end up like your father otherwise."

Lucas whistled low under his breath. "Don’t worry Mrs. Reid, I won’t let any lady seduce her way to his bed."

Olivia shot him a glare but quickly masked it with a bitter-sweet smile. "For someone who works in finance, you sure have a lot of spare time in your hand."

To which Lucas just shrugged. "I sure have less free than you, Mrs. Reid."

Olivia ignored him and stepped closer to Alexander. "Anyway, if you do see Benjamin, tell him I need to speak with him about tomorrow’s charity dinner."

Alexander leaned back in his chair. "I will pass the message."

Her smile tightened. "Good boy."

Lucas coughed pointedly. "Wow. You really do talk to him like a pet. Does that work on Mr. Reid too or just the sons?"

"Lucas—" Alexander said mildly though his eyes gleamed with amusement.

Whenever Lucas saw Olivia, he wouldn’t stop passing comments which always tested Olivia’s patience and kept her on her toes.

Since the day his father had married Olivia, she had pretended to be a sweet loving woman. But Alexander knew that was far from reality. She was by far the most cunning and manipulative woman he had ever met.

This is why Alexander always maintained his distance unlike his younger brother, Jack.

Olivia on the other hand always tried to be on his good side. She never stopped praising and appreciating him whenever Alexander was around.

Olivia gave Lucas a look of thinly veiled irritation before regaining her composure. "Well—" she said, smoothing her jacket, "always such a joy to see you two."

"The feeling is mutual," Lucas said, raising his coffee cup in salute.

As she turned to leave, Alexander spoke quietly, "Close the door behind you."

Olivia froze for half a second and her smile faltered just enough to betray her annoyance. Then she swept out of the office with the click of her heels echoing sharply down the corridor.

When the door closed, Lucas let out a long, low whistle. "God, she gives me chills but I swear, I have seen her somewhere."

He frowned, trying to think hard again. Since the first time he had met Olivia a

Alexander sighed, "You have been saying this since high school."

When Lucas saw Olivia for the first time after she had officially married Benjamin, he had a feeling he had seen her before but he couldn’t really remember where. And it had been eighteen years since then, he still couldn’t remember.

"Anyway—" Lucas sighed, "You family is f*ucked up, I don’t know how you live in the same family as that woman?"

Alexander sipped his coffee. "I don’t, I coexist."

Lucas leaned back, shaking his head. "Your family is like a reality show that forgot it wasn’t fiction."

Alexander gave a faint smirk. "That is generous."

Lucas grinned. "Well, at least you have got one sane person orbiting you now."

Alexander raised a brow. "Evelyn?"

Lucas shrugged, smiling slyly. "I didn’t say it. You did."

Alexander tried to glare but the corner of his mouth betrayed a quiet smile.

....