Page 31 of Heart of The Night

‘What dignity?’ I asked.

William gave a hearty laugh. ‘You’ve popped the champagne too soon, Andy.’

§ § §

Alex stood out as the quintessential gentleman among the trio. William was handling me with kid gloves, most likely out of guilt for roping me into this awkward situation. As for Andy, even though he was trying to temper his teasing instincts, there were moments when he just couldn’t help himself. Thankfully, Alex’s knack for putting people at ease came to my rescue, and soon, I was volleying back at Andy with unabashed cheekiness, to Andy’s great amusement. His laughter felt genuine, as though it temporarily swept aside the cloud of his ongoing issues with Chloe, his partner of ten years. It was a welcome distraction for him, I suspected.

Getting to know Alex, however, proved to be more of a challenge. He was far more reserved than I had expected, seldom volunteering personal details. I had managed to learn he was a real estate developer, specifically the CEO of Winton Properties. I was taken aback when he casually dropped this bombshell, as I realised he was none other than Alexander Winton – a billionaire, and one of the UK’s most eligible bachelors. But while he was slow to talk about himself, he was quick to ask questions about me. At times, it felt a bit like I was being grilled in a job interview, but I wasn’t put off. I reckoned it had more to do with him being protective of William. Made sense he would want to make sure his best mate’s interest in me was well-placed.

‘Ivy adapting well to the job?’ William asked Alex, smoothly changing the subject and giving me a breather.

Alex met his gaze, the look on his face an unreadable blend of casual indifference and tight control. ‘She is. She’s a natural.’

Andy chimed in, ‘How convenient to have the woman you fancy as your personal assistant. Round-the-clock charm offensive, I presume?’

‘Bit of a double-edged sword, really,’ William interjected, a fleeting glance shot my way. ‘One wrong move and he could be facing a harassment complaint. Makes outright flirtation a bit of a risky strategy.’

‘I doubt Alex would overstep,’ Andy said, a chuckle warming his words. ‘He’s as gentle as they come. And Ivy? Filing a complaint against him? Nah, can’t see that happening, either. They’ve been friends for ages – long before she became his PA. I reckon she’d sooner quit the job than march up to HR with a complaint.’

Alex sighed, looking between them. ‘Either way, she doesn’t seem to be picking up on my subtle attempts at flirting. It’s like my “charm offensive” is simply hitting a brick wall. Might as well be fifteen years ago, for all the progress I’ve made.’

Noticing my bemused expression, William filled in the gaps. ‘Ivy’s been a close friend of Alex’s since childhood. After she lost her job when her former employer downsized, Alex swept in and hired her as his PA. He’s been smitten with her since we were kids.’

A smile danced across my face as I turned to Alex. ‘How sweet.’

Alex shifted uncomfortably, rubbing his neck. ‘Sweet, yes, but also agonising. Longing for someone who’s always close, yet consistently just out of reach… Watching from the sidelines as she gives other men the attention I’m absolutely pining for – it’s no joyride.’

He exchanged a look with William, their gazes linking in a silent, shared understanding.

‘I barely managed a few months,’ William said with a nod, his eyes flickering in my direction. ‘I can’t fathom enduring it for years.’

I felt a pang of guilt. ‘Perhaps there’s something holding her back,’ I said, partly to defend myself.

Alex shrugged, the hint of a mirthless smile tugging at the corners of his lips. ‘Yeah, like a lack of interest.’

William scoffed. ‘Or, more likely, oblivion. With your subtle style, Alex, I’d wager Ivy thinks you’re just being friendly, not putting the moves on.’

‘I’m backing Will on this one,’ Andy agreed. ‘You’re hopeless when it comes to women, Alex. You’re on par with Jason, man, and that’s saying a lot.’

Alex pinched the bridge of his nose, a crease forming between his eyebrows. ‘I’m working on it,’ he said, a note of frustration edging his voice. ‘But I certainly didn’t do myself any favours by hiring her. As if I wasn’t struggling enough, now I’ve got the added challenge of trying to charm her without overstepping the professional boundaries.’

My heart twisted for him. He had woven himself into a difficult web, and I couldn’t see how he could untangle it. William and I, our romance had sprung from an undeniable mutual attraction. But Ivy and Alex, their roots lay in a deep-seated friendship, which painted a completely different picture. If things went pear-shaped, he risked losing not just an employee, but a cherished friend, too.

‘Don’t give up,’ William said with a faint smile. ‘You’ll figure it out eventually.’

‘Even if it takes you another decade and a half,’ Andy chimed in, a playful grin splitting his face.

‘Or I’ll just die single.’ Alex leaned back with a sigh. ‘Who knows.’

‘Good thing you like cats, then,’ Andy said amusedly.

‘Watch him start a cat shelter,’ William chuckled.

I blinked, a touch surprised by their reactions. I had half expected them to reply with something along the lines of: ‘There’s plenty more fish in the sea.’ Yet, both of them seemed to acknowledge that Alex might stay single if he failed to win Ivy over. That in itself spoke volumes about the depth of Alex’s feelings and the years of unwavering devotion he had shown her. William and Andy’s quiet agreement suggested a recognition that Alex’s heart was set, and no other woman would ever alter its course. I was amazed by that, and caught myself hoping that William’s loyalty would mirror Alex’s.

‘I’ll name the stupidest cat after you,’ Alex said to Andy. ‘And the ugliest after you,’ he went on, looking at William. They burst into laughter at that.

The conversation trickled to an end shortly after, the lunch hour slipping away as quickly as it had come. As we all started to clear the table and say our goodbyes, I couldn’t help but reflect on how genuinely nice Alex was. Despite his impressive status and evident wealth, there was a sincere, almost humble quality about him that was disarming. He was quite unlike any bachelor stereotype that floated around in the media.

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