Chapter 12

Playing: 🎶In my bed by Rotimi ft Wale🎶

-Unexpected Guest-

Xander's POV

"Oh God, I'm so tired," I groan, slumping on the closest couch in front of me, my left hand going to my neck to loosen the red and blue striped tie.

"I feel you, bro," Charles mumbles mimicking my action as he throws himself in the seat to my right, his figure dressed more casually in a long-sleeved white vest and ripped jeans, compared to my corporate attire of a navy blue suit jacket and slacks with a black button-up underneath.

He's lucky he is the manager and gets to choose what he wears, while I on the other hand have to listen to instructions on what will look good on camera, sometimes I hate this celebrity life.

"That woman was up to something," I exhale, rubbing my temples as I recall the mean look in her eyes while she drilled me with questions.

"Yeah, but I feel it goes beyond that," he muses before going silent and I sense his piercing gaze.

"What?" I request, lifting my eyes to meet his.

"Are you sure she wasn't one of your previous conquests?" He queries, and for a moment I pause, searching my memory.

"I think you may be right," I let out, coming up blank but having the suspicion I've met her before. "I remember thinking she looked familiar, but from where, I have no idea."

"I'm not surprised," he shrugs hauling his weight off the brown leather cushion which is the same color as the couch I'm on, and three other seats like his, two on my right, and two on my left. "Considering your history with women."

"Come off it Charles, I wasn't that bad," I chuckle, but it goes down once I see the serious look he's giving me. "Well, at least I've changed."

"Have you really?" He lifts a brow in doubt as he rests the little briefcase he's holding on one of the glass side tables that sit in between each two chairs.

"Of course I--" my response cuts off by the appearance of Billy one of my bodyguards, his feet not making a sound as they meet the shiny marble tiles till I see him positioned in front of me. His pale skin peeking underneath the turtleneck brown shirt he's wearing above a pair of jeans.

"Boss, there's a lady at the gate who says she is your girlfriend and that you are expecting her," he says, staring down at me.

"Changed you say?" Charles mocks, his voice sounding from the makeshift bar sitting at the left corner of the lounge.

"What did she say her name is?" I inquire, secretly hoping he'll say Helena but I know that's a mere wish hence there's no way she would know my house, and even if she did, we aren't on good terms for her to just show up.

"Layla," Billy answers, and I blink, not expecting that as I swerve to share a look with Charles who squints his brows, a half-filled glass of what seems to be whisky hanging halfway to his lips.

"Sir?" I'm called to reality as Billy speaks again. "Do you know her?"

"Yes," I clear my throat. "Um, let her in."

"Okay boss," he nods and whirls to walk away when I stop him in his tracks.

"Billy, please, tone it down on the Boss, and Sir. Xander will do," I smile. "If you feel uncomfortable with that then you can simply call me Mr. Miles, it sounds better to me than the other two."

"Okay Mr. Miles, I'll send her in," he corrects himself.

"Thanks," I beam, and he departs.

"Were you really expecting her?" Charles implores bringing my attention to him.

"No way in hell," I shake my head in denial.

I hear the echo of heels and grunts coming towards me some moments before the person in question appears. I have the sudden urge to repeat my previous utterance but louder this time as I stand and take in the mixture of colors too much to be worn by one person and the two large suitcases being dragged behind her.

"Xander baby I've missed you!" She squeals and jumps on me too fast that I have no option but to wrap my arms around her, the same way she does her legs around my waist to prevent her from falling.

"Layla," I say less enthusiastically while I gently unhook her legs and silently urge her to stand. "I didn't expect to see you."

"Me either," she grins. "After our first date last night I didn't see any reason to feel guilty about coming to see you thus we are now officially dating and my heart can't bear to be away from you any longer."

"Awwn, I'm happy to hear that," I blurt in a fake tone, pulling her to me and sending a confused gaze to Charles behind her back, who sits, keeping quiet as if enjoying the show.

"I knew you would!" She shrieks, hugging me so tightly that I nearly choke.

"Tell me, how did you know my house?" I question, separating us, and eying her.

"About that," she giggles, turning her face away from me in a shy manner. "Would it be bad to say I've been stalking you?"

A flicker of fear overrides my shock and I brush it off as nonexistent, allowing the shock of that revelation to take over.

"It isn't bad," I choke out, glad she isn't facing me at the moment. "I'm just surprised you went to such extreme measures that's all. You could have simply asked where I live."

"You know how we girls are," she chuckles, returning her stare to mine.

"Yeah," I nod, not saying more as I glimpse a pinch of deceit in her eyes. I also don't fail to notice the lie in what she said, thus, my bodyguards are always vigilant and would have noticed if I was being trailed.

"You have a wonderful place," she speaks, her orbs lighting up as her visions observe the lounge room we are in. "But I expected something much better."

"Why is that?" I interrogate taken aback by her statement.

"Me and my big mouth," she laughs, the sound coming off as forced. "Don't mind me, can I be shown to your room?"

"Yeah, one moment," I agree. "Billy!"

"Mr. Miles, you called?" He queries, materializing a second later.

"Show Layla here to my room," I inform, retreating a few steps away from her to allow her to pass. "I'll be with you shortly."

"Don't be too long, or I'll come to find you," she winks and I hold in the urge to roll my eyes at how disfigured she looks while doing that and instead settles for a mere wave, the click of her heels disappearing with her figure.

"She didn't even notice me," Charles declares, his palm clutching his chest region as if in pain.

"You didn't make yourself noticeable," I defend.

"Yeah right," he snorts. "She didn't see me as significant, thereby ignoring my presence."

"Think whatever you want," I let out as I try to wrap my head around the insane fact that Layla is in my house.

"Who is she by the way," he cocks his head to the side. "Hold up, is she the one who works at the club?"

"No, that's Helena, this is Layla, the girl who I've been seeing for a while now," I explain. "We went on a date yesterday remember?"

"Wait, you had a date with that?" He asks loudly and I inhale sharply.

"Shhh, she might hear you," I shush him, my sight going to the direction Layla and Billy went through as if they'll magically appear there listening.

"Let me talk," he argues. "You had a date with her what, yesterday, and today she shows up at your house with her whole luggage?"

"I'm perplexed as to that myself," I sigh, my left hand going to rest on my hip as my right rubs my nose.

"I thought you were done with girls like her?" He implores, giving me the I know it all best friend gaze.

"And I am," I oppose.

"I don't think so," he scoffs draining the glass, of any alcohol left. "Because no decent girl would show up that way unannounced for no reason."

"But you just heard her say the reason," I contest.

"A genuine reason, Xander," he insists setting his lips in a straight line.

"At this point bro, I don't care, as far as it means steady sex," I smirk, leaving him dumbfounded as I walk in the path of my room and Layla.

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