Chapter 23

Alex POV

As I walked into the dining room, the aroma of roasted vegetables and savory meat filled my senses, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me. The boy was seated at the table, surrounded by his bodyguards, who greeted me in unison, "Welcome, Boss." I took my seat, and the staff promptly served my food. I began eating, savoring the flavors.

"How was the practical today?" I asked the boy, curiosity getting the better of me.

"It was fine," he replied, his eyes lighting up. "I got to learn about different plants and saw the most deadly plant called 'Rosary Pea' or 'Abrus precatorius'."

I raised an eyebrow, impressed. "You know its name already. That's good."

The boy nodded, taking a bite of his food. "Yeah, the teacher said it's one of the most toxic plants in the world. Even a few seeds can be fatal."

I leaned back in my chair, intrigued. "That's fascinating. Did you learn about any other interesting plants?"

The boy thought for a moment before responding, "We learned about the 'Deadly Nightshade' too. It's pretty cool how some plants can be so beautiful but deadly at the same time."

I smiled, pleased with his interest in botany. "Yes, nature is full of wonders and dangers. It's essential to respect and understand both."

I flopped onto the couch, letting out a deep sigh as I turned to Tasha. "I'm going to my hometown tomorrow," I said, trying to sound casual despite the turmoil brewing inside me.

Tasha's eyes widened in surprise. "Why? What happened?"

I hesitated, fidgeting with my hands before blurting out the truth. "I got fired. I decided to go back to my hometown and help my dad. I've already called him, and he's expecting me tomorrow."

Tasha's expression turned sympathetic. "Aww, that's not good. I'll be all alone here."

I shrugged, trying to brush off the concern. "You'll be fine. Besides, I told you what happened with Alex at my work, right?"

Tasha's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "You mean Alex, the real one? Wow, I'm surprised but not really. Julia doesn't want any problems again."

I nodded, recalling the incident. "Yeah, I was just looking at him at the party, and...well, you know."

Tasha raised an eyebrow. "You didn't tell me you were checking him out! Why were you staring at him?"

I blushed, feeling a flutter in my chest. "I just wanted to see if he's truly handsome like you said, and...he is. I got mesmerized when I saw him."

Tasha chuckled. "Okay, okay. But seriously, it's not fair she fired you. You were supposed to get the one million."

I shook my head, feeling a pang of guilt. "I couldn't take someone's hard-earned money. I wouldn't be able to rest."

As the conversation wound down, I stood up, yawning. "I'm going to bed. Good night, Tasha."

As I entered my room, my phone started ringing. I picked it up, hearing Annie's cheerful voice on the other end. "Hey, have you seen what's trending online now?"

I smiled, knowing exactly what she was referring to. "Yeah, I saw the video."

Annie giggled. "You two should have been more careful. If you wanted to stare at each other, you should've found a more private spot."

I laughed, feeling a bit self-conscious. "I hope it dies down soon. His fans are already saying things."

Annie's voice turned serious. "I read the comments. But hey, it would be great to have you as my sister-in-law!"

I rolled my eyes, chuckling. "You're not serious, Annie."

As we ended the call, I lay down on the bed, repeating the words "sister-in-law" to myself, a mix of emotions swirling inside me.