chapter 18

Its been a week since that incident and thankfully Mila hasn't confronted her about it yet.

She told Xavier about it during their face time and he chuckled. He found her blabbering very endearing.

___

Today she is going to his office for delivering the cake she specially made for him as it was decided.

Upon reaching there she approached the receptionist and asked her where the waiting room was.

"Whom do you wish to meet ma'am?" she asked politely.

"A friend of mine works here, he asked me to wait for him in the waiting lounge." she replied softly.

" Ok ma'am. Please go straight and turn left" she informed and got back to her work.

Ailee turned around and was about to walk away when she heard her name being called

" Coco?"

She turned around to look at him and beamed.

"Xavier" she said moving towards him.

The receptionist gasped in horror and her eyes widened hearing her addressing him by his first name that was prohibited to say out loud.

'Sir was the friend she was talking about?' thought the receptionist.

"I got your treat with me" she said showing him the baby pink box. Nodding he took a hold of her tiny hand leading them to his office.

Everybody who witnessed them walking hand in hand was thunderstruck.

He was never seen with a woman nor there were any dating rumours about him, then who could this little girl be?

Ailee used his back as a shield as much as she could and this didn't go unnoticed by Xavier.

He quickly entered the private elevator and looked at her making sure she was alright.

He cupped her face looking for any sign of discomfort.

"I'm fine Zai really" she said putting her hands on his and giggling lightly.

He noticed the nickname but didn't comment on it. He liked it. His first ever term of endearment given by someone he cherishes.

They got out of the elevator and went to his office.

"Wow you're office is beautiful and huge." she said looking around.

"Thank you" he said sitting on the sofa and opening the box which had his dessert.

"hmmmm" he moaned in delight.

"You're making this everyday for me" he said taking bites after bites.

Ailee laughed nodding her head knowing all too well that she won't make it daily but whenever he wants.

She then joined him too and they both ate in comfortable silence.

___

An hour later, Ailee was standing near the floor to ceiling window looking at the outside view. Her face glowing softly under the light orangish sunlight, a small smile gracing her lips.

"Beautiful" Xavier whispered and snapped out of his thoughts.

In that moment he realised that she wasn't just a friend to him but he has fallen hard for her somewhere amidst their cozy interactions.

He don't know if it was, when he saw her sitting on the swing or when they went to the beach together or when she hugged him for the first time or when she watched the movie with him, it feels like as if it was always there but it was dormant waiting for the right time to arrive.

He stood up and approached her slowly.

"Xavier! you have an amazing view from-"

"Be mine" he said looking dead serious.

She gasped putting a hand on her mouth and blinked rapidly trying to process his words.

"Wh-what?"

"I said be mine Coco. I know I am not the best man for your kind self but you make me want to be a better man. And I am too selfish to let you go without even trying."

He didn't speak anything further giving her time to think about his shitty and random proposal and then give her response. He followed the voice of his heart and confessed because he knew it would kill him to see her with another man when he could make her his right now. If she allows that is.

Her face heated up the longer she stayed there. What should she say? She only came to know about her developing crush on him very recently, it is all too good to be true.

"Xavier I-" she started and then stopped. He was looking at her with so much love and adoration, not even blinking as if she was the only thing in his line of sight. It was nothing like she imagined her proposal to be like. She didn't know that she will be tongue tied when asked to be someone's girlfriend.

"Hmm" he said tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

She sighed in contentment and looked down, closing her eyes.

"Yes" she whispered ever so lowly that he would've surely missed it had they were not standing so close in a completely silent room.

"What? Say that again for me baby." he asked still unsure if it was his imagination or she actually said it.

She covered her face with her pretty hands and said

"I won't say it again Xavier, you're making me shy"

A slow but full blown smile broke out on his face and he wrapped his arms around her tightly.

"Thank you" he said kissing the crown of her head.

"I know it was very sudden but I will make it up to you."

After sometime he added "It would've been the biggest regret of my life"

She lifted her head a little from his neck to look at his face "What would?"

"To not confess on the right time and possibly lose you to someone. I don't think I would take that well." he said looking away from her.

"The sincerity your eyes and your words held were all I needed for it to be a good proposal Xavier and you're perfect. Don't you dare to think otherwise alright or I will uhmmmm...... punish you. Yeah thats right. You will be severely punished."

He chuckled in his deep husky voice.

" Alright baby alright. You're the boss here."

She flushed a darker shade of crimson at both his voice and the term of endearment he used for her.

A few minutes later they pulled back. Ailee was looking everywhere but him, her face as red as a cherry.

Xavier looked at her with an amusing smile dancing on his lips and cupped her face with both his palms squishing her cheeks and making her look even tinier.

"Look at me Coco" and that she did, very slowly meeting his eyes.

"Hmm good girl, never look away from me" he ordered.

Ailee nodded with wide eyes unable to get rid of her blush.

"Let's go" he said checking the time.

He promised to drop her before dinner and that is exactly what he will do.

_

But he never said that he would not take the longer route or take breaks in the middle.

They stopped by a bakery and celebrated their start of relationship with brownies and vanilla ice cream for Xavier.

___

Even after driving so slowly they reached her place sooner than they wanted and they stepped out of the car.

"Bye Tata! See you later." she said and turned around quickly only to be pulled back by strong arms.

"Not so soon" he said and gave her a lingering kiss on her forehead, painting her face red once again.

"Hmm your turn" he said looking satisfied.

She shook her head but one look from him and she gave in.

Holding his shoulders for support she stood on her toes and pressed her lips on his right cheek very gently, filling his space with her soothing scent.

His eyes closed on their own accord and he sighed.

When he opened his eyes again she was already running inside skipping her steps.

He shook his head founding her behaviour adorable and drove back to his office with a full smile, already missing her presence.

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