One Night Stand With Alexander Blackwood-Chapter 111: Distracted Cody

"What man?" Alexander questioned, his eyes narrowing slightly.

His subordinate seated opposite him described the features of the man, and once he was done, Alexander sneered.

"Liam." He remarked, snorting.

"You know him?"

"Not just know him. His company is about to be mine soon." Alexander then fell into deep thoughts. "But what is she thinking? Does she think enlisting the help of Liam would get her job done? Then she should dream on!"

His voice was calm, but the look in his eyes—those dark eyes—carried the right amount of danger which would be effective against enemies.

His subordinate looked at him, and sighed quietly. It seemed the ’Alexander’ who was trying to hide himself from the world was finally out, and it won’t be a good thing for the offenders.

He shuddered, his shoulders trembling just thinking about what Alexander could do.

-------------------

Maya was in the office, seated, eyes on the computer but they were anything but focused. She was pacing out.

Her mind replayed the kiss she had with Cody two days ago and her cheeks heated.

*Flashback*

Cody drove Maya home. The ride back to her apartment was silent as Maya’s attention was on the trees as though they were the most beautiful thing she had ever laid her eyes on.

When they finally reached her apartment complex, Maya exited the car as fast as she could without waiting for him.

"Wait!" Cody screamed, leaving the car as well. Maya stopped in her tracks but she didn’t turn to look at him.

Cody came to stand in front of her, his gaze fixated on her face. "You left this in the car." He said, handing her phone to her.

Maya looked at the phone in his hand, and she snatched it as fast as she could.

"Thank you," she muttered quietly, and tried to bypass him, but he was faster than her.

"This is not the Maya I know." Cody said firmly.

Maya gazed at him curiously and asked, "why do you say so? I’m still Maya."

"No!" He refuted firmly. "The Maya I know doesn’t run away. She’s not shy, and she doesn’t back out. Tell me, why are you avoiding me? I tried to engage in a conversation with you, but to no avail."

Maya bit her lips. She didn’t have any answer to his question. How could she tell him that she didn’t know what her feelings were? How could she tell him that she was... confused?

"I’m Maya. I’m not different from who I am." She could only end up saying.

Cody wasn’t having it, and before Maya could understand what was happening, she was already being towered, and her lips were already covered by another lips.

She froze, her eyes widening as her gaze remained on Cody.

’What are you doing Maya?’ She screamed in her head. ’Push him away! What are you waiting for?’

But no matter how loud she screamed in her head, she didn’t take action. Just as she was about to reciprocate the kiss, Cody pulled him away, and her misty eyes were filled with curiosity.

Cody was silent for a while as he looked at me. "The Maya I know would have pushed me away. But you did... nothing." He paused, hesitated before adding. "Think about it."

*Flashback Ends*

Maya patted her cheeks. "What am I even doing?" She asked herself, facepalming in the process. "It’s like all my thoughts have been eroded by Cody. Why? Why do I feel this way?" She asked herself, sighing. Unfortunately, she didn’t have the answer... yet.

"Isn’t this the hardworking and overzealous worker, Maya?"

Maya raised her head up and her eyes met with Betty. She rolled her eyes, ignored her and returned to the computer’s screen, unwilling to pay attention to her.

Betty’s brows formed a crease, annoyance seeping into her for being ignored by Maya.

"I’m talking to you." Betty hit her palms on the table, causing all attention to turn towards them.

Maya took a deep breath before she looked at her. "Tell me. What’s the problem now? Why are you picking on me now?" She demanded at once without stuttering.

Betty was taken aback. She didn’t expect Maya to demand questions from her... at once.

"You were not in the office yesterday."

"I took leave."

"You can’t just decide when you get to go on leave and when not to. We are also working here. If everyone takes leave as you do, then no doubt, this department would lag behind."

"Yes."

"For the first time, I agree with Betty."

A few people echoed after her. Betty’s lips curled into a smug smirk seeing the people behind her.

"Or do you feel because Cody Hale is chasing you, you’re already on top? It’s time to wake up from your dream."

"Yes!"

"Wake up, Maya. Stop daydreaming."

Maya chuckled mirthlessly as she listened to their chants.

"It seems you people forget things easily." She started, folding her arms in the process. She turned to one person and remarked, "have you forgotten that when you claimed your son was sick, I was the one who helped you with your quota?"

"And you—" she turned to another person, "—when you had issues with your proposal, I was the one who helped you."

One by one, she pointed to different people and stated the help she rendered.

When she was done, all of them had their heads bowed in shame. It was indeed shameful to have someone remind you of what they’ve done especially when you are speaking ill against the person.

Betty’s expression, on the other hand, had already turned sour. How did Maya do so many good deeds and it slipped past her.

"It doesn’t matter." She spat. "In fact, it doesn’t count."

Maya’s brows shot up as she folded her arms while she waited to watch Betty make a fool out of herself.

"This shouldn’t be an excuse for your inconsistent absence. In fact, it should be looked into."

Maya scoffed. "Don’t you have anything better to do than to keep on worrying about my absence or not?"

"Not when your absence is significantly causing a strain in this department."

"Can you tell me how it’s causing a strain in the department? Because from the way I see it, I’m not behind on any submissions." She paused, taking in a huge breath. "Besides, who gave you the right to question ke. I thought we were over this."

Before Betty could respond, a calm, yet quiet voice resounded across the department’s office.

"That’s enough, Betty." A woman who looked to be in her early forties walked in, her expression stern. "You’ve done enough questioning."

"D-director Sarah..." She stuttered, taking a step back while she gulped softly.

The woman bearing Sarah barely glanced at her before she looked at Maya.

"Have you been able to sort out the issues?" She asked softly.

The side of Maya’s eyes lifted up as she nodded. "Thank you, Sarah. The issue has been solved." Then she added, "I should also apologise. I’ve been inconsistent these past few days. It gave a lot of people—" her eyes drifted to Betty whose entire body trembled softly, "—to comment where they shouldn’t."

Sarah laughed softly. Although her words and actions were subtle, the implications were clear. She was referring to Betty.

"You don’t have to worry. The person would be duly punished." Sarah smiled and Maya nodded satisfactorily, unbothered that she might have caused Betty’s death sentence.

Cody Hale was not a man who lost focus especially when business was concerned, especially when he is trapped in the cocoon of his office.

Yet for the past ten minutes, he had been staring at the same page of a report without absorbing a single word.

The office was quiet, sunlight stretching across the polished floor. His pen rested between his fingers, unmoving.

His mind wasn’t on the report.

It was on something else... Maya.

His mind replayed the way she avoided his eyes, the way she froze and finally, the way she didn’t push him away.

Cody leaned back in his chair, jaw tightening slightly.

"That wasn’t like you," he muttered under his breath.

He hadn’t planned to kiss her. It had been impulse — frustration mixed with curiosity. He wanted a reaction and he got one.

Just not the one he expected.

She had looked at him with her confused eyes when he pulled away.

And that unsettled him more than rejection would have.

A knock sounded at his door snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Come in."

His secretary stepped in with a tablet in hand. "Sir, the investors are waiting in the conference room."

Cody glanced at the clock. He was five minutes late and he was never late.

His secretary hesitated. "Sir, are you alright?"

He looked at her calmly. "Why wouldn’t I be?"

"You’ve been on the same page for a while." She pointed out.

Silence filled the office as Cody closed the file smoothly and stood. ""I was thinking."

"About business?"

His gaze sharpened slightly. She smiled politely and stepped aside.

As the door closed behind her, Cody paused.

Was he thinking about business?

That was a lie and he’d be fooling himself if he thought that was the case.

He was thinking about whether Maya regretted that kiss. Or whether she was afraid of what it meant.

He exhaled slowly, slipping his hands into his pockets.

He wasn’t a man who chased uncertainty.

But he also didn’t ignore it.

"I hope you are as confused as I am, Maya." He murmured under his breath.

He straightened his jacket, composure settling back over him like armor.

Then took a deep breath, before he stepped out of his office into the corridor.