"What do you mean by nobody showed up?" His new substitute assistant flinched at his outburst.
He was the 3rd in a week.
Xavier narrowed his gaze on him, even as he smacked his lips and tried to compose his expression.
"It's either they are suspicious or they are off my back. Nobody showed off." Maya repeated.
"I did everything as we planned," Maya's voice was low and gravelly making him angry that this was putting her through a lot of stress. Emotionally and physically.
"I went to the House to pick up the duffel bag as we've planned,"
"Maya." His voice was a whisper, "Deep breaths." He coaxed.
He could almost imagine her rubbing her hand on her face and then with her hands now wrapped around her body, she takes a careful burst of deep needed breath.
"Maya all will be fine, soon." He sat down on his seat, his hand ruffling his own hair.
Timothy, a young man in his early twenties, looked away. He didn't live under the rock so of course, immediately he heard the name Maya, everything made sense.
The woman who was once in his position and probably the reason why his newly found job was threatened. Nobody could ever be Maya, Timothy thought to himself but more than that he couldn't identify the lost look on the face of his boss who seemed always in control of every sphere of his life.
From his pair of shoes to crisply ironed shirts paired with a pair of trousers and not a hair out of place, Xavier Salvador was a symbol of orderliness which was most times intimidating. His cold demeanor also didn't help.
"I hate it that you are going through all of this. I'll trade places with you in a heartbeat."
"Shh..." Maya's eyes widen, she sat up from her bed where she was nestled on, "Be careful of what you wish for."
"I'll rather have a serial killer on my trails than you, Maya."
Timothy's eyes widened even as he fixated his gaze on the journal of all of Xavier's schedule for the day.
"I don't want you to get hurt, especially not on my account."
"I won't." She sighed, "Guess I'll just get used to staying in your house. A mansion like yours has a lot of rooms to be explored. I'll be so preoccupied."
"You know I want you to be fine. Go to work, go on a crazy girl's night with your friends though I don't approve." He smiled hearing her chuckle, glad he still could make her produce that sound after all the shit she was going through because of him.
"I'm sorry really."
Timothy hit a folder, shocked at the words, he never thought his arrogant boss was capable of uttering.
Xavier's eyes met his, making him gulp.
"What are you staring at?"
"Just trying to compile your workload Sir."
"Just be done and get out already. Your slowness makes me sick."
"Are you giving my replacement, a hard time already?" She sounded amused listening on, on his conversation between him and his assistant.
"Nobody could really replace you, you know that right?"
"You sounding so sweet makes this conversation awkward, hope you know that?"
He barked out a little short laughter. "Let's get this over with already and get you back to where you belong, beside me managing my god-damned life."
Xavier gave Timothy a mean glare, "Because nobody has been able to do a better job."
"Maybe they keep on stumbling on things because you keep on screaming, ever thought of that?"
Her voice was light and laced in sarcasm, revealing just how much she was enjoying being able to listen to him admit how much he missed her, though he just wanted her in his office, taking notes she'll take anything she was offered.
"What is his name?"
"Somethings never change. The name of my driver back then that night was Gerald. It took him a few minutes for him to come in terms with the fact that I was really talking to him."
She smiled.
"What is your name?"
Timothy blinked, "You want to know my name?" His voice was a hoarse whisper full of awe.
"Not really." His lips were curled in a snarl, "My fiancée just has a habit of wanting to know the names of irrelevant people."
"Timothy, Sir."
"Xavier," her voice was a warning whisper, "Be nice."
"I am!" He shook his head, "I'm so nice these days because of you, I don't even recognize myself."
She couldn't believe the big smile on her face at his words, shaking her head in incredulity at just how his admission to how much she was changing him, made her grin like a fool.
"Being nice is beautiful, Xavier."
"Not really, it just gives room for incompetent bastards to roam around confidently," he narrowed his eyes at Timothy who was now openly listening on, on their conversation so fascinated by the side of his boss, he was having a front-row seat to access because of his fiancée which was rare and priceless.
"Can you get out?" His voice was low and almost polite, Timothy could tell it was all a front for his fiancée since his dangerous glare showed the simmering threat behind his words. His job dangled on a thin rope.
Accepting that, just hearing his boss acting like a teenager who just landed his first girlfriend, all bright-eyed and so enthusiastic to please wasn't worth losing a job that paid in six figures, he scurried out of his office as quickly as his legs could carry him.
"What are you doing now?" He turned back to his call, immediately Timothy closed the door behind him.
"Just talking to you. Woke up from sleeping a few minutes ago. That's all I do these days if you remove the option of drowning myself in pints and pints of ice cream."
"There is an art gallery in the left-wing of the house." He paused not believing he was so ready to share a very private room of his house, nobody knew about.
"We'll see it when I get back."
"Sounds intriguing. Can't wait."
"Everything about me is intriguing."
"You are arrogant."
"I know. You love it."
She didn't answer. She cut the call making him chuckle.
Then a few minutes later he was frowning, as the only thing on his mind was, who was this crazy Psychopath? and most importantly, how'll he make sure Maya was finally free.
Seconds later even as he grunts in total frustration, a realization dawned on him, it was more than just his guilt that accelerated his need to keep her safe.
He needed to accept the truth, he cared truly and deeply for Maya more than he has for any other person.
Maybe Maya was right. They could actually become good friends if he control his hormones that go into a crazy overdrive when she was next to him.