The Billionaire and His PA novel Chapter 62

“Isabel made hot chocolate for everyone!” Aaron declared excitedly as he shuffled into the living room with two mugs in his hands. “Here. And sorry that there are no marshmallows in it. We’re all out.” He said handing a mug to Felix while Lily handed the other mug she was holding to Cassie.

“Thank you.” Felix said. “I drove by a supermarket on the way here, I can go get some marshmallows if you’d like.”

Cassie had to stop herself from chortling into her drink. During her first week of work, Felix’s response to her question about supermarkets had led her to believe that he hadn’t been to one before but he was now offering to drive to one in the middle of the night to grab a packet of marshmallows. It was completely out of character for him. Besides, there was no way she was going to let him drive while he was drunk and upset.

“Thank you but that wouldn’t be necessary. They aren’t even supposed to be having this much sugar this late at night. It’s going to take forever to get them to bed now.” She said, “Also, I can’t let you drive while you’re drunk and upset.”

“I’m not drunk.” Felix declared sternly. “Upset, yes but drunk, no.”

“You kind of reek of alcohol a bit.” Isabel said from the doorway of the kitchenette. “I haven’t even gotten that close enough to you today but even I know that.”

Felix pursed his lips. “I smell of alcohol because an entire bottle of it spilled on my pants while I was trying to pour a glass for myself. And then the bottle broke so I had to clean it up, which is when this happened.” He raised his bandaged hand for all to see. “I understand your concern but I’ve been speaking to you for quite some time, do I sound like someone who’s drunk?”

Cassie shook her head. He didn’t sound like someone who had been consuming alcohol, he just smelt like one. What was it with him and his mother from spilling alcohol on themselves?

“And besides,” Felix started, taking the first sip from his mug. “Drunk driving is irresponsible and probably what got Hazel killed in the first place. I could never take the risk of causing someone the kind of pain that driver caused me.”

“Who’s Hazel?” Lily asked, using the sleeve of her pajamas to wipe away the layer of hot chocolate that had accumulated on her upper lip.

“She used to be my fiancée.” He replied. “A fiancée is a word that people use to talk about a woman that they are going to get married to.” He added when he saw that Lily was about to ask another question.

“Oh cool. Can we meet her?” Aaron asked excitedly.

“Fuck.” Felix groaned. “The engine’s dead. I shouldn’t have left it running.” He walked over to the car, took the key out of the ignition and slammed the door shut. He knew that the engine was dead not just because he had left it running while he was inside Cassie’s house but also because he had sat in front of Cassie’s house for more than an hour willing himself to have the confidence to go inside. It wasn’t often that CEOs visited the home of their employees at night and as he couldn’t seek comfort from Rose (she was out of town for a family function), Cassie had been his only option.

Cassie stared at his car. The lights were off and the low rumbling sound that had been coming from the engine had stopped. “Maybe you should stay the night.” Cassie offered. She was aware of how much her words sounded like an uncertain question rather than a friendly suggestion.

“I can’t. I have to be at work tomorrow.”

“Why do you have to work on a Saturday?” Lily asked, popping her head through the doorway.

“Because…” Felix trailed off. Why did he have to go to work on Saturday? Tech Town was like a well-oiled machine. The company would function properly if he got to work late or at the very most, if he took a day off. “Nothing. I don’t have to work on Saturday. Thank you for inviting me over, Cassie.”

His phone vibrated again in his pocket reminding him of the reason he had to work on Saturdays – his mother. As per her usual pattern of behavior, she had started sending him links and screenshots of items she wanted him to buy from luxury online shops once she noticed that he had slipped into a gloomy state. When he had left his office on Thursday after Cassie had shown him the picture of Hazel, he had gone into his car and listened to the last voicemail Hazel had ever sent him repeatedly until it was night time. Once she had found out about it, she had started to text him nonstop, knowing fully well that he would rather make any purchase of anything she asked of him, no matter how unreasonable or extravagant, than have to deal with her for too long.