The C.E.O'S shattered heart (MxM, C.E.O X C.E.O)

Chapter 16. An unexpected encounter

Alexei's P.O.V

A month had already gone by since Zachariel had joined the headquarter. I didn't get a chance to talk to him after our encounter in Santa Monica. I had to travel to Paris to handle matters regarding my companies. And Zachariel was busy completing his projects. The kids were eagerly waiting to see Zachariel for almost two weeks now. I felt sorry for my children. I wanted to fulfill their wish, but I couldn't just drag the man to my house. It was the end of the month. I had six virtual meetings lined up for that day. Chance knew how tiring discussing financial statements with people was. He brought food with him to make sure that we had enough energy to get through the day. Chance grinned at me after finishing his meal. I looked questioningly at Chance. My best friend looked something up on his phone, then uttered, "Check out this ad, Alexei."

I grabbed Chance's phone while frowning. The ad was titled "Heaven." I thought that the ad would be about a funeral home, but I was wrong. I smiled when I recognized the beach houses that got featured in the ad. Zachariel had created 3d characters to showcase the benefits of living in Santa Monica. I burst out laughing when I saw the images of the children who were building a sandcastle on the beach. They were singing and dancing with their buckets and shovels. I recognized the kids by the swimsuits that they were wearing. "Look at how many got sold within a week, Alexei," uttered Chance when I tried to give him his phone back.

I clicked on the real estate agency's website and searched for information regarding the beach houses. I was surprised when I found out that the real estate agency had already sold three of their five available homes. Chance chuckled, seeing my reaction, then said, "I was right. Zach was there to take photos for this ad. It seems like he has magic fingers. Everything that he touches turns into gold." I put Chance's phone down, then replied to him with, "Zachariel wouldn't be here if your claims were true, Chance. I have a feeling that something bad happened to him at the Arrakasta company. I hope that he will someday feel comfortable enough to tell me the truth." Chance sighed, then asked me, "Why don't you ask him out tonight to thank him for helping the kids the other day, Alexei?" I couldn't tell Chance that Zachariel saw his psychiatrist every Friday. Who knew how he would react if he found out that Zachariel was under treatment.

I smiled, then replied to Chance with, "Zachariel is a busy man, Chance. I can't just call him on a whim to ask him out." Chance contemplated for a bit, then responded to me with, "You are right, Alexei. You probably have to invite him in advance." We resumed our scheduled meetings after freshening up. Chance and I concluded the meetings by five o'clock. My phone started ringing, just when I was about to walk out of the door with Chance. I groaned while looking at my caller id. "Who is it, Alexei?" Chance asked me in concern. I showed Chance my phone. He whistled while reading the name of the person who was bothering me. "Good luck," whispered Chance while giving me a thumbs up. I shook my head, then answered my phone. "Hello, Alexei!" yelled our friend Auguste through the phone. I put my phone on speaker to make sure that Chance could follow our conversation.

Chance chuckled when our other friend Didier yelled, "Tell them where we are, Auguste!" Chance leaned closer to my phone, then shouted, "You don't have to tell us anything, Auguste. We know that you guys are in LA right now. We can hear the traffic behind you." Didier burst out laughing, then uttered, "If you guys already know where we are, then come have fun with us tonight at the Attraente bar. We'll be there at nine o'clock." Chance shook his head, then replied to Didier with, "No, thank you, Didier. I went out with you guys last week when I was in New York. It's my in-law's anniversary today. I have to be at home by six o'clock, or all hell will break loose." I pretended that I didn't hear what Chance had said. Auguste groaned, then asked me, "You will be there, right, Alexei? We haven't seen you in a month. It's our last week in the U.S. Please, have some drinks with us before we depart."