Clash Into Clasp

CHAPTER 24 - Liked

Alexis was stunned with the question.
"W- What do you mean?" she stuttered as she felt her heartbeat race faster.

"Don't be nervous," Dorothy looked at her with a chuckle. "I'm just curious. You two are getting closer recently."

Alexis sighed a breath of relief. She thought Dorothy would pressure her into something. Now she understood, she only wanted to know more about them.

Dorothy spoke again before she could say a word. "Did you notice how much Carl had changed recently? I'm now seeing him smile and enjoy his work. Before, he was always grumpy and indifferent."

Alexis nodded subconsciously as her mind floated to realize the truth spoken.

"As someone close to him, I think the change had something to do with you," Dorothy smiled gently while she looked at her.

The statement surprised Alexis and she immediately looked at the other woman.

"What- It, it has to something to do with me?" she stammered.

Dorothy smiled tightly again and she looked away. "You see, Carl now treats you differently.  It's only this time that I see him care for a woman."

She paused for a while before continuing. "He still doesn't admit it but I know after some time, he will come to realize your value in his heart." Dorothy glanced at her.

Alexis was still in a daze, finding it hard to register the words she was hearing.

Does Carl care for her? And she has value in his heart?

"So," Dorothy looked sincerely at her.
"I'm telling you this so that you will be prepared. And if the time comes that he will finally admit what he feels for you, please don't decline him. I regard him as a son and I can't bear to see him get hurt again."

Alexis blinked successively as she stared back at her.

"Why are you so shocked?" Dorothy chuckled. "Didn't you notice? Or, did you not feel anything from him?"

Alexis still found it hard to answer her.

Dorothy sighed. "Lex, tell me. Are you not feeling anything for him?"

The question was clear and it took a while before she could answer as Dorothy patiently waited.

"I, I'm not sure," she murmured. "My feeling's been complicated recently but I promise I will figure it out."

Dorothy nodded. "I like you for him Lex." She smiled. "So, it's okay if you fall in love with him."

The words were like a net that caught her beating heart. Fall in love with Carl?

Dorothy turned around and leaned on the railings. "If you will love him back, I believe that you will continue to inspire him and eventually help him succeed. You see, after months of being reluctant, he now began to embrace his position as the president of EDA, accepting it as his destiny. It means that he now took the first step for him to finally love the company as his father did."

She paused and glanced at her. "He must continue on that step, and I believe love will be the biggest key that'll help him."

Alexis look at her and saw her hopeful eyes. She wanted her to love Carl.

Wait! That is to love him back! Does that mean, Carl loves her?

"Do you really believe that Carl loves me?" she managed to voice it out.

"If there's someone who knew him very well, that's me. Well, aside for his grandmother," Dorothy chuckled a bit. "As I said a while ago, I've seen how special he treated you. That's why I've concluded."