Love and Lies

Chapter 19

The weekend flew by as I spent most of the time talking to my parents and Alex. My parents were thrilled to inform me that we just needed two more months to secure the funds. I was overjoyed that we could finally save our pharmacy.

At present, I was making my way to the lab to start running a few tests for the new medicine productions. Kevin was already in the lab when I entered, engaged in a conversation with Alex about testing new herbs that had just arrived. As soon as I entered, their attention shifted toward me. Alex smiled at me while Kevin greeted me.

"Good morning, Samantha," Alex said warmly after Kevin.

"Good morning, Sir," I replied with a smile. I could sense Kevin's curiosity, noticing his lingering gaze on Alex, sensing that something was different today. Alex turned his attention back to Kevin and instructed him to get the herbs from the storage for today's tests. As soon as Kevin left the lab, Alex pulled me into his arms, his hand securely on my waist, and his lips met mine passionately. I kissed him back with equal fervor. After a while, I pulled back and smiled at him.

"Now that was a good morning for me," he said softly, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.

"Really?" I asked playfully.

He nodded and was about to lean in again when I placed my hand on his lips. "Kevin will be here any minute, and we can't let him see us like this," I explained.

He looked at me, puzzled. I removed my hand and continued, "Alex, you have to understand. To them, I am married, and I don't want them to think wrongly of me until everything is sorted."

"Okay, if you feel uncomfortable, no one will know about us," he said with a reassuring smile.

"Thank you, Alex," I said, pecking his cheek gratefully.

"If you're thanking me, then kiss me here," he said, pointing to his lips with a mischievous grin.

I smiled and leaned in just as the door opened. Kevin walked in, and I immediately pushed Alex away, causing him to stumble to the other side with a thud.

"Sir, are you okay?" Kevin asked, moving toward Alex with concern.

"Yes, I'm fine. I just slipped," Alex replied, trying to sound casual.

"Okay, let's start the testing. We don't want to waste any time," Alex said, pulling out the herbs Kevin had brought from the cart, his voice now all business.

As the day progressed, we worked diligently on the new herbs. Kevin meticulously recorded data while Alex and I collaborated on the experiments. Every now and then, I felt Alex's hand brush against mine or his shoulder bump into me, sending a pleasant shiver down my spine. His subtle touches were both thrilling and nerve-wracking, given the circumstances.

In the late afternoon, we encountered an unexpected challenge with one of the herbs reacting unpredictably. Kevin and I were deep in discussion about potential solutions when Alex's phone rang. He excused himself and stepped out to take the call.

"Do you think we should try altering the temperature?" Kevin suggested, glancing at the herb samples.

"It's worth a shot," I replied, adjusting the settings on the equipment. "This particular herb is known for its sensitivity to temperature changes."

Just as we were about to test our hypothesis, Alex returned, his expression grim. He took a deep breath before speaking.

"Change of plans," he announced. "We've just received a new shipment of herbs from our overseas partners, and they need immediate analysis. Kevin, can you handle the rest of this experiment?"

"Of course, Sir," Kevin nodded, quickly taking over.

Alex turned to me, his eyes softening. "Samantha, I need your expertise with the new samples. They're quite rare and delicate."

"Lead the way," I said, following him out of the lab.

We made our way to a smaller, more private lab down the hall. As soon as the door closed behind us, Alex's demeanor shifted. He took my hand, pulling me close.

"I'm sorry for the abrupt change," he murmured, his lips brushing against my temple. "But I needed to talk to you alone."

"What's wrong?" I asked, sensing his unease.

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "The call I just took was from our supplier. There's been some unrest in the region where the herbs are grown. We might face delays and potential shortages."

"That's serious," I said, frowning. "How can we mitigate the impact?"

"We'll need to find alternative sources and ramp up our research on synthetic substitutes," he replied. "But for now, let's focus on these samples and see what we can discover."

We spent the next few hours working closely together, examining the new herbs and brainstorming solutions. Despite the looming challenges, there was an undeniable comfort in our shared efforts. Every glance, every touch, every whispered word of encouragement reinforced the bond we were building.

As the day came to an end, we were able to find another supplier. It was one of Alex's friends in Italy, who arranged the herbs for us. Alex was finally relaxed and not stressing. It brought a smile to my face when I saw him at ease.