BILLIONAIRES: Father or Son

Chapter Fourteen

ALEX'S POV

I skimmed through the list of new applicants for my assistant position, but none of the resumes were doing it for me. It wasn't that they weren't qualified—it was more that I didn't even know what I was looking for. My last assistant had played a significant role in driving a wedge between me and my ex-wife, and the one I just fired... well, let's just say "inappropriate" is an understatement. Maybe it was time to hire a male assistant. At least that way, I could avoid any more scandals hanging over my head like a storm cloud.

Sighing, I scrolled through the male candidates. Seemed like the safest bet for a fresh start. I had finally agreed with David's advice to give relationships a break and stick to... Subs. He had talked to Jackson, the guy who apparently knew all the right "connections," and I was still waiting for an update. I glanced at my wristwatch—an hour past closing time. Great. Exhaustion was settling in, and I still had files from the design department to sort through before I could call it a night.

I leaned back in my chair, hoping for a moment of peace. Just as my eyelids began to droop, my phone buzzed on the desk. Glancing at the screen, I saw David's name flashing. I sighed but picked up anyway, sliding my finger over the screen.

"Hey, man," David's voice chirped on the other end, way too chipper for this hour.

"Dave. What's up?" I mumbled, not hiding my fatigue.

"Jackson found the perfect girl for you. And guess what? She's on her way to you right now."

I sat up so fast I almost knocked over my coffee. "Wait, what? You sent her to my office?"

"Yup! You seemed pretty stressed when I visited earlier. Thought you could use some relief. Fashion Week is right around the corner, and you need to be on your A-game. Plus, the contract is always signed in your office, right?" His tone was too casual, like he had just arranged for a pizza delivery.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. Sure, I was stressed, but mostly because my son refused to speak to me. I hadn't a clue why he hated me, and it gnawed at me constantly. "Dave, I don't know. These girls... they expect praise for the bare minimum and never want to earn it."

David's laughter boomed through the phone. "You sound like you're backing out already. Come on, man. You haven't even met her yet."

Backing out? Maybe I was. I wasn't sure if I had the energy to deal with another woman who would end up complicating my already tangled life. The last thing I needed was another uphill battle.

"Alexander, you've gotta give someone a chance to impress you before you throw them out. This girl's a pro. She knows the rules, and there are plenty of women willing to do whatever it takes to make your life easier. You just need to let them."

I exhaled heavily. He had a point, even if I wasn't thrilled about it. The woman was already on her way, so what was I going to do? Turn her away at the door?

"How long till she gets here?" I asked, resigned.

"Any minute now," David replied. His smugness was practically dripping through the phone.

"Alright. I'll wait," I muttered, far less enthusiastically than him.

"Good man. Catch you later," he said, and the line went dead before I could muster any more protest.

I dropped the phone onto my desk and leaned back in my chair again.

***

FLORA'S POV

I gathered my belongings, ready to make my escape from the office. Normally, I was the last one to leave, but today, the office manager was still holed up in her office, working away. And I couldn't leave until she did. Everyone else had already trickled out one by one, but I was stuck. Not that I usually cared, but Sasha had texted earlier, saying some demolition workers were standing outside our building. That made leaving a bit more urgent.