The Love Assignment

Chapter 7

After the stint with Alex, I was so frustrated that I needed to rant it out. There was only one person I could do it with, Stacey. So here I was in Stacey's cabin. The minute I entered, Stacey must have sensed my mood because she ran straight to the glass door and closed it behind me. Even before she could ask me what was wrong, I screamed. Not too loudly but audible enough for her, me and few people walking near the cabin.  

Stacey waved at them, giving them a nervous smile.  

"How can Sarah expect me to work with a guy like Alex? I know I shouldn't have pushed Alex out of the elevator. But he had it coming; if it wasn't for his stupid behavior I wouldn't have done it. The guy is so totally into himself, he thinks too highly of himself. If there was an award called 'Best arrogance' in Oscars, I am sure that guy would have won it without any voting and stuff. Okay, may be I am exaggerating but that guy just makes me so angry and frustrated and I swear Stacey if he's here, I would have.." 

"You would have done what? Kissed me? Straddled me?" 

My face paled with shock. I turned around to see Alex standing against the door, which he had opened without knocking. 

"You, don't you have any manners", I asked glaring at him. 

"Yes it's me and look whose talking about manners, the girl who pushed a person out of the elevator." Alex said taking a step close away from the door. The door moved slowly making a screeching noise as it was closing in. 

"You asked for it", I replied smirking. 

"Can we have moment alone?", Alex asked looking at Stacey. All my concentration was on Alex that I didn't notice my friend standing on the other side of the room staring at him. What is with woman around here? Earth to Stacey, you already have a boyfriend, look at me. 

I wished I had one of those superhuman powers where I could telepathically tell Stacey to stop gaping at Alex.  

Stacey must have realized Alex looking at her, she blushed and mouthed yes.  

"No" I replied simultaneously. Even before I could say anything else Stacey walked out. 

"Oh come on." I sighed. I wanted to kill Alex. I know it's not his mistake that Sarah set me a partner. But still, I would have been super happy if it was some other guy and not Alex.  

Once Stacey was gone, Alex and I ended up staring at each other for what felt for like hours. Two minutes back I was standing at a good distance from Alex, but now I was standing with my back against the wall. Somewhere between our stares, Alex had moved forward and subconsciously I had moved back. Right now I was standing so close to Alex that, people who saw us through the glass door would think that we were messing around.  

Alex was so close to me that I could smell the strong cologne off him. He was taller than me, there was no doubt in that. He leaned his face down, his eyes never leaving mine; our lips were so close that, one small moment forward I would have kissed him. Deep down I wanted to explore how his lips felt like, but my body was shocked by his closeness that I simply stared at him.  

"Listen closely Vallerie Walter's, I know you hate me as much as I hate you. But I am not letting you ruin my trip to Paris because of your tiny ego. So whether you like it or not we'll be working together. What do you say?" Alex said not even blinking once.  

I pushed him but he wouldn't budge.  

"Haven't you heard of personal space Sherlock?" I asked still looking at him. 

"That's not the answer I want to hear Vallerie." he said leaning his head even more while I moved mine as far as I could, by far I meant just a mere inch. I sighed understanding that he wouldn't let go until he had the answer to his question.