Chapter 7

"Nathan asked you out?" Courtney gasped with a mouthful of pizza. They were having dinner together at home.

"Yeah, it was quite weird and awkward," Heather admitted.

"What did you tell him?" Courtney's eyes were wide open.

"I just said it's best we keep things professional," Heather said as she took a bite of her pizza.

"Oh my gosh, what was his reaction?"

"I don't know, I didn't really pay any attention. I left to meet up with you." Heather took another bite of her food.

Courtney looked at Heather and frowned. "Hmm, well, this is definitely a bit unexpected. Be careful, ok? I mean, you still have to see him at work everyday, and I don't want him to do anything that might hurt you, especially now that you've basically friendzoned him."

"Nathan?" Heather laughed. "Pft, pretty sure he doesn't have the courage or guts to even hurt a fly."

"I mean, yes he's nice and smart, I do remember him making the Dean's List in college every year," Courtney was deep in thought. "It's just that there were times where he seemed..." she shook her head and frowned. "Never mind. I can't put my finger on it exactly. But I'm just thinking back to when you offered him a role in Illuminate and he basically said yes immediately. Didn't he always say he wanted to go into tech or something?"

"Well he said he liked me back in college, so maybe that's why," Heather shrugged. "But yeah, I'll be careful Court," she nodded at Courtney as she took a final bite of her food.

***

The next day

Heather glanced up at the tall skyscraper in front of her that was J&B Co's office. This place must have like at least 30 floors, she thought to herself as she made her way inside towards reception, tightly clenching the pair of sunglasses in her hands. Alejandro's sunglasses.

"I'm here to see Alejandro Burromuerto," she confidently said to the receptionist.

"Do you have an appointment?" the receptionist glared at her.

"Well, no, but -"

"What's your name? And what's the purpose of your visit?"

"Heather. I'm literally just here to give him back his Prada sunglasses." She rolled her eyes.

The receptionist sighed and started typing something on her computer. She then made a phone call. "Hello Andrea? I have a Heather down in the lobby, she said she's here to see Alejandro, something about having his sunglasses..."

"If he's busy, I can just -" Heather gulped. Why was she suddenly feeling nervous?

"As you can imagine, Mr Burromuerto is indeed busy. We're going to make an exception this time, but next time make sure you have an appointment. Go wait on level 28, and fill out the visitor's log." The receptionist tossed Heather a clipboard and visitor's pass. Heather rolled her eyes again as she grabbed the two items.

***

José was getting ready for a board meeting on level 28 when he noticed Heather in the hallway, wandering around and looking seemingly lost. A smirk formed on his face as he immediately walked towards her and introduced himself.

"Hola, hermosa. My name is José, and I'm the Chief Operating Officer here," he straightened his tie and flashed a smile. "May I have the pleasure of assisting you in any way?"

Heather took one look at him. José had a smirk, flirtatious tone and facial features that somewhat resembled Alejandro, although she admitted Alejandro was more good-looking.

"You mean Co-Chief Operating Officer," she corrected.

"Ah, well, yes there is my baby brother Al, but I call the big shots around here," José smirked.

Heather rolled her eyes and folded her arms. So they were related. "Where's Alejandro?"

"Oh, he must still be in a meeting," José replied, disappointed that Heather wasn't showing any interest in him instead.

Suddenly, a devilish grin appeared on his face. "Perhaps I can take you to him?"

Heather looked at him. She didn't have any interest in spending any more time with this José guy than necessary, but this place was huge and she just wanted to give Alejandro his sunglasses back and get it over and done with. "Fine, lead the way," she snapped.

"My pleasure," José smirked.

Heather followed José along the long, dark and grey hallways. This place is like a maze, she thought to herself. She found her mind trailing off to imagining what Alejandro's office would look like, what the color of his furniture would be, what paintings and decor he would have on the walls...

José let out a small cough and took a step back. He gestured towards one of the meeting rooms down the hall. "He's in there."

Heather took a deep breath as she walked closer towards the room José pointed at. For some reason, she felt butterflies in her stomach.

What was she going to say to him when she saw him? "So remember that day when we were at the hotel pool and I abruptly got up and left, well it turns out I accidentally took your sunglasses with me." No, too long winded. "Hi Alejandro, I'm here to give you your sunglasses back!" No, too enthusiastic. "Here's your sunglasses." No, not witty enough. Ugh, why do I even feel like I need to rehearse this?!

But the need for any 'rehearsal' was immediately dissolved when Heather saw what she saw next through the glass windows.

She saw it once and once was enough.

Alejandro was sitting with his arms wrapped around the waist of a female employee, and he was whispering something in her ear, a flirtatious smile and look on his face. The female employee was giggling at what he said.

Heather felt a swirl of emotions; first shock, then disappointment, then sadness, and finally anger.

At that moment, Alejandro noticed Heather standing outside the windows. "Heather?" he gasped, and immediately got up, pushing the female employee away. "Hey!" the woman exclaimed but he didn't care.

"You can have your stupid sunglasses back, you stupid jerk!" Heather yelled as she opened the meeting room door and aggressively tossed the sunglasses at Alejandro, before angrily storming off.

"Heather! Please, wait up!" Alejandro shouted in a frantic voice.

José promptly stepped forward to block Alejandro from leaving the room. "Where do you think you're going?" he sneered, as he eagerly watched the drama unfold. "Need I remind you that we have a board meeting in 5 minutes?"

"José, get out of the way!" Alejandro yelled. He didn't have time for this.

José refused to budge, a smirk on his face. Alejandro aggressively pushed José backwards and then he frantically sprinted down the hallway, his head thumping and his heart pounding. Where was she?

***

Heather felt angry tears swelling up and she continuously blinked her eyes to stop them as she waited for the elevator to come. What were you expecting anyway from that jerk? That you could just pick up from where you left that day at the hotel pool? And to think that you felt something that day, you're such a fool!

An employee at J&B Co gave her a sympathetic look as he passed by. "What are you looking at?!" she yelled. The employee lowered his head and sprinted off like a squirrel.

No, she would not allow herself to cry over that jerk. The last time she cried over a boy was when her ex back in high school broke up with her and she swore after that she'd never cry over a man over again. Besides, it wasn't like she was in a relationship with Alejandro or anything, so he was free to flirt with whoever he wanted. She definitely was not jealous. You're better than this, Heather.

"Heather!" she recognized Alejandro's voice from a few feet away.

At that moment, the elevator opened and Heather quickly stepped inside, frantically pushing the 'door close' button.

"No, Heather, wait!" Alejandro only just missed the elevator, panting. He repeatedly pushed the elevator buttons and waited impatiently for the next one to arrive. After what felt like an eternity, the elevator finally came.

Once Alejandro made it onto the ground floor and into the lobby, he frantically sprinted outside and looked around. Heather was nowhere in sight. He slowly sat down on the steps outside the building, his head buried in his hands. He had tried to get her out of his mind by flirting with other women and getting back on Tinder, but he would now finally admit that his attempts did not work, nor would they ever work.

The last remaining shade of satisfaction he usually felt when he flirted with others had now completely disappeared.

The scene of Heather and him together at the hotel pool and their memories together at the Chris McLean Young Business Leaders Program now felt like a distant, happy memory and the image of her hurt face just then replayed in his mind like a song on repeat.

He felt empty, and he didn't know how to comprehend his emotions anymore.

He opened his phone and angrily deleted the Tinder app.

At the same time, Alejandro noticed the time on his phone and realized that he was late to the board meeting, but he didn't care anymore. He didn't budge from his position on the steps and stared blankly into the distance.

Eventually, he proceeded to slowly drag himself back inside the building and to the meeting room. He was now 40 minutes late. He tugged at the door - it didn't budge. He tried turning the doorknob again but it still didn't move - it must have been locked from the inside.

Alejandro knocked on the door and then on the windows. The people inside the room didn't hear him, or if they did, they ignored him.

Indeed, it was the latter; Javier had purposely locked the door at the beginning of the meeting and when he heard Alejandro knocking he pretended that he didn't hear him.

"Sir, should I get that?" one of the board members asked Javier from inside.

"No, ignore him," Javier grumbled.

As he sat in his seat, José was trying his best to keep a straight face and contain his laughter. The sight of Alejandro locked outside and the sound of him knocking and banging on the doors and windows was like a sweet melody to his ears. He accidentally let out a snort, and when his father glared at him he faked a cough. "Sorry, something stuck in my throat."

After another 20 minutes, the meeting finally concluded and the board members slowly got up from their seats and left the meeting room. They found Alejandro sitting outside, slumped on the floor. Some of them gave him sympathetic looks.

"Don't say I didn't warn you Al," José snickered as he walked past Alejandro. Alejandro didn't say anything back as he looked down on the floor, a glum expression on his face.

Javier was the last person to leave the meeting room. "You disgrace me," he spat, looking down at the sight of Alejandro sitting on the floor. "Letting a woman take control of your emotions like that and showing no respect for me and the other board members? You are bringing shame to the Burromuerto family name."

Alejandro still didn't respond.

He felt like all the energy had been drained from him.

***

Heather pulled up outside her office and sat in her car for a few minutes, recollecting herself after what had just happened. She hesitated for a moment and then opened her phone contacts, tapping on Nathan's name and sending him a text. Hey, you still down for that date?

He responded moments later. Of course! I'll see you soon.

---

A/N - Fellow Aleheather stans: don't be disheartened and remember this- it gets worse before it gets better :P

This chapter is important to the story in a way because Alejandro realizes he can no longer fight against his feelings for Heather, and the fact that Heather is hurt means she cares for him too (although she won't admit it...yet)

Next chapter- a major secret of one of the characters will be revealed...

See you next week and thanks for reading!