Chapter 6: Mirror

Alexander's mind remained a couple feet behind him, where she sat. He had seen his men sitting in the small coffee shop and although he didn't intend to stop in such a simple establishment, he wanted to see her again. Was it greedy of him? When he would see her in less than 24 hours anyway? Maybe. Yet that didn't stop him.

He could feel Claire's gaze burning through him as the easily annoyed brunette sat with her arms crossed besides her brother; Devin. While sitting, Devin still had a lot more height than his younger sister. Claire and Devin were virtually nothing alike, with the only commonality between them being their birth parents and the sad reality that their mother had passed away a long time ago. Although their parents had never married, they did co-parent to the best of their ability.

"Why are we here?" Claire drawled. She examined her perfectly manicured nails, but lifted her gaze only partially to look up from beneath her thick false lashes. Claire was a beauty to most men, but growing up with Alexander had somehow sullied her chances of being with him. The man viewed her more as a sister than a partner. Something she abhorred since her early teens, when they were all young, foolish, and surviving their boorish high school curriculum.

"Because we need to talk, not dine." Alexander answered stoically whilst clearing his throat. Throughout the years of knowing the Gulling siblings, he had many come to him admitting Claire's affection for him, but he never believed them. How could he? That was his best friend's little sister and he couldn't fathom anything beyond their platonic relationship.

"Yes, Claire, we need to talk." Devin butted in. "This is not a date. It would be odd if I were here." Devin gestured to himself.

"You can leave." She smirked. Her dark gaze acted as a cloak for the desperation that grew within her. With all of her, she wanted this to be a date with the man she adored since the young age of thirteen.

"Don't embarrass yourself. You know that he prefers me over you. I'm his best friend." Devin announced proudly while pointing at his own chest triumphantly.

Claire scowled at her older brother. "You're some brother."

"What can I say? I know what the man wants. Like silence and food." Devin laughed and shrugged. "Don't worry. Maybe one day, you'll become his best friend too." Claire rolled her eyes and crossed her arms yet again. She diverted her attention to the other side of the cafe and soon they fell back onto the unsuspecting curly headed woman. Claire wasn't blind. She could easily see that whomever that was had the type of beauty that Alexander wanted. Claire would describe it as anti-climactic, yet maybe that was her own pride.

"Who is she anyway?" Claire inquired. Her voice struggle to hold a nonchalant tone, but she kept her expression neutral.

"She is none of your concern." Alexander responded quickly with a tight smile. The business look had fallen back onto his features and Claire's stomach dropped. Anger settled onto her face, but it left as soon as it came.

Devin, who felt the uncomfortable tension rising at the small table, quickly raised his hand, signaling a waitress to make her way over. A young bleached blond woman walked on over with bright red lipstick coating her smile. She held a small notepad in her hand. The same hand that seemed to be quite shaky on its own. Devin rose an eyebrow in confusion and then realization dawned on him for the second time since he entered the cafe.

The young woman was gawking at Alexander. She stared at him for an awkward amount of time as her hand continued to shake lightly over her notepad. Claire had picked up on it too, but only rolled her eyes. This wasn't a new occurrence and she did not find this waitress to be of any competition. Her only competition sat across the cafe, being shielded by Alexander's men.

Devin sighed. "May we have three orders of black coffee and whatever croissants you may have?"

The waitress' eyes widened. "Oh!" She jumped. Startled by the interruption of his voice that seemed to forcefully break her eyes away from Alexander. "Be right up!" She assured them cheerfully. She began to walk away before cringing and pausing. She slowly turned, "how many croissants exactly?"

Devin rose an eyebrow and looked at the other two with him and then back at the waitress. "Just three."

"Oh, yes. So sorry." She said sheepishly and quickly sped away from the trio.

Alexander began to chuckle quietly to himself.

"Is something funny?" Devin asked accusingly.

"Ah, why nothing dear friend. What would be so funny?" Alexander asked with a large grin which was met with the harsh glare from Devin.

"You two are so infuriating to be around." Claire complained.

"You can leave then." Devin responded shortly with a smirk.

Claire gasped and slammed her hands down on the table, leaning forward towards her brother. His eyes also narrowed down to the size of slits as he challenged her without his words.

"Please stop acting like children you two." Alexander chastised them both. "We still need to discuss a promising new arrangement, if you're open to it."

"Fine," Claire practically growled and leaned back into her seat.

Alexander shook his head disapprovingly, but ignored the obvious tension growing around their table.

"The woman you saw me conversing with earlier, has the attention of Lorenzo. My men are here right now watching over her, but that isn't enough. I need Lorenzo to back off altogether." He spoke calmly. His eyes darted between Devin and Claire.

Claire rolled her eyes. "So what if Lorenzo wants her?" She snarled out of jealousy. Alexander's eyes narrowed at the outspoken brunette.

"Claire stop talking." Devin pleaded. The more time they spent around Alexander, the more exasperated Devin became with Claire's obsessive behavior.

She sunk further into her seat, submitting to harsh demand of her brother. She felt foolish for speaking those words and almost remorseful. To be frank, Claire hated upsetting Alex. He didn't know it yet, but she cared for him deeply. Much more than a friend and not at all like a brother.

"My apologies," she mumbled. "But why are you telling us this?"

"Well, I need your help." He sighed. He never liked asking for help, especially from his close friend.

"How would we help you?" Devin wondered aloud.

"Well, I need you to find a way to infiltrate his plans and likely a way to get some information from his men. Whether it be a spy or hacking into his information. I need eyes on the inside, so that I can see his next move before he does it," Alexander laid out plainly. Devin nodded thoughtfully, already beginning to think over a plan in his mind.

"I'll see what I can do with some of my men, but I can't make any promises." Devin reminded him. Alexander nodded.

"I know." His eyes were already tired. He had hardly slept well before meeting Arielle, but after the ordeal with Lorenzo's return into his life to make it chaotic, his sleep had become even worse, well- he hasn't even seen his bed.

The awkward waitress returned to their table with a tray holding three cups of coffee along with three croissants. She steadily set them down. Devin shot her a charming grin causing a blush to spread across her face. She swiftly turned away and walked as quickly as her legs would allow her to.

Devin reached forward first to pull his coffee towards him, but Claire ignored the plain food and drink before her. She hated black coffee and croissants were unwanted carbs. Her dietitian had told her to cut them all out if possible.

"So what do you need from me?" Claire looked him up and down. Did he expect her to risk her life for another woman?

Alexander sighed and rested his head in his hands. After a few moments, he lifted his eyes to a curious Claire. He'd likely regret this. Claire had become insufferable as the years went on.

"I need you to make Lorenzo think that I'm not involved with her anymore." His voice had become monotone, but she wondered if she could hear a hint of irritation in it.

"And how do you propose that I do that?" She asked slowly. Her eyes were drawn back to her nails. It had quickly become her coping mechanism to inspect them. They were almond shaped and a nude shade, going along with her dress.

"Be my girlfriend." Alexander stated. Devin choked on his coffee. The loud sound echoed throughout the cafe and soon, Arielle's head turned to look back at the group. Claire smirked. He did not request her to become his girlfriend and that alone should have told Claire that this was not a declaration of his love for her, but she pushed that aside and stared at him with a look of satisfaction. She rose from her seat, holding eye contact with the curly headed woman. She walked towards other side of the table and pulled Alexander up by his hand.

Alexander's brows furrowed as he came to a stand. Yet it didn't take long for him to realize what she had been trying to do. Claire raised herself up as high as her toes would allow her, closed her eyes, and pressed her lips against his- cheek? Claire's eyes snapped back open in surprise. Alexander had turned his head. She quickly pulled away and tried to regain her confidence before others could see it cracking in broad daylight.

A smirk came back onto her face as she turned to look at Arielle. It's not like she knew that Claire's kiss had been a mere failure, but as she stared over at the woman, her smirk wavered. Arielle didn't have a response to what she was seeing. If anything, she wondered why the strange woman was holding an even stranger amount of eye contact with her. She turned away with a weird expression on her face and began to sip at the remainder of her drink.

Claire scowled and was gently pushed away by Alexander.

"If we weren't pretending, I wouldn't have allowed you to do that at all. Let's keep it to a minimum please." He requested. The excitement and joy that Claire felt dancing within her along with thousands of butterflies had all been snuffed out by his empty reaction.

It's okay, she thought to herself. I'll find a way to make him love me.

The next morning

Arielle was on her way up to the top floor once again. The AMI building was flooding with new faces. Alexander didn't tell her that this was shadowing week. This week, there would be newcomers arriving from different colleges nearby to shadow different positions offered within companies like AMI. Arielle had done something similar at her own college. It helped her to realize just how passionate she was about the career path she had chosen.

The elevator dinged and Arielle blew out a sigh of relief. In one hand, she held a small tray with three coffees on them and in the other hand, she held her ivory briefcase.

Susan sat in her usual seat. The older woman's eyes were focused on the computer screen in front of her. Her hair had been swooped away from her face, revealing her natural bone structure.

"Good morning, Susan!" Arielle greeted.

Susan's head raised quickly and a pleasant smile graced her face. "Good morning, Arielle! How's your mother doing?" She asked immediately.

"What about me, Susan? Am I not your favorite anymore?" Arielle pouted. Susan laughed.

"Oh shush you!" She yelled in her laughter and soon Arielle laughed along.

"I'm merely joking, Susan." Arielle's laughter died down slowly. "My mother is doing well. She's been doing the best that she can right now." She smiled sadly. Her mother was in a constant battle over her emotions and Arielle hoped and prayed that her struggles would change soon.

"Ah..." The secretary began. She pushed up her thin glasses and nodded with a sad smile of her own. "She needs to fully heal. I understand."

"I know that she will one day. I just hope that it's one day soon. Y'know?" Arielle asked Susan and she nodded in agreement.

"I hope so too." Susan sighed. "Well now, how are you doing then, dear?" Her eyes twinkled with amusement and causing the young woman to laugh.

"I am doing well. Thank you for asking. I've practically had a personal boy band following my every move." She joked.

Susan's brows raised. "Oh?"

Arielle nodded. "Oh yes. It's rather different. Never thought I would have such a job that I would need bodyguards." Arielle thought back to the men that followed her to every store and appointment. They followed her to work this morning and seeing men in black, all seated on a train, brought fear to some of it's passengers.

Susan's face grew serious. "Just be careful, Arielle." The curly headed woman sighed and nodded.

"Of course. My mother has been asking me to do the same-"

A woman's voice, specifically said woman's laughter, cut them both off. Both Arielle and Susan's attention fell on Alexander's office door. It had opened and a group of five adults walked out of it. One of which was Alexander himself with a woman's arm wrapped around his own. The same woman she had seen at the cafe just the day before. Her hair was just as neatly done, only this time it was pulled into an intricately woven braid that appeared to be wrapped into a bun.

The three other people who exited the office with them seemed to be a part of the press. One of them, clearly being a photographer.

"This will be an amazing piece. The youngest CEO and bachelor has settled down with the daughter of Devin Gulling II. Thank you for calling us in for the first official interview and couple photos."

"Of course." Alexander smiled at the gushing journalist. Claire leaned happily on his arm, nodding. She was practically beaming.

They did look like a picture perfect couple, Arielle thought to herself. Yet she knew to never judge a book by it's cover. Something was off about them. It was rather abrupt that Alexander had gone from his annoyance towards the tall brunette to infatuation, yet who was she to pry into his personal life?

The elevator dinged again.

"What's going on here?" A voice called out. It was shrill in tone and filled with anger. Arielle knew who that voice belonged to without having to look.

"Here we go again." Susan sighed. "Did you want to hide behind here?" She joked. Arielle shook her head, but purposely took a few steps back. The lobby seemed to be flowing with much more people than usual. The only ones who were usually on this floor were those authorized and Meghan.

Meghan's heels clanked loudly against the floors as she practically stomped towards Alexander.

"What is she doing here?" Meghan sneered as she took in the woman leaning on Alexander's arm.

"None of your business." Alexander answered shortly. Arielle's brows raised at his stoic defense. It seemed that they were a couple then. No matter how off it felt, Arielle shrugged it off. She had work to do. Her job did not include indulging in her boss' love life.

She cleared her throat and walked towards them all.

"Good morning, Mr. Marquee." She greeted. Her eyes fell on the tall brunette, only to see that she had already been looking directly at her.

"Hi, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Arielle and yours?" Arielle asked with her hand stretched out to Claire. Claire's eyes fell onto her outstretched hand. She stared at it with disgust as though it had been three day old lasagna sitting out in the hot sun.

Arielle quickly recognized the look of distaste on the her face and retracted her hand.

"Good morning, Arielle." Alexander's gaze had been fixated on his intern. Her hair had been worn down today which was something she didn't do commonly. He realized that complimented her features and he couldn't choose whether he preferred her hair up or down. He kept his eyes focused on her face, even when her gaze dropped.

"Honey," Claire snapped while slapping at Alexander's chest. Her face had been a bright red as she looked around the room. Everyone saw that. Alexander's eyes were basically consuming Arielle's entire being. Or so it appeared.

The only person who seemed to be oblivious to this was Arielle herself.

The photographer had been staring behind his camera while he smirked down at it. Claire's eyes narrowed at him. The journalist, cleared her throat which was soon followed by an awkward laugh. "We'll be going then." She announced while looking at her crew and gesturing towards the elevator.

Alexander blinked and nodded. "Of course!" His eyes fell back on Arielle and he smiled at her. It was a boyish grin that Claire had only seen on rare occasions.

"Arielle, this is Claire, my girlfriend. Claire, this is Arielle." Alexander introduced. Claire nodded with a smug grin. It was slightly forced as she heard the displeasure in his tone as he announced her as his girlfriend.

"Oh Claire. What a beautiful name." Arielle complimented. Claire's grin became a frown.

"Thank you." She responded slowly.

Arielle nodded. "I must go. I have a lot to catch up on before your meetings for the day." She told Alexander.

"Yes, I understand. I'll see you soon?" Alexander asked. His voice was filled with hoped and something else that Claire couldn't decipher.

"Yes," She politely smiled at them all before walking past them towards the large office.

"Okay," Alexander sighed. "Susan, I have to meet with Devin shortly. Some of my men will come up here to make sure that you and Arielle are safe."

Susan nodded.

"And Meghan," Alexander began. "Why are you here?"

Meghan stood there with a look of defeat. She had come up here to hopefully earn his attention and affection. She wanted him just as she wanted air to breathe, but seeing him with another woman who he cared just as little about was the numbing agent that Meghan hadn't realize she needed.

"I guess for no reason." She spoke quietly. Alexander rose a brow.

"Really?" He inquired. He didn't quite believe her, but the look on her face left little room for argument.

Meghan nodded with a small smile. It was a normal smile. Not over the top to capture his eye, nor smug to cover a lie. It was just a smile and that's what confused him.

Claire tugged at his arm. "Can we go?" She pleaded. She sized up the tall blond and she didn't like the way she watched Alexander.

"Claire, cut the act. They already left and got the story." Alexander said as he pulled his arm away from hers. Claire felt cold without him near. He began to walk off towards the elevator, leaving her there to pick up her own heart.

Meghan watched her. She knew that look all too well.

"Just give it up." She spoke quietly.

"What?" Claire snapped. Her eyes fell from Alexander and towards Meghan. It was as if anger and sadness danced painfully within her gaze.

"You heard me. He doesn't want you." Meghan responded plainly.

"And you think he wants you!?" Claire whisper yelled to avoid gaining his attention. Her eyes kept darting back to Alexander who stood by the elevator and Susan who kept herself distracted at her desk.

"No. Not at all. But you do. Save yourself the time." Meghan suggested.

"Don't you dare tell me what to do." Claire snarled.

The elevator dinged once more. Alexander looked back at both women, but his eyes finally settled on Claire.

"Are you coming?" He called out to her.

Claire's angry stare remained on Meghan for a little while longer, before a blatantly false smile forced it's way onto her face.

"Be right there, honey!" She called to him. He shook his head and stepped into the elevator.

"You'll regret this. Don't fall for him." Meghan warned as Claire began to walk away.

"I'd suggest you take your own advice." Claire gave Meghan a snarky smile and waved before racing towards the closing elevator doors. "Wait for me!"

Susan cleared her throat, causing Meghan's gaze to fall on her. The older woman's face was red as she coughed to cover up her laughter.

"What's funny?" Meghan asked.

"I'm trying not to laugh, dear. I will say that I'm failing." Susan admitted.

"Exactly." Meghan sighed. She stared at the secretary and remembered her cruel words from before. "I'm sorry for calling you an old hag." She mumbled.

"What was that?" Susan asked. Her eyes peered over her prescription lenses.

"I'm sorry for calling you an old hag." Meghan repeated. She felt her ego battling her. Questioning why she would apologize for something that she once considered to be true.

"Hm?" Susan pushed.

"I'm sorry for calling you an old hag!" Meghan huffed in frustration.

"All is forgiven." Susan smiled.

"You heard me the first time didn't you?"

"Oh, I did." Susan smiled. "I'm sorry too. For the times I've spoken rudely about you. Both to your face and behind your back and for laughing."

"All is forgiven." Meghan smiled. She turned and made her way towards the elevator.

Her ego was a little bruised, but she didn't want to pine over a man that didn't want her. Seeing Claire act the way she did felt like Meghan had been staring into a mirror and she didn't like what she saw.