A week had gone by and Alexander wasn't in the best of places. It came as no surprise to him.

"You look like shit," said Tadashi.

"Thank you, I was going for that look," he deadpanned without paying any attention.

Alexander had to fill his mind with work, it was much more a necessity now like anything. It was the only way he knew he could function ever since everything that happened the previous week.

He just couldn't understand why suddenly everyone around him and anything they did was infuriating. The smallest things got on his nerves, even someone looking in his direction.

Tadashi looked like he was analyzing him, assessing him for any data he might pull out. He tried to give off as little as possible.

"You're going to have to stop," said his assistant.

"Stop what?"

"You've been checking in and out of random hotels in the past week to spend the night. You have a house, with more than enough rooms you can choose from. If it's that bad then you can pick one of your penthouses. Anything other than putting yourself at risk."

Alexander didn't stop focusing on his work. "I'm sure you didn't have to bother with that."

"I have to know, I have to bother because anything could happen. Being powerful comes with a lot of consequences too, do you really think no one is out to get you?"

"They can try," he replied, typing away.

Tadashi got close to him and pushed down the head of his computer to close it and force all of his attention to fall on him.

"What the fuck?" Asked Alexander.

Tadashi studied him more closely. "Have you even been sleeping?"

Alexander clenched his jaw and leaned back, folding his arms. "What's it to you?"

"No then," he sighed. "How long do you think you can go on like this?"

"Like what?" Alexander asked.

Tadashi raised his eyebrows and regarded him further. "Really?"

Alexander stretched his arms before him and let them drop back and fold over his chest again. "Really what? Why won't you just leave me to my work?"

"Because no one runs a corporation as large as this one on barely any sleep. What are you trying to do, kill yourself?"

"Then what would you call this? If not running it?"

Tadashi shook his head and went to assume a seat. "God you're almost as difficult as Linder."

That oddly got Alexander's attention. "How is he?" He asked immediately.

Tadashi looked at him like he wasn't sure if it had actually come from his mouth before he answered. "He won't let me talk to him...but I think he's okay."

Alexander nodded. "I really wish his dad had pressed charges, that piece of shit would be locked up by now."

Just then, one of the employees came in with his coffee. Carrying a simple coffee cup to a table shouldn't have been a big deal. But she looked terrified like she was about to drop it and spill everything as she placed it on the table.

Both Tadashi and Alexander watched her which didn't help the situation. She scurried to the door afterward, like she couldn't wait to get out of there.

It was interesting, because everyone seemed to act that way lately.

When she was gone, Alexander unfolded his hands and took up the coffee cup. "Is it just me, or is everyone treating me a little different."

They were generally a little scared of him, but just a little. This was a little extreme, she seemed about ready to piss her pants.

"What do you think," Tadashi answered. "Everyone's a little cautious after what you did to Oliver."

Oh right.

"I held back, he is still working here isn't he?"

"You destroyed any chances of him working anywhere else worthy. He was a bigshot in this building but you took that away from him. You made him grovel at your feet and then reduced him to almost nothing compared to his previous standing. The people who looked up to him now look down on him. Of course, apart from the fact that he had to report to work with a black eye," Tadashi paused. "I'm not sure what you think, but that's not what people do when someone breathes the same air as their man."

He felt a jab at the mention of Riley...Riley as his man. The knife twisted.

"I'd watch my back if I were them," said Tadashi.

"You seem immune."

Tadashi smiled. "I'm immune to many things," he said, getting up.

Before Alexander could finish rolling his eyes, Tadashi pulled the coffee cup out of his hand.

"I'll be taking this. I don't need you pumping your brain full of caffeine right now, the faster you feel sleepy, the better."

Tadashi got out and closed the door behind him before Alexander could haul all the insults he wanted to throw at him.

There was no use fighting it though, Tadashi always knew what he was doing. At least even the way he was at the moment, he could trust him.

He turned his chair around and was met with the gigantic window that served as a wall to his office.

He looked out of it, staring at nothing in particular, lying to himself that it wasn't them he was constantly thinking about.

He'd already caught himself offguard several times, expecting Zel to call. Then he'd curse himself.

Alexander groaned at the direction his thoughts were taking before turning around at the sound of his door opening.

He bristled and got up immediately he saw who it was. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

Eden's green eyes burdened hurt and caution as he bravely neared him, clutching what looked like an envelope in his hand. "Hi Alexander, it's so good to see you after so long, how...how are you?"

"Why are you here?" He asked in a voice heavy with irritation.

"Just to talk to you," said Eden. He rubbed his own shoulder, a habit they shared with his brother.

"Get out."

"Just five minutes, please. This is important."

By some grace Alexander found it in him not to stop him.

"Before my brother...died, he wrote you a letter... he asked me to give it to you," Eden searched his eyes and only saw a quiet rage in them. He knew the pain but carried on. "For ten years, I've tried but you sort of disappeared and when I found you again, you couldn't even give me a minute."

Alexander gripped the table so hard he thought he might break it. When Eden mentioned him, even his legs wanted to give out. For some reason he listened.

"He...there's more, a few things he wanted you to know, but he insisted you had to read this first." Eden held it up, then gently placed it at the edge of his desk.

Alexander couldn't help it, all of his attention was drawn towards the letter. His eyes fell onto the handwriting at its back and it felt like a spike was skewered into his heart when he read it. 'to my baby, the love of my life'.

He really didn't expect it to hurt as much as it did, it was unreal. "Fuck!" He gasped and muttered as turned around with the back of his fist against his lips. "Fuck."

It made Eden sad to see him like that. All the pain he must be going through, even after all this time. No one deserved such a thing.

He tried to get closer to Alexander but he stopped him before he could get far. "No, get out Eden."

He understood. He made to go but he needed to persuade him one more time at the least. "Please read it."

"Just get the fuck out."

He left the letter in its place.

꧁____꧂

Ten years earlier...

It was an arranged marriage, but love got mixed up in it. Polar opposites that taught each other how to love, like it was a match made in heaven.

The two fell so hard for each other that both the parents on each side started to worry if it was really the right business move.

Alexander's fiancé's parents were a little bit too traditional in the sense that they insisted the engaged weren't allowed to be very intimate with each other.

They weren't allowed to have sex until they were securely married. As if they were scared that the two would somehow have a child out of wedlock.

Eden was their chaperone. He was required to make sure they didn't try anything whenever they were together. 

At first there was no need for such a thing, because no feelings were involved at first. That changed pretty quickly.

Eden and his brother were extremely close, they laughed about their families' insecurities all the time the three of them hang out together.

And on almost all the occasions he could, Eden made excuses to leave them alone just to give them privacy, then he'd make up a story for their parents.

He was the best chaperone and as he claimed; the biggest fan of their relationship.

His fiance was three years older than he was, but his parents still worried Alexander would take advantage of their son, like they always said.

This particular night was no different. They met in their rented apartment that they'd picked solely for themselves, without their parents knowledge.

They spent a lot of time there, acting like they were a family that had already settled down together. As they let their parents believe they were out somewhere doing something sophisticated like watching expensive works of art that didn't make sense.

Eden covered for his brother as always. And immediately the door closed behind them, they were at it.

It had taken Alexander the shortest amount of time to become completely infatuated with his husband to be, obsessive in a sense after their last scuffle.

He'd grown addicted to hugging him, cuddling with him, kissing his lips and just feeling him around him.

He made him laugh, talked to him just like he was anyone else, and always looked to him with love in his eyes. His fiancé wore his heart on his sleeve.

He had the most beautiful mind according to Alexander. He could listen to him talk all day.

"What would your dad say if he saw us right now?" Alexander asked and smiled into the kiss.

His fiance broke them apart and leaned his face onto the shoulder before him, laughing.

"Son, that is no way for a proper man to act, don't let him corrupt you," he said in his best impersonation of his father's voice. "No coitus without a ring!"

Alexander laughed. "I love it when he says that."

"He's a charmer isn't he?"

"I'm sorry I thought that was you."

"You're just a little biased because you love me," he said and hugged him, squeezing his middle tighter.

"You're right I do. So what am I supposed to do when I have you all to myself like this?" Alexander asked then skimmed his hand over his ass and lightly squeezed before trying to get his hands inside his pants.

His fiancé moaned but pushed away. "No, no. You've been working all day, a light dinner first, then you can corrupt me okay?"

"Hmm I don't know if I can wait that long," Alexander whined.

"I'll make it quick baby," he pecked his lips.

Alexander thought several times about seducing him but he knew he'd lose. For some reason, his fiancé was strict about getting food inside his stomach.

He stared at him all the way through their little dinner. His fiancé didnt make it easy, he sent him cute kissy faces and ate his food seductively from across the table.

"You fucking minx," he growled.

"Don't act like its not a turn on," he wiggled his eyebrows. "You want me so bad don't you?"

"Do you want me to eat or not?"

"I'm just saying, theres more on the menu tonight...a lot more."

Alexander pushed the food away. "Thank you for a wonderful meal my darling, but I think I've outgrown my patience," he said then carried his fiance in his arms. "Can you even get any more appealing?"

"Actually yeah, when the clothes come off."

Alexander nuzzled him in his arms. "Fuck I can't wait to marry you."

"Stop! It's what I think about all the time."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, in case you haven't noticed... I'm a little too crazy about you," he said as his green eyes found Alexander's.

It was at these times when they forgot everything else in their lives, where only the two of them existed.

Alexander smirked at him.

"My baby," his fiancé said cupping his cheek. "Who gave you the right to be so handsome?"

Alexander's smirk quickly faded as he blushed.

"Aww, I can't believe only I get to see this."

They got inside the bedroom. "When did you get so mouthy? It's my turn to make a fuss over you," he said before nibbling his lower lip and tugging it a little. The man in his arms moaned.

"Promise me you won't fall for anyone else ever," his fiancé said as Alexander lowered him and his back touched the mattress.

"Is this a joke?" He leaned in. "You really think that's possible?"

The green eyes found his. In them, he saw his life, his love and everything between them mirrored.

"Just promise me, I love you, more than I love anything in this world."

Alexander would do anything for him, no matter what. "You're the love of my life, and I'm going to spend the rest of my years proving it to you. This is the easiest promise I'm ever going to make."

He gathered him in his arms and kissed the tip of his nose. "I promise."

"I mean, you also promised you'd dance for me."

Alexander groaned. "And you dare question my love for you."

He knew his way around his body, so he touched all the sensitive parts of him. His fiancé squealed softly and made him laugh.

"Can I take advantage of you now?" Alexander asked.

"I think you better," he laughed. "Before one of our dicks break from being too hard."

Alexander laughed and kissed his lips then trailed in his way down the body in his grasp.

He paused to look him in the eye. "I love you, more than I love anything in this world."