Chapter 3

Lexi Hayes walks up the grand staircase of the luxurious art-deco hotel. At her side stands Adam Sinclair with her arm hooked around his. It’s the night of the Business Excellence Awards, and some of the country’s most prominent business magnates and media personalities are in attendance. Lexi Hayes swears she’s already seen some A-List celebrities and tech billionaires milling about.

 

When Adam invited her to the event a few days ago, she was quick to decline. The most obvious reason being she didn’t have a gown fit for the occasion and buying one would probably cost more than her monthly salary.

 

When she looks back to that afternoon in Adam’s office, she remembers him trying not laugh at her.

 

“If course I’ll pay for it.” She remembers him saying. “You’re going to be my date after all.”

 

Standing by his side now and walking up the steps of the red carpet, Lexi is in awe at the extravagance of the occasion. Floral arrangements in classic European flower pots line each step of the grand staircase while low hanging drapes in satin add multiple levels to the ceiling. Even the attendees dress to the tee. Diamonds and other gems are in abundance tonight, and designer dresses and haute couture parade around.

 

“Mr. Johnson, it’s nice to see you again,” Adam greets the man standing before him. “You still owe me a round of golf.”

 

“I’d rather we not,” teases the man. “I’m happy to stay on top and undefeated.”

 

Alexis Hayes tries not to gape as she tightens her arm around Adam’s. Mr. Tim Johnson is one of the city’s wealthiest venture capitalists. During his younger years, he had founded a number of businesses. Today, they’re some of the biggest in their respective sectors. Watching Adam talk to the tycoon so casually has Lexi mesmerized. Billionaires, they’re just like us, she finds herself thinking.

 

Throughout the night, Lexi feels awkward and intimidated. What does she know of the newest developments in Asian or Europe? How can she share her thoughts about the biggest gainers and losers in the stock market when she’s still buried in student loans? As Adam talks effortlessly to the other attendees, Lexi finds herself nodding her head like a broken record. It doesn’t help that she’s fresh out of university. Worse, she can’t stand tall and pretty like the few supermodels and celebrities part of their circle of conversation. She has four-inch ankle-strapped heels on, but they still tower over her. They look straight out of a magazine, as these women flip their voluminous hair behind their backs and laugh and agree absent-mindedly at whatever’s being said, while Lexi stands stupidly, not only feeling oblivious but ugly as well. How can she compare to these 5’9” Barbie’s with 24-34-24 dimensions?

 

“Are you alright?” Adams asks her, unwinding his arm from hers and placing a hand on the small of her back. “Hungry?”

 

Lexi shakes her head, mouths out a small ‘no’, and then turns her head forward to pretend to listen to one of the techpreneurs who’s trying to explain to the older generation how most of his sales are generated by online ads. The conversation is fascinating; she’s all ears.

 

Online marketing for businesses is something Lexi understands. That’s exactly her course of study during undergrad; however, she feels wary of sharing her thoughts. She’s no businesswoman, and the people in the circle have their own achievements. If she weren’t Adam’s personal assistant, they probably won’t even give her the time of day. And so, she nods and ‘oh’s and ‘ah’s when she finds something interesting and relatable. Beside her, Adam can’t help but look at her. She doesn’t talk, but he can see she’s exerting great effort into listening and understanding the conversation. She’s all-ears and not just absent-mindedly nodding like a bobble head. She looks so genuine.

 

When the night ends, Adam instructs his chauffeur to drop off Lexi in her apartment building. On the ride home, they engage in effortless conversation. He asks her if she enjoyed the party, and she can’t stop gushing.

 

“You might think I didn’t enjoy since I barely said a word,” she begins, fingers clasped together on her lap. “But I’m still in awe. I learned so much from just listening. I think I can start a business now,” she teases, which has Adam grinning from ear to ear.

 

“I won’t allow you to do that,” Adam then says, voice light and playful. “I think I snuck a clause into your contract without you knowing. If I remember correctly, you’re bound to the company for a decade, but you shouldn’t worry, you’ll be promoted to senior assistant manager by then.”

 

At Adam’s last statement, Lexi finds herself erupting into a fit of laughter. He almost got her there.

 

“And this is me,” she then says, when the limousine stops at a somewhat low-rise and run-down apartment building. When she’s about to close the car door behind her, Adam reaches for the handle and steps out of the vehicle.

 

“I’ll bring you up,” he says, his eyes moving from her to the structure in front of them.

 

They enter the building and climb about ten flights of stairs. When they reach the fifth floor, Lexi leads the way to her apartment, which is at the far end of the hallway. She invites Adam in, but he remains standing by the doorway. His eyes roam the whole expanse of the room, which isn’t much. It’s a studio type with a kitchenette right by the door, a small table a foot away, a bathroom to the side, and a bed at a corner. It isn’t much to say the least.

 

“Lexi…” he starts, looking somewhat pained. “I can’t have my assistant living here. I’ll rent a place for you much closer to the office.”

 

She makes a move to respond and decline, but Adam catches her gesture early on. So, he looks pointedly at her and shakes his head once. She knows the best thing to do is to shut up and not say a word. When he says, “You’ll move to a new place next week,” Lexi can only nod her head and mouth out a small ‘thanks’ in response.

 

The turn of events, from the Awards show, to the designer gown, and now to the new apartment has Lexi confused. Is Adam this nice to everyone?