CHAPTER 7 & 8 : Xavier to the Rescue – Tensions Rise
● DIAMOND HOTEL ●
“Take this, use it to dry yourself” Xavier said once they were in his suite.
“There’s a bathrobe I seldom use, you can put it on while your clothe gets dry but I already call James, he will be bringing us fresh clothes” He added as he began to leave the room.
“What about you? You also need something to dry yourself with” Sally said to him.
” I don’t need it” was his reply but she went after him and put the towel in his hand.
“You need it as much as I do. I will use the bathrobe,thanks” she said, giving him a smile.
Sally found herself halting at the door, she turn to him.
“Why did you help me? I thought we both agree to stay out of each other business” Sally said.
“We did but watching a scumbag act like a scumbag isn’t my thing. If it bothers you then you don’t have to think about it, I will help anyone if they are in the situation” he replied.
“It doesn’t”.
“What?”
“I said it doesn’t bother me. Infact I love the way you kick Andrew @ss, Thank you” she said, giving him a genuine smile.
It took an effort for Xavier to look away from her.
“Go change, you are ruining the carpet” he said.
“Same goes for you” she retort and went into the room.
It took a while for her to get into the bathrobe and after setting her clothes to dry, she went back to the sitting room to join him.
She could heard his voice before she called him.
Xavier was on a video call with someone and judging by the angry look on his face, that someone could be very important and so, she hid behind the wall, watching him.
“What do you mean that I shouldn’t care? You’ve just cost us a model and your picture with that girl, whoever she is, is plastered everywhere” the feminine voice said, bristling with anger.
“The model is an @sshole, I had no intention of using him which is why I will get us a new model myself and as for the girl, she’s just my secretary” Xavier answered.
“Secretary? She was all over you! Don’t you remember what I told you?” The lady said again.
Sally was still in her hiding place when James came up behind her.
“Spying on him?” He whisper into her ear, startling her into screaming out.
This got Xavier starring at the two of them.
“If it’s your secretary, give her the phone” the lady talking to Xavier said.
“Grandma you don’t have….”.
“Give her the phone” the lady said with authority and sighing out in frustration, he gave the phone to Sally.
“Goodaft….”.
“Am ending the video call, I want to talk for your ears alone” Xavier’s grandmother said, ending the video call to give her a normal call.
While Xavier and James check out the clothing James brought, Sally spoke to his grandma and ended the call sometime later.
“What did she say?” Xavier ask, taking his phone from her.
“She errr…she invited me to her house. She said she has things to talk about with me” Sally reply.
“Always meddling. You don’t have to….”.
“I want to! I want to meet her and….and help clarify things” Sally said quickly, her head running with different thoughts.
If she gets to go see his grandmother, there must be something she can find out for May. May will be so thrilled when she hear this.
“Here, James brought you this. I will go change first” Xavier said, taking his pair of fresh clothes to the room.
“Happy right?”James ask, intruding into Sally’s thought.
“You must be happy that you are getting close to the boss like you want but I know you have a motive and am going to be watching you, I mean it” James said and instead of replying, Sally head to the room.
● SALLY’S HOUSE ●
“I told you to find out his secret not to get plastered with him on the net” May burst out as soon as she walk in.
“And I tell you that it’s nothing. He was only helping me with Andrew, you should have seen the way he dealt with him” Sally said, a dreamy look on her face but May’s snapping finger jolt her back to reality.
“So? Are you in love with him because of it?” May ask.
“Of course not! Am grateful but not in love with him. Xavier is not my type and he never will be” Sally said with certainty.
“Guess what, have been invited to his home by his grandma” Sally inform earning a smile from May.
“Seriously?”
“Yeah!” Sally said and they scream in happiness.
“I can’t believe this. We will be able to get my exclusive easily with that” May enthuse.
“Don’t worry, I will do my best to find out his secret tomorrow but there’s one thing. There’s this guy at work, he keeps suspecting me, can you deal with him” Sally said.
“Leave that idiot to me, he’s not going to get in our way” May assured.
● STILL THE SAME DAY ~ CLUB HOUSE●
Wearing a short black gown, May walk towards the bar counter ignoring the whistling and looks from other men.
She sat on a chair and order a martini, she look around and saw her prey.
James was with two male friends and two ladies, they were all drinking and eating while listening to James rambling on about Xavier.
“Tell us more about your boss” one of his friend demanded and that made May smile.
James spilled everything he can even adding insult to it and when he could say no more, he left his friends and went to order himself a drink at the counter.
It was then he notice May starring at him.
“Hey sexy? Wanna hang out with me?” James ask.
“Won’t your girlfriends have a thing to say about that” May said in return.
“They don’t since they don’t own me but I might as well let you” he said, moving towards her but May push him back.
“Thanks but no and also, I’d like you to listen to this ” she said, playing him the video of him insulting and talking about Xavier.
“You record that?” He ask, looking surprise.
“I wonder what will happen if I show this to your boss”
“I will be fired. Common, delete it. I can’t lose my job” James pleaded.
“I won’t say a word under one condition and that’s for you to stay away from Sally. I heard you’ve been troubling her at work, stay away if you don’t want any problem”.
“Sally? So she sent you?”
“No, whatever I did today is of my own free will. Keep what I said in mind or this video might just find it’s way to Xavier, see you later” May said waving at him.
“Seems like this two are planning something and I will surely find out” James mutter while starring at May @ss.
● NEXT DAY ~ LANDON RESIDENCE ●
Sally was ushered in by the maid and while the maid went to get her something to drink, Sally stayed in the sitting room, admiring the beauty of the room.
Suddenly, she heard Xavier voice coming from a room so she followed the sound and got to a door.
Luckily the door was slightly open, she could see Xavier and an older lady in the room.
“Are you going to do this everytime? Why can’t you just trust me?” Xavier burst out.
“You very well know that I can’t do that even when I take my last breath, I won’t ever trust you” the cold looking woman said.
“Why? Is it because of that? You think that because of it, I will always be unworthy”.
“If I thought you unworthy then I would never have made you the CEO of Landon group. Even with your problem you’ve shown me just how good you are but good isn’t enough, I want you to be perfect and so, you shouldn’t be distracted by anyone”.
“You mean the opposite s*x ” Xavier contradict.
“You know why I let Genova stay around you? It’s because she’s not a threat, she doesn’t see you as a man and no one will when they find out about you” His grandmother yell at him.
Hearing that made Sally feel a bit sad for Xavier, the arrival of someone got Sally leaving the door.
She got back to the sitting room without being seen and a while later, she saw Xavier storming upstairs while his grandmother joined her in the sitting room.
“You must be Sally Sawyer, am Desiree Landon, Xavier’s grandmother” the cold looking woman said, stretching her hand for a shake which Sally immediately took.
“You must be wondering why I invited you here today?” Desiree began as they take their sit.
“I will get straight to the point and not beat around. What you are thinking is hopeless” Desiree said suddenly.
“Huh?”
“I know your type. You pretend to be nice and Innocent just to seduce the boss, if you think you’ve got yourself a man in Xavier then you are wrong” Desiree explain much better.
“But I….”.
“Save your excuse for someone else. I called you here so you can listen…I did a little about your background, I know the kind of family you come from and I know about you wanting to be an actress, I can give you anything you want as long as you stay away from my grandson”
“Xavier and I aren’t in such relationship” Sally said quickly.
“I know but you want that kind of relationship. So before you get your way, it’s best that I get rid of you. Tell me, how much do I give you to get out of my grandson….”
“Get up Sally” Xavier said harshly, walking towards them.
“Am still having a conversation with her” Desiree said.
“It isn’t a conversation. You are insulting her and that’s enough!” Xavier said, taking hold of Sally’s hand and pulling her out of the room.
Some time later, Xavier drove the car without saying a word while Sally kept starring at him.
“Your grandmother can….”.
“Can be so domineering at times. She’s been ruling my life ever since my parents died and even when am an adult, she just won’t stop” He said cutting her off.
“How about showing her that you can take control of your life” Sally found herself suggesting and that got him stopping the car by the roadside.
“You are right! If I need to stop my grandmother, I need to break out of the shell she’s wrap around me which is why I want you to marry me” Xavier said, shocking poor Sally……
CHAPTER 9 & 10 : Secrets and Confessions
Sally blink her eyes twice, wondering if she’s dreaming. Did Xavier Landon just ask her to marry him? It must certainly be a joke…she thought.
“Marry me, Sally” he said and that got her sitting up.
They were still in his car, park at gawd knows where.
“You can’t be serious”.
“I am serious. You told me to show her that I can take control of my life and that’s by taking the first step which is marrying you” he said.
“Marriage can’t be the first step. We hardly know each other and am not in love with you” Sally said in return and when he said nothing, she got out of the car mainly because she was feeling choke by the atmosphere.
A while later, Xavier got out of the car too and walk towards her.
“You are right. I shouldn’t have ask you to marry me, I wasn’t thinking and I….can you forget I ever mention it” He said and she gave a nod.
“Have you figure someone out for the model?” Sally ask.
“He’s coming to the company tomorrow, get in, I will take you home” .
● SALLY’S HOME ●
“What! She called you just to warn you off her grandson?” May ask as she gave Sally a drink and settle on the sofa beside her.
“It’s a terrible experience, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone else” Sally said taking a sip of her juice.
“What happen next?”
“Xavier showed up and took me out of the house then he brought me home” Sally told her, deliberately leaving out the marriage part.
“Didn’t you get to find out something?”
“I didnt but don’t worry, I will get close to him as a friend and get him to spill all his secrets” Sally said with conviction.
“Your mother called earlier today. She said I should tell you that the twins will be staying here since their college dorm isn’t ready yet”
“When?” Sally ask.
“They might arrive tomorrow or the next. You spend less time with them, make sure you do so now that they will be spending some days with you” May advice and Sally let out a sigh.
● NEXT DAY ~ LANDON REAL ESTATE COMPANY ●
Sally got to her office to see someone at her desk, snooping around.
Definitely James,she thought as she put down her bag, slowly walking towards him.
He had his back turn to her and he couldn’t see her which made it perfect for Sally.
She wrap her arms around his neck and tighten her hold on it.
“You know James, you’ve been getting on my nerves for a while now but I choose to ignore but what I won’t ignore is you snooping around my things” She said not letting go.
“Does it hurt! Does it! Then this will teach you never to snoop around my things!” Sally yell at him.
“What’s going on?” Xavier sudden arrival got Sally looking up and she was shock to see James beside him, watching her.
“But…aren’t you….oh my God!” Sally let go of the man she thought to be James.
“It’s Mr Parker” James said, rushing towards the man who is now setting his hair in order.
“What are you doing strangling the model!” James directed at Sally who was more shock to find out that he is the new model.
“The model! I…I didn’t know….I thought he is you and…am sorry” Sally apologise adding a bow to it.
“Take Mr Parker to my office” Xavier direct to James who immediately obey.
Sally’s head was bent but she knew Xavier was starring at her.
“I will deal with you later” he said and went to his office.
Sally went to her desk chastising herself , as soon as Mr Parker comes out, she will apologise to him once again….she thought.
It was an hour later when the meeting ended.
James came out of the office with Mr Parker in toll.
As soon as she saw him, Sally stood up to apologize.
“You know what I hate most?” Mr Parker ask, leaning against her desk to stare at her.
“I hate being rough handle and so, am not going to accept your apology. I’d rather get back at you the same way, an eye for an eye” he said and that got Sally looking at him.
She was expecting to meet a angry look on him but instead, he was smiling at her.
“Now that have got you to look at me, will you go out to get coffee with me on my next visit?” He ask, holding her gaze.
“Coffee? I don’t think….”.
“Then you’d prefer I choke you the same way you did with me?” He ask, she shook her head negatively.
“It’s settled then. You will be having Coffee with me when I come again” he said walking towards the elevator with a cynical looking James.
“Mr Parker….”
“It’s Adam” he said cutting her off.
“Since we will be going on a date, it’s only right that you call me by my first name which is Adam. See you when next I come, Sally” Adam said, waving at her.
Sally sat on her seat wondering how she got herself into a date with a total stranger when Xavier came out of his office.
“Is it too hard to say no? You just met the guy today and you are going on a date? Aren’t you scared? He could be a bad guy!” Xavier lash out startling Sally.
“Forget it. Am going to the roof, I don’t want anyone bothering me not even you” he said, taking the stairs.
An hour went by without Xavier and though Sally did her best not to care, she couldn’t help it.
She was about to go in search of him when the fire alarm rang out, alerting everyone.
Sally ran for the elevator about to evacuate but then she took the stairs, heading to the rooftop where Xavier is.
He stood a distance away, starring down at other buildings.
“Mr Landon! Mr Landon there is a fire and we need to leave ” Sally yell out to him but he didn’t budge.
She ran towards him, calling his name but he didn’t answer.
It was until she took hold of his hand that he notice her.
“There’s a fire! We need to leave” She said and immediately, he took hold of her hand and run downstairs.
“It’s best we use the elevator” Sally said, heading towards it but when she saw him hesitate.
She realise that he must have a fear for it and so, she suggest that they use the stairs.
They were on the eighth floor when the intercom buzz with a message.
★ FALSE ALARM EVERYONE. THERE’S NO FIRE, SOMEONE TOYED WITH THE FIRE ALARM DELIBERATELY, WE ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR WHO IT IS BUT THERE’S NO DANGER. YOU CAN ALL RETURN TO YOUR OFFICE ★
“Thank God, we are safe” Sally said as she stop descending the stairs.
“What are you doing? We need to leave or we will be trap in the fire” Xavier said, taking hold of her hand.
“Wait Mr Landon” Sally said, pulling her hand out of his.
“What is it?” Xavier ask while Sally gave him a puzzling look.
“You didn’t hear the message from the intercom?” Sally ask.
“What message?” He ask in return.
Deciding to do a thorough check, Sally wrap her arms around Xavier and stood on tip toe to whisper into his ear.
“I love you” she pull back, watching his face for some reaction but it was blank.
“What is….”.
“You can’t hear me, right?” Sally ask interrupting him.
He pull away from her but Sally took hold of his hand, forcing him to look at her.
“You can’t hear me or anyone else and that’s because you are deaf” she conclude, finally finding out his secret…
CHAPTER 11 & 12 : Threats and Tensions
● LANDON REAL ESTATE COMPANY ●
“Am right, you are deaf” Sally said again, wondering when he will speak cause the silence is driving her crazy.
But he didn’t say a word, instead, he took hold of her hand and pull her upstairs, heading straight to his office.
With the door shut on them, he stood against the window, watching her.
“Knowing about this might put you in danger , do you still want me to tell you?” Xavier ask and she nodded.
She watch him put on the ear aid,no one ever notice it on him because his hair always covered it.
“You are right, I am deaf and I wasn’t born this way. The day I clock four, I got into an accident with my parents. An accident which took their lives and took away my hearing ability “.
“When I move in with grandma, she thought me being deaf to be a flaw and found me a doctor who can help with my recovery”.
“But the operation I had restored just my left ear, we found out that my right ear has been completely damage”.
“When I left the hospital,I could barely hear a thing with my left ear but I was provided with a hearing aid which sometimes help me hear people who are far away except I take it off”.
“Just like when I was calling to you at the rooftop. You didn’t hear me until I touch you, you didn’t have on the hearing aid, right?” Sally ask and he nodded.
“If you didn’t have it on then how…how did you hear me?” Sally ask again.
“By reading your lips. Without my hearing aid, I can barely hear people when they talk but when I read people lips, I know what they say” Xavier explain.
“Wow. That’s… that’s huge. You must really be good if you know how to read people lips and answer without them knowing you can’t hear them” Sally said and that got him turning away from her to stare out through the window.
Sally notice the change in him, he look a bit sad.
“I was six when my grandmother got me a tutor who specialize in lips reading. It was hard at first trying to learn but grandmother made it clear to me that being deaf is my biggest flaw and that if I don’t do something to change it, people will use it against me”.
“Funny how those words got me doing my best. I mastered lip reading perfectly when I was ten and have always use it as a shield” He added softly.
Sally found herself thinking of a ten year old Xavier who had to struggle to be the perfect man he is right now.
“But couldn’t you have tried sign language?” Sally ask and that got him laughing, a harsh laughter to be precise.
“Sign language? Sally, I am Xavier Landon, the only heir to the Landon fortune. What do you think people will think of me if they see me using sign language to communicate?”
“I’d be a laughing stock, I’d be ridicule and won’t be respected by anyone” He added, now starring at her.
“If I can guess, your grandmother told you that, right?” She ask and instead of answering, he turn away from her.
“That doesn’t matter. What matters now is that have come this far without anyone knowing the truth”.
“So you mean that am the first to find out your secret?” Sally ask.
“Not really, they’ve been others but….” She saw him hesitate and wanted him to continue but he change the subject.
“Have been living my life like a normal person and if I hadn’t taken off the hearing aid today, you wouldn’t have find out the truth”.
“I wouldn’t have” Sally agreed.
“Which is why you need to keep it a secret. No one must know that Xavier Landon has a hearing disability” He said, slowly walking towards her.
” Why do you think you being deaf is a flaw?” Sally found herself asking.
“Cause it is! ” He replied vehemently, taking hold of her arms.
“It’s a flaw which will definitely destroy me if the wrong person finds out. Landon empire has a lot of enemies who are merciless” he said with force and when he was calm, he let her go.
“So, can I trust you to keep this a secret?” Xavier ask and Sally gave a nod, not for once thinking about May.
“Good then, you can go back to work” he said, looking like the cruel heartless CEO he is.
● LUNCH TIME ~ CAFETERIA ●
“What do you think about this dress?” Claire, Sally’s only friend in the company ask while showing her a picture.
“Okay, let’s have it. What’s going on? You’ve barely touch your food and you keep zoning off to gawd knows where” Claire said, earning Sally’s attention.
“Am sorry. Have just been thinking”.
“About what? Don’t tell me you are going to cancel your date with Adam Parker” Claire said quickly.
“Don’t you think I should?”
“Of course not! Adam Parker is…he is the most sought out guy in town. The boss did well by making him our model since he’s every girl crush and you should be lucky that he wants to take you out on a date” Claire said.
“Sounds like a playboy to me” Sally reply.
“Well, he’s rich and famous and he’s definitely meant to play around but he’s different with you”
“How is he different?”
“He asked you out first which has never happen before. Adam Parker only get invite from the opposite s*x, he never invites himself but for you, he did which makes it different” Claire explain.
“You are just exaggerating”.
“Am not! You should see how the girls in my department are dying with envy right now. They’d like to be in your shoes”.
“Then I will gladly give up the date for them” Sally reply.
“Sally you….”.
“Adam Parker is the least of my worry, right now” Sally said, looking more lost than ever.
● SALLY’S HOUSE ●
“So anything new?” May ask the moment she walk in.
“What?”
“You know what am talking about. Did you find out something interesting about Xavier Landon?” May ask, joining her in the kitchen.
“I….I didn’t but don’t worry, if there’s something I will let you know. If it helps, Adam Parker will be our new model” Sally said.
“Things like Adam Parker or the company isn’t my business. What I want right now is Xavier Landon secret, just focus on that” May said.
“Alright captain. Your wish is definitely my command” Sally said playfully while berating herself for betraying her friend.
When May went back to work to help a colleague with her night shift, Sally got ready for bed.
With the lights put out, Sally was heading to bed when she got message from Xavier.
★ ARE YOU AT HOME?★
★ YES ★ She reply wondering why he’s suddenly texting her when he has never done it before.
The ringing of the bell got her heading to the door to answer.
She open the door to find two men in black just as she got a message from Xavier.
★ IF AM CORRECT, TWO MEN IN BLACK WILL COME SEE YOU, DON’T LET THEM IN. THEY DON’T MEAN GOOD ★
As soon as she read the text, she stared at the two men in front of her and force a smile on her face.
“What can I do for you?” Sally ask.
“We’ve been sent here by someone, may we come in?” The taller one said about to walk into the house but Sally shut the door on their face and went back in.
Sally first thought is to call Xavier but she remember that he might not have his hearing aid with him and so she did a video call, praying he answer since the men were knocking on her door, urging her to open or they break it down.
“Sally! Are you okay?” Xavier ask the moment he answered her call.
“Those men are here and they keep asking me to let them in. What can I do?” Sally ask, making sure she speak slowly so he can read her lip.
“Is there a back door?” Xavier ask and she nodded.
“Get out through the back door and make sure they don’t see you. Am driving to your house, am almost there” He said and she nodded, ending the call.
Sally slip out through the back door and quietly walk past the front door where the men are now trying to get in through the window.
She had just manage to get to the main street when they saw her.
Sally took to her heels when they began to pursue her, she ran as fast as she could but they caught up with her, holding onto her arm.
“Let go of me! Let me go!” Sally kept screaming as they pull her towards their car.
It was at that moment, Sally recall something Xavier said to her earlier that day.
“Knowing about this might put you in danger , do you still want me to tell you?”
He had ask her then and she had agree and now she will have to face the consequence of knowing Xavier secret…..