The Unknown; Hellbent

Not aware of the steamy scene taking place in the office, the two outside were having their own little banter. Gina was paying no attention to the grown man whining beside her about being dragged out.

"Hey, miss, I'm talking to you! How could you just pull me out like that? I could've taken amazing secret photos!" he ranted, earning a casual side-eye from Gina.

"Are you a busybody? Let them be," she replied, returning her focus to her phone.

Seeing her nonchalant reaction, Tyler glared at her before turning his attention back to the office, squinting as if trying to see through the walls. His determination made Gina chuckle.

"What?" he asked, confused by her reaction.

"Nothing. You're cute," Gina flirted, winking at him.

Tyler blinked, a blush creeping up his face at her brazen comment, until her words finally registered—cute.

"Hey, miss, I'm neither a baby nor a girl. I'm not cute," he retorted.

That made Gina finally put her phone down. Without breaking eye contact, she sauntered toward him, her steps slow and deliberate. Tyler gulped. This girl was unbelievably bold—worse than Alexia, who, at least, had some innocence about her.

What Tyler didn't know was that Gina had a reputation as a popular flirt, her curvaceous figure only adding to her allure. A girl who changed boyfriends like socks, she had clearly found her next target.

When she reached him, Gina let her hand trail slowly over his chest, biting her lip as she whispered, "So hot. You're such a hot cutie."

Her words snapped Tyler out of his stupor. He stepped back instinctively.

"What the—stay away from me, you pervert!" he shrieked, his deep voice cracking slightly.

"Hmm, that's a new one. I've been called sexy before, but not a pervert," Gina said with a pout, tilting her head in thought. The seductive aura vanished as quickly as it appeared. "Well, since my cutie gave me that nickname, I'll take it," she added with a playful grin, reverting to her usual demeanour.

What is wrong with this girl? Tyler thought, staring at her like she was some exotic creature. She reminded him of Alexia—equally bold and outrageous. Birds of a feather really do flock together, he concluded.

Suddenly, the office door burst open, and Alexia stumbled out, flustered.

"G-Gina, let's leave," she mumbled, darting toward the elevator without another word.

Gina raised an eyebrow at her friend's hasty retreat but turned back to Tyler. "Anyway, I have to go. See you soon, cutie," she said, winking before chasing after Alexia.

---

Ezekiel stared at the door Alexia had slammed shut on her way out. He had only intended to warn her, but her stubbornness had driven him to...that.

Why did I even warn her? he wondered, confused by his behaviour. It was as if his body had acted on its own.

A smirk formed on his lips as he recalled Alexia's flushed face. That was the scene Tyler walked in on—Ezekiel smirking at the door.

"Are you okay? What the heck happened while I was outside?" Tyler, ever the gossip, inquired.

Ezekiel ignored him and returned to his work.

Tyler groaned inwardly. He knew better than to expect an answer from Ezekiel, but that didn't make him any less annoyed with Gina for dragging him out earlier.

Speaking of her, he had a hunch about who she was. "That girl with Alexia—is she Regina Williams?" he asked.

Ezekiel thought for a moment before nodding.

Tyler grinned triumphantly, a dimple appearing on his left cheek. He'd met Gina once at an event and remembered her as stubborn—just like Alexia, if not more. She was infamous as a playgirl and the sole heiress to her family's fortune, seemingly indifferent to how her reputation affected her parents.

His thoughts were interrupted by the sudden shift in Ezekiel's demeanour.

"Call a meeting. Now," Ezekiel ordered, his tone icy.

Tyler wondered who had managed to anger him this time.

---

Meanwhile, in the car, Gina was still trying to get Alexia to talk, but Alexia remained tight-lipped. Gina decided to let it go, assuming Ezekiel had done something intimate to make her blush.

For Alexia, it wasn't that she didn't want to explain—it was that she couldn't. The memory alone made her blush, and she turned to look out the window, hoping to hide her reddening face.

"He's cute," Gina mused, breaking the silence.

"Who?" Alexia asked.

"The ginger head guy," Gina replied, still lost in thought.

Alexia studied her friend, whose eyes were on the road, though her mind was clearly elsewhere.

"Don't tell me he's your new target. It hasn't even been a week, Gina. Why are you so desperate?" Alexia asked, her tone serious.

"Yes, I'm desperate, Lexi. I'll be 21 in October—it's already August. You know the deal I made with my parents," Gina said with a sigh.

Alexia nodded wordlessly. Unlike her own parents, who gave her freedom, Gina was an only child bound by her family's expectations. Gina had struck a deal with her parents: if she didn't find a husband by 21, they could arrange her marriage and make her CEO of their company.

People saw Gina as a reckless playgirl, but only Alexia understood the struggles behind her façade.

They stopped at a restaurant to eat and chat, and later, Gina dropped Alexia off near Ezekiel's usual route home.

After unloading her luggage, the two hugged. "It'll be fine, Gina. Keep searching—you'll find someone," Alexia said encouragingly.

Gina hugged her back tightly, tears threatening to fall, though she wouldn't let them. Crying wasn't her style.

Alexia waved as Gina's car disappeared into the distance. Settling on a nearby bench, she waited, not realizing when sleep claimed her.

---

"Sir, isn't that Ms. Alexia?" Tyler asked, slowing the car. He had already learned his lesson about driving carefully and had spotted a petite red figure curled up on a bench.

Ezekiel opened his eyes, glancing in the direction Tyler indicated. His eyes widened slightly in disbelief—it was Alexia.

"She must have been waiting," Tyler said, noting her luggage. He began loading it into the car while Ezekiel stepped out to wake her.

Ezekiel gently touched her shoulder, startling Alexia awake. Rubbing her eyes, she sighed in relief when she recognized him, but her brows quickly furrowed.

"Why are you so late?" she asked, sounding more annoyed than concerned.

"Sorry, Ms. Alexia. We had a meeting that ran late. Zeke had some things to address," Tyler explained.

Alexia nodded in understanding before glancing at Ezekiel. Though he stood tall and imposing, she could see the tiredness in his eyes.

"Okay, let's go home," she said casually, surprising both men.

Her choice of words—home—caught them off guard, but before they could dwell on it, Alexia tried to stand, only to yelp in pain as her cramped legs gave way.

Ezekiel caught her just in time, their eyes locking.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still as her bright auburn eyes met his unreadable lemon green ones under the soft glow of the moonlight.