Office Diaries

In the end, Alex decided to meet with his college buddies – something he'd never done since meeting Ashley. After ending the call, he took some time to calm himself down. He sat behind his desk for half an hour before he was calm enough to go.

He sent Ash a message saying that he'd just drop by and say hello to his friends then go back home immediately, but she sent him a message that made him upset once more.

[It's okay. I won't be home either. You should stay and spend time with your friends too. ]

Upon reading the message, Alex basically gave up.

Fine!

If Ashley wanted him to go out and stay out he would. There's no point trying to find a way to be with someone who obviously didn't want to spend time with him today. He'd just hurt himself more. With a frustrated snort, he got up from his chair, grabbed his jacket and left. Soon, he was finally reunited with old friends.

All five of them were now sharing drinks at a classy bar he'd never been to, talking nonstop to each other like a bunch of women. Years had passed already and a lot of things had changed – even the appearance of some but there was still something unchanged about his friends that made him smile.  

Braggarts.

Each one of them remained like that – comparing conquests in money matters or relationsh.i.p.s. They didn't brag to Alex, however, as they knew he was still their king, as he had always been lucky on both.

But unlike ages ago, Alex found that he had changed. He was no longer interested in those talks that he used to be at the center of. He no longer felt smug or that thrilling satisfaction about the fact that he was still the best in their group.

So, instead of listening to his friends, Alex decided to busy himself with studying the place. This was the first time he'd been at this classy bar since he hadn't gone drinking much since he became the CEO of the company. Being here now, however, he found that he liked the place and wondered when he could bring Ash here. He was sure his fiancée would like the place's ambiance, but then stopped as he remembered how annoyed he was at her at the moment.

There was just one thing he didn't like though. The other customers seemed to be too much interested in his group that most of them stared at them – or stared at him, in particular, that was a little disconcerting.

"Hey Li, you've been quiet," one of his friends commented which made him turn his attention back to them.

"Sorry," he said. "What were you guys talking about?"

"Psssh," another friend shook his head disapprovingly at him. "This is the first time we're able to make you come with us after years and you're not paying us attention. That hurt Li," he added dramatically which made Alex laugh and give the same friend a friendly kick.

"Sorry guys. I had been busy these past four years and now I am busy preparing for my wedding," he said apologetically making his friends gasp in mock horror.

"No shit Li – you're getting married?" they asked in unison making him laugh at their comic expressions.

"Yes, I'm getting married," he announced as he took out the envelopes Ash placed on his table earlier and gave his friends one each.

"Holy shit – he's not kidding," one of the guys stated in wonder and Alex just smiled at him. "Oh man, what a waste," said another which made him frown.

"What do you mean it's such a waste?" he asked; his face had on an offended look and all his friends sighed.

"Actually Li, we didn't bring you to this place just for you to admire the ambiance," they said and he raised a brow in inquiry. "We brought you here for another reason."

"What's that?" he asked curiously, wondering what kind of trouble his friends were trying to put him in.

"Well, this bar's very popular for its mysterious patron you know, and we wanted you to meet her. We're kind of hoping that you two would hit it off," they said and Alex shook his head.  

He's very disappointed. "I'm done with that kind of thing," he told them but his friends all sighed in regret in return, saved for one.

"But you have to try!" the friend said desperately and this time, Alex was suspicious.

"What the hell's going on here?" he demanded as he scowled at his friends.

Ten out of ten, his friends did something again like including him into something without him knowing.

"Well," they started. All five of them looked guilty and he placed his arms across his c.h.e.s.t, his arched brow telling them to speak up.

"Ehrm…Amethyst Eyes," one of his buddies said and he frowned once more.

"Amethyst what?"

"Amethyst Eyes – that's the nickname we've given the mysterious patron we mentioned earlier," they said and Alex got confused.

"What does that person got to do with me?" he asked and saw his friends exchanged looks.

"Well, you see… she's really beautiful with huge eyes the color of amethyst, hence the name. She's so otherworldly that a lot has taken an interest in her. But Amethyst Eyes won't pay us attention. She wouldn't even talk to any of us, cutting conversations before they even started to take off. She'd just come in, order a drink or two and then go. In short, she's unattainable."

"So?" Alex asked again just as he thought that he shouldn't have gone after all. He totally regretted coming and hanging out here with the idiots. He should have been at home with Ash – probably m.a.k.i.n.g. .l.o.v.e to her now and not here suffering from his friends' jokes. "I still can't see what it has to do with me."

"Well, we thought you're still unattached and would love to try hitting on her. There's a bet going on you see. Whoever's able to go out with Amethyst Eyes would win – and we thought with your record you'd definitely win," they said.

Alex was totally upset now but these fools still didn't give up trying to change his mind. He could feel that there was more to this than a simple game. He was right.

"We actually bet ten thousand US dollars each on you," they said sheepishly. "Won't you try?"

"I'm getting married and I have no plans on cheating," Alex snapped, but his friends weren't ready to give up.

"Well, you don't have to bed her. Just go out with her, you know," they said making Alex look at them as if they'd gone mad.

He was at the point of telling his friends to go to hell when someone entered the bar and the room suddenly became quiet. Distracted from his tirade, he glanced up and froze.

A slender young woman walked in from the entrance with a dreamy expression on her remarkably beautiful face. Her pale skin glowed under the dim lights of the place and was a creamy contrast to the black sweater she tied over her shoulders over a white top. Her dark jeans fitted her like a second skin which emphasized her long, long legs.

Without looking around her, the beauty walked towards the bar and talked to the master, probably to order some drinks. As if feeling Alex's intense gaze on her back, the beauty turned to his direction and frowned, and the young businessman was able to see her features clearly – even those pair of gorgeous violet – no, amethyst eyes.

"That's her," Alex heard one of his friends say as he felt a nudge in his rib. "You look like you've been struck. I told you she's a beauty," his friend continued as the beauty turned her gaze away from them and Alex silently sat back on his seat, his eyes never leaving the beautiful woman who drank at the bar without a care in the world.

"She is," he agreed and he continued to observe the beauty for hours until the other left the bar.

Within those hours, however, Alex lost count on how many times Amethyst Eyes had been approached and watched as she turned them all down, coldly if he might add.

He'd never been interested in anyone as he had now upon seeing her since Ashley. Alex could feel the familiar fire within his c.h.e.s.t – the d.e.s.i.r.e to compete.

Yes, watching the cool beauty stirred the competitiveness awake within him, and as of this moment, he was more than tempted to try to conquer the prize.  

"So, what do you think? Are you going to take the challenge?" his friends asked him, confident that he had indeed changed his mind, and he smirked, thinking how Ashley had been treating him lately.

Well, a little jealousy play wouldn't hurt right – and it wasn't as if the wedding would be off.

This would be just a little interlude before he got married. Besides, Alex Li wasn't someone who'd back down from a challenge.

Veni, Vidi, Vici

"I came, I saw…" he murmured against his glass as he recalled the beauty with those pair of huge amethyst eyes. "I will conquer…"