Tied Together (The Cade Siblings Duology #1)

9. Alana

CHAPTER 9

Alana

This is already a day from hell and it’s not even eight in the morning.

My alarm didn’t wake me up this morning, so I didn’t have time to throw any makeup on besides some tinted moisturizer and a quick coat of mascara.

I washed my hair last night and slept on it wet, which usually leaves me with nice waves, but today it’s giving Mia Thermopolis from The Princess Diaries , pre Paolo.

The shirt I had planned to wear today was dirty, so I threw on a random pink dress I found in my closet and ran out the door.

By the time I get halfway to the office, I realize I’ve forgotten to throw something in my bag for lunch. I’m already exhausted, so I decide that taking the extra time for coffee is necessary, even though I’m late.

I walk into the office thirty minutes past nine, coffee in hand, and remember that I have a mess waiting for me in my cubicle.

Great .

I walk past Alex’s cube and give him a quick wave and a hello, which he returns.

I skip my section and hand Cami her coffee and tell her good morning.

I take a deep breath and brace myself for the mess as I head back to my cube. Except when I turn the corner, everything is tidy.

What in the world?

I left this office a complete mess last night. I know I didn’t clean anything up here. I am so utterly confused. I look around, trying to figure out how this happened, when I spot a torn piece of paper with writing scribbled on it.

I sit down at my desk and pull the note up to my face so I can read the neat handwriting.

Told you we’d get everything sorted.

A

He must have come in here and cleaned up after me.

I stare at the note for a few more seconds, trying to decide if I should be touched by his kindness, or pissed that he messed with my stuff. I had lots of documents strewn about on the table, pens and notepads all over the place. I had samples out that needed filing and mock ups that needed to be put away. Even though it was a mess, I knew where everything was. The longer I think, the more frustrated I become. Now, who knows where all of my things are?

I start to frantically open and slam shut drawers and open up my filing cabinet. As I go about banging things around, a hand on my wrist halts my movements and startles me.

“The sticky notes are in the top left drawer, stacked by color. The spreads that were on the floor are organized by month and filed, and I color coordinated your pens,” Alex says with a soft laugh behind me. “I also hope you weren’t saving that banana. I tossed it.”

I look up at him with wide eyes and then glance down at his hand on my wrist. My anger and frustration dissipates almost immediately. He quickly pulls his hand away, awkwardly grabbing his other wrist, as if to keep his hand from touching me again.

I start to look around and realize he is right. Everything is where it’s supposed to be.

Although I’m no longer angry, I feel unsettled that he was in my space and took on the task of tidying up my space. The gesture is extremely thoughtful, and I understand what he was trying to do, but it irks something in me that he took it on without asking. I don’t want to rely on him to do things for me. Regardless, I decide to not make a fuss and be grateful. His intentions were good and even though it’s a little weird, this does take a lot off of my plate.

“How did you know where everything goes?” I ask, my tone incredulous.

I have a very specific order to my desk space, and while I’m sure it isn’t impossible for someone to know that order, I would say it’s not likely. Keeping my desk space organized is something I’ve always done, ever since I was in my early elementary days, but it’s not your typical organization. I have a method to my madness, and for as long as I’ve been doing it no one has bothered to learn it, that is until now.

“I pay attention.” He shrugs a little as he says this and tilts his head to the side. It’s endearing. “Meet me in conference room A in twenty minutes so we can get a game plan going?”

“Okay, sure.” I nod my head yes and am certain I look like a bobblehead, just sitting there nodding long after he’s left.

I can’t figure him out. There is no way he has a thing for me. He’s always acted this way towards me, but for some reason I haven’t noticed it like I’m noticing it now.

Cami’s argument that he wants me sits in the back of my mind and I think that might be the cause of my second guessing. Alex is just being a good friend. He saw I was overwhelmed, and stepped in to help. He needs my head clear just as much as I do.

I set my attention back on work. I am determined to get this promotion, and I can’t do that if I’m preoccupied thinking about his jade colored eyes and strong hands.