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Xander

We kissed, I kissed her, I kissed a woman and it felt amazing. I'm hit with another realization, which was my first kiss, my first real kiss. I walk to my car, and I get inside, I'm pretty sure this is going to be all over the tabloids tomorrow, but I don't care, because if I died today, I'd be dying a happy man. I am also very sure that she liked it too, she pushes me away and she moaned.

I turn on the ignition and make my way home. Today was, perfect. I went out with her, we connected, interruptions, no Charles, no hiccups, nothing. I felt like l could trust her, I think that's why I found it easy to be vulnerable with her. She was supportive, she didn't give me a lecture, like Charles would have. She listened, she listened.

Are this what love feels like?

I get home and the house is quiet, and I assume that Charles and Damien are still out on their date. Can this night get any better?

My phone beeps and I pull it out of my pocket, it's Nikki.

Nikki: Thank you for today, especially the end.

Me too. Can't wait to see you tomorrow.

I can't either, well good night.

Good night.

I smile at my phone and walk up to my room, I throw myself on my bed and squeal like a little girl, the feeling was euphoric, it felt like I was floating on air. After a few minutes of daydreaming, I get up and walk to the bathroom and get ready for bed. For the first time in years, I'm going to bed with a smile on my face, a smile of pure joy.

- - -

The next morning

I get up early, I think from the excitement of seeing Nikki, when I check my phone it is 07:15 and my normal wake up time on a weekend is 09:00. I get my laptop and iPad and decided to get some work done while I wait for time because I am getting out of bed won't do me any good.

I dive deep into my work, making payments, responding to emails and setting up meetings and press conferences, by the time I look up it's almost 09:15, I pack up my things and place my briefcase on the side of my bed, I pull out a pair of slack, a plain shirt and a blazer, with some Italian dress shoes and I rush to the bathroom, I shave, tweeze my eyebrows and nose hairs and I jump into the shower, I thoroughly scrub every inch of my body and rise off. I get out of the bathroom and get into my room to get dressed, once I'm done, I spray my cologne and walk out of my room.

As I get to the bottom of the stairs, I hear giggling and I get to the bottom and find Damien and Charles making out on the kitchen counter.

"How many times do I have to tell you rabbits, not on the house furniture, especially the kitchen, we eat in here," I say, placing my briefcase on the counter.

"Yeah, yeah, we know virgin Mary," Charles laughs, he pushes Damien away and jumps off the counter.

"Sorry Xander," Damien mumbles.

I sigh and walk over to the coffee machine, "I take it your date went well?"

"It was amazing," Charles smiles, "Best date, I have ever been on."

"I'm glad,"

"And thank you for the idea, man, you are a genius," Damien smiles.

"Woah, he gave you the idea," Charles says folding his arms, "Now you're a love guru."

"You gotta give credit where it's due," I say, pouring milk into my cup.

Damien walks towards me and nods, "He's right,"

"Whatever," Charles chuckles, "Anyway, Xander let me give you the rundown for the day."

He gets his iPad and looks through it, after a few moments he looks up and me, "You've already completed three-quarters of your work for the day."

"Yeah, I'm meeting Nikki lunch then I'm showing her around town,"

Charles gasps, "Like a date? When did this happen?"

"She came by the office; we went out for dinner, and I offered to take out for a tour."

Charles squeals, jumping around like a little girl, "I can't believe you did all that without me, our baby is growing Dae,"

"I see that, I'm proud of you man," Damien pats me on the back.

My cheeks heat up and I take a sip on my coffee. They should stop.

"So, where are you planning on taking her?"

"I was thinking the big five," I reply.

"That's cool,"

"Is your bed one of them?" Charles smirks.

"Oh my gosh, let's go to work," I say, putting my cup in the sink, "The cleaners will be here any minute."

Damien shakes his head, "You just had to go there."

Charles laughs, "You bunch of virgins, you're so sensitive."

"He's on the virgin this again, isn't he?" I ask.

"I'm not mood for this," Damien sighs, he grabs my briefcase and heads for the door.

Charles and I follow behind him, locking the doors, we get into the car and Damien looks at Charles.

"You better not tell any virgin jokes," Damien says, "Or you're walking, understood?"

"You wouldn't dare to do that to me," Charles challenges.

Damien looks into his eyes, "Trust me, I would."

Charles lets out a huff, "Fine, no more virgin jokes."

"Good," Damien starts the engine, and we are off to work.

The drive is peaceful, Charles is pouting and texting on his phone, and Damien and are talking about baseball. Before my father passed away and I became CEO, I was playing baseball, I played in the big NBL, and when I tried to continue with it after my father passed away, he just tortured me, and I stopped and gave in to what he wanted.

"Do you ever dream of going back to playing baseball again?" Damien asks.

I sigh, "I do, I do,"

"I think you should," Charles chipped in, "You happier than and you were amazing."

"How about coaching? Have you ever considered that?"

I look at Damien and I swear I almost kiss him, "Why have I never thought of that?"

"You can coach on weekends, or during your free time," Charles adds.

"That's a good idea," I smile, "Thank you, I'll look into it."

Honestly, I don't know why I hadn't thought about it.

We arrive at work, and everything is just abnormally quiet, everyone looked at me with anger, fear and resentment and my chest hurt, just a little. They should be happy I didn't fire that. I couldn't afford to lose them or lose control of them, but I feel as though there is more, I can do, but what?

I guess it's a good thing that I have a conference call with the government officials to discuss a way forward, I want this to be over, I didn't want to be president, so I guess, this is a way out for me.

After a meeting with my board members, it was time for me to have my conference call with the government, I go back to my office and call for IT to come set up my tv for the call, once they are done, I sit behind my des with my cappuccino.

The phone rings and I answer.

"Good morning, your excellency," the governor greets.

I hate it when they call me that.

"Morning Governor Smith, parliament, tell me you have a solution," I reply.

The governor looks nervous, so does everyone else on the screen, "We do sir, but we don't think you'll like it,"

I sip on my cappuccino, "Surprise me."

"Governor Delegano," Governor Smith says, turning to Delegano.

"Well, your excellency, the people want equal rights, mostly for their women and in turn women want their rights back," he says.

"I hear you Governor Delegano,"

"Sir, it's the only way, this could benefit you and the rest of the country, in ways you can't even imagine," he adds.

"How do I know that for sure?"

Delegano clears his throat, "We need women to work alongside us and help us bring more into households, women aren't surviving out there, many are being abused and mistreated by men because they aren't being seen as the valuable members of society that they are, men have too much power and it's destroying the country."

Everything in me was telling me that he was right, and I knew it, I heard it on the news, read it in the papers and heard the conversations in the lunchroom but I didn't want to betray my father.

"Send me the draft of all the new laws you'd like to implement as soon as possible," I say, taking the last sip from my cup.

"Thank you, your excellency,"

"Don't thank me yet. Just do what I asked." I reply and cut the call before they can even answer or change my mind.

To tell you truth, it was about time I paid for all my father's sins. He makes a mess of things and now I'm left to clean it up, that fucking asshole.

I get the equipment taken out of my office and Charles walks in an envelope.

"Delivery from Aiden van Rensburg," he says, placing the envelope on my desk.

"Thanks," I say, picking it up, "What is it?"

He sits down across from me, "It's a contract."

"Contract?"

"Yeah, regarding the whole shares thing," he replies.

"So fast?"

He shrugs, "I'm just as shocked as you are. You need to tell her, it's the only way to solve this whole problem."

"And now that I have proof, I can." I say lowly.

"Exactly. You better get ready for your date."

I groan, "It's not a date."

"If you say so Virgin James,"

"Damien!"