6 Rules

Later in the day, Alex went to NICE Cosmetics to meet with Dunice as per their agreement. Getting to the building he met the receptionist.

"Good morning sir, how may I help you," The receptionist greeted formally.

"I'm here to see the owner of this company," Alex replied.

"Do you have an appointment with her?" The receptionist asked again.

"Uhm, yes," he said as he presented the business card Dunice gave to him.

On seeing this the receptionist led Alex to the elevator that led to Dunice's office at the top of the building.

Alex walked into the large, luxurious office and saw Dunice standing at the window, staring out at the city skyline. She was wearing a blue, tailored pantsuit, a white blouse, and a pair of black, high-heeled shoes. Her hair was pulled back in a sleek ponytail, and her makeup was flawless. She turned to face him, and he couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by her presence. 

"Welcome, Alex," she said, her voice calm and confident.

"Thank you for coming," she added and she motioned to the chair in front of her desk for Alex to sit. She also went to sit on her chair. Just then a knock was heard on the door.

"Come in," Dunice ordered.

"Ma'am it's coffee time Jeffery, would you like me to bring one to your office?" he asked politely.

"Yes, can you please make it two," She requested.

Hearing this Jeffery's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Who owns the second coffee ma'am?" He asked as if he didn't see the man sitting in front of his boss.

Dunice's eyebrows furrowed in confusion at Jeffrey's unusual behavior.

"Didn't he see Alex sitting in front of her?" She wondered.

"It's for Alex of course," Dunice replied stating the obvious.

"I'm sorry ma'am but I can't make coffee for him," Jeffery stated bluntly.

Dunice was surprised because Jeffrey had always followed her orders and never said no to her since he started working with her.

He's not someone she can lash out at because he played a huge impact in making her who she is today.

"Jeffery is everything all right?" Dunice inquired.

Alex sensing the tension in the air quickly butted in.

"No Dunice I'm fine, no need for coff-"

Dunuce raised her hand in the air to silence Alex. 

She pushed her tea over to Alex's side and ordered Jeffrey.

"Jeffrey, I want coffee so go get me one," She said in a serious tone.

"Okay ma'am," Jeffery replied in a flat tone and walked out.

Alex was confused about what just happened. Did she just fight for him or she's doing it because she wanted to show Jeffery who the boss is?

Either way, he felt happiness in his heart. 

Jeffery came back with another coffee in a short time and presented it to his boss.

"I am going to be tasting it now, ma'am,"

Jeffery said and he brought the cup to his mouth and took a sip of the coffee before dropping it back on the table.

He wasn't tasting it because Dunice didn't trust him but because she was once poisoned by a staff member in the office and since then he volunteered to always taste all the food she's going to be eating at the office.

After dropping the tea back on the table he left.

Dunice started feeling guilty for the way she had spoken to him earlier. She didn't even know why he acted that way but she was a little offended. Thinking about this she realized that Alex might get the wrong idea that she stood up for him. Taking a deep breath she spoke. 

"Alex I invited you here to talk about our daughter," Dunice began.

"You already introduced yourself as her father so you have to fulfill your duties and I can't keep hiding her from you now that she's aware of who you are." Dunice said in a serious tone.

Alex swallowed when he heard her words. Yes, i understand, what do you want me to do Alex said.

He has never felt this nervous in front of anyone before. So why was he behaving like this in front of this woman?

"Here," Dunice said as she handed an envelope to Alex.

Curious about what could be in the envelope he opened it only to find "RULES FOR SEEING ALIX" boldly written on the heading of the paper, he began to read.

"You would not go to her school to visit her except if there is an occasion involving the parents"

"You can only visit her at a scheduled place every Saturday"

"You would not tell her anything that ever happened between us"

"You would be permitted to speak to her in video calls for an hour every Tuesday"

"You would not introduce her to your family."

After reading all the rules Alex dropped the letter on the table and ran his hand through his hair.

"Uhm, I need some clarification on the rules," He said.

"Go on, ask away" Dunice said.

"Before I ask, I have something else to ask," Alex said with a pause before he continued.

"why are you so serious, you smiled at me when we were in the hospital," he said with a confused expression.

"Oh! That?" Dunice said as if she just realized something.

"I only did that for Alix, I didn't want her to know something was amiss," she said nonchalantly and Alex heart sank.

"Oh that's right so about the contract," Alex said while clearing his throat.

"I don't get number three and five."

"What is it you don't understand?" Dunice asked.

Dunice picked up the paper and read out loud.

"Number three, you can't speak to her about us," Dunice there Alex a look as she said this.

"That's about our divorce," Dunice began to explain.

"Simply tell her you travelled when she was little and you were hooked over there,"

Dunice added as she shrugged her shoulders.

"I won't" Alex replied.

"And as as for number five," Dunice continued.

"I don't want your family to kill my baby so keep her away."

"Alex lost his cool. "My family are not muderers Dunice!" Alex shouted.

"Lower your voice you are at my office not your's so you can't order me around. Things have changed," Dunice said in an authoritative tone.

"So that would be all for now," dunice added. 

"You can leave now," Dunice said gesturing her hands towards the door.

"F**k!" Alex muttered. He shouldn't have shouted.

"Goodbye," Alex said as he stepped out of the office.

On getting to where his car was parked he looked at NICE costmetics and wondered how Dunice managed to aquire this within the span of four years not to forget she was pregnant and raising a child.

He wanted her now. He realized loves her and now that he found out that she's has a child for him. He's never letting her go. He won't let another man have her.

"No! never!!" He said to himself he was going to correct his mistakes and claim her.