I don't see Alex for the rest of the trip and I hate how much my heart yearns from him. More times than I can count, I'd startled awake when I heard footsteps, thinking it had to be him. It wasn't. It always turned out to be one attendant or the other. After an exhausting 6 hours, when we finally land in California, I'm damn well ready to be done with the trip. A sweater had been provided for me on the flight and I wrap it around myself protectively as I make my way down the jet. It's already evening here, the sky already darkening above us. Many steps below me, I finally catch sight of Alex as he issues some quick orders to some of the employees in uniform. I'm still staring at him when my luggage is taken from me and I'm led to a car on standby. When the driver opens the door for me, I sigh softly and glance back at where Alex is still standing. And finally, he looks at me. I hold his gaze all the way across and finally, he sighs and takes out his phone. I watch him punch in a text

He's dressed in a dark blue classy three piece today, looking all dapper for work already. I give myself a moment to wish I had his devotion. I glance down at myself nervously. When I had gone through my closet earlier in the morning in search of an outfit, my usual style of coordination had been the last thing on my mind. I had ended up going for a trimmed pair of suits pants and a matching black shirt. I zero in on my shoes and see that I'm wearing red, had I really chosen that? I…. I had been so weighed down that I don't even remember. I see Alex's eyes flit to my feet too and back to my face. Under his close scrutiny, all the last shreds of strength I've been using to keep myself together threaten to loose free. I'm mentally exhausted from all the work drama and bone deep exhausted from the cleaning yesterday night. Not to talk of the weight of the knowledge that I still have that sick bastard out for me, probably constantly watching me. For the first time in a long time, absolutel

I can practically hear the wheels churning in my own head as I desperately think of the most convincing lie to give. But it's taking too long, and Alex is beginning to get suspicious. There's definitely nothing I can say now that's going to sound good enough. So I stand you straighter and swallow nervously before taking a step further into the room. "It's nothing I can't handle". "This is it? What you said you could handle.....". He glances around at the knife, cameras and locks in disbelief. ".....if it's serious enough for all these....Nicole, don't you think you should talk to me?". My heart thumps in guilt and I avoid his eyes as I reach for the knife on the floor and put it back where it belongs in it's compartment. "Alex, let's go talk then". I say quietly, finally looking up at him. He stares at me in disbelief at first and then all of a suddenly, reaches over and pulls me into a tight hug. How is it that he's so able to unravel me and my emotions without even doing anything

I wake up the next morning groggy and disoriented. When I sit up, I see that we are still in the sitting room, Alex and I. He's cocooned against the backrest while I'm somehow pressed against him. It's a miracle that I didn't fall off overnight. Our clothes are strewn all over the floor in a messy pile. A furious blush works it's way up my cheeks when I remember the events of last night. It had been a series of good sex, and together we had explored every single corner of my house possible. I let my gaze travel across the room as I take in everywhere we had fucked. My lampshade lies across the floor haphazardly and what's amazing is I literally have no memory of ever hearing it fall. I do remember the fireplace though. I had gripped the mantle so hard with my ass in the air while Alex had fucked me into oblivion. My core throbs slightly from the memory again but I quickly push up to my feet. And that's when it hits me. Today is Tuesday. With alarm, I glance at the clock and see that i

He steps in further into the room and my back stiffens instinctively. He glances at me worriedly but I avoid his eyes as I turn to face Ray, my gaze hard and my voice harder."Leave my office". I say stiffly. I hate that the bastard has to see the discord that he has caused so visible between us. But the truth is I can't even think of pretending. Those words had struck a place in my heart and it shows. Alex's gaze run over my haphazard frame and when his eye catches on something on my neck, he steps closer to take a better look, his brows furrowed in concentration. I don't want to pull away from him just yet but the proximity between us right now doesn't do anything to aid the tension that I feel. As he edges closer, I find myself instinctively stepping away and he halts in his steps and looks at me in questioning confusion. I avoid his eyes, turning away from him. But it seems I just offered a view of exactly what he had been curious about as he steps forward briskly and takes my nec