The Dilema

“Alexa, it’s not… I.. Let me explain…” Clinton stuttered trying to hold Alexa.

Alexa lunched her hands so hard on his cheeks with every iota of strength in her and the crowed wowed.

“You want to explain how long you’ve been kissing Anna or what? After everything Clinton, you choose to pay me back by cheating with… this?” Alexa gestured towards Anna.

“Look enough of the drama! your darling boyfriend didn’t know what to do with a loser like you, so, he decided to dump you and come to me because whoever owns the cash calls the shots” Anna said glaring at Alexa with so much confidence and a wicked smile.

“Alexa, lets go, you’re causing a scene” Thelma moved near Alexa and whispered. She reached out, grabbed Alexa and left swiftly

Anna crossed her hands enjoying the scene.

Poor Alexa could not wrap her head around what just happened, she was so lost in her thoughts that she bumped her shoulder into something very hard, she looked up, her make up smudged, her hazel coloured eyes teary and blurry, met with a soft grey eyes almost piercing through her.

The beautiful brunette who had transformed to a pathetic looking girl was stunned at the most handsome man ever.

He looked like a model, his golden brown wavy hair with a cutting on the side complemented his perfectly sculpted face. The man let out a sigh, adjusting his suit and his soft looking face quickly turned to a scowl.

“So poor and pathetic, they never look where they are going?” He said.

“Alexa” Thelma said softly when Alexa jerked behind a bit and she noticed Alexa bumped into someone

“We are so sorry” Thelma said with enthusiasm. She hurriedly dragged Alexa on, avoiding further complications.

They passed beside some other guys dressed in suit and dark shades, their sophistication and composure drew an air of mystery around them.

“He must be a very important person” Thelma whispered as they got into the car, looking at them from the side mirror but Alexa still had her tongue tied.

Thelma drove back home.

It was their first week in Thelma’s house. Anna carried out her threat and Thelma accepted them to her apartment.

Alexa and Sophie had left the house early to check on their mum.

Sophie sat at the edge of the bed, checking her mum’s temperature.

“Doctor, her temperature has increased and she’s not… looking better”.

“What’s going on Doctor?” Alexa asked

“We are doing all to make your mum fine, but we are restricted by funds, I told you to pay….”

“I know, I know” Alexa said, rubbing her temple “I got a job and they pay well, can you start what you need now? I’ll pay you by the end of the month.”

The Doctor signed, “I’m sorry Alexa, when the payment comes in, we’ll proceed”

****

Alexa adjusted her black dress before the mirror, she brushed her curly and long brunette hair. A little nervous and a sprinkle of shame, she took a deep breathe.

“Being a waitress doesn’t define my worth, I’ll definitely get my family out of this mess” She muttered as the door of the restroom cracked open.

“Hey pretty, you’ll do so well and soon get promoted to even a branch manager, who knows” Thelma encouraged her with so much enthusiasm and they both smiled.

She stepped out elegantly with her stilettos softly clicking the tiles as she walked to the table she was appointed to.

“Good evening sir, how may I be of service to you tonight?”

Alexa asked the young man dressed in a well tailored suit. He had an annoying way of touching his moustache while holding a sultry eye contact with her. It made her almost puke.

“You wanna serve me huh…” He asked with a low husky voice.

She was losing her patience but kept her cool, especially since this was a bar for billionaires.

“Yes sir, I asked earlier, how may I be of service to you?”

She growled silently, discomfort written on her face, as the chandelier was directly above them and the shinning light made her feel too visible to everyone.

“How much are you paid here young lady, I’ll pay you… ten times if you’ll warm my bed tonight” He said licking his lips.

She squeezed her face in irritation. As if that wasn’t enough, he brought out his card, moved his hands towards her burst and tried to squeeze it in.

“What!”. In the split of a second, a loud thud of her palm hitting his cheeks echoed through the room.

“Are you crazy?” He stood up and raised his hands at her. With fear growing in her eyes and her chest pounding hard, she hid her face from his large palm and was surprised when what she felt was an arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her away.

She looked back and saw a hefty man dressed in gray suit with dark shades on. He looked familiar but she could not recall where she saw him.

The scent of a really expensive cologne swept through her nose, It seemed familiar. It was not from the guy holding her.

She looked up and saw another man dressed in a black tuxedo suit hanging up the hand of this pervert.

She was short of breathe, trying to understand what was going on.

“How dare you try to hit a woman?” The guy in black tuxedo said under his breathe. He was fuming with anger. “Get him guys” he added and instantly, three more guys appeared and took the pervert away.

“Let me go, you don’t know who you are dealing with….” The pervert ranted as he was taken away.

“Are you fine miss?” The guy in tuxedo softly asked, placing a hand on her shoulder.

She looked up and discovered it was that same guy that called her “poor and pathetic” earlier.

“How on earth! Why did…”

“You could find a place to cool off and don’t worry, he can’t come after you” He said.

He didn’t recognise her.

“Umm… Okay, thank you”

Asides looking like the most pretty being she had ever seen and having a chiselled body of a Greek god, yes, even with a tuxedo on, you could tell. Something about him made time freeze and commanded attention without him trying.

“Bryan” He said, extending a hand towards Alexa.

“Alexa” she said faintly, slightly bumping her hand against his.

“Pleased to meet you Miss Alexa”

***

Coming back from one of the stakeholder’s office, where her fate was decided. Alexa went to the rooftop, where lights near and afar, bold and tiny, twinkled before her eyes to distract her from her falling world.

Her eyes were stationed on the busy streets with her mind numb and blank.

“Wanna jump down?” A masculine voice jolted her back to reality.

“I could be your superman and help you land safely” He added with a playful smirk

Alexa turned, curious of who that could be.

“Oh Bryan, thanks for the other time” She said with a bright smile.

“My pleasure young lady. I can’t stand women being assaulted”

She sighed deeply, her shoulders sloppy and her eyes fixed on the floor

“What’s wrong?”

“I will be fired” she said not moving her eyes away from the spot.

“So fast?”

“Well, it’s against their rules to be rude to anyone”

“Even perverts?” Bryan emphasised.

“Clients are kings. It’s a long standing rule. I will be paid for this month and one more as a compensation” She replied.

“I see.” Bryan replied, gulping down his wine.

“Screaming Eagle” she said faintly looking at Bryan’s wine

“I see you’ve been a wine waitress for long”

“No, that was my dad’s best. That was the wine that inspired him set up his own winery.” Her voice sank as she spoke and tears gathered in her eyes but she quickly blinked them away.

“Why are you here if your father has a winery? Are you… trying to be independent?”

She took a deep breathe “Well, he died after taking in a second wife who is younger than I am and willed all his properties to her son”

Bryan’s mouth circled into an “oh”, he intentionally let silence linger to make her speak more.

“Because my mother had 5 daughters and he needed a son to carry on his name” She added, pressing her lips and fighting back tears as she spoke.

“Whao! That must be a lot”.

“It is. I don’t know where to go from here. It’s just… I’m just… I’ve emptied my account for my mother’s hospital bills, my sisters…” She was trying to complete her sentence, but her thoughts were falling apart and tears started dropping from her face.

“Hey” Bryan handed her an handkerchief

“It’s okay and your life is not crashing down” He said putting his arm on her shoulder.

“If you don’t mind and can come to South Carolina tomorrow morning by 12pm, my P.A will be there to interview you” Bryan said calmly.

“It’s a branch of my Wine Company, so I’m sure you’ll fit in perfectly” Bryan said, briefly running her eyes through her.

“Are you serious? I can’t believe this, its such a pleasant… coincidence, thank you” she said wiping her tears as rays of hope rose in her eyes.

“And yes, the job offer comes with free accommodation” Bryan added.

Alexa’s face beamed with joy as she left the building, but a tug of uneasiness and uncertainty pulled within her.

***

She got home and explained what happened to her sisters. They were all so happy, especially because they would easily raise the f*e for their mum’s hospital treatment and not suffer for the rest of the year.

“But, why didn’t he tell you the job role?” Asked Sophie

“I don’t know, but it’s a Wine Company. There’s no role I can’t fit into in a wine company, I was born for this” Alexa said.

The next morning, Alexa was finishing touches of her make up when she heard a knock on the door, she stood up to open the door and saw Clinton kneel before her.

“Alexa, I am sorry, if you would give me just one chance to explain. Things will get right between us. I can’t betray you, I love you so much Alexa, please just hear me out and then you can decide anything you want… pleasee” Clinton pleaded desperately on his knees, searching Alexa’s eyes with hope of some sort of acceptance.

“Who’s that Alexa” Thelma asked when she saw her friend frozen at the door for a while.