Chapter 2

The waiter who caused the accident was frozen at the spot, looking like she might cry.

“Oh my God! I’m so sorry ma’am! Please, I didn’t mean—“

Alicia took a breath. Her father’s reputation. The cameras. She couldn’t lose it here.

“It’s okay. Really. Just… go.”

The waiter dropped to her knees, picking up glass with shaking hands.

“Please go. I’ve got this.”

The girl practically ran.

Alicia pulled out a napkin to dab her dress but it was useless. The stain had already sunk and ruined the dress. Perfect. Just great. A perfect night indeed!

This night just kept getting better and better.

“Here.”

She looked up. Alex stood there with his napkin held out.

“I didn’t ask for help.”

His phone lit up. He glanced at the screen and something changed in his face. Just for a second, but she saw it. Something that looked almost like hurt.

“You could at least say thank you.” He dropped the napkin at her feet. “But I guess manners aren’t your thing.”

A bodyguard came and whispered into his ears. He gave her one last look and left. Alicia did not know why but she found herself following him.

Alex walked outside of the party hall where his father and the witch—his stepmother, was standing. 

"You could have never thought to meet us here, right?”

Leah, his stepmom said, her hands locked with his father, her heavy makeup repulsive. The purple dress she wore hugged her curves so tight that he wondered if she was even breathing.

"Of course, no lowlife is invited to such a meeting with dignitaries. You are only here because you keep latching on my father.”

His father took a step forward. "Don't you dare talk to my wife that way. She is your mother and she deserves that respect."

"Respect? Dad, you can be with her for all I care but stop calling her my mother because she isn't and she will never be. Did you call me out because of this?"

Alicia watched as it all enfolded, not knowing what to do.

This wasn’t her business. She should leave.

But she didn’t move.

“I wanted to talk to you about something,” the older man said, “but clearly this isn’t the time.”

“Good. Make sure it’s worth my time next time.” Alex turned away. “I’m done with this.”

He walked back into the hall. Alicia pressed herself against the wall as he passed, then watched the older man and purple-dress woman leave.

  

Leah snorted and walked to the car.

“Damn he doesn’t have it easy at all,” Alicia thought.

Alicia let out a sigh. Had she been too hard on him?

"Were you waiting for me?” Alex asked, walking up to her.

She sighed, lowering her gaze for the first time. "I’m sorry… for everything I said. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that."

He didn’t speak for a while. Just stared like he was reading her beyond words.

Then he stepped closer, voice calm but unreadable.

"You think an apology can undo what you started the other day?"

She blinked. "And what is that supposed to mean?."

"Anything your mind could fathom about. Apology not accepted though."

"Whatever,” she turned to leave and all of a sudden, a snap was heard.

Her heels gave way and...

The world tilted sideways. She flailed, reaching for something, anything—

She landed on the floor with a thud.

Embarassment burnt into her as she lay on the balcony floor. Her knee throbbed painfully, one broken heel lying somewhere near her but she dared not look at it.

“Why did this happen? And why in front of him?I’m so embarrassed!” She thought.

She couldn’t even look up. She heard a snigger behind her and went red with even more embarassment as she heard him try to hold his laughter.

“How long are you gonna lay there?” He asked.

She did not reply. Didn’t flinch.

“You can get up now,” he said.

She finally looked back at him, small tears pricking her eyes. She looked so pitiful. 

And Alex noticed with surprise that she was well….pretty.

Her hair fell in cascades around her oval face and her tear stained eyes were big with pretty her long wet lashes. Her lips were soft and plump. He just noticed she was actually very pretty but then each time she’d met him she was always scowling so he did not see it before.

But now she was giving him such a pitiful look he couldn’t help but feel his heart racing. He held out his hand to her.

“Here. Take my hand.”

She looked at his hand for a while. Her sad embarrassed face was so cute he suddenly felt the urge to pull her cheek.

But it did not last long as her face squeezed into a scowl again and her bad mouth was back in character.

“Tccch. From the movies you watched, didn’t you know you are supposed to catch people before they fall? Why didn’t you do that?”

He sighed.

“I don’t watch movies,” he said, pulling his hand back. “I work. Now get up before this becomes even more embarrassing.”

“Just you wait. I’ll get back at you for this.”

He smiled and raised his hands in mock fear.

“Ooooh! I’m so scared!”

“You think I’m joking? Don’t you worry.”

There it was . The feisty woman he knew. That brief softness showed earlier felt like an illusion now. Yet he didn’t dislike her rude behavior like before. 

He now found it…cute.

“Well. I’m waiting to see how you will perform. Make it worthwhile,” he teased, grabbing her hand and placing a kiss on it.

She blushed furiously and in shock before quickly dragging her hand back.

“You! You!”

“You are as red as a tomato.”

She said nothing and limped away , her face and neck still red . He couldn’t help but laugh . When last had he had this much fun? She was so funny.

——-

Next day.

Zara was sitting across Alicia’s bed when she opened her eyes.

She yawned and said;

“Why didn’t you wake me up earlier? I have so much to do today.”

“Des took care of everything. Your whole schedule is cleared.” Zara folded her arms. “And we need to talk.”

“About what?”

“About why you have been burying yourself in work ever since Renad left.”

Renad was her ex-boyfriend who jilted her mercilessly.

Alicia’s chest tightened. “I am fine.”

“I know when something is wrong.” Zara’s voice softened. “He promised you everything and then disappeared. And now you bite the head off anyone who gets close. I saw Alex do absolutely nothing to you last night, and you reacted like he insulted your entire family.”

She suddenly remembered what happened yesterday and got red with embarrassment again.

“Don’t talk about that annoying man!”

“Huh?”

She remembered the way he kissed her hand and how she had thought about it all night before going to bed. She hated the flutter in her heart she got at the thought of it.

“Is this still about Renad?” Zara asked.

“I don’t want to talk about this.”

“Too bad. I booked you a flight to Miami for the weekend. You are going.”

“You what?”

“You need a break. Your parents already approved it.”

The argument died in Alicia’s throat. The worry on Zara’s face made it impossible to protest.

“Fine,” she whispered. “I will go.”

Saturday arrived before she was mentally ready.

Alicia stood outside Miami International with her suitcase, sweating while she waited for the hotel car. Her phone buzzed. Sorry for the delay. Car arriving in 15 minutes.

Of course. Fifteen minutes in this heat. Wonderful.

A sleek black car pulled up to the curb. She moved toward it, then stopped dead.

Alex was in the driver’s seat.

“You have got to be kidding me.”