Chapter 2

3 hours before the party

Flames roared around him, hungry, alive, monstrous. Little Alex stood frozen in the hallway, heat blistering his skin as smoke poured into his lungs. He could hear his mother’s voice calling his name, strained, terrified, swallowed by the fire. He reached for her silhouette through the flames, tiny fingers stretching, trembling.

“Mom!”

Her figure lurched toward him but the ceiling groaned. A beam snapped loose. The world flashed orange. Her scream tore through him as the fire swallowed her whole.

Alex jolted awake with a strangled gasp. Cold sweat soaked his sheets, his heart battering his ribs like it wanted out. For a moment, the darkness of his room still flickered with phantom flames.

“Shit. It’s been years and this nightmare still constantly plagues me.”

His phone buzzed with a new message from his Dad.

“Don’t forget the party. Be there. No excuses.”

He groaned. Annoyed.

“Why do I still let that man control me?”

A crowded party was the last thing he wanted.

Few hours later and he was in the glittering party a hall, hating every minute of it. Until he saw her again. The crazy woman he’d bumped into at the mall.

She was dressed up in a satin gown that showed all her curves, her hair had been done up and her face, well was rather gorgeous.

She was smiling at the party like she belonged here. Her earlier inquired about her and found out she was Alicia Dickson, heiress to the Dickson fortune. The Dickson family had been his family’s rival for years. Was that why she disliked him so much? But he didn’t think she knew he was a George.

 “Maybe its in our blood to hate each other,” he laughed.

She soon noticed him and her smile instantly dropped. She started to approach him. He smirked.

“I wonder what she will say this time. This is gonna be fun.”

“You stalking me now?” he said as soon as she reached him and it led to another argument.

He was soon leaving when a waiter stumbled into Alicia, the tray tipping, glasses crashing.

Alex tried to hide his laughter as he watched the wine soak Alicia’s dress. Served her right. She’d been troubling him all day.

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. Damien watched as many emotions went through her face. Her father’s reputation. The cameras. She couldn’t lose it here.

“It’s okay. Really. Just… go.”

 He let out a chuckle. She was so easy to read. And very funny. Suddenly she was not so annoying to him anymore and he wanted to get to know her more

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

“Please go. I’ve got this,” said Alicia.

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.

Alex dipped his hand into his suit and found a napkin.

“If I give it to her, what reaction would she give me? Would she lash out again or would she swallow her pride?”

He wanted to see it. This strange angry woman was the most interesting thing that happened to him this week.

“Here, “ he handed her the napkin.

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

“I didn’t ask for help.”

He was about to say something when his phone lit up.

It was a text from Dad.

He scowled. What did that damn old man want now?

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

 She gasped and he left, half smiling from loving seeing her look rattled.

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

"You could never have 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 onto 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?"

 “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.

Leah snorted and walked to the car.

Alex suddenly noticed Alicia hiding behind the door. What was she doing here? Had she been eavesdropping?

He approached her. He almost laughed from how her face went red with embarrassment from being caught.

"Were you waiting for me?” Alex asked.

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.

Then he stepped closer, voice calm but unreadable.

"You’ll have to do much more to gain my forgiveness.”

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.

Embarrassment burned 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.

Alex watched in amusement. He bit his like to hold back his laughter. Why was this girl entertaining him so much today?

She couldn’t even look up. She heard his snigger behind her and went red with even more embarrassment.

“How long are you gonna lie 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 her pretty 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 to 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 shown 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.