Chapter 4

“Very well. “Goodbye, Alessandra,” he said, ending the call. I just shook my head. I grabbed my bag and headed out. I decided I could use a few new outfits. I spent most of the morning walking and shopping a bit. I was in Bridgeport at a small shop having lunch outside when something fell onto the table, making me jump.

“I’m sorry,” he said when I looked up. I almost had a heart attack. Holy hell. Jet black hair, green eyes that seemed to pierce into you, and fair skin. If I were anyone but me, I would have said he looked like he was sculpted by the Greek gods. Perfect jawline; shit, he was tall. That’s when I took notice; he was wearing a T-shirt that fit him perfectly, showing his muscles and tattoos.

“It’s okay.”I managed to choke out, I swear I lost the ability to think straight.

“Can I?” he asked, nodding at the chair.

“Umm, sure.”

“Thank you,” he said casually, pulling the chair out and sitting across from me. He pulled out his phone and began dialing a number; my phone began ringing. I pulled it out and saw the name I gave him. “POSSIBLE PSYCHO.” The phone stopped ringing suddenly. When I looked up, he was looking at me. He dialed again, and my phone started ringing.

“Well, I guess fate had other plans, Alessandra,” he said smiling, and I slammed my head down onto the table. Was I being toyed with?

“Don’t do that; you’ll hurt yourself,” he said, and I turned and looked at him.

“Are you following me?”

“No, Alessandra, After I ended the call with you, my friend called to meet up, so I’m here. “I live a few streets away from here,” he said casually, leaning back and looking at me.

“How did you get my number?”

“My sister had an accident, and she called me using a stranger’s phone because her phone died. I called back, but I guess I misplaced a number.”

“And is she okay, your sister?”

“Yes, thankfully,” he replied. While looking at me.

“What do you want from me, Zane?”

“So you can say my name. “Let’s get to know each other,” he said. A waitress came over, and when she saw him, she started stuttering. I just rolled my eyes. Yes, I will admit he was handsome; who was I kidding? He was fucking hot, the finest specimen I have ever seen. He wasn’t rude or acting like I should be grateful he was sitting with me.

“Fine, what do you want to know?”

“About you, what your goals are—I mean, asking you what you like makes no sense because I will eventually know that, but what do you see yourself doing in, say, five years?” He asked, and for a second, I was speechless. I’ve been on multiple dates, even dated an asshole, and no one seemed to ever ask that kind of question.

“Well, I’m saving so I can study without working.”

“Really? What are you interested in?”

“Bioengineering, development, and research especially”

“Impressive, and how far along are you?” he asked

“Almost there.” I spent forty minutes telling this man about what and why I was interested in studying bioengineering, and he listened and asked questions. And I realized that I haven’t had a conversation that wasn’t about my work in forever.

“You are smarter than you look. “Let’s go,” he said, standing up.

“Go where?” I asked.

“To get you something you need,” he said, dropping some bills on the table and grabbing my hand as if it was the most normal thing in the world.

“What are you doing? “I can pay my own bill, and I’m capable of walking Zane,” I said, and he turned and looked at me and just smiled. Nothing else. He dragged me to an electronic store. That was when I put up a fight; he basically dragged me in all while smiling.

“Alessandra, people are staring at you?” He said quietly, which made me stop and walk quietly beside him. I tried backtracking out the door, but he caught me.

When he walked up, the girl saw him and did a double take.

“How can I help you, sir?” she asked.

“My friend here has been living in the Stone Ages; she needs a phone,” he said.

“I don’t want or need a phone, Zane.”

“How do you expect to receive important calls concerning your studies if you don't have a proper phone?” he asked, and I shut my mouth.

 while I was explaining to him. I accidentally told him I had missed a few calls because my phone sometimes shut off.

When we walked out of that store, I was mad as hell. I walked away, leaving him, but he caught up to me.

“Think of it as a loan. When you’re finished studying, you can return it to me.” He said, smiling at me.

“I don’t want it.”

“Don’t be stubborn, Alessandra. Be a good girl and take it,” he said.

His phone began ringing, and he answered it. “Yes. “I’ll be there,” he said, ending the call.

“My friend just showed up. I’ll check in with you later tonight. “Be careful,” he said, handing me the bag, and walked away. I was left on the sidewalk looking at him walking away.

There was nothing I could do but take it home and return it to him when and if I ever met him again. When I got home, I put the bag into the small closet under my clothes. The phone in the bag began ringing, making me jump. I pulled it out and saw his name. Zane was now a headache.

“Yes, Zane.”

“Don’t leave the phone at home. I have your old one, and it no longer works, remember?” he said, and I could have kicked myself for that.

“Zane, why exactly are you doing this?”

“Because I’m interested in you.” He said, and my heart started beating too fast.

“I don’t do relationships.”

“And why? Let me guess: an ex, asshole, narcissist, or idiot. Which one was he?” he asked.

“All three,” I said.

“Well, thankfully I’m not any of those three,” he said.

“And what are you?”

“Obsessed, possessive, and protective of what is mine,” he said in a tone that scared me, and I believed he was telling the truth.

“We are not a good fit,” I said, and he started laughing.

“Alessandra. You are the first in a very long time to ever have my attention. Okay, why don’t you write me a list of all the ways we don’t fit, and you can give it to me when I pick you up after work tonight?” he said.

“I never said you could, or I wanted you to pick me up.”

“Do you think that would stop me, Princess? “Now that I’ve seen the face behind the voice, do you think I’ll walk away?” he asked, and my throat went dry.

“Write the list, Princess. “I’ll see you tonight,” he said, ending the call. I was left staring at the phone. What the hell have I gotten myself into?