Chapter 6: Him again?

I sat on the floor, thinking back at where it all started. Veronica’s scheme, my marriage with Eric Wilson, my parents disowning me, and finally, here i was, in a strange city, robbed of everything i had. A bright light brought me back to reality-it was a car. The same kind that rescued me that night in my city. The car halted in front of me. 

At last, someone came to my aid. 

I looked up to see the figure before me. He stepped out with a long coat that swallowed his whole body. As he approached me further, my eyes brightened- i knew him from my city. That familiar scent- faint, then the face- same facial features. I remembered how he saved me earlier, how he reluctantly offered me his hand as if he was a passerby doing a favor like he had being asked to. He had saved me earlier in my city in a way that was practical, yet heroic.

“You”, I said, there was no other name yet to address him as. Ah! His name is Alex, i quickly rememebered.

He nodded lightly. I tried to read his expression. I bit my lower lips. I already gave him an impression twice now- that i was homeless.

“You’re wet”

His nonchalant response brought back memories from the night he first rescued me, when i had told him everything- how my wedding was sabotaged by my boyfriend Henry and how embarrassed i was after i didn’t get any response from him. Now he stood before me offering to help again. 

My pride tightened. i could hear the stubborn voice inside me, whispering that i would rather die than crawl into the passenger seat of a man who said nothing to me when he heard my story.

“You should return home with me, its dark and lonely…but of course thats your choice” 

What a way to offer help to a wet and stranded woman.

Alex walked back to his car, pausing mid way. “You won’t be dying on my watch”

I watched him walk back to me, this time , spreading his arms widely to lift me up from the ground. His arms slid beneath my knees and the other arm came around my back,firm and steady. I was lifted before i even had time to resist. He carried me like i weighed nothing. My fist pressed tightly against his chest, but his expression didn’t shift-no anger, no satisfaction, just that same distant calm that made it impossible to tell if i was a burden or a responsibility. He lowered me carefully on the passenger seat and for a moment we locked gaze before he looked away, shutting the door.

Through the window glass, i watched him circle back to the driver’s seat. The car engine started steadily as he steered through the quiet streets. I caught him glance often as he drove. Finally we arrived in front of a building. “ We’ve arrived”, he said.

I looked up at the elegant brick building and shook my head, “No, take me somewhere else. A hotel. I can’t stay here.”

“I Picked you up on a lonely road” He replied evenly, stepping out of the car. “You’re in no position to argue” 

“ I’m fine,” I shot back, fumbling with the door handle. My fingers shook so badly, i couldn’t open the door.

Alex leaned over , pushing the handle to open. “You can barely stand, you should get some rest.”

My cheeks flushed, “ I don’t need yout pity.”

“This isn’t pity”, He shook his head, “It’s just common sense” He added with a clipping tone. 

He held out a hand signaling me to take. I placed my cold fingers in his, allowing me to help me out of his car. My pride made my back straighten but my weak legs betrayed me.

He carried me again, walking towards the entrance door. The house looked exactly like the one back in my city. I looked around, wondering why he had the same furniture and style for both houses. 

“You can sit,”

“I’d rather not” I sulked.

“Suit yourself,” he disappeared into the kitchen, returning almost immediately with a glass of water. “Drink.”

I stared at the glass cup. My throat ached with thirst, but i hesitated, as if accepting the water meant surrendering. 

“Don’t tell me you’re too proud for water,” Alex said dryly.

I snatched the glass from muttering, “Thank you”, before taking a sip. I looked at him, it seemed like he was studying me.

“You’ve lost everything,” He said at a last, “ And still,you act like you’re untouchable”

“I haven’t lost everything” I fired back. 

“Haven’t you?” He scoffed.

The question was too close. I swallowed hard, setting the glass downwith trembling fingers. “I’ll leave in the morning, you won’t have to deal with me any longer.”

Alex leaned back in his chair folding his arms. “ Do you think i brought you here out of obligation.”

“Didn’t you?” I asked bitterly.

His eyes held mine, steady and unreadable. “ No, i don’t do things out of obligation. If i wanted to walk away tonight i would have.”

My lips parted but no words came. I looked away, suddenly aware of the tears threatening to flow from my eyes. I couldn’t let him see my cry. The silence was getting loud. 

“Olivia” He said quietly. “ You don’t have to fight me.”

I caught my breathe, feeling dangerously close to breaking. I wanted to scream, to collapse, to admit how scared i was of the emptiness in my life had become, but my pride pushed my chin higher. “ You don’t know me” I whispered.

Alex lip curved into the faintest yet, almost cruel smile. “ Not yet…you’ll be safe here”.

“I won’t stay long, just tonight”

"We'll see, Olivia, we'll see"