Beautifully Twisted (19 page)

“Thank you, Simon. I’ll call when you can come pick me up. I’m not sure what time I’ll be leaving today.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Simon comes around and opens her door. She walks inside feeling different somehow. What is this–happiness?

As the elevator doors open to her floor, she notices that everyone is staring at her again. This is unusual but after the last time they saw her, she can understand. Not to mention she’s nearly an hour late and she is NEVER late. She enters the room slowly, then surprising everyone, takes off her sunglasses and says, “Good morning, everyone.” She’s met with stares and soft gasps as she continues to walk towards her office. When she gets there, Martina is standing in the doorway, her mouth hanging open.

“Morning, boss. Are you okay?”

“Of course I’m okay. Can’t a girl greet people in the morning?” Alexa asks.

“Sure you can. It’s just that you never have before. I think everyone is in shock. Coffee?”

“Yes, please. I was so late the coffee Simon got me was cold.” Her tone is so pleasant Martina wonders if she’s on medication or something.

“And you’re okay with that?” Martina asks.

“Well, I would have preferred it to be hot certainly, but I was the one that was late.”

She shrugs out of her coat and hands it to Martina before taking her place behind her desk. She looks around the room, recalling the scene that took place the day before. What a difference a day can make.

“Anything important happening this morning, Martina?”

The assistant shakes her head. “No, you don’t have any meetings today. It’s your catch up day, remember?” Martina can’t help but wonder what is going on with Alexa. This woman never misses a beat and now it’s like she doesn’t know what day of the week it is.

“Yes, of course. Perfect. Did we get the signed contracts back from Capital Associates yet?”

“Yes. I put them on your desk. Patricia also sent over the draft for the presentation she is working on for Lifestyles, Inc. Her meeting is next Tuesday and she wanted your approval first. It’s in your email.”

“Great. Thank you.” Alexa busies herself turning on her computer and getting her paperwork sorted for the day while Martina just stands gaping at her. Finally Alexa looks up and addresses her. “Is there something I can do for you, Martina?”

“Well, let’s see,” Martina says tapping her chin with her finger. “When you left yesterday, you had just been ravaged and left on your sofa. I cancelled all your meetings and you were very distraught. Now you’re sitting there like you’re Cinderella after she found Prince Charming. Seems like there is a bit of gap in there.”

Martina’s warm eyes are full of curiosity and concern. For once, Alexa actually feels like she owes someone an explanation.

“Okay, Martina. Fair enough. Close the door and I’ll fill you in.”

Martina giggles and hurries to close the door, before settling into a chair in front of Alexa’s desk. “I’m all ears, boss.”

“As you know, Scott Patrick and I have a little history. He is responsible for training me to be what I am today and I owe it to him that I’m even in London.”

Martina nods her head like she’s listening to a movie plot unfold.

“Anyway, when he showed up here again it threw me off. Then, to add to my problems, Brett was totally interested in having something with me. Needless to say, my dating Brett was an issue for Scott.”

“Needless to say,” Martina agrees. “What happened yesterday? Why was Scott so cruel to you?”

Alexa sighs heavily. She is actually thankful to talk to Martina and get all of this out. “I was acting like an asshole to him. I flirted with Brett right in front of him and that was his way of teaching me a lesson.”

“Wow, some lesson. I can’t lie, Alexa, that was pretty shocking to see you like that. You’re always so composed and in charge. I didn’t know what to do.”

Alexa smiles. “You did the right thing. I really appreciate how you were there for me.” She runs her fingers through her thick hair. “Scotty and I… that’s just the dynamic we have. I knew it was coming. We’ve had this sort of dysfunctional thing for years.”

Martina nods. “Okay, so then what happened?”

“I went out with Brett again last night, just to spite Scott.” She shakes her head, “I was really close to going all the way with him but I couldn’t follow through. I knew Scott would hate us both and I wasn’t ready for that.”

“You were gonna do it with Braveheart?” Martina asks, clearly shocked.

“Braveheart?” Alexa asks, cocking her head at her assistant. “Another nickname?”

“Yeah, I mean, he’s soooo Scottish. I bet he even wears kilts,” Martina says, her voice doing that dreamy thing it does when she talks about men.

“Braveheart, right. Okay then.” Alexa chuckles. “Anyway, I was so hurt after that scene in my office I just wanted to hurt Scott back. I couldn’t do it though, you know. So I’m walking Brett out and Scott shows up, completely drunk and ready for a fight.”

“Oh my!” Martina gasps.

“It’s the middle of the night and he’s ready for a show down with Brett. It didn’t look good at all. I wasn’t wearing any clothes, except a robe. Scott was sure we did the deed.”

“Wow, just wow,” Martina says.

“I know. So we convince Scotty to come in and calm down. Brett leaves and Scotty and I talk. Next thing I know, he’s telling me that he’s in love with me and always has been and wants to have a normal relationship with me.” Alexa decides to keep the whole domination piece to herself.

“WHAT?” Martina shrieks. “He’s in love with you?”

“That’s what he said.”

“Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! Are you in love with him too? Of course you are. How could you not be? Oh my gosh, this is incredible,” Martina gushes.

Alexa holds up her hand. “Hold on there, Martina. This is not happily ever after. Scott and I have a difficult past to work through and we have a relationship dynamic that needs to be fixed. Not to mention he lives in a completely different country than I do.”

“Okay, I admit I don’t know everything about the two of you, just what you’ve told me. But Lexi, you are so different when he’s around. Your eyes shine and I can see a glimmer of the sweet girl that I know you really are deep down inside. I know you have to be tough at work but I also know that there must be a softer side to you and Scotty the hotty brings that out in you. Look at you today, you’re practically floating. I have never seen you like this. It has to be love. You both can figure out how to make the distance work.”

Alexa is surprised by Martina’s observation but welcomes it. It’s been so long since she’s opened up about anything to anyone. “I hope we can, Martina. I’m not sure I could bear another breakup with Scott. The last time I saw him before this nearly killed me.” She can barely stand to even think of the last time Scott came to London.

“Miss Drake, there is a Mr. Patrick here to see you,” Martina buzzes my office and her words cause me to freeze at my desk.

“Mr. Patrick? Scott Patrick?” I ask my assistant.

“Yes, ma’am. Mr. Scott Patrick. He’d like to come in and see you. Shall I send him in?”

Shit! Why the fuck is Scott in London? And why would he want to see me after all this time? I quickly check my reflection in my compact mirror and reapply my lip gloss. My nerves are on fire and my stomach is doing a series of somersaults. Scott Fucking Patrick is here.

“Yes, Martina, you can send him in.”

I stand and prepare myself for the sight of the man that broke my heart six months earlier to walk through my door. I have no idea what I’m going to say or what he plans to say to me. I only hope I can keep myself together.

He walks through the door, gently closing it behind him, and for a moment, I think I might pass out from the sight of him. Good Lord he is a beautiful man, all gleaming teeth and chiseled features. Shit.

“Hey, baby girl,” he says confidently as he walks towards me. His demeanor immediately pisses me off. How dare he fucking call me that after the way he treated me in New York.

“Don’t call me that and what are you doing here, Scott?”

“Is that any way to treat your Scotty, Alexa?”

“You are not my Scotty. What do you want?”

His eyes open in surprise and he has the nerve to look pissed. “I came to see you.”

“You came to see me? You just happened to be in London to stop by and see me?” I ask, my tone incredulous.

He smiles that smile that rocks my world. “As it so happens, I have a layover in London on my way to Spain to meet with Brett. How could I be in London without seeing you?”

“You haven’t talked to me in six months.”

“I’m talking now,” he says, with a condescending grin on his lips.

“Fuck you, Scott Patrick.”

“Whoa now, where did that come from?”

“Where did that come from? You’re a son a bitch, you know that. Get out of my office.”

“So much anger, maybe you need me to come behind that desk and remind you of what we had?”

“I don’t need to be reminded. As you stated, that is what we had, not have. We have nothing. You made sure of that. Now leave.”

“I was hoping you’d have dinner with me tonight. We can catch up.”

I cock my head and put my hands on my hips. “Catch up? I’d rather slam my hand in a door than eat dinner with you.”

He walks closer to me causing me to hold my breath. “Come on now, Lexi. Spending a few hours with me couldn’t be that bad. You used to spend every day with me.”

“Until you decided we were through. So why the fuck are you here?”

“I told you,” he says, his jaw twitching as he speaks. “I had a layover.”

I stare at him. His presence in my office makes no sense. “Good for you. I’m sure you can find something else to do that has nothing to do with me.”

“But why would I want to,” he says.

“Because I think you’re a bastard and I’m not interested.” I already know that the very last thing I should do is agree to spend time alone with Scott Patrick. He’ll have me on my knees in ten minutes flat.

He twists his hands and looks uncomfortable for a split second before saying, “I’ll be in London until tomorrow morning if you change your mind.”

“Oh please. I don’t want anything to do with you.”

“I don’t believe you, baby girl.”

“I don’t give a shit what you believe, Scott. We’re done. You told me so.”

He walks fast, getting behind my desk before I have a chance to move. Before I know it, his hands are in my hair and his mouth covers mine, sucking me into one of his thrilling kisses. I struggle against him, trying to break free, but it’s no use. He’s got me.

I break from the kiss but he holds me close, glaring at me with those black eyes of his. “I can have you back any time I want you, do you understand me?”

“I understand you’re fucking delusional. Let me go.”

He runs his hand over my blouse and squeezes by breast through the material. “Come on, Lexi, quit playing so hard to get. You know you want me to fuck you again. I can tell.” His hardened features soften into an arrogant smile. “I missed you.”

“You missed me! Oh, that’s rich,” I say, still struggling against him. “You’re wrong. I don’t want you anymore,” I say, doing my best to make it sound like the truth.

Scott ignores my resistance and grabs the hem of my skirt, pulling it up roughly, before shoving his hand between my legs, his other hand gripped around the back of my neck. “You’re wet, baby girl. You can’t tell me that I don’t turn you on.”

“Stop it, Scott. I’m working.”

“I don’t care. I can have you whenever I want you. You are mine. Always.”

“I am not. You dumped me.”

“You’re still mine. You and I both know you’ll never have it as good as you did with me.”

“Let me go, Scott.” I squirm again, but it only increases the intensity between my legs. I try to hide my arousal and shock. This cannot be happening right now.

“I’ll let you go when I’m fucking ready to let you go,” he growls in my ear.

“Scotty, what do you want from me?” I ask, pleading with him to help me make sense of all of this.

“Everything,” he says, pressing his lips against my neck.

“What?” I try and pull my head away but he holds my neck tightly, pressing my face against his hard chest. “You’re not making any sense.”

“Stop talking, Lexi. Be a good girl and maybe I’ll take it easy on you.” His mouth comes down hard on mine and I stop fighting. I’m so confused right now. I don’t want to resist him. I just want to give in. I want him so bad I can taste it. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted. “How does it feel, Lexi, to be in my arms again?” he whispers in my ear.

I don’t want to admit it. I don’t want to tell him that it’s fucking heaven to me.

“Say it, Lexi. Tell me your mine. Tell me there’s no one else.”