No Ordinary Love (High Rise Novella Three) (3 page)

Nat and Isabella had already started on their second bottle of San Miguel by the time Alex and Maddie arrived. Maddie crashed down in a chair, her gaze planted on the horizon, and she wondered what had caused her to experience this level of happiness so suddenly and unexpectedly. Mere weeks ago she was fumbling with a married woman in her office, deciding on whether to stay or not. Now she sat in one of the prettiest spots of Hong Kong, the sun setting behind her, after having climbed a mountain with the woman she loved more than anything.

She looked at Alex and she knew. She laughed away a tear—the sheer force of her smile enough to make it back down—and clinked the neck of her bottle against Alex’s. This was love, the real kind, the lasting kind. She’d come a long way to find it, but here she was.

ALEX

Alex tried to swallow the tightness out of her throat. It didn’t work. Rita’s upper lip still curved deliciously upward and the blue of her eyes shone as crystal clear as ever. Adrenalin sped through her veins as Alex approached the low table where Rita sat, one long leg slung over the other.

“Hey,” Alex said and everything that came before just fell away. Tears too strong to be ignored stung her eyelids as she crashed into the chair opposite Rita. “I probably shouldn’t have come.”

Rita clasped her hands in front of her mouth and pierced more of Alex’s resolve with those unblinking eyes. She breathed heavily through her nose and shook her head.

“You have no idea how sorry I am,” she said through spread-out fingers barricading her lips. “I am so sorry.”

Alex tried to hold on to thoughts of Maddie, of her radiant smile and softly whispered hellos in the morning, but they seemed to evaporate at the mere sight of Rita. As if Rita was the real deal and Maddie a copy, an expertly made one, but still just a copy of the woman sitting in front of her and tearing her heart to shreds again with a few words.

Alex scrambled for her bag which had fallen to the floor when she sat down and pushed herself up. “This…” She shook her head. “No…” It was all she could muster, all her constricted throat allowed to pass through.

Rita shot up out of her chair and curled her fingers around Alex’s wrist, squeezing with gentle firmness—the way she always did. “Please.” Her voice trembled. “Stay.”

The touch of Rita’s skin on hers quickened Alex’s pulse, making her heart thump in her temples. Alex looked down at Rita’s hand, its fingers so long and perfect. The pleasure they had given her. How they had made her surrender for years on end. Six years and then this. Walking away was not an option.

“Let’s go somewhere more private.” The emotions coursing through Alex were not meant for public display. There was some serious crying to be done. And shouting at this woman who had taken it all from her.

“I still live around the corner.” Rita’s fingers lingered around Alex’s wrist, but more limp than Alex had ever felt them.

Alex nodded and walked out of the bar. Rita left some bills on the table to pay for her over-priced glass of Sauvignon Blanc. At least she hadn’t had the audacity to order a bottle.

The sound of Rita’s heels clacking on the pavement echoed through Alex’s skull. She couldn’t think, only feel. This had to be done. Whatever it was. Whatever would happen. Rita had to repent, despite not being the repenting type by a long shot.

The doorman smiled broadly at Alex. She had lived in this building for three years. She’d made Rita’s apartment her own. It had been their home. Alex shot him an apologetic grin.

The elevator ride to the thirty-fifth floor was awkward but swift. Alex had grown up in a city full of tall buildings and had learned to hide her mental state in elevators from a young age. Instead of looking at Rita, she scanned her own reflection in the mirror.
 

What did that Mandarin teacher have that she didn’t? It was the one question that had plagued Alex incessantly after their break-up. Why had she suddenly not been good enough anymore?

Alex’s breath hitched in her throat when she entered Rita’s apartment. Everything looked exactly the same as on the day she’d left. An ocean of memories flooded her brain. Rita kicking off her heels after a long day at work, her body slackening but her eyes still full of fire. Rita leaning with her back against the balcony window, demanding that Alex strip just by gazing into her eyes. Rita’s hot body covering her from the back while she pushed Alex into the cold glass of the windows, naked and on display for anyone whose eyes happened to venture to their lit-up flat.

The tension seemed to drop from Rita’s muscles now she found herself on home turf. She untied her hair and let it fall to her shoulders like a soft golden curtain.

“Please, sit.” She walked to the wine fridge and pulled out a bottle of Oyster Bay. “Would you like some?”

Alex nodded eagerly. She approached the sofa and couldn’t help picturing Rita and Peggy on it. Peggy’s naked body splayed out under Rita while she did her thing. Peggy taking Alex’s place. Alex sat down on the corner edge, not wanting to associate her body with anything that happened on the grey cushions after her time on them was done.

“Here you go.” Rita handed her a glass of wine and pulled an ottoman closer. She sat down and stared Alex straight in the face. “I made a terrible mistake. Not one I can ever make right. I do realise that.”

“Why?” Alex mumbled. “Why did you do it?”

Rita took a deep breath. “If only I knew.” Her eyes grew moist and her knuckles turned white as she clenched her fingers around the stem of her glass. “Because I’m weak. And foolish. And only half the woman you are.”

“I did everything you asked me to.” Alex’s voice cracked. “Everything.”

“I know, baby. I know. I’ll never forgive myself for hurting you. Never.” Rita wiped the beginning of a tear from her eye.

“I presume you stopped taking Mandarin classes.”

“Peggy and I are no longer seeing each other.” Rita sat her glass on the coffee table and inched closer. “She had nothing on you. It was a silly infatuation. I certainly never loved her the way I loved you…still love you.”

“You loved her enough to cheat on me for weeks.” Anger swept through Alex’s bones. Months of frustration trembled in her voice. “You were the one for me, Rita. The only one. I’ve never loved anyone…” Tears took over from words. They streamed down her face and landed with fat thuds in the wine Rita had poured her.

Rita took the glass from her hand and deposited it on the floor. She grabbed Alex’s hands and buried them in hers. Warmth spread across Alex’s skin and she looked up until her eyes found Rita’s.

“I know.” Rita’s voice broke as her hands crept up Alex’s arms. “I’ll do whatever it takes.”

Alex couldn’t speak. After her initial anger over Rita’s infidelity had made way for deep sadness, she’d dreamed of Rita saying those words. Now she was sitting in front of her uttering them, her eyes brimming with tears and her nails digging into Alex’s biceps, they felt so meaningless and empty.

“Fuck you, Rita,” Alex whispered, but it was loud enough to startle her ex-girlfriend. “When you destroy something as pure and powerful as the love we shared, it’s gone forever. There is no going back and there is absolutely nothing you can do.” Alex shook Rita’s hands off her. “You can sit here and shed a little tear and feel all remorseful, but it doesn’t change anything. You broke my heart and my trust and I will never feel the same way about you again.”

“I don’t expect you to. I just want—”

“I don’t care about what you want.” Alex rose. “And by the way, I’m seeing someone.”

Alex cast one more glance at Rita’s flabbergasted face before heading for the door and banging it shut behind her. She had to steady herself against the wall while waiting for the elevator and, adrenalin pumping through her blood, prayed Rita wouldn’t come after her.

Once inside the safety of the steel lift cabin, she exhaled, taking in the red patches of skin on her face, and thought of Maddie. Sweet Maddie who had rescued her from the post-Rita blues. Alex looked her mirror image in the eye and wondered if Maddie could ever be enough.

MADDIE

The signal beeped in Maddie’s ear. She launched the receiver back into its cradle with a loud sigh of frustration. Alex’s evening class was finished by now and it wasn’t like her to ignore her phone, let alone a call from Maddie. She just wanted to hear Alex’s voice for a few minutes while waiting for her ten p.m. conference call with the New York office. She should have gone home and taken it there instead, but by the time she realised her call was only half an hour away, she figured she may as well stay in the office and get some more work done.

It was five to ten and she tried again. Long, taunting beeps rang in her ear. Maybe Alex forgot her mobile in the gym. Or perhaps she had better things to do than answer a call from her girlfriend. That’s what they were now—girlfriends. Their affair was not a slow burn. It was full on from the beginning. Both of them desperate to leave mistakes from the past behind and launch themselves into this new romance as if everything depended on it. As if new love could undo former heartbreak.

She watched the clock as it ticked into ten. Forty-five minutes later the elevator spat her out into the bank’s ornate lobby. Maddie refused to count the hours she’d spent in her office that day. She didn’t have to count to know they were well above average, even the crazy Hong Kong workaholic average.

It was only a five-minute walk to the escalator. Maddie breathed in the mild early December air and contemplated a quick drink at a pub in Soho, but she had a refrigerator full of wine at home and maybe Alex would be around.

She’d given Alex a spare key after two weeks of dating and every time she walked through the door of her flat she hoped to encounter Alex’s well-toned form draped over the sofa. Not one for late nights of pub-crawling—or late nights of anything not including a naked Maddie in her arms—Alex was usually there when Maddie arrived home after working late.
 

She wasn’t today.

Maddie poured herself a glass of wine and took a few gulps before heading to the apartment located on the floor below. Maddie didn’t have a key to Alex’s place. Instead of ringing the bell, she knocked on the door gently.

Nat answered with her hair in a mess, her t-shirt wrinkled and her trousers half zipped open. She looked at Maddie as if she’d seen a ghost.

“Who is it?” Maddie easily recognised Isabella’s Scottish drawl coming from the bedroom.

“Do you have any idea where Alex is? I’ve been trying to reach her all night. Is she here?” Maddie scanned the living room behind Nat for any other signs of life.

“Come in.” Nat widened the door and stepped aside. “Your best friend won’t be too pleased.” She winked at Maddie. “It’s well past her bedtime.”

Isabella emerged from the bedroom with nothing but a tight red robe covering her body. “Maddie? What’s going on?”

“Gosh, I’m sorry.” Maddie made for the door again. “I’m worrying about nothing. Alex is probably on her way over as we speak. Do continue whatever it was you were doing.” Maddie managed a tight grin.

“I haven’t seen her since she left for work this afternoon,” Nat said. “She didn’t mention any plans for afterwards. Maybe she’s in Tai Po?”

“It’s not like her to be off the grid like this and she’s not answering her phone.” Maddie brought a finger to her mouth and started chewing on a nail.

“Come on.” Isabella slung an arm over Maddie’s shoulder and escorted her to the sofa. “Nat, will you try her mobile, please?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Nat shot Isabella a quick wink and snagged her iPhone off the coffee table.

“Hey, Pizza,” Nat said into the receiver after two seconds. “Where the hell are you?”

Elation washed over Maddie. At least Alex was all right.

“Maddie’s here looking for you. Maybe give her a buzz?” Nat continued as she walked into the kitchen, preventing Maddie from hearing what else she was saying. It took five more minutes before Nat emerged from the kitchen.

“She’s fine.” Nat dropped her phone on one of the many book shelves. “She says not to worry about her. She’ll be home by midnight.”

“Where is she?” It was obvious Nat wasn’t giving Maddie the full story.

Nat sighed. “I’m sorry, Maddie.” She looked at Isabella with a desperate look on her face. “I’m sure she’ll explain in the morning. She urged me to ask you not to wait up for her.”

“Is she coming over to mine?” Maddie’s heart started thundering in her chest. Something was up and she didn’t have a clue as to what it could be.

“I don’t think so.” Nat inched closer and crouched in front of Maddie. “Look, all I can say is she’s facing some demons from her past. She may look perfect on the outside. She may even behave damn near perfect, but we all have our issues. Don’t press her on it. Give her some space.”

“Is it Rita?” Maddie saw it with great clarity now.
 

“Yes.” Nat nodded briefly. “But no worries—”

“Is she with Rita now?” Anguish tightened Maddie’s chest.

“No. I assure you she’s not. She just needs some time.” Nat stretched herself up. “You know Alex. She’d rather walk it off than burden anyone with her problems.”

“It will be all right,” Isabella chimed in. “Come on, I’ll pour you a glass of wine.”

“I’d better go home. I have an early start tomorrow.”
 

Maddie wasn’t worried about Alex cheating on her. Nonetheless, jealousy gnawed on her insides because how could she possibly compete with the greatest love of Alex’s life? A love so great Alex couldn’t bring herself to talk about it.
 

“If you’re sure.” Isabella squeezed Maddie’s hand. “You’re more than welcome to stay.”

“If you see her,” Maddie faced Nat, “tell her to take all the time she needs.” Her stomach knotted together at the thought of Alex being too preoccupied with another woman to return her call. Maddie held her head up high as she exited Nat’s flat, but she feared the worst.

ALEX

“Hey.” Nat’s voice startled Alex as she flicked on the light in the living room at well past one in the morning.

“What are you doing up?” She was grateful to see a friendly face. “Is there no love making to be done tonight?”