picture from www.tressugar.com (edited)
Charlotte stood by a magazine stand right
outside her apartment. She had on a tight half-shouldered dress, baby beige; satin
black clutch with diamond studs on the front flip; a pair of silver chandelier
earrings and silver mid heel sandals. Alexander let her off at 5pm to get ready
for the dinner, so she might as well curled her long hair and placed it steady
on the covered shoulder. Charlotte chose her favorite lipstick, Russian Red
from Mac to be paired with her simple cat eye makeup. But now she felt like a
museum sculpture from the way the passer-biers looked at her.
6.30pm. He’s late. He should be here 15
minutes ago. She’s getting impatient. It’s not one of the perfect weather to be
standing by the street. The wind is getting stronger and the sky threatens to turn
into depression mode anytime soon. Just as she decided to wait inside as the
wind is messing up her hair, a silver Porsche Carrera GT swiftly halted in
front of her. She was sure it was Alexander judging by the little cute bow tie
on the side mirrors. One of his weird preferences. Charlotte stepped front and
opened the passenger door, only to find a Blondie frantically making out with
Alexander.
“Oh gosh! Sorry!” She quickly slammed the
car door and backed away. She tried to look away from the car but it felt weird
to be looking at the homeless people along the street, so she ended up staring
back at her apartment window. The Blondie walked out from the car with smudged
lipstick and messy hair, with her tube top threatening to fall off any second. She
gave Charlotte a sheepish smile and walked into the apartment building.
Charlotte turned around as Alexander whistled at her.
“Hey, ready to go?” Alexander opened the
passenger door for her and she quickly stepped in. The first thing she had to
do is to check on her reflection on her small mirror. When she finished
adjusting her hair and her dress, Alexander had pulled off to the street. She
looked at him and laughed at his appearance. His left cheek has two lip prints
on and his hair was completely messed up.
“What?” Alexander demanded. “What’s so
funny?”
“You amazed me, Xan. Really. How many
girls do you need in your life anyway? That’s your new fav?”
“That is Amelia. We just met at the coffee
shop on my way here. I fetched some coffee bean and she needed a ride home, and
coincidently, she’s staying in the same apartment building as you. So I
thought, ‘Why Not?’” Alexander gave her his killer smile; she almost fell for
him that instant.
“Well you have lipstick on your face. And
your hair is a mess. Don’t tell me, I know you guys had sex in the car.”
Charlotte fished out a face napkin from her clutch and tried to wipe off the
stains on his cheeks. She tried to fix his hair too, but she couldn’t really
reach in while he’s driving, too dangerous.
“Not really, we just uhh…played around. Anyway,
lose those earrings, I don’t like them.” Alexander adjusted the rear view
mirror to see his own reflection at the stop light. Charlotte took down her
earrings and placed ’em on the dashboard. He handed her a small box. A Tiffany box.
She opened it gingerly, convinced that it is not a proposal gift. What met her eyes
is a pair of super gorgeous dove shaped earrings. Accompanied them is a white
ceramic, double band ring, her size.
“Put them on. Those are the proofs that
you are indeed my girl.” Alexander smiled as if that thought amuses him.
“All these, just for a disguise?”
Charlotte held up the double band ring, wondering how much it would have cost.
“Well, the mothers are very detailed. We
can’t risk being exposed.” Alexander took a left turn after the light and kept
his eyes on the road. Charlotte put on the earrings, carefully not to drop them
under the car seat where they will disappear forever. She hesitated which finger
the ring will be settled on, which then she saw a similar male version on
Alexander’s right ring finger, so she decided to slit it on the same finger as
well.
Before she could settle her nerves,
they’ve arrived at a three storey bungalow. It was way below her expectations.
She imagined gold-colored high gates, perfectly harmonized house paint, five
sporty cars and at least 2 Rottweiler. Well, maybe a security unit at the
entrance as well. Instead, they have a low spiky, vertically striped automatic
gate, contrast colors on each outer wall of the house, one family car and a
cute Beagle. But they do have a gorgeous garden though.
An European lady came out of the house and
proceeded to open the passenger side door. Charlotte stepped out gracefully and
thanked her. Alexander walked around the car and held Charlotte by the waist.
He passed the car keys to the lady and guided Charlotte into the house.
“Nervous?” He whispered. “Kinda.” Charlotte took a deep breath and concentrate
on where they’re going. Two Philippine girls, who looked exactly alike, greeted
them in the living room. “Everyone is waiting in the Diner, sir.” They nodded
and smiled at Charlotte, but she’s too busy gawking at her surroundings to take
notice of them.
“Hey, let’s go.” Alexander tried to make her
come to her senses by gently rubbing her hand.
“Oh my gosh! You mean, like, the outer
part of your home is like an anti-theft design? This place is so awesome! This
is exactly what I would want for my future home!” Charlotte walked over to the cozy
leather couch and sat on it. She admired the shelve collection of video game
consoles, the cute colorful coffee tables scattered around the room and the
huge flat screen mounted on the wall. The entire floor was carpeted, all the
furniture are in various designs. It’s like different concepts trying to blend
together, and they really pulled it off.
“Why, don’t you sound like my little desperate
future wife?” Alexander lifted her from the couch princess style, and slumped
together into an orange bean bag chair at the centre of the room. Charlotte
laughed as they free fall on it. He hugged her so close that they are looking
at each other right in the eyes.
“You’re very beautiful tonight.” Alexander
said softly.
“Thank you. You looked really sharp.”
Charlotte replied. Alexander gazed into her eyes, and without any warning, he
kissed her cheek. Charlotte had the urge to French kiss him right then and
there, but he looked away and stood up. “We really need to get going, my love.”
He extended his hand to her and helped her up. He adjusted her dress and led
her to the dining room.
When they entered the dining room, all
heads turned towards their direction and nobody made a sound. Charlotte swore
she could hear the chocolate bonbons melting. She looked at Alexander and then
back at the curious faces. She could make out Alexander’s birth mother Veron,
the two stepmoms Patricia and Andie, Patricia’s only son Anthony Evans, the
girl next to him who must be his girlfriend, one mid aged lady and last but not
least, the father Mr. Jacques Evans.
Alexander scanned the table coldly and
only nodded to Veron and half smiled to Anthony. He then proceeded to one end
of the long table and sat Charlotte on the empty seat on his left. “Sorry for
running late, had some errands to do.” He grabbed two bonbons, handed Charlotte
one and popped the other one into his mouth. Charlotte bit on her chocolate
awkwardly. Who could’ve acted normal when everyone is staring at that one
person?
“Knock it off, alright? Her name is
Charlotte Dixon and she is my new secretary and girlfriend. She’s 22 and we are
madly in love.” Alexander looked over at his stepmoms, daring them to make any
statement at all.
Jacques cleared his throat as the
Philippine twins brought in wines for everyone. “Well, we will see how true is
your madly in love statement, alright. Let’s have a toast, to a blessed evening
where we can hopefully gather in peace. Cheers!” Right after the toast, more
people in black outfits entered the room with baskets of warm bread and bowls
of hot soup. Pumpkin, Alexander’s favorite. Charlotte looked at the varieties
of bread in the basket and couldn’t hide her excitement. She loved pastries,
tarts, anything baked!
She looked at Alexander with a huge smile
and he couldn’t help but to smile back. He extended his hand, touched her cheek
and swept a strand of hair to the back of her ear. “Ciabatta with butter?” He
asked. Charlotte nodded whole heartedly. “Yes, please.” Charlotte watched as Alexander
spread the soft butter on the warm bread, he would be a very qualified partner
if he’d be less flirtatious. Charlotte then noticed the dash of parsley on the
surface of the soup, and she knew how much Alexander hated them. She swiftly
scooped out all the tiny pieces of greens from her bowl and exchanged with
Alexander. He looked up from the bread and smiled. He then deliberately bit off
a small corner of the Ciabatta and handed over the rest to Charlotte, who
chuckled playfully.
Needless to say, all their actions were
accessed by everyone else in the room. But the act doesn’t feel forceful, it
just came naturally to them, and they looked like a couple who has been in love
for a long period of time.
Finally, Andie voiced out. “Hey Charlotte,
I bet you don’t know who this is.” She gestured to the mid aged lady beside
her.
“No, I don’t. I haven’t seen her in any of
the profiles.” Charlotte answered innocently. That sent everyone laughing. Charlotte
looked over to Alexander nervously, who nodded in encouragement.
“Of course you don’t, silly. Who would
have included his one and only true love’s mother into any of the profiles?”
The laughter fainted. Charlotte stared at Alexander for help, but he himself
looked like he would go off the edge soon. Charlotte held on to his hand on the
table, forced him to look at her.
“I’m sure he has his reasons for that,
ma’am.” Charlotte looked at Alexander and tightened her grip.
“I might not be The
One for him, but I’m trying my very best to be the better one. I don’t know
what happened in his past, but I’m sure we will have a great future ahead of us.
I just need that chance to prove to him, and to all of you, that I can do it.”
Charlotte looked closely at everyone by the table, trying to read their
emotionless faces.
The mid aged lady snorted, and gave
Charlotte an expression that said “Impossible”. Alexander had had enough, he
stood up and left the table with Charlotte as their hands locked tightly. Veron
and Anthony were calling out his name from behind, but he ignored them and raced
to the front door. Charlotte tried to slow him down but he wouldn’t. At last
she shouted his name loud enough to snap him back to reality. He threw her back
against the wall and hit his fist right beside her. She winced as he hit the
wall another time and slumps against her body.
“It’s okay, Xan.” She hugged him as tight
as she could with their current position. He stood up straight and looked at
her. He stroked the back of her head gently, feared that he had hurt her.
“I’m sorry Charl, I’m so sorry. You don’t
have to be treated like this.” This is the first time Charlotte ever seen him
in this condition. He looked like a lost puppy that had lost all meaning of his
life.
“Hey, it’s not your fault. I agreed
to do this. Believe me, I expected worse.” Charlotte smiled positively. She
fondled his neck and his cheek, trying to soothe him down. At the same time,
remained eye contact with him. Alexander hugged her again, real tight.
“Hey, bro, you okay? I’m sorry aunt Andie
invited Mrs. Woods, we really didn’t expect that to happen.” Anthony stood a
few feet behind them, waiting for them to turn around. But they remained clinged
for another two minutes or so.
“Well, it’s them man, what do you expect?”
Alexander said as he let go of Charlotte, still holding her hand to keep her
close.
“Xan, please, you know your aunt Andie,
she’s always finding fault with us. Please, stay for the night; it’s been so
long since you’ve been here. At least stay for supper. Mrs. Woods will be gone
by then.” Veron pleaded. She promised to
let them finish their dinner in Alexander’s room till then. Alexander had no
choice but to accept. After all, he missed his mother too.
After an awkward hug with Veron, Alexander
brought Charlotte to his room, which according to Charlotte, is another
masterpiece. They lay in bed after the satisfying steak and cranberry crostata.
They both had more than a few shots of bourbon and Charlotte is already seeing
doubles. They would laugh out loud for no reason and threw pillows at each
other.
“Oh look! You have four eyes and two
noses!” Charlotte pointed at Alexander and laughed hysterically.
“You are so drunk.” Alexander moved her
hand away from his face and held on to it.
“No! You are drunk. I can still recognize
you, you know? You are Alexander Evans, my boss and my boyfriend.” Once again
she laughed so loud; Alexander had to cover her mouth with his hands.
“Shhh, quiet down, we’re going to receive
complaints if you don’t!” He pulled her close and rested her head on his arms.
“I love this place. Can we come here more
often?” Charlotte said with her eyes closed.
“No. I don’t like it here. But I’m sure
you would love my apartment, it’s way better than this room.”
“Really? Pinky promise?” Charlotte held
out her hand straight up. Alexander grabbed it and gave it a huge kiss.
“Promise.”
Charlotte looked deeply into his eyes. His
eyes are the color of the blue sea. Very mysterious. Alexander was about to joke
about her smudged lipstick when she pressed her lips against his. Alexander
didn’t know how to react; he doesn’t want to take advantage of her when she’s
drunk. But when she slit her tongue into his mouth, he lost control. He pressed
her against the soft bed and pulled down the dress off her shoulder. They bit
each other, caressed their bodies and kissed more intensely than ever.
He moved down to her neck and shoulders
while Charlotte tries to unbutton his shirt. His fingers were already warming
up with her sweet spot when she proceeds to unbuckle his pants. Soon they were
both naked, kissing each other while kneeling on the bed. “You sure about this
babe?” Alexander asked softly. Charlotte nodded slightly; continue nibbling his
neck and making love bites on his chest.
As much as he wanted her, he forced
himself to cool off from the lust. He set her down on the bed, despite the
luring kisses on his body. He kissed her softly on the lips, and slowly covered
themselves under the blanket. He gently stroked her hair and hugged her, until
she stopped kissing. When she finally fell asleep, he found an oversized-shirt
and puts it on for her. He found a boxer for himself as well.
“We’ll do the rest when you’re sober. I
want us to know that we really want this babe. And…I think I’m falling for you.
Is that a bad thing? What do you think?” Alexander let his question remained unanswered
and slept with her in his arms.
