Chapter 3: Destiny

Weekends pass very quickly. Alexa now works for Daniel. A brand new car pulled outside her vicinity. She glances at the window and saw a tall slim girl waiting outside the car. She hurriedly rush downstairs and get her bag. She has already made breakfast for her mother and a food that can be cook for lunch. She got her eyeglasses and make way for the door when her phone rings.

“Hello? Who is this?” she said as scanning the unknown number.

“Alexa, it’s me Harold,” Harold replied.

“Oh it’s you, what’s the problem?” she asked.

“I’m sorry by how my fiancée act last time. I told her to hire you again,” Harold said calmly but with a little embarrassment in the tone of his voice.

“I’m sorry Harold but I already got a new job, I can’t go back there” Alexa replied.

“Already? Oh well I just need to talk to you. Can we meet somewhere?” Harold asked.

“I’m sorry but I have to call you again, I’m going to be late for work,” Alexa said. Then she puts down the phone and turns it off. She hurriedly ran outside to see the young woman still standing in front of their house.

“I’m sorry, someone called,” she explained.

“It is fine mademoiselle, I am Isolde. Mr. Daniel’s personal assistant. He want me to take you to work and bring you home safely every now and then,” Isolde said.

Isolde then signals her that they need to get going. Alexa hop in on the back and listens to some music on her phone. They arrive a few minutes early at the office. She goes to her department and do her work. Hours have passed and she felt hungry. She takes a look at the clock and realize it is already break time.

“Oh break time, I need to get some food. I am so focused on work, I lost track of time,” she said to herself.

Daniel walks in Alexa’s department and he saw her immediately. He sees that she is packing her things when he grabs her by the arm and turn her in front of him. Now they are only an inches close to each other. Daniel is sitting beside her and she can smell his cologne. Daniel could also feel the trembling heartbeat of Alexa when he started to talk.

“It may seem like I caught you off guard, Ms. Jones,” he said. “Just like how you also caught me off guard.” Daniel added.

Alexa stiffens for a moment and returns to normal.

“Well can we both go out for lunch?” Daniel ask her

Alexa nodded and she take her bag. They both got down by elevator and Daniel doesn’t take of his eyes from Alexa. He is memorizing every pattern of her and she can feel the heat of his eyes to her skin. Alexa’s breath kept trembling that Daniel touch her again by her hand.

“You’re cold Alexa,” he said

Alexa looks at him and can’t seem to form any word. Daniel then scoop Alexa’s hands through his hand and let his breath warms Alexa’s hands. He looks at her with great passion and care. They were at the parking lot moments after. Daniel drives the car swiftly like they are in a romantic movie. Alexa still can’t bother to form a sentence and just look outside the window. Until she asks him.

“Where are we going to eat?” Alexa said.

“Finally,” Daniel said while laughing.

“We are going at some restaurant here in London that serves best quality food,” he added.

Alexa’s heart fluttered from Daniel’s sweet gestures. She felts his eyes on her all the time. When they arrive at a local restaurant in London.

“Wow it sure is cozy in here,” Alexa said.

“We should order now Alexa, you might be hungry.” Daniel said

Alexa’s stomach grumbled in starvation. She looks around and sees a very spacious place with candle lights hanging from the ceiling and some are in the walls. There are also words encrypted in the walls that says “the best in all Europe.” She looks outside and see people walking. The place is filled with people chattering and Alexa looks at all of them. The waiter appear after a few minutes and asks for their order.

“I will have a pasta ravioli,” Daniel said knowing what he wants.

“I would like some steak please with a side of onion rings,” Alexa said.

The waiter leave with their orders and Alexa continued looking at different places and peoples.

“You seem to be curious about everything,” Daniel said.

“Oh it is just a habit,” Alexa replied

“You are beautiful when you are curious,” Daniel said.

The phrases “beautiful” makes Alexa uncomfortable. She didn’t know whether she will say thank you or also compliment him. She sits there and stares at him with an awful look.

“Come on Alexa, you need to reply at him. He sees how big of an idiot you look,” Alexa said to herself.

Daniel kept looking at her and then he smile.

“You don’t need to respond to that. I like looking at you. You are something to admire of,” Daniel explained.

“I’m sorry, I am not used to compliments. I rarely goes out with someone,” Alexa replied

Daniel looks at her again and nods. After they talk the food arrives. Alexa immediately dig in her food that makes Daniel laugh at her. She looks at him and smiled idiotically. She then proceeds with her table manner and saw Daniel also eating his pasta. They both enjoy eating together.

“How’s the pasta?” Alexa ask.

“It is quite delightful Alexa, how about the steak?” Daniel ask.

“It is good, really delicious.” Alexa replied.

They were talking for a bit while eating when Daniel receive a call.

“Hello Isolde?” Daniel said at the phone. “Okay I’m coming back,” he added.

“Who is it?” Alexa asked.

“My assistant, something came up at the company. I need to go back. I’m really sorry Alexa.” Daniel said.

“No, it is perfectly fine. You may now go,” She said with a little sad tone in her voice.

“Perhaps next time we can continue our date again, I hope you will give me another chance.” Daniel replied.

“Of course,” she said.

Daniel then bid his farewell at Alexa and pays for the food. He also told Alexa that after she eats a car will take her back to the company. Alexa being left alone, process Daniel’s word on her head.

“DATE!!??” Alexa shouted. That many people looks at her and the waiters ask her if she is okay. She said she is fine and felt a little bit embarrassed by how she shouted. She then now continued eating her steak and onion rings. The waiter then came back with a wine on his hand.

“Mr. Daniel ordered it before he go,” the waiter said

Alexa nods and take the wine. She pour herself some and drinks it while eating the onion rings. She is still processing Daniel’s words and glances. She thought to herself that things has been going fast lately. She couldn’t have been in love with him but Alexa’s heart knows different. Her heart knows that it is love at first sight but she doesn’t believe in those kind of fairytales. She doesn’t believe that Daniel, a very handsome and rich guy would fall in love with her. She keeps pacing back and forth at what she feels. She keeps saying no but her heart says yes. She doesn’t know what to do and she need someone to talk to about this. Then someone pop up from her mind. She knew if she calls this one, she might have her answers. Alexa finishes her meal and the wine. She goes out the restaurant and sees a car waiting for her. She saw a tall bearded guy wait for her at the passenger side.

“Ms. Jones?” Arthur said.

“Yes,” she replied

“I am Arthur, Mr. Daniel said that I should take you back at the company.” Arthur explained

Alexa nods at him and goes inside the car. She thought to herself that everything felts different when she is with Daniel. That time passes quickly when she is with him. That everything feels good when he is around. That everything felt right beside him. She looks at the skyscrapers and thinks about their first date. She laughs a bit that makes Arthur looks at her but she didn’t care. She thinks about him and nothing can bother her from thinking about him. They arrive at office exactly at 1 in the afternoon. Everyone is whispering about something but Alexa couldn’t grasp on what is happening. She returned to her department and saw her workmates, when they saw her they immediately focused on their work. Making Alexa wonder what is happening. Until their team leader appear in front of her. The leader seems mad at her but she doesn’t know why. She asks her what is happening and then she shouted at her.

“WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!” the leader shouted. Making everyone almost bow down so they will not get scolded.

“I am having my lunch,” Alexa explained.

“Lunch has ended 30 minutes ago,” the leader said in much calmer tone.

“But,” Alexa muttered.

“NO FREAKING BUTS, YOU WERE LATE FOR 30 MINUTES. THERE ARE JOBS WE NEED TO DO!” the leader said, angrier now.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know we can only eat for 30 minutes.” Alexa said.

“You don’t know?” the leader said.

The team leader then now drag her across the room making her fall a couple of times. She showed her the paper in the wall that says “30 MINUTES BREAKTIME.” Alexa didn’t notice that before, just now. Then the team leader slaps her and she falls on the ground. She also have a wound on her leg and hand after falling down a couple of time while being drag across the room. Alexa slowly felt tears running down her cheeks. She felt the heat of eyes watching her.

“You need to learn your position Alexa,” the team leader said.

“I’m just late for 30 minutes and you already slaps me,” Alexa said.

“Look who’s complaining, you shitty girl.” The team leader said. Then grabs Alexa’s arms then slaps her again several times. Some people started stopping the leader but she is so forceful and still kept hitting Alexa. Until someone calls on Daniel.

“Sire, there have been some commotion at level 43.” The guy said still catching his breath.

“What commotion?” Daniel asks.

“Just please come sir before it become more dangerous,” the guy said.

Daniel hurriedly goes out his office till he remembers that Alexa’s office is at level 43. He now wonders if Alexa is in trouble but he assures that no one would dare to do that at Alexa since she is a nice lady. Still, he is wondering what it is all about. He arrive at level 43 quickly and runs inside the office till he see Alexa lying on the floor, with bruises and wounds. He immediately rushes towards her and aid Alexa. He stops the team leader hands and grabs her by the wrist making her stand up and face him eye to eye.

“What the hell do you think you are doing?” Daniel asks the team leader as he kept looking at Alexa back and forth who is crying and has blood on her face.

“This incompetent woman came to work 30 minutes late,” the leader explained as she looks at Daniel’s eyes.

Daniel look at her dead in the eye and told her.

“How dare you hit my girl?” he said.

They gasped in shock and looks at Alexa.

“Pardon?” the team leader said.

“Alexa and I are in a meeting. That is why she came her late. You have no right to hit her or anyone here in this office because that is not your job,” Daniel said furiously.

“You will not come to work from the time being, consider this a punishment for hitting an innocent lady.” Daniel said then he lets go of the team leader’s wrist. He came down and carried Alexa with his arms. Saying sorry on her ears over and over again. They got out of the building immediately. Daniel rushes Alexa to the hospital. They got there for only a few minutes. He takes Alexa to the emergency room and has reserve a private room for her. The nurses treat Alexa’s wounds and bruises.

“Alexa, I’m sorry.” He said while looking at Alexa.

“It is nothing Daniel, these are only wounds and bruises. It’ll heal at some time,” Alexa explained.

Daniel sat down beside Alexa’s bed and hugs her. He kisses her fore head and promise it won’t happen again. Alexa also hugs. Daniel told Alexa that she can now go home. Alexa agreed and Daniel drives her home.

“You won’t be coming to work from the time being,” Daniel said while standing on Alexa’s doorway.

“But why?” Alexa asks.

“Because of what happened today,” he explained

“Is it because I caused trouble?” Alexa asks.

“No Alexa, it is because you are gravely wounded by her hands. You have bruises on your arms and legs. You have wound in your face and hands. She has hurt you badly that is why you should take a rest for a while and not because of that troubled leader you have,” Daniel explained to her while scooping her face.

Daniel looks her. She saw how concerned his eyes is and how worried they look at. She felt comfort in those eyes and hope that it will never go away. She hugs him again and that took Daniel by surprise making him smile. They both hug each other outside of Alexa’s doorway. Daniel promised her that he will visit her from time to time. He also said that he will bring some food for her mother and her. Daniel leaves her house right after he knows she is fine. She goes for a nap and will find some excuse about it when her mother sees her.

Alexa wakes up almost late in the morning. She can hear someone talking in the living room. She rushes her way down stairs and saw her mother watching television.

“Good Morning sweetheart,” her mother greeted.

“Hey mom,” she replied

Her mother stood up and walk towards her. Her mother then lifted her face and arms and get shocked by Alexa’s bruises.

“Alexa!” her mother shouted.

“Mom don’t worry, it will heal.” She replied

“Where did you get this?” her mother ask

“Nothing, just leave it be.” She said

“How could I leave it when I don’t even hit you?” her mother said then she hug Alexa. Alexa felt a little down when her childhood memories flashbacks.

FLASHBACK 10 YEARS AGO….

“Mom, please stop. You’re hurting me.” Alexa said while her mother kept hitting her at her bottom. She cried and cried to her mother’s screams at her.

“YOU ARE A PROBLEMATIC CHILD! YOU ARE JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER!” her mother shouted at her while still hitting her.

“Mommy, I’m sorry. I won’t do it again,” Alexa promised but her mother just got angrier.

“I’m going to count to ten, you are going to hide. If I found you, I’m going to kill you Alexa.” Her mother threatens her.

Alexa doesn’t know what to do. Hug her mother and beg her to stop but her mom started counting.

“1,” her mother said

“Mommy please,” Alexa begged

“2,” her mother continued

“Mommy no, please,” Alexa said still begging

“3, to the count of ten. I’m going to find you so hide little Alexa,” her mother said

Alexa stop hugging her mother. She also stop crying. She thought to herself that she needs to get as far away as possible from her mentally ill mother. She then runs outside her house and her mother got surprise.

“You little..,” her mother said. “Alexa come back, we can only play inside the house. Don’t run outside!” her mother shouted at her as she runs away

“I need to get out of here,” Alexa said while running and sobbing

Alexa runs a few blocks farther from their house. She goes inside an abandoned building and start crying there. She sits and hugs herself tightly. She blames her father for what happened to her mother. Her mother suffered from severe depression and tried to kill herself countless times. After her father left them, her mother was never the same. Her mother is also an only child and her parents have died. So Alexa doesn’t have any relatives. Her mother sometimes tell her that she has a twin sister. Her older sister that has died due to complications. Her twin sister died right after birth and sometimes Alexa wishes that she’s the one that died. She wishes to trade places with her dead sister so that she couldn’t suffer any more from her mother’s severe beatings and tantrums. Alexa stayed at that building blaming her father then cry a little bit until someone sees her.

“Hi, my name is Lily,” the little girl said

“I’m Alexa,” she said

The little girl smile at her and then sit beside her.

“What are you doing here?” Lily ask

Alexa didn’t answer and the Lily gets that.

“It’s raining, you could get sick here,” Lily said

Alexa looks outside the building window and saw big raindrops falling from the sky. She doesn’t notice anything that has happened outside and around her since she is busy crying and blaming her father. She looks at Lily and smiles at her.

“I know a place where you can stay, maybe there you might tell me what happened to you.” Lily said while pointing at her bruises in the face and wounds at her body. Alexa then agreed at Lily and stood up. Lily has a pink umbrella and then covers her and Alexa while the walk in the rain. Lily kept talking to Alexa. She interrogated her to who she is and where she came from. Alexa explains everything to her and left out the part of her mother. They came along a big house and huge garden. Lily went inside and signals Alexa to come in. when they are at the doorway a woman was standing in front. She is wearing fancy things around her neck and wrists. She wore a dress and she has long blond hair. She also got gray eyes and then she talk.

“Lily, who is your friend here?” the woman ask

“Mother this is Alexa, I saw her at our abandoned building crying.” Lily said. The mother then looks at Alexa and saw the bruises and wounds. She immediately told them to come inside the house. Lily’s mother call the maid and instructed it to take care of Alexa. Alexa afraid since she doesn’t know this people refused but Lily assures her that she is safe. Alexa now agreed to follow the maid and Lily is following them from behind. Alexa showers for a while with a warm water. She is also given new cloths. The maid also treats her wounds and bruises and when she is ready Lily signals her to come down stairs.

“We are going to eat Alexa, come,” Lily said. Alexa followed Lily and the proceeds to the dining table. She sat beside Lily and glances at the house. She saw a chandelier hanging. The window is also fancy. The dining table is long and everything seems shiny and sparkling. She looks at her plate with a floral decorations. She looks at every people at the table chattering and laughing.

“This is my father, then my mother and my siblings.” Lily said while pointing at everyone. Lily has 5 more siblings. Four boys and one girl. Lily is the youngest among all her siblings but her age doesn’t go farther way from Alexa’s age.

“So how did you end up at our abandoned building Alexa?” Lily’s father ask

“I was running away from home,” Alexa replied

“Why?” Lily’s mother ask

“Because my mother always beats me,” Alexa replied. All of them gasped even Lily. They all look at Alexa with pity in their eyes. Alexa didn’t want that, she doesn’t want people to look at her with pity. So she just swallowed all their pity looks.

“Well you should stay here for a while,” Lily’s father said

“Yes, you may stay at Lily’s room. Is it okay for you sweetie?” Lily’s mother ask

“Yes, mommy. Alexa can stay at my room for as long as she likes,” Lily replied smiling.

“Are you sure mother?” Lily’s eldest brother said. “Don’t you think it is wrong making a stranger sleeps here and also beside Lily?” Lily’s eldest brother continued.

“Oh, Alexa isn’t a stranger anymore. I trust her and you can see that she is telling the truth. For God’s sake she is only ten,” Lily’s mother said.

“Proceed with your meal everyone,” Lily’s father replied.

Everyone ate their foods. Alexa is amazed by how plenty the foods is and how delicious it taste. She said to herself that she will enjoy this since it doesn’t usually comes at her life. She doesn’t know when it may came again.