Chapter Three

That same afternoon Amelia sent Benjamin an e-mail explaining what had happened. He immediately bought her another cell phone and had it delivered the next day.

The next morning Amelia left her room and went to the beach. She needed to get rid of that cell phone, believing that even if it was broken, it could send some kind of signal. Luckily, the Alderidge residence had a pier that led down to the sea. 

Amelia enjoyed her walk on the beach, it was still too early for anyone there to be awake. Quickly, she went to the pier and threw her cell phone into the sea. Taking a deep breath, she believed she would be safe.

Returning to the house, Amelia found one of the second floor windows open, having the strange sensation of being watched. Hurrying her steps, she returned to her room and changed her clothes and headed for Mr. Alderidge's room.

"Good morning. "Amelia greeted him, entering the room and walking to the window, but noticing that it was already open.

"You just woke up?" she questioned, turning her attention to the bed where Alexander was lying.

She looked out the window next, noticing the view of the pier. The same view she had noticed minutes before when she was outside the house. But as she looked at the bed, she doubted that Alexander could have gotten up and laid down again.

"Do you want help bathing?" he questioned as he looked at him.

"Well, that's what you're here for, isn't it? "He spoke for the first time, his voice deep and in that arrogant tone.

Amelia nodded, taking the wheelchair over to the bed. Alexander leaned on it, then sat down in the chair. 

She soon went to the bathroom, turning on the water in the bathtub and returning to the bedroom when she heard someone knocking on the door.

"Miss Jones, order for you. "The housekeeper said as she entered, handing Amelia a box.

"Thank you, but you can call me Amy. "Amelia replied as she smiled.

Alexander watched quietly and soon the housekeeper was leaving the two.

"What is this? " He asked, his blue eyes tensed into a suspicious line.

"A cell phone. "She answered, putting the box aside.

"Don't you have a cell phone?

"Mine broke. My brother bought me another one," Amelia replied, moving closer to Alexander to help him remove his clothes.

"I can do it myself. " He replied, removing her hand from over his shoulder. Amelia nodded in agreement.

"And how did your cell phone break?" he questioned again, noticing that he was bothering her.

"It fell and broke. "She replied, squinting and walking away. But he noticed when she began to snap her fingers.

He watched suspiciously, measuring her with his gaze.

Then he guided the wheelchair to the bathroom, and Amelia followed. 

She took the temperature and then turned off the faucet, pouring some bath salts into the water. She helped Alexander remove the rest of his clothes, supporting him as he stepped into the tub. Avoiding, of course, looking more closely at his body, or rather, his most intimate parts. But from what little I could see of his legs stretched out in the tub, I could tell how tall Alexander was. 

"Do you plan to stare at me?" he raised one of his eyebrows.

Amelia didn't answer, her eyes still fixed on Alexander as she continued to watch him.

"How long has it been since you washed your hair?

Alexander seemed not to understand Amelia's question.

"It's just that your hair looks shabby. " She answered, but he quickly mumbled something she didn't understand.

"What's it to you, Jones?" he asked, clearly annoyed.

"That I could wash it if you would stop being so suspicious. "Amelia replied, crossing her arms.

"All right," Alexander replied, feeling defeated. 

Amelia fetched shampoo and conditioner from the cabinet, as well as a comb. Taking advantage of the headrest, she sat down on a corner of the step leading to the tub and grabbed the shower hose.

As she wet Alexander's hair, Amelia deposited some shampoo and then began to massage his scalp. She could hear his satisfied moans, making her smile as he opened his eyes and stared up at her from below.

"Close your eyes, shampoo will fall," she ordered, and so he did.

As he pulled his back away, she could see the scar on his back, imagining it was from the surgery. Her gaze traveled down his body, finding other scars on his legs.

" What is it?" She heard Alexander ask when she realized he was looking at her.

" The scars. Are they from the accident?" Amelia asked.

"Apparently Ethan has already talked to you about what happened. " He replied, watching her.

"He only told me about your injuries. "Amelia spoke, but wanted to hear it from him.

Alexander analyzed that conversation, examining her.

"I had an injury at L3, the hardware compressed my spine and some of it caused fractures to my tibia and fibula. "He went on, showing the scars on his legs. "I have platelets in both legs, as well as pins. After a while they stopped bothering me.

"What about his physical therapy sessions?

"Paul comes three times a week, does the movement exercises so that my legs don't atrophy. "Alexander explained.

"And you haven't had any improvement?" she asked, she was really curious.

"No, Amelia. " He replied, calling her by her first name as he closed the subject.

She continued to massage his hair, then finished and began to rinse the blond strands that were already looking much better. 

"And you, Amelia Jones. What should I know about you?" he asked, those deep blue eyes inquisitive. 

"There's not much to know. " She replied, shrugging as she rinsed off her conditioner.

"There's always something to know. "He insisted.

"I needed a change in my life. I didn't have much of a future in my city, so I came to New York to stay with my older brother. "Amelia answered, not wanting to go any deeper.

"And what else?" he insisted once again.

"What do you want to know?" she crossed her arms.

"I don't know, tell me something about yourself. Something intimate. "Alexander asked directly.

Amelia looked at him thoughtfully, then smiled.

"I used to sail when I was younger. It was a hobby of mine and my mother. When I was little, she gave me a toy sailboat and I named it Little Bee. "Since then, my brothers and sisters call me Bunny. 

"Your turn. Tell me something about you that nobody knows. "Amelia asked, finishing his hair and then combing it. She could smell the conditioner, smiling satisfied.

"I need to finish my shower, I want you to leave me alone. " Alexander spoke up, immediately closing in on her. "Please.

Amelia then left the bathroom and soon Alexander finished his shower. He dressed himself and then picked up his cell phone from the bed.

Alexander stared out the window for a few minutes until he finally decided to do what he wanted to do. He typed a number into the cell phone screen and then the voice on the other end answered.

"Jonas, I want you to investigate someone for me," Alexander began to speak. "Her name is Amelia Jones. I will email you the information later.