The Fifth Breakdown

“Anyways, I should get going.” Audrey's smile falters as she receives a response from Kalix that catches her completely off guard. “Yeah, you should -” His words strike her like a blow, leaving her momentarily stunned. 

The hope she held for a simple word of gratitude or acknowledgment quickly dissipated, replaced by confusion and a tinge of hurt.

Puckering her eyebrows, Audrey can't help but express her bewilderment. "Excuse me?" she blurts out, hoping to clarify his unexpected response. She searches his face for any sign that he might be joking or simply misunderstood her.

Kalix 's focus shifts from his watch to Audrey, his eyes meeting hers with a hint of defiance. His tone carries a mixture of dismissiveness and indifference as he repeats, "Yeah, you should get going... Whatever your name is." 

His words sting, delivered with a deliberate lack of courtesy.

The initial shock turns to frustration as Audrey's patience wears thin. Her voice carries a matching level of rudeness as she retorts, "Audrey! And you should be thanking me for returning your watch on time!" 

Her words are laced with a justified sense of indignation, unwilling to let his dismissive attitude go unchallenged.

Kalix scoffs at her words, his tone dripping with mockery as he taunts her, "Thank you? For stealing my watch or to return it back when you can't seem to sell it?" His accusation stings, unfairly branding Audrey as a thief and adding insult to injury.

The atmosphere in the room becomes tense, their exchange escalating into a confrontation fueled by misunderstanding and frustration. 

“Are you accusing me of being a thief?” Audrey's eyes widen in disbelief as she hears Kalix's accusation. Her hand instinctively rests on her chest, a mix of shock and offense crossing her features. 

The implication of being labeled a thief strikes a deep chord within her, igniting a fiery response.

"You tell me, are you trying to be a thief?" Kalix's words cut through the air like a sharp blade, his voice laced with cynicism and hostility. His attempt to shut down his emotions only adds to the intensity of the exchange, escalating the tension between them.

Audrey scoffs, anger dripping from her tone as she retorts, "No shit your uncle despises you... I would do the same if I was in his place!" 

Her words are fueled by frustration and hurt, a verbal strike aimed at Kalix's vulnerability.

With those final words, Audrey turns on her heel and begins walking away. As she exits his cabin, she can't help but mutter a single word under her breath, "pathetic." 

Her departing insult hangs in the air, leaving Kalix to grapple with the aftermath of their heated confrontation.

Taking a deep sigh, Kalix feels the weight of the encounter settles upon him. He places a hand on his chest, feeling his racing heartbeat gradually subside. 

The lingering tension and raw emotions left in Audrey's wake serve as a stark reminder of the impact their exchange has had on him. Kalix takes a moment to collect himself, reflecting on the heated confrontation and contemplating the consequences of their words.

In her frustrated haste to leave the building, Audrey clutches her handbag tightly, muttering under her breath to vent her frustrations. Unaware of her surroundings, she collides with an unexpected force, stumbling and losing her balance. 

With a startled exclamation of "Fuck!" escaping her lips, she finds herself sprawled on the floor.

Lifting her eyes, she meets the gaze of a handsome man standing before her. His kind and understanding expression immediately captures her attention. He bends down, his actions mirroring his empathy, as he offers her a helping hand.

Before he can utter an apology, she cuts her off with a deep sigh and takes responsibility for the collision. "That's okay. I was walking without looking," she admits, her voice tinged with a mixture of embarrassment and gratitude for his understanding.

Accepting his outstretched hand, Audrey allows him to assist her in regaining her footing. As she stands upright, she looks at him and sincerely says, "Thank you," a genuine smile forming on her lips.

In response, a smile dances at the corners of his mouth, mirroring the warmth in his eyes. 

"I assume that you are either frustrated or cussing someone," the stranger says playfully, eliciting a scoff from Audrey as she fakes a laugh. "Oh, no. It's nothing. I was on my way out," she replies, brushing off the notion of any lingering frustration.

Curiosity sparks in his eyes as he narrows his eyebrows, posing a question that piques Audrey's interest. "What is a beautiful girl like you doing here, I wonder?" His words hold a touch of charm, causing a smile to play at the corners of her lips.

Before Audrey can respond, the ring of her phone interrupts their conversation. 

She quickly answers the call, informing the person on the other end that she is on her way. "Anyways, I should get going. Thank you again," she says, acknowledging the stranger's assistance.

He extends his hand for a handshake, and Audrey returns the gesture with a cheerful smile, warmly shaking his hand. "My name is Paul," he introduces himself, his eyes meeting hers.

Audrey reciprocates, a glimmer of intrigue coloring her voice as she shares her name. "Audrey," she responds, the exchange of names solidifying their brief but memorable encounter. 

The connection between them lingers in the air, leaving Audrey curious about the possibilities that may lie ahead.

As Paul's eyes meet with his cousin Kalix's cold stare, he senses the tension in the air. Kalix approaches him, his eyes filled with a deep-seated hatred. Keeping his hand tucked in his pocket, Kalix poses a question, his tone laced with suspicion, "What were you talking about?"

Paul immediately comprehends that the girl he was just speaking with must have come from Kalix's room. A satisfied expression creeps onto his lips as he decides to play with his cousin's emotions. 

Mockingly, he replies, "Oh, she was just... we agreed on a date." After a brief pause, he adds, "Why do you ask?"

Kalix's expression darkens further, his voice carrying a warning as he responds, "Stay away from girls like her." The anger within Kalix begins to boil, and he clenches his fist tightly, restraining himself from physically lashing out at his cousin.

Paul smirks confidently, his arrogance shining through as he retorts, "Girls like her are in my bed every night, Kalix. And soon enough she will be too."

Kalix's anger surges, his face turning red with fury. 

He prepares to deliver a blow to his cousin, intending to teach him a lesson, but before he can act, a secretary interrupts their confrontation. The secretary calls Kalix's name, informing him that Mr. Richard is asking for him.

The interruption momentarily breaks the tension, redirecting Kalix's attention. He takes a deep breath, attempting to regain his composure, and responds to the secretary, "I'll be there shortly." 

With a final intense glare at Paul, Kalix turns on his heel and heads towards Richard's office, leaving his cousin behind, seething with unresolved animosity.

Paul enters his father's office, a lingering sense of satisfaction still present on his face as he observes Kalix sitting comfortably. However, his triumphant demeanor is quickly shattered when his father, Richard, delivers a tight slap across his left cheek. 

Astonishment fills Paul's eyes as he clutches his stinging cheek, unable to comprehend the sudden act of aggression.

Kalix, on the other hand, relishes the spectacle, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he watches the confrontation unfold. Richard's voice booms with anger as he barks at his son, Paul, demanding an explanation. "Why the fuck did you lie?"

Confusion knits Paul's eyebrows together, leaving him momentarily speechless. 

He continues to hold his reddened cheek, feeling the burning sensation intensify. "Lie? What did I lie about?" he manages to utter, his voice tinged with a mix of surprise and bewilderment.

Richard wastes no time in revealing the truth, informing Paul that the watch he had claimed Kalix lost is, in fact, being worn by Kalix Ashford himself. The realization dawns on Paul, astonishment washing over him as he stares at the watch adorning Kalix's wrist.

"You told me that he lost the fucking watch! Are you blind not to see that he is wearing it right now?" Richard's voice carries a mix of disappointment and anger.

Kalix, relishing the moment, flaunts the watch with a smug expression, his lips curving into a satisfying smile. "Yeah, you should have discussed it with me before you made a fuss out of it," he states, his words laced with a sense of triumph and vindication.

Paul's annoyance deepens, his expression darkening further as he prepares to voice his thoughts. “Silence! Be quiet!” However, before he can utter a word, his father silences him, abruptly interrupted by the secretary's arrival. 

The secretary informs them that clients are waiting in the boardroom, prompting Richard to hastily leave the room to welcome them.

Now alone in the room, only Paul and Kalix remain. 

Kalix rises from his seat, nonchalantly adjusting his suit with a hint of arrogance. Approaching Paul, he casually pats his cousin's shoulder twice, a condescending gesture that speaks volumes. "You know, it's an old saying... not to poke your fucking nose into someone else's business."

After a brief pause, Kalix adds, "I hope this teaches you something." With that, Kalix exits the room, leaving Paul seething with anger. The redness on his cheek from the earlier slap intensifies, mirroring the intensity of his fury. 

Squinting his eyes, Paul swears to himself that he will seek revenge against his cousin.

The desire for vengeance burns fiercely in Paul's heart, fueling his determination to settle the score with Kalix. 

Audrey arrives back home, frustration evident in her actions as she throws her handbag onto the bed. She begins to blabber and vent her frustrations, caught up in her own thoughts. Jax, her best friend, interrupts her with a perplexed expression, asking, "Girl, what the fuck is wrong with you?"

Audrey takes a moment to gather herself, then starts explaining everything that transpired, painting him as a jerk. She describes him as someone who flaunts his wealth and carries an air of arrogance.

Jax's anger flares up as she processes Audrey's account. "What kind of a jerk he really is?" she questions, her tone filled with righteous indignation.

Audrey, feeling the weight of the situation, responds bluntly, "The kind of jerk who shows off his wealth and is very arrogant." Jax takes a deep breath, attempting to calm herself down. Realizing that dwelling on the situation won't lead to any resolution, she suggests shifting their focus. 

"Anyway, leave it. Let's just focus on finding jobs for me. What do you say?"

Audrey rests her hands on her hips, tapping her foot impatiently. She lets out a sigh, her frustration still lingering. "I can't believe I slept with that guy," she exclaims, a mix of regret and disbelief in her voice.

As Audrey continues her shift at the club, her bad mood persists, causing her to distance herself from the rest of the staff. While she stands in a corner, waiting for the bartender to prepare the drinks, Luke approaches her.

"What are you doing after your shift?" Luke asks, trying to strike up a conversation. Audrey rolls her eyes in response, clearly not in the mood for small talk. With a touch of sarcasm, she retorts, "Suicide."

Picking up a tray filled with five glasses of fruity cocktails, she starts to walk away, ready to serve the drinks. As she moves away, Luke remains leaning back against the bar counter, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. He replies, his tone laden with innuendo, "Even I am ready to die inside you tonight."

Audrey freezes in her tracks, her eyes widening in disbelief at Luke's inappropriate comment. Shocked and offended, she quickly turns away, determined to distance herself from the situation and focus on her job. 

Luke's remark only serves to further darken her already sour mood, leaving her more determined to keep her distance from him throughout the rest of her shift.