CHAPTER NUMBER: Chapter 4 - Chapter 6
AUTHOR: Losille2000
WHICH ALEX/CHARACTER: AU!Alexander Skarsgård
GENRE: Romance
FIC SUMMARY: Life as Alexander knows it unravels when he takes over as CEO of the family business for his retiring father—especially when his modern ideals collide with the past. The fact that he also has to deal with a distracting new assistant doesn’t help matters any, either. Alex struggles to step out from under his father’s shadow and eventually find happiness and fulfillment in his career and love life.
RATING: M
WARNINGS: Language and sex.
AUTHORS NOTES: See them here. I am working on reposting this story as I am bringing some of the characters into The Chocolate Affair, namely Alex and Rory. Old fic, unedited, you’ve been warned. Rory and Christine will have a similar backstory, but that’s on purpose.
Prologue-Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Friday rolled around before Rory knew it. She rarely saw her boss but for a few times when he appeared in the office to grab a few files only to leave again—without her. After Kristina’s insight into the inner workings of the company on Monday, Rory wondered if it was an avoidance technique so he didn’t have to think about the future. Still, she worried that she had started out on the wrong foot with him if he wasn’t asking her to do things in the same way he obviously relied on Kristina.
Like Alexander had said, the work wasn’t particularly difficult, but there were definitely many tiny details she had to learn to be successful from operating the technology the company used to how one communicated within and outside the company confines.
Though she had used a great deal of technology in her job as an archivist, the amount of technology that had been thrown at her now was staggering for a person who mostly relied on books and papers. After all was said and done, she felt like she could open up shop as a small electronics store with the number of gadgets the IT guys has deposited on her desk Tuesday morning.
Learning how to take Alexander’s calls was another headache entirely. Screen all calls and only calls from the upper level board members and his family could be patched through to him. All others were to leave a message. Though Alexander usually gave his cell phone number to people he wanted to contact him directly, including women, at times they called the office for him. They were to go through to his voicemail. Appointments were to be run by him before they were scheduled, unless it was an appointment he asked her to make in which she could just fit it into the schedule and email him the details.
Expenses were to be entered into the accounting software at the end of each week and forwarded to his accountant. Rory had tried desperately not to balk at the amount of money spent on some of these bills, but it was difficult to ignore the fact that one monthly mortgage payment alone was her total salary for the year. This drove home the fact that she was no longer in small town America. Frankly, she hardly felt like she was in America any more. Or even on the same planet. She was in a radically different world. A confusing, sometimes backwards world.
What little Alexander had said or explained to her had been short and perfunctory. There was no getting to know each other, even in the professional sense. He’d been very quiet. Not that she was helping, either. She found it difficult to start a topic, especially as flustered as she became around him and the fact that she just didn’t know where to start. They were clearly different people. What could they possibly talk about?
However, at four thirty Friday afternoon, as she slowly wound down from the intense week, ready to have two days to recuperate for the next, the inevitable happened. Alexander had sequestered himself in his office for most of the day and she imagined he would be in there long after she left so it surprised her when the phone beside her beeped. The screen lit up, showing it was coming from Alexander’s office.
“Yes?” she said into the receiver.
“Please bring me the printed board meeting minutes from Monday,” he said.
“Sure,” she replied. Rory set the phone back in its cradle and went to the filing cabinet where they kept the notes. She walked toward his office and took a moment to breathe in a deep breath before pushing back the door.
He sat behind his desk, surrounded by papers and files, his short hair falling across his forehead, shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows. His tie was missing, slung over the suit coat on the couch across the room. Every time she had seen him before, there had never been anything out of place about him—from his hair right down to his expensive leather shoes. Even Wednesday when he had shown up in a polo and khakis in preparation to go golfing, he had seemed perfect and untouchable.
Clearly something was awry. Or perhaps he wasn’t as perfect as she originally thought. It certainly did a great deal toward making him more real to her.
He looked up and extended his hand for the thick book of notes, setting it on his desk. Instead of turning to his work, he leaned back in his seat. “Have a seat.”
“Okay,” Rory replied, sitting carefully into the chair across from him. She folded her hands in her lap and met his eyes.
“I want to apologize about not being around much for your first week,” he said. “It’s insane with the transition and everything my father has me doing. But… I just wanted to check in and see how everything was going.”
“It’s good,” Rory said. “Kristina taught me a lot this week, so I just hope I have everything.”
Alexander nodded. “Do you feel comfortable enough to go on your first business outing with me?”
She didn’t feel comfortable, but she’d never admit that to him for fear of being considered slow. Yet the tasks of her job weren’t the problem. Their discomfort with each other was the main problem. Even as she sat here speaking with him, she wanted to be any other place than in the hot seat. And he clearly didn’t even know where to begin. “I’m confident in the tasks of my job, and the only way I will learn what to do on a business trip is by going with you and doing it.”
He smiled. “I like the attitude. I know it’s a lot to remember, and I want to be make sure that you feel confident enough that there won’t be any big mistakes if I were to take you.”
“I can do it,” she said flatly.
Alexander nodded. “Good. Kristina is going on this trip as well, but she’ll only be able to help you periodically. She’ll be focusing more on her own work since this is a charity function.”
“Okay,” she said.
“We leave at 8 tomorrow morning for New York,” Alexander said.
“Oh… okay,” she said. It took her a moment to run through her memory and figure out what was happening in New York.
Alexander pursed his lips. “You are aware of my engagements in New York, correct?”
Rory froze, hearing the tension in his voice. He had misunderstood her surprise. Of course she knew what he had planned—it was a week long series of events to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the American-Scandinavian Foundation culminating in a ball the following Friday. Kristina had explained the week at length since she had organized their attendance and donations to the event.
“Yes, I am aware,” Rory said. “Sorry… I was just caught a little off guard. I know this is huge and I knew Kristina was going so I didn’t expect to go.”
He nodded. “Like I said, Kristina is going to have enough of a headache with her own work. It’s going to be big for us this year because my father is being honored with the Gold Medal Award and also officially announcing his retirement.”
“I understand,” she said. “I’ll be fine, like I said.”
Alexander nodded and turned back to his work, sufficiently ending the conversation in a way she had somewhat become accustomed to in the past week. Rory sighed again and shook her head, getting up and leaving the office, shutting the door behind her. Kristina was at her desk when she returned, flipping through a file.
“I heard,” Kristina said. “Do you feel ready?”
“We’ll certainly see,” Rory laughed.
Kristina playfully smacked her arm. “Oh, I know you’ll be great. And that’s just because I taught you.”
“You possess such confidence,” Rory said. “I wish I felt like you do.”
“You have it in you, trust me,” Kristina replied, sitting on the edge of the cubicle desk. “Just believe in yourself and it will all come along.”
The problem was, she didn’t really believe in herself. She never had.
Rory sighed. “I have to find a pet sitter… do you know anyone?”
“Yeah,” she said. “I’ll get the number for you.”
“And then I have to go shopping tonight… I don’t think we’ll be able to go out like we’d planned,” Rory said.
Kristina chuckled. “We have Monday to do some serious damage shopping. We’ll go together and use my company card for the evening stuff you need since you haven’t received your card yet.”
“What exactly can I buy with the clothing allowance?” Rory asked.
“Anything you need,” Kristina replied. “But most major fashion houses know me or Alexander and the company, and usually allow us to borrow dresses for big events so we don’t have to pay the high price tag. Everyday things you want to keep have to come out of your allowance.”
“Okay,” Rory said.
Kristina smiled. “Don’t worry about it, hon. We’ll get you all set on Monday.”
Rory nodded. She hated shopping, most of all for clothes. She’d never been thin exactly, but also never round. She was what she liked to call “solid”. It was difficult to find clothing that fit correctly, straddling a line between two different sizing guidelines. And frankly, she just didn’t care enough about fashion to care. She’d decided a long time ago she abhorred shopping and being girly. She was more comfortable in a pair of jeans than she ever would be in a skirt, and she had planned to keep it that way.
Unfortunately, by the twinkle in Kristina’s eyes, Rory knew she wasn’t going to get out of this without at least one dress.
“But you’re right, we can’t go out tonight,” Kristina said. “Too much to do… by the way…” Kristina held up a finger and walked around to her cubicle, returning with a well-worn book. “You’ll want to read this.”
“The Idiot’s Guide to Scandinavia,” Rory muttered, reading the cover.
“Chapter four is marked… it explains how to address the various royals we’re going to be meeting this week,” Kristina said. “It has been a lifesaver these last ten years. Alexander gave it to me as a joke because I told him he needed a user manual.”
Rory laughed, fanning the pages quickly. “Oh, god. Good thing I read fast.”
Kristina nodded. “See, the librarian training comes in handy!”
“No kidding,” Rory said, glancing at the clock. “Can you text me the number to the pet sitter? I still have to run to the store for some things before we go.”
Kristina smiled. “I will. I’ll see you at the airport an hour before takeoff.”
“Awesome,” Rory replied, gathering her things and shutting down her computer to leave the office and prepare for a week of work in New York.
Alexander leaned back in his office chair, staring at the door Rory had just closed behind her. He let out a long sigh and closed his eyes, trying to find some way to gather what little energy and good grace he had left. He’d need a whole heap of it this coming week, especially knowing his family would be there with him, likely attempting to give him an aneurysm.
His father would be at his shoulder to tell him repeatedly he was doing everything wrong, while Gurra would sit silently back with that imperious demeanor of his. His mother would be there with her ever-present mask of indifference, supporting his father and family, though his parents weren’t currently on speaking terms with each other. Sam would be flouncing about, ever the tortured artist who happened to be showing a few pieces at the Scandinavian art installation opening Wednesday. Eija would make sure to be the spoiled brat, while Valter, his youngest sibling, kept trying to break out of everyone else’s shadow.
It was a recipe for disaster that he had been dreading the entire week. No, for the last month since he found out his father was being awarded such a prestigious honor. The only way he was going to get through it would be by having a solid foundation in the support of his team. It was imperative that his new assistant knew what she was supposed to be doing and where she was supposed to be at all times to accommodate him on this trip.
For a moment, he had worried she wasn’t ready. He did know she was petrified of the tasks ahead of her though she hid her nerves relatively well. Kristina had been giving him reports all week about her progress while he had been out of the office. She’d given a glowing report on the woman, but concurred that there was a confidence issue. He knew he was throwing her into the fire, and she would either go up in flames or make it out unscathed, but it would be better that way. If she couldn’t hack it within two weeks, she certainly wouldn’t do any better in three months when her probation period was over.
He glanced back at his computer screen. His brain had finally reached the overload point when all the words on the screen appeared to be some form of gibberish. It was his cue that it was time to leave work.
He gathered his things together, trying to put his paperwork into some semblance of an order to stick in his briefcase. Finally satisfied with his organization, he grabbed his coat and headed out of the quiet office.
A cold gust of fall air blasted him as he stepped outside, but he was glad to feel it on his face instead of being cramped up in the office upstairs, in a cage that gave him no hope of escape. He was glad that he had walked the two miles to the office today instead of calling for his car. Walking would give him the opportunity to clear his mind and relieve some of the stress in his body.
He was about a mile from home, passing by the grocery store, when someone small collided with him. The person dropped whatever was in their hands directly on top of his food. This was followed by a string of strong curses that he barely made sense of as she mumbled them, but he recognized the low, husky Southern drawl instantly. It was feminine and smooth, and made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
“Shit,” she finished as he glanced down at her. Her pale green eyes stared large and mortified up at him. “I’m so sorry. I should really watch where I’m going.”
He laughed lightly. “Don’t worry about it.”
Rory brushed back a piece of hair behind an ear and bent down to begin collecting the bags she had dropped. His eyes slid further down where a heavy bag of cat food sat on top of his foot. She struggled with the bags in her hands and reached for the cat food. He stopped her.
“I’ve got it,” he said, lifting it into his arms. She shot up quickly, her forehead smashing his nose. For a moment he saw stars, but the world came back into focus quickly.
“Oh god,” she said, her hand flying to her mouth. “I’m such a terrible klutz.”
Alexander laughed, testing his nose and pinching the bridge. “I think I’ll be fine. Besides, it wouldn’t be the first time it was broken.”
“Huh?” she asked.
“Brothers,” he replied. “And maybe a few drunken nights.”
Rory laughed. “Is it really broken?”
“Nah,” he said.
“Again, I’m sorry,” she said. She held her arms out to him. “Can I have the cat food back?”
Alexander shook his head. “No, you can’t have it back. Where is your apartment?”
“Up the street a little way… in the Lakeshore East community.” She pointed in the direction of the condominium development he knew intimately.
“Ah,” he said. “I’m headed that way as well.”
Rory frowned but realization hit quickly. “What building are you in?”
“The Regatta,” he said. “Eighteenth floor.”
“The whole floor?” she asked blandly.
Alexander chuckled. “Yes. I built it that way. Great thing about being the developer’s son.”
Rory shook her head and looked around her, stepping out of the way of someone trying to get past her. “Okay, if you insist on carrying the cat food, you can just follow me.”
“I will,” he said. “Which building are you in?”
“The Aqua,” she said.
“How do you like it?” he questioned.
She shrugged. “It’s okay… the design is odd.”
Alexander knew he had brought it on himself asking about that building, but he had hoped for her praise. Hearing her unenthusiastic reply was sobering. “Oh?”
“It’s beautiful, don’t get me wrong,” she said. “It’s just a weird design. At least my apartment is.”
“Well, you’ll just have to show me when I carry this up for you,” he said.
They walked in silence for some time, coming to a traffic light and having to stop to wait for the right of way. She looked up at him tentatively. “You seem displeased that I don’t like it.”
He shrugged. “I designed it. It was my big project in my masters program in school… but my father only just okayed the development of the building when we started the Lakeshore project.”
“I didn’t realize you did the whole development,” she replied. “I really should just keep my mouth shut.”
Alexander laughed. “You know, we give rent credits if you’re in one of our residential buildings.”
“You do?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he said. “Ask Sam about it when we get back from New York. He’ll fill you in on it.”
Rory chuckled. “God, I can’t wait to tell my mother that the rent went down. Wouldn’t you know she guilts me from hundreds of miles away about it all the time!”
“Try getting guilted halfway across the world,” he said.
“Your mother’s in Sweden?” she asked.
He nodded. “For now, anyway. With Dad retiring, he’ll be in Sweden semi-permanently. She’ll kill him in a week if she doesn’t get out.”
Rory didn’t reply and turned her attention to the street as they crossed. They walked through the side street up to the front of the building and made their way to her apartment on the twenty-fifth floor. She fumbled for her keys and let them into the darkening apartment, flicking on the side lamp.
“You can just set it down on the counter,” she said, pointing to the kitchen.
He hadn’t realized how tiny one of these convertible studios were with furniture in them. Of course, as ashamed as he was for thinking it, he wasn’t used to such a tiny living space. Even when he was stuck in a hotel, he had a suite of rooms.
Alexander glanced around the tiny apartment, noting that nothing seemed to be out of place. It was meticulously put together though sparsely decorated.
“Most of my stuff is still in Atlanta,” she said. “I knew I wouldn’t have the room here.”
A loud rumbling meow stole his attention and he looked down at the gray and white feline who was inching toward him.
“Chester, no,” she said.
The cat ignored her as only a cat could manage, and weaved his way around Alexander’s legs, leaving a trail of fine hairs. Chester finished his figure eight and sat down near his feet, looking up at him expectantly. He rubbed his head against his leg again for good measure.
Alexander glanced at Rory, who stood silently beside him with a look of concerned confusion. “What?” he asked.
“He… I… Chester is never friendly with men,” she said. “Normally I’d be extracting claws from legs right about now.”
“Did you train him to be a guard cat?” Alexander quipped.
Rory rolled her eyes. “No. He came that way from the adoption place.”
Alexander laughed and bent down, tentatively scratching behind the cat’s ears. He knew he was taking a risk of being attacked, but it seemed like the cat didn’t mind him. Relief flooded through him when Chester pressed harder into his leg.
“My cat is so weird,” she said. “Anyway… thank you for carrying the bag for me.”
“Oh, maybe he just likes me because I smell like cat food,” Alexander laughed.
“I doubt it,” she said. “Now, tuna on the other hand…”
She was interrupted by a knock on the front door.
“The pet sitter,” she mentioned.
Alexander knew it was time to leave. He definitely didn’t want to overstay his welcome, though he was thankful for the time to get to know her a little bit better before they were thrown together for the next week on business.
“I should probably go,” he said. “I still have to pack.”
“Yeah,” she replied. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”
Rory walked him the few steps toward the door and opened it. He slipped out the door before Rory introduced herself to the pet sitter. He waited at the elevator, hearing her wonderful Southern drawl disappear as she shut her door. Alexander couldn’t help but smile, thinking of their conversation. She seemed so innocent. So naïve in the way of the big world. And yet, she also held a wisdom about her that betrayed her seemingly humble nature. It was a contradiction he didn’t understand, but he certainly planned on learning more about in the future. She was a calming presence in his otherwise hectic, confusing life.
She was definitely someone he needed in his life, if only as his assistant.
Chapter 5
Rory stepped onto the tarmac and stared at the sleek plane in front of her, yawning into her hand. She hadn’t slept much that night, after staying up late fretting over packing and then going over the schedule of events for the following week. She’d had only a cursory understanding of what would happen from her week of work. She hadn’t had the luxury of studying the schedule to memorize it and create a plan of attack. Since she had thought Kristina would be the only one to accompany Alexander on this trip, Rory hadn’t considered it important. It left her playing catch up overnight and exhausted before she had even boarded the jet.
“Not impressed, huh?” said a male voice beside her.
She jumped and turned, finding a tall man with dark brunette hair standing beside her. The man had come from a chauffeured car. Looking past him, she noticed a suited driver removing bags from the Towncar’s trunk and handing them off to a uniformed flight crew member. She glanced back at the man beside her. “Uh, no, not really.”
“Hrm… most people are impressed with the private jet,” said the man.
“I’ve seen a lot of planes in my life,” she said. “Try comparing it with an F-16 and we’ll talk.”
“Oh, but I can guarantee you this one’s prettier.”
“Maybe it is,” she said. “But not nearly as fun.”
“You a pilot?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, but my father was in the Army. I was around them all the time.”
“Ah,” said the man as he extended his hand. “I’m Sam Skarsgård.”
“Rory Fisher,” she said. “You must be the artist brother.”
Sam grinned. “I see my reputation precedes me.”
Rory laughed. “I only know you’re an artist as per Kristina. But you sound like a true Chicagoan… not like your brother.”
“That’s because it’s an act,” said a voice she recognized. Alexander stood behind them, squinting at the jet. He glanced down at her and replaced his sunglasses over his eyes.
“That’s not fair,” Sam said.
“Let’s not stare too long. We’re on a schedule here,” Alexander said. He pushed past them, strode to the stairs and ascended them with ease, ducking into the cabin.
Sam rolled his eyes. “Power’s already going to his head.”
“Maybe I should actually do my job,” Rory said, “And make sure everyone is on schedule and doing what they’re supposed to.”
“All I gotta say is good luck,” Sam said.
“Thanks, I’ll need it,” Rory laughed.
Sam winked and held out his arm. “Come on, toots. Let’s get in that fancy jet before the boss man flips a lid.”
Toots? Boss man? She didn’t know what she had been expecting upon meeting Alexander’s younger brother, but she certainly hadn’t pictured this. Especially not knowing how staid and even-tempered Alexander was, and how serious his other brother and father were on the videoconference. Instead of being a broody artist who sat in the corner at the coffee shop wearing all black, he was a ball of energy with a flamboyance that was refreshing.
She took his arm and he led her to the plane, motioning for her to go ahead of him on the narrow stairs. Once inside, she found Kristina had already spread out a work area at a seat with a table. She was talking into her Bluetooth and typing something on her laptop.
Alexander had disappeared.
She turned to Sam who was behind her. “Where did the boss man go?”
Sam stepped forward, his hand resting on her back to move her forward and step around her. “Into his cave.”
“His… cave?” she asked.
“He has a private compartment in the back,” Sam said.
“It’s more like his cage,” Kristina added from her seat. “We lock him in there and don’t let him out until we land. It’s for our own sanity, trust me.”
Rory laughed. Though she was with her colleagues, being out of the office seemed to relax their interactions. It was a relief to know she would be around people who were friendly while on a business trip.
“I can still hear you,” said Alexander’s voice from the overhead speaker.
Kristina giggled. “Well, now that we’re all here, we can get this show on the road. Let me just go tell the pilot.”
Rory watched as Kristina stood from her seat and walked toward the front of the plane. She glanced around, trying to decide where to sit. Sam took care of that for her and pointed to the seat across the aisle from him. His long legs were already stretched out in the empty space in front of him as he reclined his head back on his own plush leather seat.
She buckled herself in and let out a long sigh, closing her eyes and preparing for the adventure ahead of her. Once more, she reminded herself she had wanted this. She had wanted to go, see, and do. Now here she was with the opportunity and it was overwhelming.
At least she had friends with her along the way.
“If you aren’t on a flight with Alexander, you typically have time to get to the hotel and get everything set up and checked in before he arrives. In cases where you are traveling with him, you can call about an hour ahead and have them prepare everything,” Kristina said.
Rory nodded, scribbling notes on her notepad. “So they have all the keys ready and everything?”
“Yes,” Kristina said. “The manager or concierge at each of the locations will have Alexander’s room ready. While he’s settling in, you can do any other paperwork that’s needed at the front desk. If it’s needed.”
“Okay,” Rory said. “That seems simple enough.”
Kristina nodded. “It is, because we usually stick to the same hotels in the destinations we go to, so they have all our information. I gave you the preferred list, right?”
“Yep,” Rory said. “But we’re not staying at a hotel on the list this trip.”
“Alexander’s father chose this time,” Kristina said. “Since the entire family will be in town, he wanted everyone at the same place. And since he’s footing the bill, it’s the Waldorf Astoria. Stellan likes the history. Of course, Alexander prefers the Plaza… so the history doesn’t really matter because they both have a rich history. I guess we could just say that Stellan is stubborn.”
“He’s stuck in the past and doesn’t like change,” said Sam from his seat in front of them. With a flourish, he tossed a magazine he’d been flipping through on Rory’s previously occupied seat and moved to a chair at the tiny four-seat table with them. He fiddled with the touch screen on the cabin controls and hit a mute button that belonged to the speaker system. “Word of advice time from Sam: Alexander has always been looking to the future. Our father, always to the past. This is where they butt heads, and especially where Gurra comes in, because he does what he thinks Dad wants.”
“I’ve already warned her about it,” Kristina said. “But that’s a good way of describing it.”
“I know,” Sam said. “I’ve lived with it for twenty-nine years. You learn eventually.”
“And where do you fit in?” Rory asked.
Sam grinned. “I don’t fit in anywhere. I’m an artist who lives by his brush.”
“And an extremely healthy trust fund,” Kristina added blandly.
“So you’re just a rich hippie,” Rory said. “Nice.”
He laughed and shook his head. “I like you, toots. I have a feeling this is the start of a very long and interesting partnership.”
“I hope so,” Rory said with a shrug of her shoulders.
“Anyway,” Kristina started, bringing the attention back to her. “We’re at the Waldorf this time around and Marissa, Stellan’s assistant, will have taken care of all the check-ins already for us. She’ll meet us down in the lobby with everything we need.”
“Awesome,” Rory said.
Kristina sighed. “As far as the daily routines while on these business trips, you are expected to accompany him to each of his appointments unless he tells you otherwise. You don’t have to do anything special. You are to network and follow behind him, while still being two steps ahead of any conceivable thing he might need of you.”
“Geez, Kristina,” Sam laughed, “you make it sound like some form of impossible dance.”
“It is,” Kristina said. “I dare you to live a day in the life of your brother’s personal assistant. Then we’ll talk.”
“I’ll leave it to the more capable,” Sam said.
Kristina rolled her eyes. “Your main task is to keep him on schedule by any means necessary. Remind him about fifteen minutes before he needs to leave to make his next scheduled appointment if he has any. It gives him time to wrap up conversations if he’s in a meeting. I try to tell him verbally, but when that’s not possible, I catch his eyes and pull on my earlobe to be as inconspicuous as possible. He’ll nod at you to verify that he saw it.”
Rory scribbled and looked up at Kristina. “And getting to these places in an unfamiliar location?”
“The driver will know where he’s going ahead of time,” Kristina said. “We send a semi-finalized schedule to the car company before we even get on the plane. I took care of it this time since I didn’t have a chance to go over it with you. However, when you get into the car, just give the driver a gentle reminder. Sometimes they forget or the schedule has changed.”
The intercom dinged overhead, followed by the pilot coming over the speaker. “We’re starting our descent into La Guardia now. We’ll be on the ground in about a half hour.”
“That was quick,” Rory said.
“Time flies,” Sam said, buckling the seat belt in his seat.
“Always the jester,” Kristina scoffed and started gathering her things and stuffing them into her briefcase, computer bag and purse on the seat beside her. She looked across at Rory again. “If you have any questions, just ask. Don’t assume something. Anybody will be willing to help you out. Just don’t ask Stellan or Gurra, and you’ll do great.”
Rory nodded her head. “I got this, Kristina.”
She hoped it was the truth.
Alexander stepped into the marble-encrusted entrance at the Waldorf, steeling himself to the madness ahead of him. He would need all the perseverance he could muster for the next week. After that, things would calm down. They had to.
His father’s attractive black-haired assistant met him with a smile. “You’re ahead of schedule for once.”
“Flight was easy,” he said, shrugging. Marissa was a pleasant woman, his age, and had an exotic beauty that had once captivated him. He had hit on her when she’d first started working for his father. Actually, he’d done it a few times, only to be rebuffed every single time.
Only now did he realize that it had been a fleeting interest born of an eager twenty-two year old. They had little in common and he didn’t like her much personally. Though she was a good assistant, she was also incredibly controlling of his father to the point that he questioned his father’s decisions.
“Your father asked that you stay in the suite with him and your brothers,” Marissa said.
Alexander pursed his lips, a sour taste in his mouth. That was the absolute last place he wanted to be for a week. God help him if his father attempted a spate of father-son bonding, because it just wasn’t going to happen. Not after thirty-five years of constantly butting heads with each other.
“He’s in the Presidential Suite, and your mother is in the Royal Suite with Eija,” she explained.
“Still not talking?” he asked.
“No,” Marissa shook her head. Alexander thought it odd that she did not elaborate as she normally did on the subject, but brushed it away.
“Alright then,” he said. Sam’s loud voice echoed off the marble lobby as he came up behind him, still putting on a show for Rory. He appreciated the fact that his brother was so friendly, but Alexander did not like the concerted interest he had in his new assistant. It would distract Rory from learning and doing her job.
At least that’s what he told himself. He might actually start believing it if he kept saying it. He felt a protectiveness of his new assistant he did not quite understand and definitely didn’t want to focus on at the moment.
“Is that your new assistant?” Marissa asked.
Alexander turned as the rest of his party joined his side. Rory was there, smiling. “Yes, Rory, this is Marissa, my dad’s assistant.”
“Hi, Marissa,” Rory said, offering her hand.
Marissa reluctantly took her hand and shook it limply. Alexander frowned at the interaction. It had been suggested on more than one occasion that he should hire Marissa on as his own assistant so she didn’t lose her job with his father’s retirement. Clearly she was still unhappy about his emphatic denial of her pursuit of the job beneath him. And honestly, if she was going to be childish about it, he was glad he had not given the idea more credence.
“Well, shall we get up to your rooms?” she asked, motioning for them to follow.
Sam smiled. “I’m just going to hang out down here for a bit.”
“Why?” Alexander asked.
Sam’s eyes twinkled. “Give you time to settle in with Dad. You know, let the dust settle.”
“I hate you,” Alexander said and shook his head. He turned and fell in stride beside Marissa as they made their way to the elevator bay. He was somewhat sad to see Rory and Kristina step off the elevator well before he was due to, but sighed and waited for the doors to peel back on the twenty-first floor.
Marissa showed him to the door with a small placard that read “Presidential Suite” and opened the door with her keycard before handing him one of his own.
“I’m going back down to my room,” she said. “I’m right by Rory and Kristina if you need me for anything.”
“Thanks,” he said and stepped into the foyer. He found his father and Gurra pacing around the long dining room table, each on their cell phones, one gibbering in Swedish, the other in English. Each had to do with business, though he couldn’t pick out what exactly they were discussing.
They both looked up, however, as he entered and dropped his computer bag on a chair in the garishly decorated room. Their calls ended quickly and the normally stilted greetings proceeded as was tradition.
“Alexander,” Gurra said, offering his hand.
“Gurra,” he replied.
Then his father tried to hug him, and it turned into the inevitable uncomfortable half hug. “You look good, Alexander.”
“Thanks,” Alexander said. Like they hadn’t just seen each other a few weeks ago. Did his father expect him to look worse for the wear? Maybe he had planned on it with all the shit he’d been putting him through on this transfer. “What’s going on?”
“Oh,” Gurra said, “I was dealing with a bank hold on something.”
Their father nodded. “And I was talking with my attorneys.”
“You mean our attorneys?” Alexander said.
“No, son, I mean, my attorneys,” Stellan replied. “It’s nothing to worry about.”
Alexander met his father’s cold blue gaze and knew better than that. There was something his father wasn’t telling him. Something that clearly pained him.
Despite the fucked up childhood he’d had, he still loved the man. He had given him life, after all, and he didn’t want to see anything bad happen to him. Mostly because he didn’t want to be responsible for the fallout and what it could do to the company, but also because it would affect those of his family he really cared for.
“You should go see your mother,” Stellan said.
“I will, just let me relax after the flight a bit,” Alexander said, grabbing his things again and heading further into the large suite of rooms. He found his younger brother in the furthest bedroom down the hall lying out on the floor, playing video games.
“Hey, Alexander!” Valter jumped up and tossed the controller down, greeting him with a real hug. He promptly went back to his video games without saying anything else.
Alexander chose one empty room on the other side of the hall. Well, at least everything was normal. Still, though, he couldn’t help but shake the feeling that something shitty was about to happen and he wasn’t going to like it one bit. His father’s mysteriousness about his lawyers was another thing entirely.
When he heard Sam being welcomed back to the fold, Alexander took the opportunity to slip out into the main hall unnoticed. His father’s constant harping on Sam not having a “real job” would give him time to see his mother and sister and get back before he would be missed.
Alexander walked to the other suite and knocked on the door. As soon as the door opened, a body flew out at him. “Alexander!” the body squealed.
“Hi, Eija,” he said, hugging her close and kissing her forehead.
“I missed you so much,” Eija said.
He leaned back and looked down at her. “You get more beautiful every time I see you.”
“Thanks,” she said, but brushed it off. People told her the same thing all the time so it had lost its potency. “Why didn’t you come see me at school when you were in Sweden last month?”
“I didn’t have time, love,” he said.
She stepped back from him and pouted. “I’m your only sister, you know. You should see me as much as possible.”
“I know,” he chuckled. “Stop pouting, you’ll get wrinkles.”
“I will not.” Eija flipped her hair over her shoulder and stepped back into the suite, allowing him to follow her inside. He followed her into a room decorated in powder blue upholstery. His mother sat on a couch, reading a book through tiny glasses set low on her nose.
“Did you see your father?” She didn’t look up from her book.
“Yes,” Alexander said.
She set her book down on the couch beside her and stood. She kissed his cheek and stepped back, holding his face between her hands and searching his face. After a moment she smiled. “I’m glad you’re here at least.”
“Is something wrong?” he asked. “Well, more than it usually is?”
“Everything’s just fine,” his mother said, stepping back and shaking her head. “You worry too much.”
Alexander frowned. “It’s my charm. And I really think I should be told what’s going on, as there apparently is something wrong. Don’t you think I deserve to know seeing as I am now the head of this firm?”
“Of the firm, not the family,” she said.
“This family is a firm.”
“Where’s your new assistant?” Eija changed the subject. It had always been her technique to avoid arguments ever since he could remember.
“She’s getting settled into her room,” Alexander said. “She’ll be around later. Now, would—.”
His words died on his lips, though, when there was another knock on the door and Eija admitted Sam to the room.
“Mom!” Sam glided across the room and picked their mother up, spinning her around and hugging her tightly to him. They’d always had a special bond Alexander never fully understood. He did know that he wouldn’t be able to grill his mother for answers now that Sam was there to talk her ear off about some piece of art he had done or acquired.
Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. “I’ll see you all later. I need to go get ready for a meeting at four.”
Eija followed him out to the hall and stood with one foot in the door so she could get back inside when she was finished. “I think they’re getting ready for another divorce.”
“Huh?” Alexander said.
“Mom and Dad,” she said. “Just the way they’ve been acting.”
He ran his hand absently through his hair and let out a short breath. “Like I need this nightmare on top of Dad’s retirement.”
Eija shrugged. “Well, you know, third time’s a charm, right?”
“There should have never been a second or third.”
“But then you wouldn’t have Valter or me.”
Alexander smiled and shook his head. “No, no I wouldn’t. Now, can I go back to my room and lock everyone away?”
“Yeah,” she said. “I’ll see you later.”
Alexander nodded his head and turned back down the hall to go to his suite. He glanced at his watch, noticing it wasn’t more than an hour since they had landed in New York and already trouble was brewing.
It didn’t bode well for the rest of the week.
Chapter 6
Rory let herself into her hotel room that evening, glad the day was over with and she could relax until brunch with the Skarsgård clan the next morning. Kristina and Sam had both tried to warn her about Stellan, but she just couldn’t see what the problem was. He had been everything but rude or short with her. Sure, he and Gurra both acted more overbearing than the others in the family, but still not as horrible as had been described. But she also had to remind herself that she hardly knew them and they were probably putting on their public personas for her. She’d learn over time.
She hadn’t had any time to really speak with the others as they were whisked off to a meeting at a job site at four and hadn’t returned until just a few minutes ago. Pulling her phone from her purse, she noticed the two missed calls—one from her mother, the other from her sister—and that it was 8:32. No wonder her stomach was rumbling for food.
After calling down for room service, she changed into yoga pants and an old t-shirt before collapsing onto the extremely comfortable bed. Her eyes were heavy and she could fall asleep if she really wanted, but the gnawing hunger in her belly was just enough to keep her awake.
While she waited for her food to arrive, she picked up her phone and dialed her parents’ home number. Much like the last time she had called, there was a lot of activity on the other end, but her older brother, Charlie, answered instead.
“Hello girlie,” he said.
“Hey!” she said. “Long time no talk.”
“You know, it’s a two way street, you could have called me,” he said. “How are you?”
“Exhausted,” she replied. “I started my new job on Monday.”
“You found a job?” he asked.
Rory chuckled. “Yeah. I’ve been so busy I haven’t had a chance to call yet.”
She wouldn’t tell him that she had called, but had resisted telling anyone about it because of what was going on at that time.
“Well, where are you working?” he asked. “Don’t keep me in suspense.”
“I’m working for a real estate developer,” she said. “I’m the head honchos’ personal assistant.”
“What? Really? I’m proud of you, Rory Jean,” he said. “Why haven’t you told Mom and Dad?”
“I didn’t want to compete with Walker’s audience when I called last week,” she replied. “I figured mine could wait.”
He sighed heavily. “Walker just asked her today. That’s all the commotion you hear.”
Rory closed her eyes and nodded her head, though she knew he couldn’t see her. The day Walker had asked her to marry him, an impromptu engagement party had sprung up out of nowhere. Southerner’s were famous for parties like that.
“So it’s done, huh?” Rory asked.
“Yes, it is,” he replied. “And thank god for it. Now I don’t have to listen to Mama talk about it. She was about to explode keeping it from Whit.”
“I have no doubt,” Rory said. “Mom and Whit both called me.”
“Charlie, who’s that?” came the screech from the other side.
“Rory,” he answered. “Do you want to talk to Whit?”
“Not really,” she said.
“She’s giving me the look that says ‘too bad’,” he said.
Rory groaned. “I hate you.”
“Give me the damn phone, Charlie,” said the voice on the other side, close to the receiver. There was a scuffle on the other side and then a sweet, “Oh my goodness, Aurora Jean! I wish you were here! You’ll never believe it! Walker proposed!”
“That’s great,” Rory said. Did she have no compassion or did she honestly forget that this was a touchy subject?
She whined. “You don’t sound excited.”
“I’m thrilled.”
“We were at the Auburn/Georgia game,” she explained. “He got down on one knee in front of everyone in the middle of the field.”
Rory wanted to vomit. “How sweet.”
“I know!”
“Oh, and Rory, you’re going to be my maid of honor,” she said. “We’re going to get married over Thanksgiving.”
It would have been nice to be asked, but even Rory knew that she would have to accept despite her misgivings. Her mother and father would make sure of it. Because that’s what sisters did.
“Isn’t that awfully soon?” Rory asked.
“It is,” Whitney said. “But Walker and I both agree we want to get married quickly and start trying for a family as soon as possible.”
Unlike you, who made Walker wait. She didn’t have to say it, but Rory heard the underlying tone in Whitney’s voice.
“I’ll see what I can do, Whitney,” Rory said. “I just started a new job and I don’t know what my schedule is going to be like. I’m not going to be able to plan a bridal shower or bachelorette party or anything.”
“I said maid of honor,” she said. “My friend Faith got married a couple months ago, remember? She’s going to be my matron of honor. She’ll take care of it. Besides, we both know who will throw the funner party.”
“That’s not a word, Whitney,” Rory corrected.
God, she was an airhead.
“Whatever! Anyway, what size are you these days? Twenty?” she asked, her tone stinging.
Rory pursed her lips together as tightly as possible and bit her tongue, doing everything she could think of to refrain from yelling at her. “No, Whitney, I’m a ten, just like I have been my entire adult life.”
“Oh, well,” Whitney said, “I’ll have to find a dress and have it sent to you to make sure it fits.”
“Great,” Rory replied.
There was a knock at the door, followed by a soft, “Room service.”
“Okay, I have to go,” Rory said. “My room service is here.”
“Where are you?”
“New York,” Rory said. “On a business trip. I’ll talk to you later. Bye.”
Rory hung up the phone and slammed it down on the bed. It didn’t make her feel any better. She needed to hit something harder with something that she didn’t mind wrecking, unlike her phone.
But first, dinner.
Then she would remedy the urge to kill.
Alexander yawned into his hand as he trudged out of the elevator and onto the nineteenth floor of the hotel, in search of the fitness center. It had been a long, tiring day full of meetings and family togethernees he could have done without. Yet, as he had lain in bed, he couldn’t find slumber. His mind was going every which direction and he couldn’t stop it. He hoped running a few miles on a treadmill might calm him down just enough to do the trick.
To his right was the entrance to the spa, now closed for the night. On his left, a glass-walled lobby. Exercise machines were set up in neat rows behind the front desk where a bored attendant sat twirling her hair, transfixed with the computer screen in front of her.
She looked up as he stepped inside the room and smiled. “Hello, sir, may I help you?”
“Yes, I just wanted to get in and run some on a treadmill,” he replied.
“What room are you in?” she asked.
He smiled. “I’m in the Presidential Suite. Skarsgård party.”
She grinned and pointed to the left. “That is the men’s locker room. May I get you any complimentary work out clothing, sir?”
“No, I’ll wear what I have on.” He motioned to his t-shirt and shorts.
“Very well,” she said. “Towels are in the locker room as well as a refrigerator with water bottles for your use.”
“Thanks.” He nodded his head and walked back toward the locker room for a towel and water bottle.
He was grateful that the gym was a ghost town this late at night—and why wouldn’t it be at one in the morning?—except for sounds coming from a room in the back. As he mounted a treadmill and began choosing his settings, a loud, angry yell came from the back room followed by what he could only describe as a repetitious popping-like sound.
His father had once told him curiosity killed the cat, but he couldn’t resist seeing who or what had caused the noise. What he did find didn’t kill him, but it certainly surprised him. In the tiny room with a large punching bag was Rory, going through a combination of punches, kicks and feinting movements. After watching her hands and legs for a few seconds, he changed his opinion on the killing part. She might actually be able to cause him real damage if she wanted.
Another man stepped up beside him. Alexander noted that his shirt had “trainer” embroidered on his left breast. “She’s impressive. We usually get creampuffs in here who think they know a thing or two about kickboxing. She seemed like a creampuff when she walked in, but turns out she does know what she’s doing.”
“How long has she been in here?” Alexander asked. His eyes slid down her body. She wore a loose gray top that was drenched in perspiration. Clearly she’d been at it long enough for a good work out.
He also remarked, belatedly, that he quite liked the tight black pants she was wearing.
Alexander mentally smacked himself and forced his eyes back up to her face, but not before stopping on the v neck of the shirt plastered to her ample breasts. He hadn’t realized just how amazing her body was until now, and he didn’t understand why she covered it up the way she did in baggy business clothes.
“She’s been wailing on that bag for a half hour,” said the man. “Hasn’t slowed down at all.”
He continued to watch, transfixed. But as he paid more attention to her face and not her body, Alexander noticed that her eyes were red and puffy as though she’d been crying. That was not how he had left her after returning to the hotel earlier in the evening. Something was wrong. He hoped he wasn’t that something wrong, because he had thought she was fitting in well enough. Even his family hadn’t been too hard on her earlier.
“May I go in?” Alexander asked.
“It’s not a closed room,” said the man with a smile. “But we have cameras everywhere, so don’t try anything the lady doesn’t like.”
Alexander shot the man a warning glare. Did he give off the vibe that he was some creep who would do something like that to a woman? “Even if I was that kind of person, I think I’d be in a world of hurt.”
“True enough,” the trainer said and bowed away.
Alexander opened the door and stepped inside. She spun around, panting for breath. The forgotten punching bag now behind her swung out, hit her back and pushed her forward. He lunged for her, in an effort to slow or minimize the impact she might make with the floor. She fell against him, her face landing against his chest while her gloved hands clenched his hips for dear life. He stood still, appraising the situation and just how he had gotten into it. Then he felt her shaking against him.
In laughter.
Of all the reactions he had expected, he hadn’t planned for laughter. But he was relieved it was laughter and not whatever had been troubling her. He could handle laughter. Honestly, he didn’t know why he thought he’d be able to make anything better if she had been crying.
She pushed against him, using his hips as counterbalance, and stood upright. As she did this, he also smelled alcohol.
“Are you drunk?” he asked. It would explain the laughter.
“No,” she said. “I was slightly buzzed before I started, though. It mostly wore off.”
When Rory had walked into his office a week and a half ago, he had met a shy, polite little Southern girl who masked her accent as much as possible. The woman in front of him now was an extroverted, tipsy tomboy who spoke with a thick Southern drawl he found difficult to understand.
“Oh, man, tonight just can’t get any worse.” She walked to the other side of the room and slid down onto the floor, tearing off her small boxing gloves and tossing them aside.
“Care to tell me about it?” he asked, not wanting to be invasive but truly wanting to get to the bottom of her distress. He wanted to help her, if he could.
Rory glanced up at him as she toweled the sweat from her face, neck and arms. She took a long drink from her water bottle and shook her head. “It’s not worth it.”
He sat beside her on the floor, looking at her in the mirrored wall across from them. “Try me.”
She turned to him. Her lips quirked up in a stiff smile. “You really wanna know?”
“Yes, I do,” he said. Did he?
Rory sighed and looked down at her outstretched legs, picking at the fabric of her pants. “Don’t say I didn’t try to warn you.”
“I won’t.”
“Fine, then,” she replied and took in a deep breath before starting. “My sister’s getting married.”
Alexander frowned. That was a bad thing? Weren’t marriage announcements generally seen as happy occasions? Yet, he knew that wasn’t always the case. After all, his own mother and father had been married three times. The first time, he wasn’t alive. The other two had not been happy. But then, his family was an oddity.
“Uh…” he started, not knowing what to say.
“To my ex-fiancé,” she added.
“Wow.”
“There’s a lot of other stuff in there, too,” Rory said. “But that’s the main part.”
Alexander met her eyes. “Did he cheat on you?”
“He didn’t have to,” Rory replied. “Our relationship was a wreck even before we broke up. By rights, I shouldn’t even be angry or sad about this, but I am. They started dating right after we broke up.”
“That’s still a shitty thing to do,” Alexander said. “I don’t know about the guy, but your sister… isn’t there like some kind of female equivalent of 'bros before hos’?”
Rory huffed and shook her head. “You don’t know my sister. My sister and I have never gotten along. She’s done shit like this all her life, rubs it in my face and then goes on her merry way. Anytime I ever had a big achievement, she was always right there with something grander, or taking the attention from me. Honor roll, cheerleading captain, and the perfect little Southern belle. God, I do sound like a spiteful little bitch. Maybe she was right.”
“You’re not spiteful,” he said.
“I’m glad I have your vote of confidence,” Rory said with a small laugh. “You know, it’s my fault because I’ve always let her walk all over me. I’ve let her take what she wanted and just stepped back to avoid the altercation.”
“Maybe that’s all you could do,” Alexander replied. “Sometimes you have to choose your battles… trust me, I know something about family troubles. Not quite like yours, but still bad.”
Rory met his eyes. “Gurra?”
“He’s one problem of many,” Alexander said. “We put the 'fun’ in dysfunctional. My mom and dad have been legally married three times, and divorced two. Eija says we’re working on number three right now. Meanwhile, Sam is the black sheep, and Valter is a lost child.”
“That explains the black clothes and Death Metal thing,” Rory replied.
He laughed. “He sees a therapist for that.”
Rory shrugged. “Hey, I acted out, too. It’s normal. I’m sure you did.”
“Yeah, I wanted to be a rock musician in high school,” he said. “Needless to say, that didn’t go over very well when I told my father.”
“I’m sure it didn’t.” Rory drank what was left in her water bottle and set it beside her. She then yawned into her hand. “I don’t have problems with anyone in my family but my sister. She’s a year and a few months older and from day one has had it out for me. It was terrible in middle school and high school. I was a nerd and tomboy, and she was the head bitch in charge. Everyone adored her and cowed to her whims. You know how we’re supposed to be all anti-bully in school now? Well, my sister was the poster child for bullies everywhere. There were a few girls who were so maligned by her group of friends that they changed schools. I couldn’t do that because I was related to her. I still had to see her every night at the dinner table.”
Alexander listened to Rory explain her sister, and though she might sound ungrateful to some, he couldn’t see it that way. Not with his own family and a similar sibling rivalry issue between himself and Gurra. Sure, it wasn’t the same, but pretty damn close.
“Why did everyone love her if she was like that?” he asked.
“She’s gorgeous. It’s funny how kids flock to pretty people because they think they’re better. Our school also had a lot of military kids,” Rory said. “My dad was a three star general and commander of the base. Wives and children of officers like that tend to 'wear the rank’, too.”
“You mean they think they have the privilege of power without having to work for it?” Alexander said. “Hmm… sounds familiar.”
Rory smiled. “Yes, but you worked for it. And I don’t think you’re a bully.”
“Gurra doesn’t think I’ve worked hard enough to deserve it,” Alexander said.
“I’m sure you do deserve it,” Rory said.
He barely knew this woman, and yet her words of confidence made him feel better. Made him breathe a sigh of relief. It was good to have someone beside him who was willing to give him that boost when he needed it most.
“My sister’s regime was based on fear,” Rory said. “And I played into it. You know when I told you in the interview I wanted to explore the world and that’s why I left Georgia? That was only a part of the reason. One part was my ex, the other my sister. I needed to be on my own.”
“I understand that completely,” Alexander said. “And I’m glad you did. If you hadn’t, I wouldn’t have found the perfect candidate for my assistant.”
Her pale skin turned a violent shade of red and she turned her head from him. “Aw, thanks.”
Without thinking, he reached out, his fingers on her chin to make her turn her head toward him. It was a personal touch that he knew he shouldn’t have allowed himself, but he had been unable to control it. He wanted to see her eyes and she needed to regain some of the confidence she had allowed her sister to squelch all these years.
“Don’t be embarrassed by any praise you receive,” he said, softly. He slipped his hand across her jaw and pushed a piece of auburn hair behind her ear. She was beautiful, even with no makeup and disheveled from a hard work out. “You deserve it.”
“It’s just difficult to hear sometimes,” she replied.
He nodded. “I know.”
Silence fell between them. He needed to remove his hand from where it rested against her cheek. He needed to back away from her. To gain perspective. But he didn’t. His eyes drifted from hers and landed on her full, soft-looking lips, and like a ton of bricks, he was hit with the intense urge to kiss her.
Rory placed a hand over his and gave him a shaky smile before removing it from her face. She squeezed his hand and let go, clearing her throat. “I need to go up to bed. I’ll see you in the morning, Alexander.”
She stood and collected her things. He watched her walk out of the room, again inordinately interested in her rear and legs. He was barking up the wrong tree, but it wasn’t like he even meant to do it. It just happened.
The strange thing was he couldn’t think of a reason not to bark up the tree at the moment, though he knew there were plenty.
CHAPTER NUMBER: Chapter 13 - Chapter 15
AUTHOR: Losille2000
WHICH ALEX/CHARACTER: AU!Alexander Skarsgård
GENRE: Romance
FIC SUMMARY: Life as Alexander knows it unravels when he takes over as CEO of the family business for his retiring father—especially when his modern ideals collide with the past. The fact that he also has to deal with a distracting new assistant doesn’t help matters any, either. Alex struggles to step out from under his father’s shadow and eventually find happiness and fulfillment in his career and love life.
RATING: M
WARNINGS: Language and sex.
AUTHORS NOTES: See them here. I am working on reposting this story as I am bringing some of the characters into The Chocolate Affair, namely Alex and Rory. Old fic, unedited, you’ve been warned. Rory and Christine will have a similar backstory, but that’s on purpose.
Alexander listened to the soft drawl of Rory's message greeting before he removed the cell phone from his ear and cancelled the call. He quickly plugged in a text message to her and then set the phone down with a sigh.
He was exhausted and wanted to sleep, but like it'd been for the majority of this two-week sojourn to Sweden, his inner clock hadn't evened out yet. Glancing at the clock, he noted that he had to be ready for a meeting with his father in two hours. At least this was the last meeting before the final agreements and contracts were signed before Christmas. Then he could go back to Chicago and forget about the last three weeks and spend time with the only person he really wanted to.
His father had remained characteristically mum since Alexander had arrived in Sweden, and only spoke to him about business issues when they were in the office together. When they weren't, Alexander spent his time visiting friends and family, especially devoting his time to his mother and younger siblings. They were the ones that were going to be most affected by this, and he wanted to make sure everything was in order before he left.
Unsurprisingly, his father had said nothing about Rory. He'd made himself infinitely clear about his opinion of her before they left New York. His father wasn't one to keep bringing an issue up once he had given his orders or opinions, but he was renowned for maintaining a cold shoulder.
Alexander struggled to artfully dodge her being brought up in conversation by others in his family, to prevent his father from affording him with disapproving sounds and expressions. He'd been mostly successful, and spoke with Rory when his father and Marissa were not around. That was, when they had a chance to speak—with a six-hour time difference, it made telephoning difficult.
But not impossible.
They'd even found time to have a few conversations of a personal nature, though Alexander was increasingly finding it difficult to really separate personal from professional. How was it even possible when his personal life was his professional one, being a member of his family's business? Sure, there were conversations he had with her regarding setting appointments for meetings on his return and other duties, but all other conversation lay in that murky middle ground.
He'd almost slipped and asked his father how he'd kept the two separate for so long with Marissa. Wisely, he'd stopped himself. That would open a whole can of worms they couldn't deal with right now. Especially when he already knew how his father did it. He and Marissa did not have an actual relationship based on love, or understanding, or anything remotely pertinent to a long term commitment with each other. No, his father was in that relationship for sex and Marissa for money and social climbing. His father didn't love anyone but himself.
There was a knock at his bedroom door, interrupting his thoughts. "Come in."
"Dad's here," said Eija as she poked her head in the room.
"What? Why?" Alexander asked. "I'm supposed to meet him at the office in a few hours."
Eija shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. You look like shit. Still didn't get any sleep?"
He shook his head. "I couldn't find the point of trying to change my sleep schedule for my last night here."
"True," she said. "Anyway, he's here."
Alexander nodded. "I'll be out in a few."
Eija shut the door and he stood from his seat, finding a pair of jeans and a shirt, changing into them. He splashed cold water on his face and ran a wet comb through his hair. It would have to do for now.
When he came out into the living room, his father was investigating a recessed cabinet system across the room. "Morning," he said and turned to him.
Alexander pursed his lips. "We have a meeting in two hours, you couldn't wait?"
"No," he said. "Your mother has really fixed this place up."
Alexander snorted and rolled his eyes. He had spent his free time over the last week helping his mother, Eija and Valter get settled into their new condo in one of the first buildings his father had built in the seventies. At least his father had the decency to fund the renovation of the space for them—it had been her home during the last two divorces without the desperately needed renovations. But for all Alexander knew, it was a stipulation in the divorce papers this time around.
Or his father was just saving face.
"Yeah," he said and walked to the kitchen where he poured himself some coffee.
"Sit down, Alexander," he commanded.
Alexander raised a brow at him. It wasn't worth it trying to defy him at this late stage. He didn't need a stupid argument over not following his orders. Sitting down into one of the comfortable wingback chairs, his father followed suit and lowered onto a couch facing him.
"You may have surmised from some of our meetings with our lawyers this week that I plan to transfer all of the company's shares to you," he announced. He was never one to beat around the bush.
"Yes," Alexander replied, even though he had known beforehand. Honestly, he had thought that Rory might have been wrong; his father had kept this information to himself until the last possible minute.
"As such, I will recommend that you be named chairman of the board in my departure," he said. "You will have majority control of the board whether they choose you for the job or not."
Alexander nodded. "I know how it works."
His father nodded. "I feel that you are the right man for the job, Alexander. I just hope you don't disappoint me."
"I'll endeavor not to," Alexander replied.
His father nodded and looked straight at him. "There is one matter of concern, however."
"And that is?"
"Your assistant," he said.
Alexander shook his head and stood up, not believing the conversation was turning back to Rory. "What about her?"
"Marissa told me about the conversation they had at the hospital, and needless to say, she gave me an interesting report," he said. "Are you sleeping with her?"
Again, not one to beat around the bush.
Alexander gave him a hard look. Not yet, he wanted to say, but didn't. He gave him a derisive snort. "Even if I was, you have absolutely no room to talk."
"Are you?" he asked, point blank.
"No," Alexander said. "For fuck's sake, no! But should I wish to do it in the future, you have no right to try to prevent it."
"We don't sign anything until December," he threatened. "It's not difficult to change names and give it to Gurra."
Alexander shook his head. "You're such a fucking hypocrite. She's a marvelous assistant. She's put up with your bullshit—hell, she was the one that made sure Marissa got to a hospital in New York. I would have left Marissa to suffer on her own. But despite Marissa's attitude toward her the entire week we were in New York, which by the way, you were completely oblivious to, Rory helped her. And waited with her. And here you are saying that even if I were inclined in that way, I couldn't pursue it? Well fuck you, you can keep everything or give it all away to Gurra. I'm sick and tired of your bullshit. Who I sleep with is my choice and has no bearing on my ability to run the company."
"Alexander, be realistic here," his father said. "She's not one of us. She's not like us."
"No, she isn't," Alexander said. "She's most definitely not like us. Or like Marissa. Or like any of the women I've ever dated that you've approved of."
"So you are seeing her," he said.
Alexander threw his hands up angrily and walked away. He had never been more livid in his life. How did his father have any right to come in here and tell him whom to date?
"I am thirty-five-fucking-years-old," he yelled. "I can make my own decisions about who I date. Take your fucking shares and shove them up your ass. I don't want them. I don't want to become chairman or CEO or whatever the fuck you want me to be. I don't want any of it if it's going to turn me into you!"
He pushed a chair violently out of his path and made his way to the kitchen. There was a silence in the apartment until he heard his father's hard-soled shoes on the tile floor coming toward him. His large countenance overtook the small kitchen.
"You have until December 16th to fire and break it off with her," Stellan said. "If you do not, then I'll know you aren't serious about your future and you will be let go, just like her."
His father turned on his heels and walked out the door with a slam. Alexander clenched his hand around an empty coffee mug sitting on the counter. With an anguished shout, Alexander threw the mug across the room. It felt good to yell. It didn't relieve the pressure or pounding in his head or the sinking feeling in his stomach, but it certainly felt good. But not as good as watching and hearing the ceramic shatter into tiny little pieces and land on the floor.
Alexander looked up at the ceiling, feeling the unfamiliar sting of tears in his eyes. He refused to cry like some child over this. He was a grown man who had every right to make this decision for himself. The answer was clear, but the materialistic side of his conscience played the devil's advocate. Could he really walk away from it all? As much as he loathed his father at the moment, he liked his job. He liked most of people he worked with.
Could he find the courage to walk away? Could he give it all up for a woman? A woman in which he wasn't sure was The One? Could he ruin the rest of his life when there was more chance that they wouldn't make it as a couple than a chance they would make it?
"Alexander?" said a weak voice beside him. He turned to find his sister standing in the doorway, keeping a good distance from him as though she were worried he might strike out at her.
"Yeah?" he said.
Eija pushed away from the door and wrapped her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Alexander sighed. "No, I'm not."
She squeezed harder. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault," he said, sucking back his tears. He reached around and pulled her into a hug. "Don't worry about it. It will all work itself out in the end."
Eija nodded and sighed. "Are you sure?"
Alexander shrugged his shoulders. Honestly, he didn't know.
"Do you still need a ride to school?" he asked.
"My roommate was supposed to come get me, but I can tell her not to worry about it," she said.
Alexander smiled. "Let me go get my stuff packed up and then I'll take you up there. I'm going to go home."
"Dad will be mad if you don't go to the meeting this morning," she pointed out.
He snorted. "Somehow I don't think it really matters anymore. Go get ready and let me get my stuff put together. Is Mom up?"
"I don't see why she wouldn't be after that fight," she said.
"Good," he said. "Then I can go say goodbye."
Eija nodded and walked off toward the hall where her room was. He hung his head. Yes, he needed to get out of this country as soon as he could manage.
As Rory disembarked from her flight at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta, she let out a long breath. Flying wasn't her favorite thing to do, and it made her laugh how just twice in a private jet had pampered her enough that she had forgotten how little room one had in coach seating. At least the flight had been smooth and she was now on the ground to stretch her legs.
She stopped off at the restroom and then headed down the long terminal toward the tram that would take her to baggage claim and the rental car building. For being one of the busiest airports in the world, it seemed pretty quiet this late at night, but then she was sure she was one of the last flights to land before final red eyes took off.
When she stepped off of the elevator from the tram into baggage claim, she heard her name called. Looking around, she saw Bobby and grumbled a little. As excited as she was to see her little brother, she had looked forward to the solo two hour ride down to Columbus. After a very busy week at the office because Alexander wasn't there to do any of his work, she needed the quiet time to regroup before what was sure to be a test of her patience and good grace over the following two days.
Somehow her mother and sister had convinced her to fly out a few weeks before the wedding for a dress fitting. The Saturday dress fitting had turned into a pre-game for the bridal shower to be held that afternoon. Rory had decided that since she wouldn't be busy with anything pertaining to her job, she'd go for a day and fly back—the flights were cheap enough when she used the company discount. She also thought it would be a gesture of good will because she felt like she needed a whole heap of good karma right about now.
"Rory!" Bobby called again.
She sighed and turned, walking to the group of people waiting for passengers behind a yellow line. He threw his arms around her. "Hey, little brother."
He'd long since stopped being her little brother as he stood a good six inches over her. Maybe younger brother was the better term for him now.
"Hi," he said, kissing her forehead. "Surprise!"
"You know, I was going to rent a car," Rory said.
"Mama told me to come get you on my way down from school," he said.
Rory sighed. "She really needs to stop meddling. I was perfectly fine to drive two hours to the house. Now I have to face my possible death with you driving like a bat out of hell down 85."
"You'll be fine," he said, reaching for her computer bag. "I promise."
"Famous last words." She handed the other bags over to him.
He laughed and led her out to the parking garage. They were out on the freeway before he turned to look at her. "So how are you? How's the job?"
Rory shrugged. "I'm exhausted, but I like it enough."
"You don't seem too impressed by it," Bobby said.
"The newness wore off within the first few weeks," she said. "Remember the trip to New York I was telling you about in the email I sent?"
"Yeah," he said.
Rory nodded. "Yeah, it didn't go as planned and I said some things I shouldn't have to my boss' father… the one who's leaving the company."
Bobby laughed and shook his head. "Trademark Fisher right there. Just letting your opinions out."
She sighed. "I would be in Sweden with my boss right now if I hadn't mouthed off. It's terrible."
But also probably the best thing for everyone. After she had spent the night with Alexander upon returning to Chicago, she didn't trust herself to keep her heart hidden rather than prominently displayed on her sleeve.
"Well, at least you're still employed," he said. "That's the important part."
Rory nodded. "You're right, it is."
They lapsed into silence again, listening to the soft twang of the country music on the radio. She yawned into her hand and turned to look at him.
"So how's school?"
"Good," he said. "My internship application for the aquarium was accepted and I start it with my last semester. And I started sending out grad school applications."
"You still trying to get out to Scripps?"
"I am, but my other top schools are UC Santa Barbara and MIT," he said. "They're all impossible to get into… but I'm still trying."
"Bobby Ray, with your grades, I don't see why you wouldn't be accepted to one of them," she replied.
He smiled. "I know. I'm just trying not to think about it and focus on the last year of undergrad. That's the most important."
"It is."
The electronic ding of her cell phone filled the brief silence between them. Rory picked it up to find a message from Alexander.
Need to talk to you as soon as possible. Call me when you touch down. I don't care about the time.
"What is it?"
"My boss," she said. "Do you mind if I call him?"
"Isn't it awfully late to be doing business?" Bobby asked.
Rory glanced at him. "I'm a personal assistant. I'm on call all the time."
Bobby huffed. "Hope you get paid decently for it."
"Oh, there are perks," she said. And major downfalls, like dealing with egomaniacal family members of said boss.
"I don't care. Call him. We have a long drive."
Rory nodded and hit the speed dial on her phone, listening to the ringing. He didn't pick up, and she quickly did the math in her head. It would be around six in the morning there… he probably was asleep right now. His message greeting came on.
"Hey Alexander, I've touched down in Atlanta and am on the road to my parents' house right now," she said. "If you need me, call me."
She hung up the call and slipped the phone back in her purse. "So much for that."
Bobby laughed and they fell into companionable silence, watching the dark road ahead of them. By the time they reached Columbus, Alexander still hadn't returned her call. Normally, he was pretty good about getting back to her, so she grew worried, but he may just have been in some important meeting. Or with his father and reluctant to take a call from her.
Before they pulled up the driveway to her parents' home, she typed a quick message to him. I'm in Columbus and will talk to you tomorrow morning when I get up. If it's an emergency, call me.
She looked up at the house, seeing that most of the lights were still on inside. The side motion light flicked on, signaling their arrival. On cue, because she knew her father would have been watching and waiting for the light to turn on, the front door opened.
Her father was the first out, and he looked just like she'd left him. He was tall and straight-backed, with a large barrel chest that, while wearing a dress uniform, displayed his medals and commendations wonderfully. His gray hair was a little longer, though, than the crew cut he had maintained on active duty. But he seemed happy and healthy.
"Daddy!" she called as soon as she jumped out of her brother's truck. His strong arms accepted her as she crashed into him for a long hug, holding him close. "Oh, I missed you, Daddy."
"I missed you, too, sweet pea," he said with a jolly laugh and kissed her forehead. He gave her one last squeeze as he stepped back and looked her over. "You look wonderful."
Rory smiled. She loved both her parents, but she and her father had always had a close bond with each other. He was a strict disciplinarian and often ran the house like he did the base, but there was never any doubt in her mind that he loved her or that her siblings were loved. Not like some other fathers she had met recently.
He left her there to go get her suitcase from the car. Rory turned to find her mother peeking out of the screen door. It thwapped shut as she stepped outside. There were tears in her mother's eyes.
"Mama, why are you crying?" Rory asked.
"I'm just so happy to see you, Aurora Jean," she said. When Rory hugged her, she didn't let go and squeezed harder. "Mama, I can't breathe."
"Oh, sorry," she said and stepped back, dabbing at her eyes. Rory was confused. Where she had an amazing relationship with her father, she and her mother had more often than not been at each other's throats growing up. While Rory had no doubt that she was missed, she didn't think it would be like this upon her return. "Oh, you look so beautiful, Rory. What have you done with your hair? And are you wearin' makeup?"
"I just blew out my hair this morning," she said. "And yes, I'm wearing makeup. I came straight from work."
Leave it to her mother to remark on those two things.
"Well, you look wonderful," her mother said. "I haven't seen you in ages."
"Mom, I've only been gone for three months," she said.
"Oh, I know," she laughed. "But I'm just a mama missin' her chicks. What with Bobby off at college, you god knows where… and now Whitney's leavin' me."
"Why is she leaving?" Rory asked.
Her mom looked stricken. "She didn't tell you?"
"It's not like we make a habit of having long conversations about her life, mother," Rory said.
"Walker's bein' sent to Korea," she said. "That's why the weddin' has to happen so soon."
"Wow," Rory said and shook her head. "No, I didn't know."
Her father came up the steps and looked at them. "Come on, ladies. I bet Rory's tired."
"I am," she said, following her father in. "No one else is here?"
"No," her mother said. "Charlie's on his shift right now… and Whitney and Walker had a meetin' at the florist and then they were goin' home."
Rory sighed. Well, at least she could wait to face that until the morning. "Mama, can I go right to bed? I am really tired… but we'll talk tomorrow."
"Sure, baby," she said. "Oh, Robert, help your daughter up the stairs."
She laughed as her father glanced back down the stairs that he was already halfway up, carrying her suitcase. Rory turned to her mother and kissed her cheek. "Goodnight, Mama."
"Night," she called as Rory made her way upstairs.
Her father set up her suitcase in her old room and set her computer bag down on the chair. He turned around to her. "Well, here you go, sweet pea."
"Thanks, Daddy," she said and kissed his cheek as well.
He smiled warmly. "We'll catch up in the morning over some coffee."
"Okay," she said, yawning into her hand. "Night."
He shut the door on his way out. Rory sighed and sat back on her tiny bed with a sigh. Already she was exhausted and she hadn't seen the other family members. At least this trip would be limited to two days. She could do that. Two days.
Rory checked her cell one last time after she changed into her pajamas and plugged in her phone to charge. Alexander hadn't messaged her or called her. As she rolled over and closed her eyes, she figured Alexander was a big boy. He could take care of himself, though she truly hoped that his insistence to speak with her wasn't because of an emergency.
She yawned once more and turned on her other side. She'd figure it out in the morning.
Chapter 14
Rory turned in the mirror, looking at the back of the bridesmaid dress her sister had chosen. A startling shade of Barbie pink, it somewhat resembled cotton candy in volume and frothiness. She had never seen a dress more hideous and yet it was thoroughly Whitney's style. Rory glanced at the other bridesmaids trying on their dresses and noted that she was also the only red head present. Clearly, Whitney didn't realize Barbie pink didn't go well with her skin tone and hair. Or maybe that was her point.
Otherwise, the bodice was okay, if a little matronly. But Rory supposed this was the best that could be done being on a small budget and trying to find enough dresses in the same style in such a short amount of time.
"Oh, Rory, you look great," Whitney called from across the room. "You must have lost some weight since you moved away!"
Rory rolled her eyes as the seamstress pulled the side in, using a pin to hold her work in place. "I told you I was a ten, Whitney. You ordered a twelve. The dress is big because of it."
"You're a ten?" the seamstress said around a mouthful of pins.
"Yes," she said.
"We actually have a ten in the shop," she said. "Let me see if that one fits better so any alterations won't skew the design that much."
"There's a design?" Rory asked, glancing in the mirror again. "It looks like Candyland threw up on my dress."
The seamstress hid her giggle. Her sister was the Bridezilla of all Bridezillas, and the dress shop attendants obviously had just about enough of her. Rory had heard the story about trying on nearly thirty wedding gowns before deciding on one. And on that one, there were multiple alterations.
Rory went into the dressing room and the seamstress came back with the right sized dress. She handed back the larger one, reaching out and stopping the woman. "I'm sorry."
She smiled. "Don't worry, I'm used to it."
Rory chuckled and quickly changed into the new dress, stepping back outside. As the seamstress pinned some adjustments, Whitney came over to inspect. "You're practically falling out of it now, Rory."
"I am not," Rory said, glancing at the other three bridesmaids. "I'm just as out as they are."
"Well, theirs are perkier," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest.
Rory wanted to hit her. But she didn't. "Jesus Christ, I'm sorry mine actually move and that I don't have Frankentits like your friends."
Whitney harrumphed and stomped off, speaking lowly to her three friends. Rory sighed. She didn't even know why she had to be included in this wedding party. Those group of girls had terrorized her enough growing up. Wasn't it bad enough that her ex happened to be the groom? Something about it just didn't seem fair or right, but Rory didn't complain because it made her mother happy to have all of her children in the wedding.
"Yours are better," the seamstress whispered with a small smile.
"Thanks," Rory said in confidence. "My boyfriend doesn't complain about them." As a matter of fact, she found it difficult to pull his attention away from them even before he had become her boyfriend.
"You have a boyfriend?" Whitney squealed and bounced over to her.
Rory cringed. "How the hell did you hear me?"
Whitney scoffed. "I have supersonic hearing."
"Yeah," Rory said.
"So what's his name? Where did you meet him? What's he do? What does he look like?" Whitney pressed for details. Rory was actually a little dumbfounded at her sister's interest in the new guy. Of course Whitney was interested in any man that would cross her path—she was just that type of girl—but she had never been outright interested like this. Even when Rory had been with Walker, she hadn't been this interested.
Rory shook her head and backtracked. She didn't need this attention right now. "He's not necessarily a boyfriend. He's more a guy who is my friend."
"Fine, you don't have to tell me," Whitney said, "but I'm tellin' Daddy when we get home."
She rolled her eyes. Great. She'd have to come clean sooner or later. But that wasn't now. And it certainly wasn't to Whitney, just so Whitney could insult her. Finally, Whitney went back to her friends, leaving Rory in peace.
"You know," the seamstress said, "I could probably get you in an eight."
Rory shook her head. "No… I don't want the girls to be that tight in there. I'd like to breathe."
She nodded. "Then I'm done if you want to go change."
"Thanks," Rory said, glad to get out of the pink monstrosity. She emerged back into the fray in her jeans and sweater, ready to go back home. Fortunately, so were the others.
They made their way to the house for the "bridal shower". Rory had always thought her sister would bankrupt her family by going all out with a traditional wedding, complete with all the fancy parties she could stuff into the time before the actual ceremony.
So it really came as a surprise to her when she was informed that the shower was to be a barbeque where everyone involved in the wedding was invited to come, eat, and help assemble favors and decorations. Actually, if Rory were telling the truth, she felt like the Pod People had come down and taken over her sister's body. Whitney was not normally conscious of anyone but herself and her needs. That Whitney had decided to plan this herself and do most of the decorations herself boggled the mind.
But Rory let it slide. She thought it was good that Whitney had changed, seemingly for the better. Walker couldn't have done it, but Rory wondered if maybe their relationship together wasn't slowly making them decent people.
As they pulled up to the house, Rory noticed there were children running around the house, screaming at each other and laughing. Most of the women there were talking shop over some sweet tea in the formal living room away from all the men yelling at the college football games on the television in the back room.
Since they were the last to arrive, they were welcomed like the conquering heroes, back from the wars. Little did they know, Rory mused. Whitney had shown up at eight this morning and kidnapped her for breakfast, then some shopping and finally the dress fitting. She hadn't seen anyone else since she had arrived in Georgia so made her rounds through the house.
Charlie grabbed her first and picked her up in a big hug, swinging her around. "I missed you, girlie," he said, kissing her cheek.
"I missed you, too," she said.
He was wearing his utility belt, a pair of dress slacks and a City of Columbus Police Department polo, showing off his muscle-bound physique. Charlie was the kind of man she wouldn't want to cross; he looked like he could do serious damage. And he could, if provoked. But to those who knew him, he was just a giant teddy bear.
"Are you coming off or going back on?" she asked, motioning to his work clothes.
"Going back on," he said. "I'm doubling up right now so I have the week of the wedding off."
Rory sighed. "Lucky you."
Charlie rolled his eyes. "Yeah, lucky me."
She giggled and hugged him again.
"You know, I'd rather have my ass chewed out by the LT a million times while poking both my eyes out with a spoon than deal with Whitney that week," he said. "I'm only here now because Mama made the food and because you're here to visit."
"Which one ranks higher?" she asked with a laugh.
He seriously thought about it for a minute. "Food. Definitely."
"You're such a man," she said, shoving him.
Charlie reached over and grabbed her in a headlock, rubbing her head with his knuckles.
"Stop! Don't! Stop it! Erg," she laughed, trying to push away from him. His grip was stronger, but he finally let go. "Asshole!"
"Aurora Jean, we don't talk like that in this house!" came the call of her father's voice from the couch. He didn't even turn from the game.
"Sorry, Daddy," she said and shoved her brother again, this time jumping out of his reach before he could catch her. Rory stuck her tongue out at him and turned to go search for a beer. She found them, but it was in the sunroom where Walker and his brothers sat with a few of their friends watching the Auburn football game in exile. Honestly, she was shocked they were even allowed to turn the Auburn game on in the same house as her father.
She took a deep breath and stepped into the room, giving them a quick smile when they glanced up at her. Walker looked good. Damn good, actually. Like he'd been training more and had put on about twenty pounds of muscle. He was just another handsome man she might see on the street.
Rory was both surprised and relieved that the pain wasn't there any longer. In fact, it had been replaced with a sense of relief knowing she didn't have to deal with him. Their relationship had never been a healthy one, and she recognized that fact. Despite the current issues facing her with Alexander, this new relationship was still a much better relationship than the one she had with Walker. And considering how bad her relationship with Alexander could end up being, that was saying a lot.
"Hi, Jakey," she said, hugging him as he jumped over to her. Funnily, she had always liked him best out of the three Stone brothers, even Walker. He was just too young for her. "How's life treating you?"
"Not too bad, actually," he said. "I started college at Auburn in August."
"Really? Congratulations!" she replied. "What are you studying?"
He shrugged. "I don't know yet. Maybe history. I might teach."
"Teaching is a noble profession," Rory smiled. "You'll be good at it."
"Thanks," he said, blushing.
"Excuse me for a minute," she said, stepping past him to the large cooler labeled "beer". As she bent over, however, she was aware of eyes on her. As Rory stood up and turned around, a few of the men's heads snapped back to the television screen. Walker hadn't looked and clearly didn't care.
Maybe there was something, after all, to his and Whitney's relationship.
But more than that, Rory realized, was that for the first time in her life she had more male attention on her than she ever had. Was it just because Whitney had finally thrown in the towel and planned to marry, making Rory top of the food chain at the moment? Whatever it was, it made her uncomfortable. She shrugged it off and turned back to Jake.
"Sorry about that," she said, popping the top of the glass bottle off on the opener affixed to the cooler.
He shook his head. "No worries, Rory. So, how're those Yanks treating you up in Chicago?"
Rory chuckled. "Those Yanks are actually pretty awesome. Though there is a disturbing lack of Southern hospitality."
"So no good ol' Southern boys, either," he flirted.
"Nope, none of those," Rory said, patting his arm. "Y'all are a special breed."
Jake smiled just as Auburn made a touchdown, causing the people in the room to erupt in hysterics. Rory laughed, shaking her head. Some things never changed. With a sigh, she excused herself from Jake and headed back into the house and up to the front room to see what everyone else was doing.
"Oh, good!" called her mother. "Rory, I need you to run to the store and pick us up some of those little paper plates. I thought we had more, but we're all out."
Rory sighed, looking at the table her mother was currently preparing for dinner. As always, there was more food than five times as many people could ever consume, and that didn't even include the ribs she smelled cooking in the roaster and wafting up from the basement.
"Sure, Mama," she said. "Do you need anything else?"
"No," she said. "I think we have it all. Keep your cell phone with you if I think of something else."
Rory nodded and grabbed her mother's car keys from the hook in the office that was just off the kitchen. "Alright, I'm taking your car."
"Okay," she said, turning back to stirring a pot.
Rory didn't want to go, but knew she could get a few minutes of quiet time if she went. With a sigh, she put her beer down on the table and grabbed her purse, heading out of the house.
Alexander yawned as he pushed open the door of his rental car. He stepped out and stretched his legs and arms, feeling his vertebrae pop and realign. It felt good to do it after sitting in a car for two hours.
With a sigh, he glanced up at the house in front of him. It was just how he had pictured it, even though Rory had never described it to him. Sitting nestled in a sprawling lawn, surrounded by trees brilliantly colored in oranges, reds and golds, was a red brick house of moderate size but large enough for Rory's family. The house itself was well cared for and had an antebellum flavor, but there were only small nuances of the old plantation houses. All of the land surrounding it was pristine and manicured. The decorative white picket fence surrounding the front of the property was almost cliché, but it was perfect for the setting.
He pulled his sunglasses off and folded them up, dropping them in the driver's seat as he shut the door and locked it. When he hopped on the plane in Sweden, he hadn't known what he'd been thinking when he told the pilot that he wanted to go to Atlanta. What was he going to do when he arrived? Wander around aimlessly? He hadn't called her because he didn't want to wake her, and had no idea where she was. Luckily, she had sent him a text saying that she was in Columbus while he was in the air. That was a definite starting point.
When he arrived, he plugged his destination into his GPS and set out. Two hours later, he ended up in Columbus and stopped at a gas station. The first person he'd asked about General Fisher had told him the exact location of his home, which he found odd and a tad unsettling. But Alexander had to remind himself that this was a relatively small town. A military town. Everyone who was anyone knew the commander, or former commander as it was, of the army base. And they knew his family.
Just like Rory had described to him.
He followed the directions the man had given him and knew the house as soon as he turned the corner onto the street. There were cars parked in the driveway and surrounding areas. He found one open spot in the driveway and parked there.
Now all that mattered was getting up to the front door and finding Rory. It was strange, he thought, that in a time of complete upset in his life the person he gravitated toward was the reason behind the upheaval. And yet, she wasn't the real reason. The reason was his father being a curmudgeonly prick who had gotten his way for far too long. He knew that. And he also knew that holding and kissing Rory would soothe his troubled mind. She would center him again and allow him to think more clearly so as to come up with a plan of action.
Alexander walked up the front steps and knocked on the door. Very shortly after, the door opened, but no one was there. And then he glanced down. Standing there was a chubby little boy with a round face who was in serious need of a tissue.
"Hello," Alexander said.
"Hi," said the boy.
"Logan!"
The boy startled and turned around. "What Mommy?"
"How many times have I told you not to open the door to strangers?" A petite woman with ink black hair came into view and picked the toddler up. "That's no-no."
"I sorry, Mommy!" he said. "Look!"
The woman turned to him and her eyes grew wide. "Well, hello there."
Alexander chuckled. "Hi… I'm looking for Rory."
"You're looking for… Rory," she said. Her voice was a mixture of disbelief and distaste. "Are you sure?"
"Yes, Rory Fisher," he said. "This is General and Mrs. Fisher's home, right?"
The woman nodded. "Uh, yeah."
"Faith, who's at the door?" came a voice with a twangy drawl that sounded like nails on a chalkboard to him. Not like Rory's slow, mellifluous one.
"I don't know," Faith said.
The second woman came into view. She was about a head taller than Faith, with platinum blonde hair and without a doubt had some work done. But there was something familiar in her green eyes.
"Hi, can I help you?" she asked.
"I'm here to see Rory," he repeated.
"Who are you?" asked the blonde woman critically, even though he felt dirty as she eyed him from his feet to the top of his head.
"I'm Alexander," he said. "Her boyfriend."
"You're her boyfriend?" asked the blonde incredulously. "How the hell did she manage that?"
Alexander scoffed. Sister. It had to be her. "You must be Whitney."
Someone from inside the house shouted, "Would you stop lettin' all the heat out? We aren't made of money!"
Whitney turned to him. "Well, you better come in. Rory's not here. She went to the store."
"Oh," Alexander said.
He stepped into the front room and felt all eyes turn to him. He shifted uncomfortably, but the silence was broken up when an older woman with short silvery hair and a kind face came into the living room, drying her hands with a towel.
"What are we starin' at y'all," said the woman. She saw him then and glanced up, a look of confusion on her face. "May I help you?"
"Uh, I'm waiting for Rory," he repeated yet again.
"It's her boyfriend, Mama!" said Whitney.
The surprise was evident on her face at the pronouncement. Alexander didn't know how to take the fact that no one seemed to know that Rory was seeing anyone. Of course their relationship really had only just started, but he had hoped that she would have at least told a few people in the house about him. Or even about her new job, and then connected him from that.
"I'm Alexander Skarsgård, Mrs. Fisher," he said, offering his hand to Rory's mother.
She smiled and shook his hand. "Call me Mary Lou. Or Mama."
"Yes, ma'am," he said.
"Rory didn't say you'd be comin'—we're all just a little, er, I guess stunned is the best word for it," she said, stepping to his side. She placed a hand on his back and applied a bit of force to get him to move out of the room and out of the firing range of the other women he had yet to be introduced to.
"It was a last minute decision," Alexander said. "She's not expecting me."
Mary Lou looked up at him and smiled. Then she turned her head and yelled. "Robert! Come here! We have a new guest!"
"Just bring 'em down here!" a man with a strong, booming voice called from somewhere else in the house.
"I'm going to apologize now for feeding you to the wolves, Alexander," she said.
Alexander chuckled. "I'm sure I can handle it." If Rory could go toe-to-toe with his father, he sure as hell could manage hers.
Mary Lou showed him down a short flight of stairs to a back entertainment room where most of the male population were intently watching a football game on the large television. But as soon as they noticed him, the energy in the room changed. Each of the men present buttoned up their actions, forming a pack of testosterone. A stranger had just entered their midst and they were uncomfortable.
Their alpha was the gray-haired man sitting in the big recliner across the room. He stood up and walked over to them, and Alexander noted that he was about as tall as him, but what he lacked in height he made up for in charisma and physique.
Mary Lou smiled. "Robert, this is Alexander Skarsgård. Alexander, this is Rory's father, Robert."
Alexander offered his hand, though he felt like he should salute the man. Rory hadn't been lying when she tried to describe her father. He was fearsome, powerful, and commanded respect. "General Fisher."
"Mr. Skarsgård," he said. There was a long moment of silence when he spoke again. "And you are…"
"Robert…" Mary Lou spoke quietly. "This is Rory's boyfriend."
Alexander heard someone in the room mutter, "Rory has a boyfriend?"
He didn't see who said it because he was holding the General's gaze as the information worked its way through his head. The change in his demeanor was almost instantaneous. His gaze grew hard. He was suddenly more defensive.
"… I swear, who is the idiot tosser who parked their stupid shiny foreign car in my spot?"
The hair on the back of Alexander's neck stood on end when he heard the voice. She was back.
"Rory," someone said as though trying to stop her minor tirade.
She continued on. "… made we walk a whole block to get back—."
Her words stopped dead and Alexander turned around. She was standing on the bottom step, and her face was impassive. Then she said, "Shit."
Without another word, she stepped down off the last step, grabbed his hand and pulled him out the back, through a sunroom and out a side door into the backyard. Rory turned around and looked at him.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
He couldn't tell if she was angry or just wanted an answer. "I left Sweden and told the pilot I wanted to come to Georgia."
Rory sighed. "You've gotta warn me. That could have been bad in there! A call would have been nice, too! Like returning the several texts and voice messages I left you."
"I tried," he said. "You didn't pick up at all since I landed."
"That's because I—," she stopped again. "Damn it! I turned the sound off when we were in the dress shop."
He looked at her for a long moment. "This wasn't really the reaction I was going for."
Rory sighed and stepped closer to him. "I'm sorry… I just wasn't expecting you. I didn't have time to prepare my family for your arrival. You do realize you're only the second boyfriend I've ever had, right? When I actually date someone, that's a big deal around here."
"Then why didn't you tell them about me?" he asked. "We've been together for a little over two weeks."
"I know, Alexander. We've been together for two weeks and known each other for a month," Rory said. "And most of it, we've been on different continents. Not a whole hell of a lot of time. I wasn't really planning on introducing you this early because it might jinx the whole thing."
He sighed. No amount of jinxing she did would trump the ultimatum he had received less than twenty-four hours ago from his own father. "Rory, I know it's early, but I want to be a part of your life. I want to get to know your family as well. You've met mine—I think it's only fair."
She nodded and let out a long breath. "You're right. It's just new to me, and I didn't think about it. I hope you won't hold my naiveté against me."
Alexander met her eyes and reached out, pulling her to him. The instant she wrapped her arms around him in response, he relaxed. "I won't hold it against you. I think we're both pretty inexperienced, just in different areas. We have to learn together."
"True," she said. "But I don't want to tell them you're my boss right away. If they figure it out, okay, but I don't know how they'll take to that piece of information. They're pretty traditional… and I want them to get to know you before they pass judgment on the fact that you started out my boss."
"I can agree to that," he said. "But only if you kiss me."
Rory laughed and leaned in, giving him a tentative kiss. She stepped back.
"That's not sufficient," he said, pulling her back and laying one on her. She relaxed into him and returned his kiss.
Finally, she pushed on his chest. "Alexander, stop."
"Why?" he asked.
"Because," she said and stepped to the side, wiping the corners of her mouth. "We're being watched."
Alexander frowned. "Huh?"
She nodded her head toward the house. Most everyone inside stood at the sunroom windows, having watched the spectacle. Alexander noted that Rory's father did not look pleased.
"I seem to be batting a thousand with fathers lately," he quipped.
Rory turned to him and giggled. "He's all bark and no bite. Trust me. Come on."
She grabbed his hand and twined her fingers with his, pulling him in the direction of the door they had used a moment ago. People scattered when they stepped back inside the house, except for the General and two others. One had the physique of swimmer and looked pretty young. The other looked like he lived at the gym and could snap his neck with one well-placed blow—or shoot him between the eyes, Alexander mused, as he noticed the gun on his hip.
"You met my dad, but did you meet my brothers?" she asked.
"No," he said.
Rory smiled and motioned to the swimmer first. "This is Bobby. And that's Charlie."
Charlie flexed an arm.
Alexander shook each of their hands, but they didn't say much. He felt like he was being weighed and measured by all three of them. Then her father surprised him. "You like football?"
"Eh, not particularly," he said reluctantly. He decided honesty was best with this man. "I don't really understand the rules."
Rory cringed beside him. "Oh, god."
"Well then," General Fisher said, slapping his back and placing an arm on his shoulder like he was an old friend. "Come join us and we'll teach you."
The pity in Rory's eyes was unmistakable. She motioned to an empty beer bottle, mouthing, "Do you want one?"
He nodded.
"Excuse me, Walker," she said aloud.
Alexander snapped his attention back to Rory, seeing a man of average height and perhaps above average build step out of the way. As he got a better glimpse of the man, he could see why Rory was probably attracted to him. But Alexander just didn't see anything going on behind his brown eyes. He seemed reserved, superficial and even somewhat… pained. Walker was perfect for Whitney, but not for Rory. He could tell that right away.
He was also relieved to get the sense that there was absolutely nothing between the two. Despite what Rory had told him about Walker and how he had treated her, Alexander had wondered if there was still some lingering attachment there.
"Sit." General Fisher directed him to a full couch, interrupting his thoughts. One look from the man and a boy sitting there stood up and walked away.
As Alexander prepared to take a seat, he caught Walker's eyes. He would deal with him later. With a sigh, he made himself comfortable and turned toward the television screen. After a few seconds, a hand rested on his shoulder from behind and slipped a little further down his chest.
"You did this to yourself," said Rory's voice close to his ear.
Alexander turned slightly to glance at her with a smile. She handed him a beer. "Thanks," he said.
"You're welcome," she said and leaned forward a little bit more, kissing him. She moved back to his ear and said lowly, "This beer'll definitely help more than the coffee I'm usually getting you."
"Indeed it will," he said with a small laugh.
"Okay, I'm going to go do some damage control with the gossipers upstairs," she said, kissing the shell of his ear again and patting his chest playfully. "Have fun."
Alexander watched her retreat from the room. As he lifted the beer to his lips and took a long sip, he noticed the other people in the room trying not to watch, but unable to remain uninterested. He sighed, preparing himself for his tutoring session.
Even as he sat here, slightly uncomfortable and not entirely sure everyone in her family was particularly pleased at the way he had appeared in Georgia, he still felt a million more times welcome than he ever had with his family. It was a strange observation, but he liked it. Even if it meant that he had to prove himself to the General and his pack by watching a game he had absolutely no interest in.
Chapter 15
Rory had tried to block out the chattering from the front room as she helped her mother put together the last few dishes for dinner, but it was impossible to ignore her sister's voice as she held court. After Rory had come up from the back room and confirmed for everyone that yes, Alexander was her boyfriend, they had been sidetracked by Whitney's ploy to bring the attention back to her. So they were thrown headlong into putting together seating card holders for the reception.
Not that Rory was particularly unhappy about it. As long as Whitney sidetracked everyone, it prevented them from having the opportunity to inquire about her relationship and Alexander. Rory wasn't prepared for those questions just yet, though she knew Alexander might be fielding some downstairs. She knew that her family was just trying to feel him out, but who knew what they would slip into conversation.
Her mother placed a huge bowl of potato salad on the table and stepped back, taking stock of the feast of traditional comfort food she had prepared. "Do you think we have enough?"
"Mama," Rory said, placing her arm around her waist, "when have we never had enough?"
"When you're right, you're right," her mother laughed.
Rory smiled. "Should I go tell them dinner's ready?"
"Please," she said.
Rory nodded and stepped over toward the stairs. "Food's ready!"
Her announcement started the mass migration of people to the kitchen as they surrounded the table and began preparing their plates. Alexander came up the stairs, followed by her father, and smiled at her.
"The ribs and fried chicken are in the basement, y'all," said her mother's voice over the din in the kitchen. "We just didn't have any room up here for them."
People filled their plates with the food from the table and slowly made their way down to the basement for the main part of the meal. Most stayed down there to eat at the long banquet tables that had been set up to accommodate both eating and decoration creation later that evening.
Alexander reached out to her and pulled her with him into the line of people moving around the kitchen table. He slipped a thumb in a belt loop of her jeans so as to keep her from pushing away.
She reached over and grabbed a plate and utensils for each of them, handing him one to fill. "Here."
He took the paper plate from her hands and regarded it with interest.
"You've never eaten off a paper plate before, have you?" she asked quietly.
"No," he answered.
Rory chuckled. "Spoiled rich kid."
"You have no idea," he said and motioned to the table and a pan filled with green. "What is that?"
"Collard greens," she said. "Kinda like spinach, but not."
"What's the pink stuff in it?" he asked.
"Ham," she said. "It's stewed with it for flavor."
"Ah," he replied, moving along to other food. Rory paid attention to her own plate and followed Alexander down into the basement where the roasters and warmers had been set up with ribs and chicken.
She motioned to two seats at one of the tables. "I'm going to go get a beer. Do you want another one?"
"Sure," he said.
Rory hopped back upstairs to grab two beers and then back down, to find the previously empty table full of people—but most importantly her mother and father had chosen to sit across from him. She handed Alexander his beer and took the seat beside him.
The meal progressed peacefully, for about the first five minutes while everyone dug into the food for the first time. Then her father leisurely sat back in his seat, eyeing Alexander.
"So, Alexander, what do you do for a living?"
Rory choked on the bite of corn she had just taken.
Alexander, the consummate self assured businessman, played it off as though he were in the hot seat every day of his life. "I'm an architect."
Her father nodded his head. "Interesting. Is that how you met Aurora?"
"Sort of," Alexander replied. "I was outside in the park by her work, and I saw her from across the way. She was sitting in the sun with her eyes closed… and then this elderly man came up and started talking to her before I got up the nerve to speak to her."
Rory listened to his story, gooseflesh rising on her skin. She hadn't realized he had seen her before she had met him in the interview. But he had noticed her, particularly. It made her heart swell to know that even before all of this began, she had attracted his attention. "You were in the park that day?"
He nodded and glanced at her parents. "We actually work in the same building."
"Oh! For the same company?" her mother asked.
Rory reached under the table and pinched his side in warning, but he didn't bat an eyelash. "We do."
"Rory hasn't told us hardly anythin' about her new job," her mother said, casting her a look.
"I haven't really had the opportunity," she said. "And I told you I was a personal assistant."
"We're aware… wasting your education on doing menial tasks," her father said and looked at Alexander. "She's capable of so much and yet she settles on being someone's secretary."
Her parents had been more than a little furious with her when she told them that she was giving up the security of a well paying federal job to move to Chicago. Apparently their distaste spread to fact that they thought she was selling herself short now in her current position.
"Daddy, please," she said. "I like the job. And even if I didn't have it and worked somewhere else, I'm not moving back to Georgia."
Her father deflated at that. Silence passed between them, allowing them time to turn their full attention back to their food.
Finally, her mother spoke. "Do you know who her boss is, Alexander?"
Alexander wiped his mouth with his napkin. "I do."
"What's he like?" her mother asked. "I'm sure if we knew that she wasn't being overworked and underpaid by a decent boss, then we wouldn't be so worried about her."
Rory glanced at Alexander and noticed the small smile on his lips.
"As far as bosses go, he's a good businessman. Not one of those crooked ones you hear about all the time. He's fair and objective," Alexander said.
"And humble," Rory added. "Don't forget humble."
Alexander hid his widening grin behind his napkin.
Her father nodded his head and wiped his mouth, excusing himself and clearing his plate. Soon her mother followed him away.
She sighed. "He knows."
Alexander glanced at her. "I did my best to muddle facts."
"You couldn't have said you were something other than an architect?" she asked.
He shook his head. "I'm not lying to that man. Not outright, at least."
"Put the fear of God into you already, has he?" she asked.
Alexander shrugged. "He was actually pretty quiet while we watched the game. Your brothers, on the other hand…"
Rory looked across the room where her brothers were sitting beside each other, talking lowly and eyeing them.
"Are they always like that?" he asked.
"What? With the predatory gleam in their eyes?"
"Yeah."
Rory laughed. "They'll warm up to you."
"Will they?" he asked.
She shrugged. "We'll see."
Alexander scoffed.
"Are you done?" she asked and he nodded.
Rory gathered their trash, taking it over to the bin and dumping it. On her way back by him, she pulled him out of his seat and up the stairs to the main level.
Alexander followed Rory into her tiny little bedroom a few hours later, wondering what she planned to do. The party was still going full steam downstairs and they had just started putting together decorations.
Actually, he was surprised that she had so boldly pulled him past her brothers and father, who were in the kitchen likely planning his murder, to come upstairs to her room. Having spent the last few hours with all of these men, he had felt confident they would try to stop her. Instead, they merely watched them escape to the quiet of the top floor of the house.
Alexander eyed the tiny bed speculatively and sat down, then laid back, letting out a long sigh of contentment. "I'm so full."
"I have no doubt with the amount of cobbler you ate," she said with a laugh, walking past him to her closet. She stepped inside and flicked the light on.
"You know, I've eaten at some of the best restaurants in the world," Alexander said, "but none of them could hold a candle to what I ate tonight."
Rory giggled.
Alexander glanced over at her as she pulled her sweater over her head. Unfortunately, she grabbed a shirt to replace it. As she walked back out, she caught his hopeful gaze and rolled her eyes.
"Not here," she said.
He chuckled and reached for her. Scooting over on the twin bed, he lay on his side and pulled her to lay flush against him.
"You know what makes it so good?" she asked.
"What?" he asked. "Butter?"
Rory shook her head. "Love."
Alexander smiled. "Maybe so."
She reached up and moved a piece of hair off of his forehead. "Did you ever have home cooked meals?"
"If you count the chef making them for me," he said.
"Oh, you poor, poor boy," she said.
Alexander sighed. "I am poor. I could have all the money in the world and it would mean nothing. I don't have what you have… a family that loves and supports each other despite everything. You are rich."
"Your family loves you and you love them all in their special way."
"Not all of them," Alexander replied, closing his eyes and relaxing to the feel of Rory's chest rising and falling against him as they lay still.
She touched his face, making him open his eyes. Her gaze was intense as she tried to understand what he was saying. He wanted to tell her everything that had happened in Sweden, but he didn't want to do it now. He didn't want that wedge driven between them. There was still a month left and he hadn't decided what he was going to do about his father's ultimatum. It would affect both of them; he would rather have a firm plan as to how he was going to proceed before she found out.
"All of them," she said. "Even your father in his own misguided way."
Alexander chuckled. "I really don't want to talk about him right now, Rory. I left Sweden early because I couldn't deal with it any longer. Until Monday morning at eight, I don't want to waste any more of my time worrying about him."
"Okay," she replied, brushing her lips across his. "I can live with that. And if you feel like you need a family, you are more than welcome to share mine. You can have them when they're driving me up a wall."
"Do you miss them?" he asked. "I mean, when you're in Chicago?"
Rory shrugged. "Of course I do. I love them, even Whitney, though it really pains me sometimes."
He sighed and closed his eyes again, letting his breathing even out and enjoying the closeness of another body. For years, he'd gone from woman to woman with no rhyme or reason. There was no emotional connection with them. He had liked it that way. But laying here with her, without the option of indulging in his more carnal needs at the moment, was a new level of connection he had never felt before with someone.
"I know you said to your father that you never planned to move back, but do you think maybe down the line you still won't want to move back?" he asked. "Maybe if you had kids and wanted them to be near their grandparents?"
She frowned. "Why do you ask? You're acting very strange."
"Am I?" he asked. "It's just something that occurred to me. My life's blood is in a big city like in Chicago or New York or even Stockholm, not in Atlanta or something."
Rory cleared her throat. "If I were in that situation, it would involve a decision arrived upon by discussion with my significant other. As of right now, no, I have no plans to move back to Georgia any time soon, with or without children. Chicago and Atlanta are separated by a two hour plane ride or a two day drive. It's not the end of the world if my children only see their grandparents a few times a year."
"What if you were on a different continent?" he asked.
"My paternal grandparents live in Texas now," she said. "I saw them once a year if I was lucky until I was in my teens, because that's when Grandpa retired from the service. Don't give me that look… at least one male in the Fisher family has served in every major American military action since the Revolutionary War. We're a military family. I think we were even fighting in England before that."
He laughed.
"Anyway... not seeing them didn't kill me," she said. "I know it's not a continent, but the same thing still applies. Besides, I want my kids to grow up in the modern world with traditional values, not in backwater Georgia. I can hop on a plane any time."
Alexander smiled. "True."
Rory sighed and scooted closer to him. He pushed one thigh between her legs and she twined her top leg around his. "Do you want kids?"
The question surprised him.
"I mean, you brought up that last question using yourself as an example," she said.
"Yes, I want children," he said. "Someday."
As Alexander looked into her eyes, he wondered if that someday wasn't closer than he thought. And for some strange reason, that knowledge didn't frighten him like it had in the past. He honestly wouldn't mind having children with this woman, being a part of this family… loving her.
How was this even possible to consider so early in a relationship marred by so much? A relationship what had barely even started? And yet, here they lay, and there was absolutely no other place in the world he would rather be but entwined on this little bed with her in his arms, talking about the future.
A future that was still up in the air at this point.
They said nothing and laid in silence for some time, until he could hear the sound of heavy footfalls on the stairs outside Rory's room, followed by a knock on the door. The person did not wait for an answer and opened it.
"Go away," Rory called.
Alexander looked up at the door. It was her brother, Bobby.
"Thank god you're clothed," Bobby breathed a sigh of relief.
"What do you want?" Rory asked, lifting her head and turning to look at her brother.
"Mama said you are to come downstairs right now and help with the decorations," Bobby said. "It's your duty as maid of honor to be there for support."
Rory snorted.
"And Dad said that Alexander is more than welcome to stay the night so long as it's in Charlie's old room, alone," Bobby said. "Not in yours… together."
"I hate you," Rory replied.
"Hey, don't kill the messenger," Bobby said. "I'm going back to checking my email now."
Rory sighed. "Make sure the porn isn't too loud!"
"Will do!" Bobby called as he clambered back down the stairs. He conveniently left the door open.
"We better go down," Rory said. "They'll send a lynch mob if we don't."
Alexander laughed, scooting off the bed and standing up.
"You know, I don't think it's fair that I'm twenty-eight and they still have the no boys in the room rule," she said and shook her head. She stood up and moved to the door, leaving the room.
Alexander followed her down the stairs all the way to the basement where it looked like the Easter Bunny had thrown up all over the place. Everything was a sickening shade of hot pink or a pale, powdery pink.
"God, there's so much pink in here," Rory said aloud, taking the words out of his mind.
Whitney looked up from her work and frowned. "Look, I get that you hate the pink. When… no, if you ever get married, then you can have whatever color you want."
Rory rolled her eyes. "You're not five any more, Whit."
"I like the color," Whitney said. "Now sit down, shut up, and help us."
With a sneer at her sister, Rory slumped into a chair and began filling little pouches of Jordan almonds. Alexander sat beside her and became her helper, holding the pouches as she tied them off with pink ribbon. Soon the rhythm of the work became mechanical. It was relaxing in a new way, like running on the treadmill. He didn't have to put too much thought into it, and as he focused on the conversations around him, he didn't feel anxious or worried about anything else.
After they finished with the almonds, Whitney brought out centerpiece materials including candles and silk flowers. Rory regarded a pink silk rose with distaste as she separated the head from the stem and affixed it to the base of a glass fishbowl with hot glue.
"What was that look for?" Alexander asked.
"Silk flowers," Rory said. "Could we get more country?"
He chuckled. "They're not too bad."
Rory cast a glance at him.
"Okay, maybe they are," he said.
She nodded. After a few minutes more of silence between them, Rory turned to look at him. "Alexander, you may want to get a hotel for tonight."
"Why?" he asked.
"Just trust me," Rory said.
"That doesn't give me a reason why," he said. "I want to stay here, since your father offered. That has to be a good sign, right?"
Rory shook her head and sighed. "It is. But it can also be very, very bad."
Alexander smiled. "Don't worry about it, Rory. I have to get through this eventually. Might as well get it out of the way now."
Rory laughed. "Okay, don't say I didn't try to warn you."
"Understood," he said.
Rory's mother made her way over to them and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Oh, Alexander dear! Did you get enough to eat tonight? You were tuckin' into that cobbler quite a bit."
He smiled. "I'm great, Mary Lou."
"You sure?" she said. "There's still some left. I can go dish it up for you."
Alexander opened his mouth to refuse, but stopped himself. She seemed insistent on feeding him. "That would be great."
"Would you like ice cream with it?" she asked.
"Mama, he doesn't need ice cream," Rory said.
"Yes, he does," Mary Lou replied. She patted his shoulder and walked off toward the stairs.
Rory turned to look at him. "When you're sick later, don't come crying to me. If you let her, my mother will feed you until you explode. You have to say no."
"I can't say no," he said. "It's so good."
Rory laughed. "Alright, let it be said I also warned you about eating too much cobbler."
"I'm grateful for the warning," he said, leaning over and kissing her. "But it's just too good to pass up."
CHAPTER NUMBER: Chapter 7 - Chapter 9
AUTHOR: Losille2000
WHICH ALEX/CHARACTER: AU!Alexander Skarsgård
GENRE: Romance
FIC SUMMARY: Life as Alexander knows it unravels when he takes over as CEO of the family business for his retiring father—especially when his modern ideals collide with the past. The fact that he also has to deal with a distracting new assistant doesn’t help matters any, either. Alex struggles to step out from under his father’s shadow and eventually find happiness and fulfillment in his career and love life.
RATING: M
WARNINGS: Language and sex.
AUTHORS NOTES: See them here. I am working on reposting this story as I am bringing some of the characters into The Chocolate Affair, namely Alex and Rory. Old fic, unedited, you’ve been warned. Rory and Christine will have a similar backstory, but that’s on purpose.
Prologue-Chapter 3 - Chapter 4-Chapter 6
Chapter 7
The reflection in the mirror staring back at Rory the next morning was not one of beauty. It wasn't normally amazing to begin with, but it had been better. Despite being physically exhausted by the time she made it back up to her room at two this morning, her mind did not want to sleep. Instead, it focused on recalling the dangerous blue-eyed gaze that had made her insides melt. And on the heat of his large, strong hand cupping her cheek. And the way, in an instant, the air between them had changed when he had shifted his gaze to her mouth. God, even now as she touched her own face, she could feel the outline of his hand, the memory seared into her brain.
She had wanted to let him keep inching forward. She had wanted him to kiss her. But she had stopped it. Rory refused to be one of those girls who slept with their boss, whether it was intended to receive favors or not. Even if she really, really wanted his lips on hers. To taste him.
Beside her own hang-ups, she didn't even know how he could find her worthy of that sort of attention. Maybe he'd just been caught up in the moment. Maybe he thought it would make her feel better to show her some interest. Well, he'd succeeded, because she had stopped thinking about Whitney and Walker. As a matter of fact, that was the furthest thing from her head this morning.
The fact of the matter was she had absolutely nothing to offer him. She wasn't wealthy. She wasn't beautiful. She clearly wasn't the type of girl he normally pursued. But that was another point. He wasn't pursuing her. He was just being nice. That was all it could have been.
That was all.
Rory grumbled, pulling her sweater down harshly and frowning at herself. This day was not going to be a good one. She could tell right now. It didn't help, either, that she had a raging headache from lack of sleep and her frizzy hair hadn't cooperated this morning.
She grabbed her purse and headed out of her room, finding the elevators and traveling to Alexander's floor. At least there would be a buffer zone at brunch with everyone else there. She wouldn't have to say much to him.
Rory lifted her hand and knocked on the door. It opened to reveal a black-clad teenager who gave her a small smile. "Welcome to the madness," he said.
"Valter, right?" she asked.
He nodded and disappeared down a hall. Rory let herself in and shut the door, looking around at the ornately furnished foyer. Like the rest of the hotel, it was garish and dated. No wonder Alexander didn't like staying here.
"Hey, toots," said a voice she recognized.
Sam came from the hall Valter had disappeared down, a large smile on his face. She smiled. "Hi."
"What happened to you? Hotel bed uncomfortable?" Sam asked.
"Huh?"
"You look tired," he replied, motioning to her face.
Rory touched her cheek, though she knew he was referencing the gray pouches under her eyes. "Oh, yeah, I didn't sleep well. Just some stuff going on with my family."
"Well, I hope it's not too bad," he said, circling an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close.
He had absolutely no personal space bubble. It made her slightly uncomfortable, but because of Sam's open personality, it was easy to relax around him after a moment. He was accepting of everyone and made sure everyone had a good time.
"Let's go get some breakfast," he said. "They already set up the buffet for us, but hardly anyone is out of their room yet."
She walked with Sam into the dining room where she found Marissa sitting with her iPad, cell and leather bound appointment book open in front of her.
"Good morning, Marissa," Sam said as they walked past her.
Marissa looked up and gave them a small smile. "Morning."
Rory separated from Sam and bee-lined for the pot of coffee. After fixing a cup and taking a few sips, she felt a bit more human. She grabbed a pastry and some fruit, finding a seat at the table. Sam wasn't far behind with a plate stacked high with food. He didn't waste any time scarfing it down and had returned to the sideboard for another helping before she could blink.
"Where do you put it?" she asked.
"Hollow leg," he said around a mouthful of scrambled eggs.
"Two hollow legs," said a voice from the other side of the room.
She looked up to find Alexander's mother, Regina, and Eija coming into the room. Regina smiled at her. "Did you sleep well, Rory?"
"She said she didn't," Sam replied.
"I'm fine," Rory said. "I had some things on my mind."
"Hopefully it's not the job keeping you up," Regina said, a tone of motherly concern in her voice.
Rory smiled. "Oh, no. I had a call from my family last night and had a lot on my mind."
"Oh, I do hope nothing bad happened," Regina said.
"Everything's fine, but thank you," Rory said, turning back to her plate. She nibbled absently on a wedge of cantaloupe that wasn't very sweet. It was when Alexander finally made his appearance that she tore her eyes away from considering the particularly annoying wall paper on the wall across from her.
"Good morning, Alexander," his mother said.
Alexander grunted a good morning as well, but she noted that he obviously wasn't one for interaction before he'd had coffee. He fixed his own cup, grabbed a bowl of granola and sat down in an empty seat opposite her, refusing her the opportunity to stare off into space.
Not that she was complaining. He was beautiful, even still half asleep. His eyes were bright and friendly, his hair still damp from the shower he had taken before coming out. She could also, very faintly, smell his aftershave or cologne on him, and it was intoxicating. It was woodsy and masculine without being overpowering and mixed with the fresh smell of his soap and shampoo. Her mind drifted to the shower in question, an excited tingling pooling in places it shouldn't.
Rory cringed and opened her eyes, not realizing she had closed them. He stared back at her, an expression of interest on his face.
"What?" she asked.
"You look pleased," he replied, his voice throaty.
Rory cleared her throat nervously. "Coffee is finally taking effect."
She was saved by the arrival of Stellan, last of all, to the dining room. Sometime during the moments her overactive imagination had occupied, Kristina had come into the suite and Gurra had found a seat on the other end of the table.
"Good morning everyone," Stellan said simply. He gathered a plate of his own and sat down at the head of the table—the seat she had noticed everyone had left open in deference to the man. Even if they didn't always get along, there was obviously some respect there. It was like her father's recliner at home. She and her siblings knew not to sit in it, and if they did, they had better expect to get up as soon as their father had entered the room.
Everyone around the table, even Sam, straightened their backs and quieted down. Yes, there was certainly a strain in the air around them.
Rory sipped her coffee, holding the warm mug to her mouth. She would just be quiet and try to blend in as much as possible like she would do at home. Except here, she stuck out like a sore thumb with auburn hair.
Stellan sat in his seat and situated himself before taking a few bites. After he swallowed, he looked down the table. "So, Rory," he began.
Rory choked, mid sip of the hot beverage. She swallowed harshly and placed her cup down on the table. "Yes, sir?"
"Stellan, please," he said, waving his hand. "Where are you from?"
"Georgia," she replied. "Near the Alabama line."
He nodded his head. "We've done a few projects down in Atlanta… we were actually bidding on a new one. Alexander, we haven't heard anything yet, have we?"
"No," Alexander replied.
Stellan nodded and took a few more bites, the room silent but for the sound of cutlery on china plates and the sounds of chewing and sipping. Then he looked down at her again. "Tell us about your family."
"Dad," Alexander said, warning in his voice. "She doesn't need to tell you about her family."
"Why not? I find it pertinent," he replied. "She's working for a family business. I like to know about the background of those who will be very close to you in the future."
Rory stepped in then. "I don't mind, Alexander." She smiled sweetly down at Stellan. If there was one thing she knew how to do, it was turn on the syrupy sweet Southern charm. "My father commanded an army base, Fort Benning, in Georgia for most of my life. They moved to Georgia when I was two, so all I really remember is that."
"Oh? What rank?" Stellan asked.
"General," Rory replied. "He retired about a year ago and has been driving my mother crazy ever since."
That received an uncomfortable laugh. Mark that next to a subject she shouldn't bring up in this company.
"What does your mother do?" Regina asked.
"Housewife," Rory replied. "It's a lot of work being an officer's wife. And with four kids… well, she never wanted for something to do."
Stellan smiled. "So you come from a big family, too?"
"I do," she said. "Well, large enough. Not like your prodigious lot."
It was barely recognizable, but Stellan puffed up his chest a bit. Clearly, the man was proud of his family, even though they had their issues.
They lapsed into silence again until Sam chimed into the conversation. "What are their names?"
"My eldest brother is Charlie, followed by my sister, Whitney," she explained. "Then there's me, and the baby of family, my brother, Bobby."
"And what do they do?" Stellan asked.
Rory didn't know why she was being grilled like this, but he seemed to be mildly approving of the answers she was giving him. She knew she should have expected something like this. She was the only person at the table that was a stranger.
"Charlie was in the service, too, but left and is now a police officer," she said. "Whitney is a phys ed teacher and coaches the cheerleading squad at our old high school. She's getting married next month, so I think she's going to take time to be a homemaker as well—she's marrying an officer. Bobby is still in school. He plans to become a marine biologist. He's in his last year of undergrad work at the University of Georgia."
"And you? What's your story?"
Rory shrugged. "I was a librarian. I wanted a change and moved to Illinois. HR found my resume online and called me in. The rest is history."
"You have no experience as an assistant?" Marissa asked, her eyes narrowing.
"No," Rory said.
Gurra grunted into his orange juice at her answer.
"With all due respect, but this is an awfully difficult job for someone with no experience," Marissa said, "and who isn't used to the lifestyle. Especially someone who comes from a background being a librarian."
Alexander bristled and looked down the table at Marissa. Rory sensed the change in the air. People were preparing for a fight.
Rory opened her mouth first, surprising even her. She never jumped into the fray that quickly, if at all. But Marissa's negative words hit her squarely where it hurt the most and she wasn't going to let it slide past. "With similar respect, Marissa, I am aware you have been Stellan's assistant for many years and know what goes into being his assistant. But I am Alexander's assistant, and he has a different style of management… and so far I fit into his plan. I haven't encountered anything I haven't been able to handle."
"He has a plan?" Gurra said. "I wasn't aware of one."
She glanced at Alexander, who looked like he could spit fire. To his credit, he didn't. Instead he cleared his throat and took a drink of his coffee to steady himself. The rest of the family and Kristina sat silently, watching the conversation like a tennis match, and the ball was coming over the net at her.
"Frankly, I think it's presumptuous of you to think I am incapable of the job when I haven't even had a chance to prove myself," Rory said. "And really, how difficult is it to schedule meetings and grab someone's dry cleaning?"
Marissa's eyes flashed with anger.
Rory felt a hand on her thigh and glanced down, finding Sam's hand there. It was a comforting, but warning gesture. As she looked at him, she saw his head bowed toward the table with a smirk on his lips.
She chewed her bottom lip. "I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention to offend anyone."
"No, Rory," Regina spoke up. "If anyone should be ashamed of themselves, it's Marissa and Gurra. If I remember correctly, Marissa, you were only a mail clerk when Stellan found you and promoted you. And Gurra, you know your brother will be amazing."
Regina's remarks didn't cow Marissa at all. Instead, it seemed to enrage her more. Marissa stood up quickly. "Excuse me, there are some calls I need to make."
She disappeared out of the dining room. Very quickly after, Gurra and Stellan both left, Valter returned to his room and she was left with the remainder of the family.
Sam turned to her and threw his arms about her, hugging her close. "If it's possible to love someone after just meeting them, then I think I'm smitten with you!"
"Uh…okay?" Rory started.
"I've never seen someone handle them like that before," Sam replied. "Except maybe Kristina, but Kristina has been around longer than Marissa."
Rory shrugged him off and Sam righted himself in the seat. She looked at Kristina, Eija, Regina, and landed on Alexander. "I'm sorry. Really."
"Don't apologize," Alexander said, a small smile on his face.
Regina heaved a sigh and shook her head. "Welcome to the business… and family, regardless."
"Thanks, Regina," Rory replied.
"Let's go, Eija," Regina said. "We have a spa appointment at eleven."
Rory looked at her phone to check the time as they left the room, and sighed. "We should probably be going, too, Alexander."
"Where are you off to?" Sam asked.
"Tux fitting," she replied.
"Don't you already own like five tuxedos?" Sam questioned.
Alexander drank the rest of his coffee and set the cup down, smiling at his brother. "I do. But this is this season's style. Come on, Rory."
"You are such a girl," Sam called as they left the room.
Kristina stopped her while Alexander went to his room to grab his jacket and wallet. She smiled warmly. "I'm proud of you, young Padawan."
Rory burst out laughing. Honestly, she was surprised Kristina knew the reference; Kristina did not strike her as the type to enjoy watching Star Wars. "Why?"
"You held your own in that fray," Kristina said. "Many before you have been completely blindsided by the alpha domination they do when they're all together. You pushed back just enough so as not to be overbearing, but you also put them in their place. That's what they need."
"Well, at least I'm doing something right," Rory replied.
"Honey, you're doing everything right," Kristina said, patting her shoulder. "Now, I have to go meet with Stellan about the gala on Friday. You and Alexander have fun shopping—don't let him get sidetracked. He really is like a girl when he shops. It's like ADD but worse. Oh, and don't you dare let him leave any store with a plaid shirt. He has enough of those."
"Okay," Rory chuckled. "You know, he is a grown man. He can make his own fashion choices."
Kristina shook her head. "Trust me, when you see some of his choices down the line, you'll cringe."
"We're just going for a tuxedo," Rory replied.
"What are you telling her?" said Alexander as he came into the foyer.
Kristina turned. "Not to let you get distracted at the shop."
He rolled his eyes and shook his head. "I'll be fine."
"Famous last words," Kristina said. "I'll see you two later for the baseball game."
"Bye," Rory said. She turned to Alexander, looking up at him. "Ready?"
"Now I am," he replied, stuffing his hands in his jeans and turning toward the door.
Rory was relieved that though she had stepped out of her own comfort zone and stood up for herself, she hadn't completely stepped over the etiquette boundary. Of course, there were a few people who would disagree with that idea, but she couldn't care at the moment. There was something she hadn't felt in a long time welling within her. And it was empowering.
She looked up at him as they stepped out of the elevator into the main lobby. "You aren't really that bad when it comes to shopping, are you?"
He looked down at her, gave her a mischievous smile and placed his sunglasses on his face. "I guess we'll just have to find out."
Chapter 8
Alexander shook his arms out and swung them around, getting a feel for the tuxedo jacket the tailor had just helped him into. Like he expected, it fit perfectly, just as it had a few weeks ago when he had come in for his first fitting, though now the sleeves and pants had been hemmed correctly.
"How does it feel?" asked the tailor, Antonio.
"Awesome," Alexander said. "Like always, Antonio."
Antonio laughed and moved around him, picking at his jacket and fixing the pants. "I don't see anything that needs to be fixed. Do you? Feel anything that will bother you?"
"No," he replied. "I can't tell. You know I think they all look the same."
Antonio rolled his eyes. "Perhaps a female eye should see?"
Alexander glanced at Antonio and smiled. He thought it was a very good idea, actually; he felt a bit mischievous at the moment and he had a female waiting for him outside the fitting room.
"I'll go show my assistant," he said. Alexander turned toward the exit and walked out into the store. She was still sitting on the couch she had commandeered as her own upon entering the store and didn't look up at him. She was too busy typing something furiously into her phone. He stepped in front of her and noticed her worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.
"Screw you," she muttered under her breath and mashed a final button on her phone. With an angry shake of her head, she dropped the phone beside her. That was when she turned her attention and caught sight of him, her eyes snapping up. "Holy crap, you scared me."
"Sorry," he replied. "I just wanted to make sure it looked okay."
Rory blinked her eyes a few times as though it took her a minute to process his words. When she finally made sense of them, she blushed. "You're too close for me to really see."
He stepped back a few steps and held his arms out.
"Turn," she said.
He made a slow revolution and turned back to her. "So?"
"Looks good," she said noncommittally.
"Just 'good'?" he asked. He knew he was making her uncomfortable, but he enjoyed doing it for some reason. Especially now, after he caught her looking at him speculatively at breakfast. He wasn't an idiot. He knew what that blush was for after she opened her eyes from her daydream. At least, he hoped it had to do with him.
Rory frowned, her blush deepening. "What do you want me to say? You wear a suit really well? You're like James Bond, just terribly Scandinavian and blond? It must be difficult being so unattractive only a tuxedo could improve it."
He grinned. "That's what I wanted to hear. Thank you!"
Alexander left her sitting there, he was certain shaking her head, and stepped back into the fitting room. Antonio looked at him. "She is new, no?"
"She is," Alexander said. "I have to put her through her paces."
Antonio laughed. "I sense something more there."
Alexander looked at the tailor a long moment. "She's my employee."
The man shrugged his shoulders and set down his measuring tape. "I will say no more… Now, if you please, change back into your clothes. We will have the tuxedo cleaned and pressed and sent to the hotel for you on Tuesday with the other suits you ordered, Mr. Skarsgård."
"Thanks," Alexander said. He walked back behind the changing room door and began removing the pieces of his tuxedo, but his mind wasn't on the task at hand. Instead, it turned back to his conversation with Antonio.
He didn't understand why he was so defensive about Rory. He recognized his attraction for what it was. There had almost been action on that attraction less than twelve hours ago. He'd purposely baited her all morning to see if she would bite. To see if he was the only one with an attraction. What he found out was that no, he wasn't the only one.
And now that he thought about it, that knowledge really complicated matters. It was easier when the attraction was one sided, because it was easy to put the brakes on and resist temptation. But when he knew the other person in the mix also might have some level of interest, he couldn't hold back. He'd learned over the years that he should pursue every opportunity because they were startlingly rare for people like him. Well, at the least the truly genuine opportunities were rare.
There was just one problem. She was his employee. He was her boss, in a direct supervisory role. Even if there weren't non-fraternization clauses in contracts, it was bad form for a boss and employee to have any type of relationship beyond the work-related. That was true for all private and public companies and professions.
He knew these relationships did happen on occasion. But those occasions almost always blew up in the faces of the people in question. It led to rumors, heartache and, most importantly, costly and drawn out legal battles if the relationship went sour. His situation as CEO was too precarious at the moment to ever contemplate stepping beyond the lines of propriety to pursue something. He couldn't even think like this. He refused to.
Besides that, he considered himself an honorable enough man not to set Rory up for trouble. He respected her too much to damage her reputation.
Alexander stepped out of the changing room and handed Antonio his clothing. Doing a quick once over to make sure he had dressed properly, he stepped back out into the main store. Rory sat in her spot, one leg crossed over the other, again typing a message on her phone. She placed the phone back in her bag and turned toward him, a smile on her lips.
Just like the night before, his want hit him like a punch to his gut. It made his heart ache for what he couldn't physically have. He might not be able to have her how he wanted her, but he could have a friendship with her. What harm was there in loving a friend?
He cringed. How had love gotten in there? He didn't love her. He was infatuated. That was all.
Right?
She came over to him. "Ready to go?"
"Yep," he said. They gave their thanks to the people who had helped him and stepped out onto the busy New York street. He looked down at Rory. "So, what's next?"
"Nothing," she said. "Until the baseball game tonight, that is."
"Then what do you want to do until then?"
Rory looked up at him. "Um, I don't know."
"You've never been to New York," he said. "Isn't there some sightseeing you'd like to do?"
"Of course there is, but you don't have to go with me," she replied, waving him off in dismissal as though she was under the impression he didn't want to spend time with her.
Alexander smiled and looked at the driver who stood at the car, holding the door open for them. "Pick us up at the zoo at about four. We'll walk there."
"Very good, sir," said the driver with a smile. He nodded his head and closed the door, returning to the driver's side.
"Alexander, don't feel like you have to go with me," she said. "I don't want to be an imposition."
Alexander placed his hands on her shoulders, effectively stopping her words. She tensed under his touch. "Rory, it isn't an obligation. I want to take you out and show you the city. And really, it's just the park and the zoo."
"Alright," she said. "Take me out, then."
He grinned. "I will."
She laughed and shook her head as he motioned for her to follow him down the street toward Central Park.
He didn't know what he was doing and whether it would be a huge mistake in the end, but at the moment, he could care less. For the moment, he was enjoying being a normal guy walking through the zoo with someone in which he actually enjoyed spending time.
"That'll be ten bucks," said the hotdog vendor in front of him.
Alexander pulled a bill out of his wallet and paid the man, grabbing the two hotdogs. He turned back on the walkway and headed to the park bench Rory had chosen. Like the first time he had seen her in Chicago, her head was back and the late afternoon sun cast a glow on her face and lit her hair on fire. Her eyes were closed and a pleasant smile was on her lips.
"Hey," he said softly so as not to startle her.
She opened her eyes and grinned at him, spying the food in his hands. "Mmm… give that to me, I'm starving."
He laughed. "Here you go."
"Thanks," she said, taking her hotdog from his hands.
He couldn't remember the last woman he had been on a date—or otherwise—with that would even dare look at a hotdog, much less eat one with delight. If they didn't have an eating disorder, then they were organic and vegan. While there was nothing wrong with the latter, he certainly did enjoy a woman who wasn't particularly picky.
Actually, now that he thought about, this was first woman he had spent any time with recently who wasn't high maintenance. She wasn't checking her makeup every two minutes, or complaining about something or another, or teetering through Central Park on spindly little heels because they were fashionable.
Rory was different. She was comfortable in flat shoes, a pair of jeans and a sweater while eating a hotdog in the middle of Central Park. He didn't have to impress her. He didn't have to take her to a fancy restaurant because she refused to go to any place where a "lesser" person might eat.
Even Kristina, though he loved her as a friend, could be snooty at times. She was one of the highest maintenance women he knew, actually. And he loved her for it, because it was her. But she could certainly do with a hotdog now and then, and maybe jeans and a t-shirt instead of her high-priced designer clothes.
"Damn it," Rory said out of nowhere. She reached into her pocket and withdrew her cell phone. "I really wish you would stop texting me."
Alexander glanced over at her, finishing off his hotdog. He swallowed and cleared his throat. "Who?"
"My sister," she said. "Asking about dates that I can be in Georgia."
"When do you need to go?" he asked.
Rory sighed. "She's having the wedding the Saturday after Thanksgiving," she said. "She wants me to take the whole week off for all the festivities she has planned. I told her I would leave Wednesday evening."
He nodded. "I might be able to get you out there sooner… you know, with the deal my dad mentioned this morning at breakfast. I have another meeting with some people and I can write it off as business."
She looked up at him, an expression of complete seriousness on her face. "If you absolutely need to schedule it for that week, be my guest. But don't do it especially for me. I don't want to spend any more time than I absolutely have to on this wedding."
"Point taken," he said with a nod.
She typed a message into the phone and then put it back in her pocket. He turned his eyes back out to watch the people passing them by while Rory finished her hotdog. This was relaxing. Normally he was constantly on the move. This was the first time in ages he had been allowed to stop and smell the roses as it were.
He glanced back at her, noticing that she was rubbing her hands together and blowing in them. "Are you cold?"
She shook her head. "I'm fine."
"You're cold," he replied, noticing that the sun had dipped down and their bench was now cast in the shadow of a large tree.
"I didn't think it would be that chilly," she replied. "I'm used to balmy Georgia weather this time of year."
As suavely as he could manage, he slipped his jacket off and held it out to her.
"No, I refuse," she said.
Alexander fixed her with a defiant stare.
"Alexander…"
"Take it," he said. "I'm perfectly warm."
She hesitated a moment longer, but eventually gave in, slipping her arms into the jacket as he held it for her. The garment was huge and she sunk into the brown leather, wrapping it more snuggly around her body.
"See? It looks better on you anyway," he said.
"Thank you." She blushed and hid her face partly in the collar of the jacket before turning her attention out onto the people around them.
He leaned back in his seat and stretched his arms over his head. After a long while, she let out what sounded like a contented sigh, gravitating closer to him, whether she intended it or not. An idiotic grin spread on his face and he slipped the arm he had rested on the bench behind her around her shoulders.
Again, his conscience told him to stop, but he couldn't make himself. Not after the amazing afternoon he'd had with her. He would have been a stupid man to fight it.
But then, he could be a stupid man for allowing it, too.
She rested her head on his shoulder and yawned into her hand. Without thinking, he ran his fingers through her hair, playing inattentively with the silken ends of the long auburn locks. He tried desperately to think of other things, to get his mind off of the woman resting against him and the heady scent of roses in her hair. He struggled not to lean a few inches and kiss the top of her head.
"We should really be going," she said, her drawl lazy and relaxed. "It's a little past four."
"We should," he said, but didn't move. She didn't move right away, either. "One of us has to move. I elect you."
She laughed and parted from him, standing up from her seat and stretching. He watched her do this and realized he wanted her. Now more than ever, he wanted her. But he couldn't have her. He knew as soon as they stepped back into that hotel, they would go back to being solely boss and assistant.
"Come on," she said, offering her hand to help him up. "We've really got to get back. I'm not being a very good assistant letting you slack off."
He accepted her hand, but refused to let it go as soon as he stood to his full height. "Let's go then, if we must."
"We must," she replied.
Alexander nodded his head and placed an arm on her shoulder as they walked through the park toward the entrance to the zoo where their car would be waiting for them. He saw the black Towncar in the distance and slowed their pace a bit.
This had honestly been one of the best days he'd ever had, and he didn't want it to end. But he knew it had to. Just as his infatuation with her had to end. They'd already gone too far blurring the lines of what their relationship should be. This couldn't go any further than it already had.
The ride back to the hotel seemed far too short and painfully quiet. Rory practically jumped from the car as soon as it stopped and hurried into the lobby before him, as though she was anxious to get out of his presence. It made him wonder what was going through her mind. Was she as captivated by him as he was of her? Did she want him to push forward? Or did she think it wasn't right? Did she think he might be using his status as her boss to force himself on her?
Such a though sobered him instantly. Yes, there was a huge problem. He just didn't know what was going through her mind, and didn't know if she really wanted his attention or would rather he focus on someone else. Perhaps she just tolerated his attentions because she thought she had to.
As they rode the elevator up to their floors, they stood a respectful distance away from each other. She stepped out of the elevator onto her floor, but froze in the doorway and turned around to him. "I forgot…" She slipped the jacket off and held it out to him. "Thanks, again."
"No problem," he replied with a sheepish smile.
The elevator doors slid shut and she was gone. He let out a long breath and shifted uncomfortably. He needed a cold shower and a heaping dose of reality as soon as was humanly possible. Luckily for him, he knew stepping foot into that hotel suite in a few seconds would serve as both.
In her hotel room, Rory fell back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling, utterly confused about so much. Just as it had been early this morning after their little chat in the gym, she felt tingly all over with a pressure in her abdomen that didn't seem to go away. There had to be some way to release it, but she couldn't find a way, especially when every time she saw him now it grew larger.
Did he know what he was doing? Was he being genuine about his attention? Did he know he was toying with her feelings? Did he enjoy doing it? Maybe he saw her as easy prey and turned on that charming persona to see how far he could get. Maybe it was some type of challenge he appointed himself to see if he could get into her pants.
Had Kristina ever encountered this with him? Had they actually had something sexual? A real relationship? She knew Kristina said they couldn't work because she'd kill Alexander, but that didn't mean they hadn't tried at one point.
Whatever the problem, Rory knew she couldn't let herself get drawn into this trouble. It was wrong of her to even contemplate anything with her boss. She wasn't that type of girl that got through life sleeping with people. Her sister did that. She didn't.
A knock at her door startled her out of her thoughts. "Yeah?"
"It's Kristina. Do you have a minute?"
"Yeah," Rory said, jumping up from her bed and going to the door. Kristina was already dressed for the game in a Yankees shirt and cap. "What's up?"
"I just wanted to make sure everything went smoothly today," Kristina said. "You were gone all day, and Alexander didn't come back with any bags. I thought with the time you were gone, he'd be bringing back a whole car full."
Rory shook her head. "Uh, no… we went for lunch and had some time to get to know each other. I guess 'teambuilding' is a good explanation for it. We haven't had much time this week."
"Oh, awesome!" Kristina said, sighing in relief. "I just worried about both of you. See? I told you he wasn't too difficult to get to know once you had some time."
"No, he certainly isn't," Rory replied. She felt like she'd known Alexander for years, actually. It was just too easy to be around him. There had to be a catch somewhere.
Wait. There was a catch. She was Alexander's assistant.
Kristina grinned. "Well, get ready for the game. You'll have fun tonight meeting everyone from the New York office. Especially Joe. You'll love Joe. He's gorgeous in person."
Rory laughed at her, wondering if any person could be more gorgeous than Alexander. But she supposed she would find out tonight. If she could get her mind off of Alexander and the meaning behind their afternoon together.
"Alright," Kristina smiled. "I'll see you later."
Rory nodded and shut the door, leaning back against it and closing her eyes. She had to get a grip. Fast.
With a grumble, she pushed away from the door, reaching down to pull her sweater over her head. As she did, she caught a whiff of Alexander's cologne that had somehow lingered from wearing his jacket. She placed the sweater to her nose. Yes, it smelled like leather and Alexander. Like man.
Rory cringed and threw the sweater in a heap on the floor. She needed a cold shower. Now.
Chapter 9
Rory irritably tossed her lip gloss in her bag and silently prayed for an easy night ahead at the gallery opening. A huge headache had formed at her temples and still throbbed relentlessly against her skull. The Tylenol she took a while ago had barely even touched it.
This headache was a combination of many things, not least of all the breakneck pace of the last three days filled with shopping, meetings at the New York office, and other events Alexander had on his schedule. She had slept a total of eight hours in the last two nights due to these meetings and dinners, making her exhausted and cranky. In addition to the workload, she had to deal with Marissa's snotty attitude as she made it her personal responsibility to comment about every little thing Rory did or did not do for Alexander. To his credit, Alexander had warned Marissa to cease her antics, but it didn't help much. Instead, she did it when Alexander was out of earshot.
Rory didn't want to complain to him. She was a big girl and could handle it herself, but it was wearing on her nerves with everything else going on around her. Marissa seemed perfectly fine when others were around, even chirpy in some instances, but whenever they were alone, she immediately started digging where she could.
Then, to top it all off, she had to deal with her relationship with Alexander having gone back to the professional rather abruptly the night of the baseball game. He didn't say much when they were together and seemed grumpy about having to do any work whatsoever the last few days. For most of the day today, Alexander had remained distant and noncommittal, clearly upset with the amount of time he had to spend with some members of his family.
She had tried on more than one occasion to engage him in conversation in hopes of at least helping him get through this nightmarish week with his family, and also to try to ascertain where they stood personally. None of their conversations had been successful as they were constantly interrupted. The aforementioned attitude he had adopted had annoyed her so much that she found it difficult to speak with him even when they had a few moments of peace. He didn't say much, and when he did, it was professional, succinct and only communicated exactly what he needed.
It aggravated her that after a truly wonderful Sunday afternoon, he had the gall to do this to her. She worried she had read too much into the time they had spent together. Maybe she had imagined his fingers in her hair. Or how he'd sat with his arm around her. Or that while they were actually walking around the zoo, he had made a concerted effort to stand close and touch her with his hand on her lower back or an arm around her shoulders.
She wasn't an idiot. At least, she liked to think she wasn't. It had to mean something. But rather than being a grown up and voicing his thoughts, he seemed to have taken what he wanted and turned away, back to the man she had met on her first days on the job. This had to be one of the reasons why workplace relationships between a boss and assistant just didn't work. The conflicting signals were too much and were a hotbed for potential trouble.
Rory glanced in the mirror one last time, smoothing the body-hugging, knee length dress over her abdomen, turning to the side to check her profile. It wasn't too showy, just one color in emerald green. She would definitely hand it to Kristina—the woman knew how to shop and where to shop—and they had found some fantastic clothing for her. Clothing that she actually felt comfortable in and that looked amazing on her body. This particular dress even had to be taken in by a tailor at the designer's store, which made Rory feel even better.
She slipped on a pair of black heels Kristina had insisted she buy, though Rory knew that there was a high probability of falling tonight if she wore them. They were too high and no matter how hard Rory tried, she still felt like there was a huge disconnect between her feet and brain when she attempted walking in them.
Rory didn't know how she was going to make it through Friday evening's gala without tripping over the long evening gown she had chosen. It would be a miracle if she didn't make a fool of herself.
She grumbled and grabbed the leather pea coat from the back of the desk chair. Even the scent of leather made her mind go straight to Alexander and their afternoon together. She wished she had brought another nice jacket with her, but then, she hadn't known when she packed for the trip she would be adverse to leather jackets.
When she was in the elevator alone, she fidgeted with her hair some more. She'd left it down again, and it was already annoying her. She felt like her sister as she peered into the mirrored elevator wall, rechecking her makeup, brushing a side swept bang further out of her eyes. Her sister was the one who couldn't have anything out of place. Not her. Rory could care less.
She stepped out of the elevator and made her way through the lobby where she was supposed to meet the rest of her party, but only found Kristina and Marissa standing there. Rory paused for a split second, steeling herself to dealing with Marissa. Kristina spotted her first, a large smile spreading across her face.
"Girl, look at you!" she exclaimed. "I knew you had a body under all those clothes somewhere."
"I feel practically naked," Rory said.
Kristina laughed. "You have an amazing figure and should totally show it off more than you do."
"Thanks," Rory said. "Where is everyone?"
"They were miraculously ready early, so we sent them ahead in the cars," Marissa replied. "We decided to stay back and wait for you since you were taking your own sweet time."
Rory looked at her watch. "I'm right on time, Marissa. I would appreciate it if you would stop with the attitude."
Kristina cleared her throat, drawing their attention away. "One of the cars is back for us. We should go."
Marissa sniffed angrily and turned around, marching down the stairs and out the front entrance. Rory turned to Kristina. "Sorry."
Kristina shook her head. "Don't apologize for it. She deserves it."
"By the way, you look amazing, too," Rory said. "But you always do."
"I know." Kristina laughed as they slowly made their way outside.
The car ride to the gallery was tense, and Rory was thankful when they finally arrived. Each of them went off in their own separate directions after dropping their coats at the coat check, she in search of her charge to follow him around all evening in case he needed anything.
What she found made her head ache even more and her heart plummet to her feet. Alexander was surrounded by a bevy of beautiful women, but one in particular was hanging on his left arm. She had caramel colored hair, bronzed Latin skin and looked like a supermodel. Her dress was skimpy yet not entirely vulgar, and the plastic parts of her body held everything in place with a precarious combination of luck, gravity and double-sided tape. He leaned in to her, whispering something in her ear, causing the woman to laugh. She in turn kissed his lips as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Then the woman told a girl next to her that she adored her boyfriend.
Rory cringed, a bitter taste forming in her mouth. It was no wonder he had acted like he had after their day out with each other. He apparently had a girlfriend. A woman she could never amount a serious competition against for Alexander's affections. Yet, she had to give Alexander credit. He may have contemplated cheating on his girlfriend, but he didn't. He had pulled back from her just in time.
"God, I need a drink," she muttered.
On cue, a hand thrust out in front of her, holding a full flute of champagne.
"I heard someone needed liquor," said the male voice beside her.
She looked up in surprise to the tall man who stood beside her. "I did."
"Here," he said.
"Thank you, Gurra."
"My pleasure." He gave her a small, tight smile. "You look beautiful this evening."
"Again, thanks." A shiver ran up her back and she rubbed her bare arms. Maybe she should have gone with something that had sleeves. Rory shifted uncomfortably on her feet as they stood in silence beside each other. Alexander continued to hold court.
"It's disgusting, isn't it?" Gurra asked.
"What is?" Rory asked.
"The women hanging all over him," he replied. "The mugging for the cameras."
Rory shrugged. "It's his life."
Gurra turned and looked down at her. "That it is."
Rory sighed and sipped her champagne, glancing back up at him. "I'm sorry if this is forward, but why don't you and Alexander get along?"
"We just have two different philosophies in life," Gurra said. "His borders on the ridiculously liberal that I fear will get him into trouble. And if he gets into trouble—the whole company can go down with him. I suppose you ask because you've heard I'm not pleased the company is going to him and not to me."
Rory didn't respond.
Gurra sighed. "I won't lie about it. No, I'm not happy with the decision. I think the company is in the wrong hands."
"Maybe you should give him a chance," she replied. "He hasn't had time to show you he can do it."
Gurra nodded. "I'm trying. Really, I am. But just once I'd like to be recognized for the work I have put into this business instead of Alexander getting all the glory."
"He does a lot, too, Gurra. I know, I've seen his workload."
Gurra shrugged and sipped his own champagne. "It just boggles my mind that my father chose to give it to Alexander when Alexander's background is in architectural design, not business. I have been in business operations since I got out of school with my MBA, and just became CFO a few years ago. I know the workings of a business. This business. Alexander has his head in the clouds."
Rory turned to him, meeting his dark eyes. "Maybe that's the point, Gurra. Yes, you know the nuts and bolts, but Alexander is a visionary. He needs to dream up these big plans and have people like you execute them. That's pretty much the definition of a CEO. But I also know he knows a great deal about the business side, too. He just doesn't like it and that's why he lets you do it, because you like and are good at it. Did you ever think it was your father's intention to have Alexander as CEO and you as CFO because each of your strengths balances out the weaknesses of the other? You're the two highest-ranking officers in the company. Nothing can really be done without the other. So don't you think you should start working with him instead of against him? You'll reap the rewards if Alexander does."
Gurra said nothing and merely stood there, his gaze penetrating and uncomfortable. She could also see the wheels turning in his head. Rory knew she had stepped out of bounds with what she said, especially seeing as her position with the other family members was still tenuous, but she didn't feel the least bit remorseful. What she had said was the truth.
Finally, he turned back to watching Alexander. He gave a rueful laugh as Alexander posed with a few older women for a picture. "I'll be honest, too, and say some of the female attention might be nice."
Rory looked up at the man beside her. He certainly didn't look like the perfect, golden Norse god that Alexander was, but he was darkly attractive. All the rest of the Skarsgård children were. "I'm sure you have your share."
Maybe if you weren't such a stick in the mud, more women might like you, she thought to herself and sipped her champagne to keep from saying it aloud.
He continued when she didn't respond. "You know, I feel like we've barely had a chance to get to know one another and yet we've been thrown together the last four days on business."
She wanted to tell him to join the club. She worked for Alexander, and she still didn't know him. "All you need to know about me is that I am one of your employees and I work for Alexander. You heard about my background at breakfast on Sunday."
"I only meant, if I'm supposed to be working in consort with Alexander like you say, we should become better acquainted," he replied. "Do you want to get out of here and go grab a quiet drink?"
Rory was flabbergasted. She didn't know what Gurra meant by saying these things, but it gave her pause and made her stomach sour. Whatever he was getting at, she didn't want it, especially if he was still on Marissa's side in all of this.
"Thank you, but no," she replied. "I haven't even seen any of the art yet."
Gurra snorted in derision. "Staring at Alexander all night doesn't classify as looking at the art."
Rory opened her mouth to reply, mortified as a blush inflamed her face. "I don't know what the hell you're attempting to do, Gurra, but it's not going to work. Go find Marissa if you need someone to be rude to."
With that, she left him. She didn't have to take any more of this. Alexander looked at home with the gaggle of people who surrounded him. He likely wouldn't need her any time soon and there were a lot of other things to look at in the installation. Not just Alexander.
Rory turned her head, laying it against her shoulder as she peered at the large canvas hanging on the wall. All of the works she had seen this evening—those by Sam and those by others, as well—were all wonderful. She just didn't get the point of some of the modern art pieces. After all, couldn't anyone paint a red circle on a white canvas and call it art? Sam's work, though, had a little bit more meat to it. Some was beautiful, some not so much, but all of it was interesting. Like Sam.
She sighed and turned, looking around the small room. A few people stood looking at other paintings, but it was nearly empty in contrast to what it had been earlier. She drank what was left of her third champagne for the evening and set the flute on the tray of a passing waiter.
The past two hours had been long and tedious as she moved through the gallery, chatting with some of them. She'd spoken a little to each of the Skarsgårds, except Alexander. He had stayed near the front of gallery all evening with the same woman.
Now it was nearing midnight and he had an early appointment in the morning. He knew he had it; she had run down the schedule for the following day in the car on the way back to hotel after today's meetings. He was a grown man who could take care of himself, but it was also her job to make sure he reached his appointments on time and with some modicum of alertness.
So she was faced with a problem. Did she or did she not intrude on his evening to act like his mother, just to make sure he got enough sleep? Where did her job end and nagging begin? Was she supposed to warn him about the time?
Maybe it was just time she purposely place herself under his nose? She couldn't blend in with the wall forever in hopes that she wouldn't be recognized to confront other issues.
She moved back through the rooms to the front. Alexander sat at the bar across the room, completely alone and nursing a green-bottled beer. Rory seized the opportunity and walked over to him.
He turned when he heard her approaching, clearly expecting the other woman, because the smile that was on his face died the moment he saw her. That reaction, in turn, made Rory feel ill to her stomach. She stopped in front of him and took a moment to collect herself before speaking.
"I just wanted to see if there was anything else you needed tonight," she asked. "I'm very tired and need to go back to the hotel."
It came out snippier than she has intended.
"No," he replied shortly. "I have it."
"Good, I'll see you at eight tomorrow," she replied, turning to leave. Instead she ran into a body that was standing close behind her. It was Alexander's girlfriend.
"Watch where you're going," she said.
Rory met her mean, crystal blue eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were so close to me."
Alexander sighed. "Carrie, this is my assistant, Rory. Rory, Carrie."
Rory nodded her head at the woman who sneered at her. Carrie sniffed and slid into the chair beside Alexander, crossing her legs so the short dress rode up high on her thighs. Alexander noticed that, and all his attention was lost.
"Alright, goodnight Alexander," Rory replied. She had to get out of here before she made more of a fool of herself and before she had to witness any more of Alexander's adoration of that overly tanned bimbo.
She grabbed her coat from the coat check and stepped outside. The immediate rush of cold air felt good on her face. Refreshing. She grabbed a taxi instead of waiting for one of their cars, but as she was sliding into the yellow Crown Victoria, she heard someone call her name.
It was Regina.
Rory turned and looked at the woman. "Yes?"
"Can we share a cab?" she asked. "I don't want to wait for a car."
"Sure," Rory replied. "Come on!"
Rory moved over and allowed Regina to settle into the vacated seat. The driver looked back. "Where to?"
"The Waldorf, please," Rory said.
Regina covered a long yawn with her hand. "Goodness, I am exhausted after today."
"It was a long day," Rory said conversationally. She hadn't said much to Regina, but she liked the woman enough. Any woman who could manage the life she did with five children deserved a medal. And she certainly was more approachable than Stellan had been.
"Did you enjoy the art?" she asked.
Rory nodded. "I did, even though I prefer French impressionism over modern art. I feel the meaning is lost on me."
Regina laughed. "I agree. That's why I like working with the old paintings instead of the new. But Sam does have a talent."
"He does," Rory replied. "I didn't know you were an art historian."
"I am," Regina said with a smile. "I prefer preservation, but my work has been leaning more toward the curating and collecting as I've gotten older. I figure if I purchase some of these pieces, then I know they are in good hands and can't be harmed."
Rory nodded. "I can understand that. If I had the resources, I would be collecting books left and right."
"You may yet," Regina replied.
She watched the streets pass as they slowly made their way through Manhattan. A yawn caught her lips and she sighed. Finally they pulled to a stop outside the hotel and Regina paid for the cab before Rory even had a chance to open her purse.
They bade each other goodnight as Rory stepped out onto her floor. Kristina was waiting there for an elevator to go downstairs.
"Hey, hon," Kristina said.
"Hi," Rory said.
Kristina frowned. "What's wrong?"
"I have a horrible headache," Rory said. "Had one all day."
An empty elevator car opened up and Kristina stepped inside. "I'm just going to go drop this mail off downstairs to be sent tomorrow. I've got some Excedrin if that might help."
"It's worth a try," Rory said.
"Cool. See you in a few," Kristina said as the doors slid shut.
Rory turned back toward her room. There were two imperatives at the moment: getting rid of the headache and taking off these damn shoes. At least now her mind wasn't on Alexander.
When Alexander met Kristina in the hotel lobby that night, he was agitated, angry and more than a little horny. And all of it had to do with Rory, whether she knew it or not.
He had tried for no less than three days to push the thoughts of romance with her aside in favor of morality and ethics. It wasn't right for a boss to chase after his assistant. He knew that. But he couldn't deny the fact that it would make even less sense for him to disregard it all together.
He'd tried to convince himself he just needed to get laid. That was how he had come up with the not-so-brilliant idea to invite the vain twit Carrie along for the evening. After a very short time, he had, in fact, discovered that yes, he did need to get laid, but Carrie or someone else like her wouldn't do. He didn't want that anymore. He wanted someone like Rory. Someone who he could at least have a quiet conversation with at an art gallery rather than having to show off to others.
And yet, even as he had ascertained this early on, he had been a jerk all night by ignoring her. He hadn't gone looking for her. Of course, she hadn't sought him out either. A little bit of confirmation from her that she didn't mind his attention would have been nice. Even if she told him to stop it, it would have at least given him the opportunity to move on from his infatuation.
"You look like you're on a mission," Kristina said.
"I'm looking for Rory. Have you seen her?" Alexander asked.
Kristina nodded slowly. "She's up in her room. She just got back. Is something wrong?"
"No," Alexander replied. "I just need to speak to her."
"Well, follow me up," Kristina replied. "I said I would bring over some Excedrin."
"Is she not feeling well?" Alexander asked.
She tapped her head. "Yeah. She has a headache. And I have a feeling its name is Alexander. What did you do to her?"
"Me? I didn't do anything to her," Alexander replied. Well, not really, anyway.
"Whatever," Kristina said. He followed her upstairs and into her room. She handed him the green bottle of Excedrin. "Take this to her. And don't bother her for long. She needs to rest. This is a lot for someone just starting out."
Alexander saluted and stepped out of the room, but paused. "Uh… what room is she in?"
"1809," she replied.
He nodded and followed the numbers down to the end of the hall where the door for 1809 stood ajar, the latch lock holding it open. Alexander lifted his hand and knocked.
"Come i—oof, damn it," said the voice inside the room. "Come in, Kristina! It's open."
Alexander debated on entering without announcing himself. He didn't want to give her the opportunity to leave him outside if she were truly unhappy with him.
She muttered something about shoes killing her without even wearing them as she came around the corner. Her words died on her lips when she saw who it was standing in her bedroom. "Oh my god, don't you knock?" she asked, her voice shrill as she struggled to find more cover than the short silk robe she was wearing. It covered her important parts—the parts he really wouldn't mind seeing, he thought belatedly—but it certainly gave him a good view of her amazing legs and a bit of cleavage.
"I, uh, did knock," he said.
Rory frowned. "That's not what I meant and you know it! You could have told me it was you and not Kristina."
"Uh, sorry," he said. Though he wasn't. Not really, anyway. He very much enjoyed letting his eyes run over her body. It was a shame she always covered it up.
She growled angrily, snatched the Excedrin from his hands and left him standing there. He heard water running and she came back out, her eyes narrowing at him as though preparing for a fight. If it was an argument she wanted, she'd win it. His blood had left his brain and he couldn't formulate words.
"Is there something you needed?" she asked. "Where's your girlfriend? Wait… you had to have left right after me to be here now."
He closed his eyes for a moment, willing his words to return to him; Alexander thought of everything repulsive and unsexy. The battle raged on even as he opened his mouth to reply. "I don't need anything. She's not my girlfriend. And yes, I left right after you and my mother."
"Then why are you here?" she asked, placing her arms on her hips in defiance. It only spread the v-neck of her robe more, exposing a bit of lacy black bra beneath.
Must not stare, he cringed and forced himself to meet her eyes.
"I, uh," he started, swallowing. "I wanted to say…"
"Look, Alexander, I'm really tired. Could we speed this along?" she asked.
He wasn't used to this outspoken, sarcastic Rory. Since their relationship had changed, she had been more open with him, clearly because she was more comfortable than when she started. But this was different. She seemed to have no inhibitions with the angry energy coming from her.
"I just wanted to tell you that you looked amazing tonight," he said. There. It was out of his mouth.
Rory hadn't expected that from him. He could see it as the words hit her like an invisible slap. Her attitude went from angry to bashful in no time. "Thanks," she mumbled, crossing her arms protectively over her chest.
"Look, I'm sorry we didn't get to spend more time together tonight," he said.
Rory shook her head. "Alexander, I'm your assistant, not your sister or your mother or girlfriend or whatever. You don't have to babysit me. I'm a big girl and I can take care of myself."
But it would have been nice to have some acknowledgement before the end of the night, she didn't voice it, but he could read between the lines. Or maybe it was just his guilty conscience. Needing a comment of encouragement wasn't because she hoped he felt more for her. It was simply because she was a woman who needed reassurance.
"Yes, you are my assistant," he said, testing the waters.
"Good," Rory nodded. "Now that we have that straight, I would like to go to bed."
"Fine," he said.
"Fine," she replied, walking toward him.
He didn't move.
"Leave my room, Alexander." She stood in front of him and looked up at him.
Her eyes were a darker shade of green. With gold flecks.
He knew he wasn't going to get anywhere else with her tonight. She had shut down and pushed him back into the neat little box labeled "boss".
"Okay, I'm going." He walked to the door and let himself out. She followed him and held the door as he stepped into the hallway.
"I'll see you in the morning," she replied. "Goodnight."
With that, she shut the door in his face. Alexander took a step back, let out a heavy sigh and hung his head. Well, that had gotten him nowhere. Now he would go up to his suite completely alone and even more confused than he had been before he had come to see her.
True Happiness: It’s All in Your Mind. All of us would like to achieve happiness, yet oftentimes we lose sight of the power of inner happiness.
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” ― Marcus Aurelius
True happiness originates within ourselves rather than in the world around us. Contrary to what many may think, true happiness isn’t…
True Happiness: It’s All in Your Mind. All of us would like to achieve happiness, yet oftentimes we lose sight of the power of inner happiness.
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” ― Marcus Aurelius
True happiness originates within ourselves rather than in the world around us. Contrary to what many may think, true happiness isn’t…
