'Come on guys, let me in I don't care if you are bumping nasty's I will watch.......or join in.'
I laugh as Liam nearly rips the door off its hinges revealing a smug looking Nate. He pushes past him and drags me into a bear hug, I like Nate we could be really good friends. Liam pulls me back close to him like Nate is a threat to us, strange...
'What do you want Nate?' He groans, not pleased with the interruption.
'Dude you left me in the middle of world war three out there. How could you?' He accuses. He is the complete opposite of Liam and has a air of cheekiness surrounding him that is infectious.
I instantly feel terrible, I caused all this and then bolted. I have to ruin everything all the time.
'Don't, it wasn't your fault....Don't you dare feel bad.' He says as he stares intently into my eyes and brushes the back of his knuckles over my cheek.
'Yeah Pretty Girl, if any one is to blame it's that bitch, god I hate her. Incidentally she is balling her eyes out in there.' He chuckles.
'Un-fucking-believable.' Liam laughs. 'Do you want to leave?'
I hesitate a nod, I want to be far away from here I just don't want to put Liam in a difficult situation. He has spent a fortune so I don't embarrass him and yet I still manage it. Great Work Lexi.
I walk back into the Dining Room in between Liam and Nate. Liam is squeezing my hand, giving me some much needed reassurance as I take in the scene before us.
Mr Coltan and Mr Reddington are yelling something about respect and manners, whilst Mrs Coltan tries in vain to calm her husband down. Mrs Reddington holds a sobbing Melissa.....Wow. Liam clears his throat loudly to alert them of our presence an they all freeze on the spot and turn towards us. I step behind Liam, shielding myself from the angry faces.
'We are leaving, thanks for.......erm yeah, just thanks.' He muses and Nate chuckles.
'You caused all of this .' She gestures around the room. 'And now you just want to leave!' Mrs Coltan screeches.
'How exactly did I cause this, please do tell?' If I didn't know any better I would swear he was amused but the menace in his tone gives him away.
'You brought that.......that tramp to our dinner to rub it in my daughters face that you are being unfaithful.' Mrs Reddington is only to quick to accuse, still cradling a sniffling Melissa. I go to step away from Liam ashamed, not for myself because lets face it, I have been called worse but for Liam. He grips my hand tightly daring me to move away with his steely grey eyes. I stay rooted to my spot.
'This 'tramp' has more class and dignity in her little toe than 'My Darling Fiancee' who is available to anybody with a six figure bank balance, or at least enough to splash the cash that night.' He is still so very calm which is more than can be said for the Reddingtons and his Mother. His Father and Nate just look amused and I put my head down remembering how we first met.
'How dare you?! Who the fuck do you think you are talking about?! My daughter has never done any such things?!' Mr Reddington is pissed, Hell he is livid.
'The questions you need to concern yourself with Donald are, how many men has my daughter slept with? Because I know of four. Has she been tested?' He adds with a smirk and I cringe, he is enjoying this. I don't like this side of him, he's sadistic and cruel, even Nate looks appalled.
'Liam.' His Father warns but Liam is on a role.
'Mr Reddington, I mean Donald, consider your business with Coltan Holdings finished, done as of Monday. I am pulling the money and the teams out.' His business tone is back, yet I can't shake the feeling he is still enjoying this, as the room fills with gasps I realize this must be big.
'You can't do that your Father is CEO not you.' Melissa sneers.
'Liam be rational Son.' His Father pleads.
'Liam Landon Coltan how could you?' His Mother gasps still in shock along with the Reddingtons who have paled. Have I missed something? Why would they need Liam's money if they are rich themselves?
'Actually Mellissa dear.' He sneers. 'I am the CEO and I am in control, I thought my darling Fiancee would know this.' He chuckles and it sends chill through me.
'You would destroy my company, bankrupt me and put thousands of people out of work to me spite me over her!' Mr Reddington finds his voice and it is my turn to gasp, I am horrified.
'Liam.' I whisper as I take my hand from his.
'Stay out of this Alexis, it neither concerns nor does it involve you.'
I close my mouth, hurt that he can be so cold to me. He's wrong it does involve me, it's because of me that he is doing this. I can't help but remember how Mike got worse when he lost his job. Nate takes my hand and leads me outside, I had heard enough already.
'He doesn't mean it Pretty Girl.' He soothes. 'He is just angry at the way they treated you. I have never see him the way he is with you with anyone, he really does like you a lot. He is letting them know he won't tolerate people putting you down or upsetting you.' He brushes my hair behind my ears and runs his thumbs under my eyes to wipe the run away mascara. I am about to thank him when someone else speaks.
'Well isn't this fucking cozy...'
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Chapter Fourteen
Liam
I am livid. How dare they speak about her like that when not one of them even gave her a chance. Unfaithful to Mellissa are they fucking delusional?! I go in search of Nate and Lexi, I can't wait to take her home away from this nightmare and just lose myself in her. She looks so beautiful tonight it's a shame it was a disaster orchestrated by my own Mother.
I hear Nate's voice and make my way toward it '.......upsetting you.' He is talking sweetly and my stomach churns, I know I was harsh in there but I didn't mean to upset her.
As I round the corner I feel sick with jealousy as I take them not believing what is unfolding before me. They are standing not even inches apart, her hand on his shoulder, she is smiling at him and he is smiling back running his thumbs over her cheeks. What the fuck?!
'Well isn't this fucking cozy.' I spit my voice dripping with that much venom I barely recognize it myself. He jumps back away from her and she hangs her head. Guilty as fucking charged.
'If you value your life I would get out of my sight and keep your fucking hands off my girl.' I snarl through gritted teeth.
'Dude whatever you think that was, your way off.' He explains. Do I look stupid, I know what I saw!
'What I saw was you making a move on my girlfriend the minute my back is turned, Dude.' I sneer. He really is after me kicking the shit out of him.
'Making a move...Your bat shit crazy.' He looks affronted but I don't buy it.
'Alexis car now. You this isn't over.' I point at Nate.
'Damn right this isn't over, I want a fucking sorry and I want it now.' He argues.
'Don't push me right now Nate.' I seethe 'Alexis.Car.Now.' I yell at her unmoving form and she flinches. Oh God.
'Liam don't fucking yell at her, you're being an arsehole.' He fumes. 'You don't have to go with him, you know that don't you?' He tells her softly and it just fuels the fire inside me.
'Believe me she has escaped bigger threats than me.' I know it's a dick move but I am so angry I can't help it. She looks at me like I have just kicked her in the stomach but silently gets in the car. Once she is inside I turn to my so called best friend.
'We are done here, Mate.' I spit the last part in disgust as I get in my side.
'LIKE HELL WE ARE!!' I hear him shout but don't care, I am done with him.
I sit in the back of the Bentley and take my tie off, I want to speak to Lexi but I don't know what to say. On one hand I am so angry she would flirt with my best friend, on the other I feel guilty about what I said about her. I didn't mean to, my mouth ran away with me.
She stares out the window and an uncomfortable silence lingers in the air, none of us speak or even make eye contact. The only sound that can be heard is of her soft sniffling that lets me know she is crying. I feel like an arse
hole, maybe she would be better off with Nate. Not that it matters, I am far to selfish to ever let her go.
When we pull up I jump out the car not bothering to wait for Dem to open the door so he opens hers instead. Storming through the house, shedding my shoes in the hall and my jacket on the sofa.
I make my way to the glass cabinet and pour myself a very much needed, very large Brandy taking a big sip. She walks through the room not even acknowledging me and heads into the guest room I assume, as I hear the door slam. Great she is ignoring me, well let her, I think as I slump down onto the sofa, glass in hand. Maybe I got it wrong? Maybe I am over reacting a touch? Can she blame me? I wonder how she would feel if she found me and Melissa like that? I think back to earlier when Melissa threw herself at me and Lexi just looked amused, didn't she care? Wasn't she the least bit jealous? Maybe I don't mean anything to her after all? I muse to myself.
I realize I ain't going to get any answers from my Brandy and head to her room. I don't bother knocking - why should I - its my house. As I walk in she turns to look at me from where she is stood in front of the mirror removing her make up. She is now in silk shorts and vest, she still looks beyond beautiful in her pajamas, it totally disarms me. She turns back to the mirror but doesn't speak, fine I will go first then.
'Do you have feelings for Nate?' I snap and she doesn't answer.
'Are you not even going to answer me?'
'Not when you are being ridiculous.' She finally replies but doesn't take her eyes off her own reflection.
'How am I being ridiculous? I see you and him all over each other, talking about how I upset you and you expect me to think nothing was going on?' I am instantly livid again just thinking about it.
'That is what you honestly think was happening.' She gasps. 'I was upset at the person I made you turn into back there and he was telling me how I shouldn't judge you. That you were doing it for me, that you were angry at the way they treated me.' She yells looking so raw I can't not believe her.
Wow, he was looking out for me and I treated him like the shit on my shoe. This is going to take some fixing, but I am not blind, he fancies her and she still hasn't answered my damn question.
'Do.You.Have.Feelings.For.Nate?' I question slowly and firmly. She shakes her head slowly, not in response but rather looking disappointed.
'No Liam, I don't, I like him as a friend but nothing more. I barely know the guy.' She huffs.
'You barely knew me when we fucked.' I retort. Shit what am I doing? That was so out of line. Her eyes fill with tears and her face is masked with hurt and regret. God this is bad, she is definitely going to hate me now if she didn't already.
'I was just making sure you got your money's worth.' She fires back, her voice harder than I have ever heard and her expression now blank. What have you done?
'Lexi, I didn't mean that. I am so, so sorry, I was mad and didn't mean it.' I rush out trying to take it back. Please let her forgive my stupid arse.
'Didn't mean what Liam? Let's be honest here, I have served my purpose. I let you dress me up like a doll to parade in front of your Fiancee or whatever the hell she is. To look the part whilst you rattled your parents and hers. It worked, don't worry though I had fun, mostly. It was fun being someone else for a while but at least being broken little Lexi, the whore, there are no exaggerated expectations. People only want to fuck my body, not with my mind.'
'You know that's not what this is. How can you even believe that I was using you? Everything I feel for you is real, I spoke out of anger once and you throw everything else back in my face. How is that fair? The only person that has ever thought of this as a business arrangement is YOU! I have poured my heart out to you, something I have never done before, I do everything in my power to make sure you are safe and happy. Yet you base our relationship off one angry, stupid comment. Now who is fucking with whose feelings Alexis?' How can she think that I would ever use her? Why can't she see I am falling for her? This is real for me.
'Where is my dress?' She demands, eyes blank so I can't tell what she is thinking but I know it ain't good.
'I don't know, where did you take it off?'
'Not your dress, MY dress. The one I arrived in?' She states clearly. Why would she want that ripped and tattered thing, then it hits me like a tonne of bricks......
'You're leaving me?' I breath, the pain unfurling in my chest.
'I was never yours to keep.' She hits back, void of any emotions and it is my undoing. I give up the fight, broken and rejected.
'I threw it out it was ripped to shreds if you remember, if you're leaving at least wrap up warm. It's cold out, don't worry about the clothes you earned them.' I say wanting to hurt her like she is doing to me and her mask slips for a split second.
I leave the room with a pain in my heart, I can't watch her leave me and I don't care what she takes. I bought it all for her anyway, for her new life with me. It all sounds like a sick joke to me now. I go down the hall to my office and take the Brandy out of my desk as I sit in the chair just the lamp lighting the darkness.
'I was just making sure you got your money's worth.'
'I was never yours to keep.'
Her words keep replaying over and over in my head driving me insane, tearing me apart. What can I do when she never felt a thing for me? The rational side of me knows that's a lie, it was in her eyes when we made love, in her voice when she said my name. God I am driving myself crazy, all because I am in love with her and I didn't just tell her that. What difference would it make any way? She is leaving me and I gave up too fucking easily.
'Lexi!' I shout as I run to her room.
'Lexi, I Love You!' I shout as I push the open the door to an empty room.
I am too late...
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Chapter Fifteen
Lexi
I walk out of Liam's house wearing the same sweater and jeans outfit I wore earlier, it's funny how life can change in a few hours. When I first wore this outfit it made me feel amazing and new, yet now I am wearing it again I feel more empty and broken than I ever had before. I hurry down the drive way before Dem can notice me.
I don't want him to see me crying or ask me where he can take me when the blunt truth of it all is I have nowhere to go. I just keep walking and walking, thinking of nothing in particular because if I do all allow myself to think, I can think about is Liam and how much I hurt him and that is too much to bare right now.
I stop to rest, my body is so tired as I have been walking for hours on end going nowhere, there is nowhere I belong. I give in to the sobs that rack my body, my life is a complete mess. I am so alone I wonder how my Mother is doing? Whether she even misses me? Obviously not because it has been four and a half years and not a peep from her. I wonder if I have a brother or sister? Do they know about me? Has she abandoned them too?
'Well look what I have found.' I hear an all too familiar voice that sends chills down my spine. Mike......Oh shit, how has he found me?
'You know I almost didn't recognize you there whore, with ya fancy hair and expensive clothes.' He taunts and fear won't let me move.
RUN......My mind screams but my body won't comply as he takes threatening steps towards me.
'Where's ya hotshot boyfriend now.....See through you already did he?' He laughs and my face gives away my hurt. 'Oh he didn't he, I told you I was the only one that would ever put up with you. It's a shame though, I was hoping to return the favour.' He points to his face that is still black and blue.
'Holy shit Liam did that?' I wonder out loud.
'Yea ya precious Liam did this, poor Luke is still in hospital after his little hero act.'
'I didn't ask him to.......I don't even know how he found me, I swear...' I plead knowing what's coming next as he advances on me and my chance to escape vanishes. My eyes dart around looking for an escape route or somebody, anybody to help but it's pointless the streets are deserted.
His fist lands square in my face, as I try to run he grabs my hair at the roots and holds me in place as another blow strikes my stomach. I try to curl up and protect myself but it hurts my head to much, his grip never faltering.
'Was you going to run from me again whore?' He laughs sadistically as he throws me effortlessly to the ground.
'No Mike, I wasn't I promise Mike please.' I beg but it's all in vain as the punches and kicks begin to rain down on my body curled up on the cold pavement. I feel his fist connected with my stomach with such force that it takes my breath away, he stands on my wrist and I hear something crack. There is no escape for me this time, nobody is coming to save me. I pray for the darkness to take me but it doesn't. I scream when I hear my ribs crack and pain racks my body, it does no good though it never does, even when he squeezes my head under his foot. The blows keep coming my face, my legs, my arms that he his stamping on just like my head. Please make him stop....
I hear shouting and the blows stop, or at least I think they do. My body hurts to much to move, my eyes won't open enough to see who it is shouting as the blackness draws closer. Finally it will take me, at last I can be free. I am ready to die, to escape from this pain will be a relief. In my mind I see Liam, I will never get to apologize, to tell him I love him or even say goodbye.
'Goodbye Liam.' I whisper.
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Chapter SIxteen
Liam
Two Days Later
She left me, she left me and she isn't coming back to me. I haven't moved from my office since she left, though I haven't done any work. I have been sat here with my good friend Cognac the only thing proving that the outside world still exists is the news channel on the TV on the wall. Where is that fucking remote.
Two days ago I watched her walk down the driveway and out of my life forever. What did I do......Nothing I didn't even chase her, try to change her mind. Why?....Because I am a selfish coward! The irony is twisted, I can have any girl I want yet the one I do want doesn't want me. Funny isn't it.
Until There Was You Page 6