Conquering Alexandria

by Steele, C. M.

  I called the mechanic shop where our cars had been taken. I didn’t want them sent to where the boyfriend worked or the prick cousin worked. I wanted my people to work on them. My guys were the best to work on our cars. Also, I wanted an excuse to get in contact with her once the cars were done. My mechanic, Lance, had left me a message when I was in the meeting with Mr. Douglas.

  “Lance, are the cars ready?” I was excited. It was my chance to see her again.

  “Yes, Mr. McCain, they are. I know you asked that they not be released until you had given your ‘okay,’ sir, but the owner of the vehicle stated he needed it this morning, and I couldn’t refuse him. I have already dealt with the insurance companies and it was all squared away financially, so there was nothing I could hold the car on. Sorry.” Damn it. I was going to have to make an excuse to see the eye doctor this week.

  “No, it’s no problem. Thanks, Lance. It’s legally his car, so I understand.” I understood, but I was frustrated anyway.

  I hung up with him and called Dr. Phelps and Dr. Reeves’s office.

  “Dr. Reeves and Dr. Phelps’s office. How may I help you?” She sounded sexy as fuck on the phone, all breathy and needy.

  “Alexandria, I could answer that question in so many different ways,” I said suggestively.

  “Mr. McCain, I hope there are no side effects from the procedure.” Good. She remembered my voice.

  “Now, Alexandria, I appreciate your concern, but I was expecting to hear from you sooner. Why haven’t you called? I am assuming you haven’t dumped the boyfriend. You must really love him, marking his neck and all when he so rudely interrupted our conversation on Thursday.” I was pissed that she had given him a hickey. They were probably fucking when it happened. I haven’t had one of them since my first girlfriend in tenth grade.

  “What do you mean marking his neck?” She truly sounded upset.

  “Sweetheart, the man had a hickey just at the edge of his collar.”

  “That wasn’t a hickey. He burned himself working in the shop the other day.” Seriously, was she that naïve, or did she love him that much to overlook the obvious?

  “Oh, sweet Alexandria, that was a hickey, my dear. So I assume it was not you who left it?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it. Is there something you needed?” I guessed she did have suspicions about where he really got it.

  “Yes, I need to see the doctor for a follow-up, but I had been so carried away with your beauty that I had forgotten to schedule it.”

  “You just missed Dr. Phelps yesterday, and he will not be in until next week. Let me see when Dr. Reeves will be available.” She put me on hold, and I was irritated. She must have not wanted to talk to me.

  “Dr. Reeves will be available on Friday if that will work for you.”

  “Yes, my dear, that will work, as long as I get to see you.”

  “You will.” I could hear her smile on the other end.

  “Great. Schedule me, then. Perhaps I can take you to lunch afterward.”

  “I don’t think that would be a great idea.”

  “Why not? Because you still haven’t left him, or are you afraid I won’t be able to control my urges around you?”

  “I don’t know you, and no matter my relationship status, we are very different, you and I. I don’t want a man who leaves a string of broken hearts behind him. You are scheduled for Friday at 11:30 am. Good day.”

  Damn those tabloids; I could sue them all. It was all bullshit. I only had one-night stands with women who knew the deal. I couldn’t help that they wanted more than a date and a fuck. I wasn’t looking for a vulture, and my girl just gave me more motivation to win her.

  Chapter 4—Alexandria

  Seriously, this had to be a shit day. Since I’d met Max, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. Then I had to go and google him last night. Big mistake. There were three personal articles about the cold-hearted playboy.

  I looked at the sexy man in a tuxedo, with his muscular frame barely hidden and some beautiful woman on his arm. What I noticed was that in the photo, his blue eyes looked cold, completely different than when he was looking at me. I remembered the moment I got out of the car and saw the magnificent specimen. He was about six four, with dark hair and blue eyes that had that look I had seen on many men. It was the reason I was cautious of him. Those eyes said that he wanted to do naughty things with me. My problem was that I wanted to do them as well. I had never felt such a powerful and instant attraction before, but I didn’t want to like him. Hell, I didn’t need another poor excuse for a man in my life.

  I didn’t know why I cared. I was dating Trevor. Although lately our relationship wasn’t going well at all. He had been making up excuses not to see me, and when he did see me, he’d been a total jerk. I was going to end things with him after work—today.

  Why did he have to call? I mean, I had been trying to not end the relationship with Trevor for just this reason. I would instantly contact Max because I had an instant attraction to him, more than I had ever felt for anyone. It was insane, the way I felt. I could barely control my heart rate when I was just thinking about him. When he was around? Forget about it.

  “Alex, can I see you for a moment?”

  “Yes, sir.” I walked to the back. After working here for the last few days, I didn’t like it but I really couldn’t quit. Dr. Reeves had been flirting with me since I started. At first, I thought he was just being friendly, well, because so many people I had met in my time in Texas had been really friendly. Trevor said it was because I was flirtatious and that it was going to get me into trouble, particularly with him if he caught me again. He had been mad that day that Max was here. He told me later on that he was glad that I wouldn’t have to see Max again. He didn’t know that he was the guy who hit me with his car on Monday. I think he might have tried to sue if he did, so I didn’t say a thing.

  I really needed this job. I was already living on ramen noodles and cereal right now, and this job paid really well. It was the end of the day, and I hoped that he didn’t try anything with me.

  “You needed me?” Poor choice of words. I didn’t like the lecherous look he gave me.

  “Yes. Can you please tell me if are you taking personal calls in the office?” He was really pissed.

  “No, sir, of course not.”

  “Don’t lie to me. I overheard part of your conversation earlier. It sounded personal to me.” He reached for my face and touched it a little too roughly, so I backed away.

  “It was one of the patients scheduling a follow-up. Mr. McCain.”

  “Oh, well, that man is a flirt. You are very pretty. It is normal for a man to find you sexy with those large breasts and tiny waist. Any man would love to take you against a wall and pound into you.”

  “Sir!” I said in complete outrage and disgust.

  “Yes, please call me sir anytime.” He rubbed at his crotch. Infuriated, I turned to exit and said, “Dr. Reeves, let us forget this conversation ever happened.”

  I hurried to my desk just as I saw Trevor pull up front, and I grabbed my belongings to go. Then, out walked the doctor, adjusting his pants while looking directly at Trevor and giving him a suggestive wink. I didn’t want Trevor to get the wrong idea because he got very angry when any man flirted with me. I left without saying goodnight and tried to hurry out the door. Before I got to the door, the doctor reached me, caressed my cheek, and walked to the back.

  I ran out the door and into the truck where I thought I would be safe, but I was wrong. “What the fuck was that, you dirty little slut!? I can see why you won’t open your fucking thighs to me. What? You needed a doctor to open your tight pussy? Wait until we get to your place.”

  Before I could explain what happened, he struck me across the face. Shocked, I tried to get out of the car, but he wouldn’t let me. My only saving grace had been a couple that walked past. The guy pounded on the window, and the girl called the police. I was able to get out of the truck with my purse and into th
e woman’s arms before Trevor sped off.

  “Miss, are you okay? You need a doctor.”

  The big man with muscles had said the police were on their way. I had never been so mortified and scared in my whole life.

  The police arrived and filed a report, and I was taken to the local ER for treatment.

  I called my parents. “Mom, Dad… I was wondering… do you have any room back home for me for a little while?”

  “Of course, sweetheart, what’s the matter?”

  “I just need to come home. I will fly out tomorrow, first thing in the morning.” I would end up using my savings, but I needed to leave. What if Trevor came to the apartment looking for me? The police had arrested him, but I was sure he would be out on bond within twenty-four hours.

  I was taken home and asked if there was anything that they could do for me. I just packed my bag with my things. My rent was paid for the upcoming month, and thankfully it was only month to month. I would look for a job in Chicago. God, I felt terrible leaving Dr. Phelps in a lurch like this, but I couldn’t care about Dr. Reeves; it was his fault this mess started tonight. I was going to miss Max, but I knew it was for the best.

  In the morning with my things packed as best I could, I called Dr. Phelps but got his voicemail instead. “Dr. Phelps, this is Alex. Something has come up and I am sorry, but I have to quit. I am on my way back home. Thank you for giving me a chance.”

  I took one last look around to see if I'd missed anything, but I really didn’t have a lot here. I didn’t have money to buy new things, so what I didn’t get to pick up within the month would probably be tossed.

  When I got to the airport, I received all kinds of stares. I guess it was normal when you looked like you were used as a punching bag. My dad was going to flip and would want to find Trevor. This wouldn’t be good, I wish I could forget it all and start over.

  I let my dad know when my flight was to land so he could pick me up. Once I exited the three-and-half-hour flight, I powered up my phone just in case Dr. Phelps called. I had four messages and two texts.

  The first text was from Trevor:

  Baby, I am sorry please call me.

  The second text was from a Texas number I didn’t know:

  Damn it, Alexandria, didn’t I tell you to call me? What came up that you had to leave without saying goodbye?

  That had to be from Max. Who else called me by my full name besides him?

  I lifted my head from my phone and spotted my dad. I had forgotten how bad my face looked, but I could tell from the look on his that it must be awful.

  “Who the fuck is going to die, Alex? Who did this to you?” My dad hugged me tightly, and I broke down. I cried until some older woman interrupted us and handed me some tissues.

  “Come, sweetheart. Please tell me you have seen a doctor.”

  “Yes. The police had me taken to the hospital. I was released the same night.”

  We got into my dad’s truck after he loaded my things into the back.

  “Baby, please tell me he is in jail.”

  “He is, though I don’t know how long it will be until he is released. It was my ex-boyfriend. He was picking me up last night from work, and he saw my boss flirting with me and got really angry. Then he started hitting me. If it wasn’t for two strangers who were passing by, I don’t know what would have happened.”

  “I want to knock the fucker out. What the hell was your boss doing flirting with you anyway? I thought you told me both guys were married.”

  “They are, and Dr. Phelps seems to really love his wife and family, but Dr. Reeves... Well, I think that’s the reason the other girl quit. I was so anxious to get a job that I ignored the signs he gave me during the interview. I am such an idiot.”

  “No, you are not, Alex. Some men aren’t good, and you know that. Now, I don’t want you to worry. We are doing well at home, so you can just recover and decide what you are going to do when you are ready.” I could see the anger my dad was trying to hide when he gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles whitened.

  “Are you going to have to go down there to testify?”

  “I don’t know yet. The police took pictures and the statements from the couple and me, so not unless he pleads not guilty.” I drooped in my seat. I was tired, hurt, and sad.

  “It will be okay, Alex.”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  I looked at my phone and the little voicemail box at the top, and my dad must have noticed my forlorn look because he said, “Just check them. If it is that prick, you will have evidence that he did something to you. Do you still care for him? Is that it? Because, baby, he isn’t worth it.”

  “No, Dad. I am not worried about Trevor. We dated, but I was just about to break up with him. I was told by another person that he was cheating on me, and I felt it was true. It’s probably the doctor’s office calling about why I quit.”

  “Put it on speakerphone so I can hear what the prick has to say.”

  Alex, this is Dr. Phelps. I hope everything is fine. I am sorry you needed to leave. Should you come back, you are more than welcome to do so. Beep.

  I listened to the next one. It was from Max.

  Alexandria, am I the reason you left? I don’t understand. Dr. Phelps called me this morning to see if I knew why you left. I was shocked that you would leave. Alexandria, call me, or I will be on the first flight out there. Beep.

  Alex, babe, I am so sorry I lost it yesterday. You mean so much to me. I had just found out that you and that patient at the doctor’s office had met before, when he crashed into my car. Then he’s flirting with you. Then that doctor has his hands on you. I lost it. I am sorry. I would never do that again. Baby, please call me. Beep.

  Alexandria, he is a dead man. The couple from last night came into the doc’s office to see how you were doing, and were still there when I came in. They told me what happened. I am on my way. Why didn’t you call me? I would have made sure you were okay. I need to see you. I need to know you are all right. Please call me. Beep.

  “So I get that was the prick and the one doctor, but who is the other guy calling you, sounding worried?”

  I smiled hearing from him. I missed him more than I should, but there was something there even if we couldn’t be together.

  “That was Max McCain. He was the guy that rear-ended me the other day like Trevor had said. It was by coincidence that he had an appointment two days later where I was just hired. We hardly spoke to each other, but I like him.”

  “And it is obvious he likes you. What does he do?”

  “It doesn’t matter. We are not going to be a couple anyway. He is way out of my league. His family comes from old money down in Texas.”

  “So he is just some rich boy with nothing to do but flirt with young girls.”

  “No. Actually, he runs a billion-dollar corporation according to the information I read on Google, and he just turned twenty-nine. Like I said, it doesn’t matter anyway—we don’t have a relationship.”

  He thankfully dropped the subject. My eyes were near tears at the thought of never seeing him again in person because I knew that I would probably be in line at the grocery store and see him wrapped around a beautiful woman.

  When we got to the house, no one was home. My mom was a teacher, while my dad was a detective with the CPD. Today was his day off, but my mom had class.

  “Sweetie, your mother prepared your old room. Go upstairs and get some rest. Your mother should be home soon, and I will tell her before she sees you. Okay?”

  I hugged my dad and whispered, “Thank you, Daddy.”

  “I love you, pumpkin. Now get some rest. I am sure you could use it.”

  I went up to my old room and sure enough, my sheets smelled like they were just out of the dryer. My mom had always been like a supermom. She’d cooked dinner after work, graded papers, helped me with my homework, and still managed to clean the house.

  As soon as I put my head down on my pillow, my exhaustion hit me full force
. I was out before I knew it.

  Chapter 5—Max

  “Good morning, princess,” I said after looking at the caller ID.

  “Mr. McCain, this is Dr. Phelps. Have you heard from Miss Davis?”

  “No, I have not. Shouldn’t she be in the office this morning?” I was starting to panic. There was no reason for her not to be there unless something happened.

  “Well, she quit this morning. She said something came up and she had to go home.”

  What the hell? “I don’t get it. Yesterday, she told me that I would see her when I came into the office and that she really needed this job. What did Dr. Reeves say?”

  “He said nothing important happened. He left out the back when her boyfriend came and picked her up last night. He expected to see her here this morning.”

  “I want to talk to him. This is weird. I will be right down there.” I hung up the phone and was out of the building in minutes.

  This was bullshit. Something wasn’t right. Reeves was hiding something. First, the other receptionist quit without any notice. Now, Alexandria quit without any notice after I talked to her yesterday. I hoped she hadn’t left because of me.

  I was glad her file had all her contact information in it. I was in a hurry to speak to her. I called her cell, but it went to voicemail. I left her a frantic message. It’s funny how I just met this girl a week ago, and she had turned my world upside down. At first, I just wanted to hit it, but that was not going to be enough. Now I wanted it all, and I had to find her and make sure everything was all right. I wondered if something happened to her dad. According to her file, he was a Chicago police officer. That was a dangerous job in the town now referred to as Chiraq.

  When I got down to the doc’s office, there was a buff dude and a woman there talking to Dr. Phelps.

  “Hello, Max. This is Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. It seems they know what happened to our little Alex. Please tell Mr. McCain here what happened.”

  I stood and listened to what they said, and I wanted to go ballistic. My fists clenched as they told the tale. That prick was a goner. I wouldn’t let the authorities let him slip out of their grasp. He put his hands on her. What kind of man struck a woman?