Chapter 9: Explain

*Alexander*

Someone kept knocking at my door; I didn't know who it was because I only expected Nikolas to be at my apartment, even though he looked like a mess. He was equally confused, but it could also be Ella. I hope it wasn't because she was furious. With me at the moment, I just wanted her to be calm before she returned to my place. There was one more knock at the door and then silence; I went to the door to check the peephole; all I could see was blonde hair, and I knew then trouble had arrived.

I opened the door to see Luci, short for Lucinda; she was my brother's favorite flavor of the month when he was stressed. I have no idea why but I will scold him later. " Luci, what do you want?" she stared at me with her green eyes and walked past me and straight to my brother, "Not to seem rude, but I was conversing with my brother, Lucienda." She rolled her eyes and looked at Nikolas like a lost puppy, " She is fine right here, Alex," I scoffed. No wonder he was being an ass to Ella. He had his side chick of the year around, and she loved to think she was his one and only until he kicked her to the curb.

"How about you and Skank town leave here and go to your place because I'm not talking to you this in front of her!" I was slightly annoyed with him because he always did this when it came to stress or his feeling she shouldn't even be in my apartment. I banned her last time, and she is just annoying at most. She always comes around looking for him, and it is just genuinely annoying. She is annoying, always trying to bud her way into every conversation. I think she is a gold digger, but my brother isn't thinking with the right head now since he is in his feelings about Ella.

We were supposed to talk about her, but now that his favorite bimbo is here, I kicked them both out and went to my room to clear my head. I texted Ella one last time to say I was sorry, but my message wasn't delivered. Her phone is still off.

*Ella*

When I finally got the courage to walk into the apartment building, I was met with Nikolas and some woman making out in the elevator. I felt a lump in my throat when I saw them together. When the elevator reached my floor, I noticed the hickeys on his neck, and I ran to my apartment with tears threatening to leave my eyes. I had no idea when I caught feelings for him, but they were there, and now they are hurt, and I just want to stay home for the next few days and never show my face again. I closed my door and fell to the floor crying, I was going to call Alex, but I turned my phone off again to let me have a peaceful day. I got up off the floor and went to Alex's apartment, still a sobbing mess when I knocked on the door; he opened it instantly; he wasn't expecting me because Alex had this angry look on his face, but when Alex saw me crying he hugged me, and I broke down even more in his arms. Alexander lifted me up and carried me to his couch, I was sobbing so hard I couldn't even speak, but I did something idiotic I kissed Alex, and he kissed me back but pulled away. " You're only doing this because you are hurt; talk to me, Ella" he looked at me with concern, and I knew that I was just a mess because of Nikolas. "It's nothing, Alex." I got up, and Alex grabbed my hand; he pulled me into his arms. He leaned down and kissed my forehead " You can stay here tonight, and I can drive you to work tomorrow?" I just nodded because I didn't trust my voice but didn't want to talk anymore.

I went to Alex's room and lay in his bed, he usually slept on the couch when it came to me staying over, but this time was different. " Alex, can you stay with me?" I didn't want to be alone; I wanted someone to hold me just this once. When sleep finally took over, I was hoping that I was at peace in my dreams.

In my dreams, I saw Nikolas with that woman again, but this time, they weren't just kissing and all over each other he was telling her how much he loved her as he tossed me out of the building; I kept screaming, no. Finally, I woke up startled; Alex was still awake and holding me. "It's okay, Ella, everything is okay," he soothed me back to sleep; it was almost three in the morning when I dosed off again. It will not work for me tomorrow; I texted Nik in the morning that I wasn't feeling good but would complete my work from home, he didn't respond, but I took that as a sign that his guest stayed the night.

I headed back to my apartment and got on the work computer that Nik gave me a few weeks ago, and started working on all the final paperwork for the meeting coming up soon and tried to get Nikolas to look it over before the end of the week.When I finally got done with my paperwork, there was a knock at my door, I expected to see Alex, but I was wrong, dead wrong; it was the man I had been running from for years. "Hello, sweet Luna."

I quickly tried to shut my door, but he put his foot in the door frame and grabbed me. I tried to scream, but he covered my mouth. This monster is Vlad; I have been running from him for so long. I have no idea how he found me. One minute I look at his face, and the next is darkness.