Chapter 27 Alexander Knows
Soon Alyssa forgot their topic of discussion as she munched on the crispy beer-battered fish dipped in ranch dressing. “This is amazing! I love this dressing! Where did you get it from?” rambled Alyssa while Nicholas watched her with a small smile of satisfaction on his face.
“Let it be a secret so that I can be the one to bring it to you whenever you want it.” Alyssa didn’t mind his creepy retort and tucked into a slice of deep-dish cheesesteak pizza that was her absolute favorite. “I ordered the same thing last week at Lucas’s house and Sienna and mom loved it too.”
“Oh, they might know your secret restaurant. I’ll ask Sienna.” She grinned at Nicholas, who groaned. It was the first time they ate amicably, without fighting, without arguing. Nicholas told her how he panicked when he received his mom’s distress call.
“What happened to granny?” Nicholas looked a little upset and told her about granny’s sudden sickness.
“She fell unconscious suddenly and when mom checked, she was burning with fever. Mom was so worried that she called me. Granny should have informed us she was sick, but she waited for everything to get out of hand. The doctor said it was just viral fever and would reduce in three to four days. So she’s under bedrest till then.” It was the first time they talked normally, and Alyssa seemed to enjoy talking to him when he wasn’t a jerk!
“I’ll see her afterwards.” Nicholas looked uncomfortable, as if he didn’t want her to meet his granny.
“Go after a week when she’s better and don’t tell her anything till she’s completely healed up. It may take months.”
“Shut up, Nicholas! A viral fever doesn’t take months to reduce.” She rolled her eyes at him while he flashed her a goofy smile.
“Let them be happy thinking that we’re dating. What’s bothering you so much?” he asked, watching her jaw-dropped stare.
“It’s wrong, Nicholas. We shouldn’t give them false hopes.” Nicholas obviously didn’t agree and shook his head, his eyes glued to her. He wouldn’t let her correct them. They had left their matchmaking endeavours and Nicholas didn’t want them to resume.
“We aren’t giving them any false hopes. I’m just saving myself from their plans to hook me up with strangers.” Alyssa laughed at his expression, and her eyes danced with amusement.
“Fine, as long as it doesn’t inconvenience me in any way.”
“Thanks, it won’t.” Nicholas flashed her a warm smile that strangely made her heart skip a beat. Dinner was over and Alyssa cleared everything, her heart beating faster with apprehension, wondering if Nicholas would leave now or stay back to attempt another kiss! She could hear him roaming around in her apartment.
“Don’t you dare install more spy cameras? I didn’t find the ones you already hid before,” she scolded him, but he just laughed. “Give me a hint at least where you’ve kept them.”
“Why should I? I love watching you. I have a better idea. Drop in at my house for dinner tomorrow and I’ll let you plant spy cameras at my place.” Alyssa scoffed and went to her balcony to breathe in the fresh, cool night air. Nicholas followed her and stood by her, his face solemn and probing.
“What? I mean it. I’ll cook a special dinner for you. Come over.” Alyssa turned to look deeply into his eyes under the pale moonlight. He seemed to plead with her to agree. His beautiful eyes seemed a dark shade of blue, just like the sky at night, and they held her gaze, waiting for her reply. A deep curiosity filled her heart and mind, and she had to know why he was going out of his way to see her almost every day.
“Why are you chasing me, Nicholas?” she asked. This time the laughter was gone from her face while her eyes searched his for an honest answer. He gazed into her eyes for a second and then, with a sharp intake of breath, turned away.
“I thought it was quite obvious, Alyssa. I want you and I need a chance to prove that we do share something together. Didn’t you feel it when we kissed?” he asked, suddenly turning towards her and grabbing her by the arms. Alyssa froze at his blunt reply. She hadn’t expected him to say this at all!
“So what if we share? There cannot be anything between us. I will never go against my brother because of you. Just physical attraction isn’t enough to start anything. Stop chasing me, Nicholas. You’re wasting your time,” she said while he paled considerably hearing her.
“Why can’t it be enough? Do you feel a seual desire for each and every guy you meet? If you feel something for me, then we should definitely take this forward,” he said, shaking her a little to put some sense in her head.
“Are you deaf? I told you I won’t go against my brother and be with you.” Nicholas sighed and turned to leave, but stopped suddenly.
“I’ll make dinner for you tomorrow and wait for you all night.” He stormed out of her apartment and she dragged her feet inside, his words echoing in her head.
Why was he so stubborn? Why didn’t he just stop? The doorbell rang, and she looked up in confusion. Did Nicholas come back? She went to open the door and, to her utmost astonishment, Eva stood at her doorstep with her luggage.
“Hey! How did you return so early? Weren’t you supposed to come two days later?” she asked, taking in Eva’s upset face.
“Alexander has work to take care of.” Eva went to her bedroom, leaving Alyssa gaping after her. Maybe they fought instead of patching up. What would she do with her brother? He was the limit!
She was about to close the door when the elevator stopped and Alexander stormed out towards her, looking menacing and furious. Alyssa rolled her eyes at him. Couldn’t he be happy for a change after returning from a vacation to the City of Love?
“What are you doing here?” he growled, entering her apartment and banging the door shut.
“What are you doing here? Weren’t you supposed to return after two days?” she asked, looking confused by his behaviour.
“Good that I returned, isn’t it? At least I could catch you red-handed,” he growled, his hands clenched into fists with anger. Alyssa’s face paled, and she stared at her brother with dread. Did he see Nicholas on his way out? Their timings had clashed and there was a probability of him meeting Nicholas. Panic gripped her heart, and all she wanted was to escape her brother’s wrath.
“What do you mean?” she asked him bravely.
“What the fck was Nicholas doing here? I think I asked you not to have anything to do with him,” Alexander demanded angrily while Alyssa stared at him, dumbfounded by his words. Her worst nightmare had now come true.
“I grabbed his collars and demanded an explanation for his presence, and he admitted to having come over to your place for dinner. Can you explain that to me, Alyssa?” Alyssa was shocked to the core and gaped at her brother. She couldn’t understand why Nicholas had to blurt out the truth when he could have made up some excuse.
“I saw his blue Bentley. Wasn’t it the same car that dropped you earlier?” barked Alexander, trembling with fury. Alyssa stood frozen, pale, and white, not knowing how to defend herself. There was no logical explanation that would calm her brother down.
“Why don’t you answer me, damn it?” yelled Alexander, punching the wall beside her.
“He is the one chasing me, Alex,” was all she could squeak out. It was the truth anyway!
“Is it now? Then how does he claim to be your boyfriend?” demanded Alexander in a low growl that had Alyssa cowering with fright. Her face paled more, and she gaped at her brother. How could Nicholas tell him everything, knowing how angry he would be with her?
“It’s a lie. He isn’t my boyfriend.” Alexander stared at her in disbelief.
“Tell me the truth, Alyssa. Are you having an affair with that ashole? Do you know he is just using you to get to me? How can you be so dumb? He’ll use you and throw you out of his life like trash. Don’t you have any self-respect? I’m terribly disappointed in you. You will leave the job immediately and return to California if I have a word with your employer. You can’t waste your life after Nicholas Donnelly,” barked her brother.
“Why can’t you believe me? Nicholas is bluffing. He is the one who’s chasing me, making up stories about me. I won’t leave my job because of him. You can’t dictate me around Alexander. You explained your viewpoint to me. So let me handle this my own way.” She stormed angrily away and locked herself in her bedroom, angry with Nicholas for betraying her.
So was he really using her to get back at her brother?