Chapter 164 Alexander Has Long Been Unconscious
When Arabella got the call, she was still at Daisy's place.
They'd been watching Daisy's new drama since 12:30 and had just finished the day's episodes at 3:30. Daisy was practically floating, her tail practically in the air as she kept asking, "Just tell me—how amazing was I as the female lead? Wasn't I incredible? In that sea of mediocre actors, I was absolutely gorgeous, right?"
Arabella quickly nodded along. "Oh totally, totally. You were amazing and stunning. Keep it up for another year and that Oscar is all yours!"
Daisy knew she was just hyping her up, but damn if it didn't feel good to hear. She couldn't help throwing her head back and laughing. "I'm finally making it! Thank your Mr. FitzRoy, seriously. When I get that Oscar, I'm getting on my knees for him."
Arabella didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "That's really not necessary."
Just then, her phone rang. Seeing an unknown number, she answered casually, "Hello?"
An unfamiliar male voice asked uncertainly, "Is this Ms. Bourbon?"
"Yes, this is she. Can I help you?"
On the other end, Moris breathed a sigh of relief. Mr. FitzRoy was drunk, and Moris had no idea where he lived or what to do. He'd consulted Roy, who was away on assignment. Roy had told him not to dump Mr. FitzRoy at a hotel, gave him this number, and said that if he handed Mr. FitzRoy over to Ms. Bourbon, Mr. FitzRoy would be grateful when he sobered up.
Moris thought Roy's advice sounded sketchy, but he had no other options, so he'd made the call.
Not bothering to figure out who exactly this person was, he said in a rush, "Ms. Bourbon, Mr. FitzRoy is drunk. Could you come pick him up? Or should I bring him to you?"
Arabella was stunned. Alexander was drunk? Didn't he have a high alcohol tolerance? She remembered once when Philip and Daisy had teamed up and still couldn't drink him under the table—and those two could really put it away.
She'd never expected Alexander to actually get drunk.
The moment that thought crossed her mind, she couldn't help smiling. No matter how capable he was, he was still human. It was just that he'd always seemed so invincible that she'd somehow gotten the idea he couldn't get drunk.
"Where are you?" Arabella asked.
Moris quickly replied, "At Crystal Club."
Arabella remembered that place. Last time she'd accompanied Daisy to a cast wrap party there, they'd run into Jennifer and she'd nearly been forced to her knees begging for mercy.
Come to think of it, that had been strange. She and Daisy had followed the cast to another club, and she'd expected Jennifer to pursue them relentlessly, but Jennifer had never shown up.
They'd found an opportunity to leave and had somehow dodged a bullet.
Hearing the address again now made Arabella a bit nervous, but she figured Moris was Alexander's colleague. If he was drunk, his colleague making a call was already doing plenty—asking him to drive Alexander home seemed like too much.
So after a second's hesitation, she said, "I'll come to you."
"Great, thank you so much." Moris sounded relieved.
Arabella thought Alexander's colleague was awfully polite.
After hanging up, she ran over to Daisy. "I can't stay. Alex's colleague called—he's drunk. I need to go get him."
Daisy had been admiring herself in the mirror, but hearing this, she immediately perked up. "Oh? He's drunk? Perfect opportunity! You grab him and just, you know..."
As she spoke, she picked something up from the table and handed it to Arabella with a wink. "Better safe than sorry, though. Remember protection."
Arabella glanced down at the small square package...
Like it burned her hands, she quickly tossed it back. "I don't need that..."
Daisy picked it up with a disapproving look and shoved it back into her hands. "Two single adults—what's there to be embarrassed about? Take it, take it. Better to have it and not need it. If you manage to seal the deal with him, I'll actually be impressed!"
Unable to refuse, Arabella reluctantly stuffed it in her pocket.
But she was curious. "Why do you even have this?"
Daisy wasn't the type to mess around casually, and she didn't have a boyfriend. Having this stuff seemed weird.
Daisy's expression became oddly meaningful. She avoided Arabella's eyes, saying airily, "I told you, I'm an adult single woman. What's weird about having this stuff on hand? I'm just being prepared in case I bring a boyfriend home someday, you know?"
Arabella looked puzzled. "But they don't sell these individually. Did you buy a whole box? Where are the rest?"
Daisy had had enough. Looking irritated, she pushed Arabella toward the door. "Worry about yourself! I'm begging you—seal the deal with him today. I'm calling you tomorrow, and if there's still no progress, don't blame me for looking down on you."
Arabella found herself pushed out as the door slammed shut behind her.
She stared at the closed door, confused, getting the distinct feeling Daisy was hiding something.
But there was no time to worry about that now. She could interrogate her friend later. Right now she needed to get downstairs and catch a ride to pick up Alexander.
---
Inside, Daisy leaned against the door, patting her chest and breathing a sigh of relief. "Damn, that woman's clueless about her own business but sharp as hell about everyone else's. Almost got caught."
It wasn't that she didn't want to come clean—it was just that some people were too embarrassing to mention.
It had been a drunken accident. They'd woken up, gone their separate ways—that should've been the end of it. Even remembering it once more felt mortifying. How had she been desperate enough to sleep with that guy?
Daisy slapped her own cheeks and was about to head to the living room when suddenly there was a knock at the door.
Thinking Arabella had come back, she opened it with a smile. "What, one wasn't enough? Need to grab a few more—"
Her eyes landed on who was actually outside. Her voice died instantly and her smile froze.
Her brow furrowed. "What the fuck are you doing here?"
She immediately tried to close the door.
Seeing this, Ethan slapped his hand against it, looking displeased. "What, I can't come over? Didn't we agree the other day to let that thing go? You're acting so defensive—don't tell me you fell for me?"
"Bullshit!" Daisy glared. "I'd fall for a dog before I fell for you!"
"Well then." Ethan pushed past her and swaggered inside. "As former colleagues, I'm visiting your place. No reason to kick people out, is there?"
Daisy was speechless, saying bluntly, "Why would you randomly visit my place? Are we even friends?"
Ethan chuckled. "We've already had intimate communication. How does that not count as being close?"
"Ethan!" Daisy said through gritted teeth. "Say one more word and see what happens."
"Fine, fine, won't mention it." Ethan immediately backed down, plopping onto the sofa and turning on the TV. "Our drama premiered today. I came to watch it with you."
Daisy walked over expressionlessly. "Thanks for the offer, but I already watched it with someone else."
Ethan's eyes darkened imperceptibly, though his face remained cheerful. "You have other guys besides me?"
Daisy scoffed and ignored him, turning to get water. As she came back with the glass, Ethan casually stuck out his leg. Daisy yelped, lost her balance, spilled water everywhere, and fell uncontrollably toward him...
Landing on top of him.
Ethan smiled. "I know you're lonely, but I didn't expect you to play this hard."
"Fuck off..."
Daisy cursed and was about to get up when Ethan suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist and with one forceful movement, flipped their positions...
Now Daisy was pinned beneath him instead. A certain sensation made her heart inexplicably tighten as she glared at him viciously. "If you want to get laid, go hire someone. Get off me!"
Usually Ethan just joked around with her, but right now his expression was focused as he looked down at her. That infuriating mouth of hers kept moving, and his mind wandered—he couldn't even hear what she was saying.
He cupped the back of her head and kissed her hard.
The next second—
"AHH!" A scream as his tongue and lips got bitten viciously.
"AHHH!!!" A shriek as the most vulnerable part of his body took a vicious kick.
Daisy dusted herself off and stood up, looking down at the man curled up like a shrimp on the carpet. She snorted coldly. "Sleeping with you once was me doing you a favor. Getting greedy for seconds? You know why they call it a one-night stand? You get up and part ways—no second meetings! Break the rules and you pay the price."
She headed off without looking back. "You're decent-looking but your bedroom skills suck. When it stops hurting, get lost. And stay away from me."
She went into the bedroom and slammed the door.
On the carpet, Ethan clutched himself in agony, tears streaming down his face.
Of course his technique wasn't great—what guy was a stud his first time?
And her technique wasn't any better. She couldn't even find the right spot...
Thinking about it made him feel wronged all over again.
They'd both been virgins. What gave her the right to be so cocky?
---
After leaving Daisy's, Arabella caught a cab to Crystal Club.
Moris was standing at the entrance supporting Alexander. Seeing her was like seeing a savior—he quickly handed him over.
"Mr. FitzRoy drank quite a bit." Moris hesitated before adding, "If he doesn't take something for the hangover, he'll feel terrible tomorrow."
Arabella nodded. She didn't mention that she had experience taking care of drunk men—she'd prepared hangover remedies for Anthony more than once... These weren't memories she wanted to revisit.
She just said to Moris, "Don't worry. Thanks for your help."
Moris looked flattered. "Of course, it's my job."
Alexander got in the car and Arabella supported him. "Alex, are you feeling sick? If you need to throw up, tell me, okay?"
Then to the driver: "Could you please drive slowly?"
"Sure thing." Since Arabella had tipped well, the driver didn't mind at all.
Alexander leaned on Arabella's shoulder, eyes half-closed.
He wasn't that drunk—about fifty percent of his current state was an act.
Though he had drunk quite a bit tonight, mainly because his heart had been all over the place and he couldn't settle down. He'd thought drinking more would calm his nerves, but even drunk he was still anxious. Especially now, leaning on Arabella's shoulder—he was even more nervous.
Daisy's words kept flashing through his mind.
He kept his eyes half-closed, playing drunk, while Arabella sneaked glances at his face. He really was gorgeous—his features like something out of a comic book. He seemed a bit warm, reaching up to loosen his tie. His white shirt cuffs showed beneath his suit sleeves, the tie hanging loose around his neck—elegant and restrained.
Staring at those lips, Arabella's heart raced. What would it feel like to kiss them...?
God, what was she thinking?
Arabella felt ashamed. Here she was having inappropriate thoughts about a drunk person. He trusted her so much, and she was thinking such predatory things.
Both lost in their own thoughts, they quickly arrived at the complex.
Arabella paid the fare and helped Alexander out of the car. He could still walk and seemed to be regaining some awareness. "Arabella..."
"Are you feeling sick? We're almost home. I'll make you some honey water when we get there."
Alexander leaned on her, his lips curving in an almost imperceptible smile.
The two of them made their way home slowly, leaning on each other.
After opening the door, Arabella first settled Alexander on the sofa before going to make honey water.
When it was ready, she carried it back and helped him sit up slightly. "Alex, drink some honey water. You'll feel better."
Alexander took a few sips from the cup she held.
Arabella set the glass on the coffee table, then turned to help him out of his suit jacket. After thinking a moment, she also removed his tie and unbuttoned his collar and cuffs.
This way he'd be more comfortable.
She was so focused on her task that she didn't notice when the man's blue eyes opened, watching her with intense, unwavering focus.
Just as she was about to help Alexander to the bedroom to rest, his arms suddenly wrapped around her. His other hand cupped the back of her head as he kissed her fiercely.
The kiss was too passionate, too sudden. Arabella couldn't react in time. Taking advantage of her daze, Alexander deepened the kiss.
Lack of oxygen probably short-circuits the brain. It took Arabella ages to snap out of it. She pushed at him weakly. "Alex, are you still conscious?"
Alexander hadn't been conscious for a while now.
He shifted slightly, slowly pressing her down beneath him. One hand cradled her shoulders and back while the other went to her shirt buttons.
Arabella's mind went completely blank. For a moment she couldn't even process what was happening.
Not until the man's kisses moved from her lips, trailing down to her neck, her collarbone...
Then she struggled somewhat frantically. "Alex... don't..."
Alexander had drunk too much. His usually decent self-control had completely shattered. Embracing the woman he'd longed for was like a drowning man grabbing the only piece of driftwood—he couldn't help but want to sink deeper...
The sun was setting, warm golden-red light flooding the living room. A breeze drifted in through the open window, making the curtains sway gently...