Chapter 15 Alexander Was Right
Alyssa did not know what might have happened between Eva and her brother, since she didn’t return to her apartment in the next two days. Alyssa was bored and at Hayley’s insistence went to spend the night at her house.
“Eva has done the right thing in moving out. Her self-respect was at stake. We should support her by buying her groceries and food items regularly. At least she wouldn’t go hungry that way,” suggested Hayley as they sat on her balcony, sipping coke and devouring the delicious pizza they had ordered. They missed Eva, who declined their offer of dinner and a stayover since her duty would be over late. Skylar had returned to California with Christian, and Sienna was too busy with Lucas to even consider spending the night with them.
“You’re right, but I want her to live with me. She will struggle there to make ends meet with her low salary,” sighed Alyssa.
“We can drop by her place tomorrow and talk to her.” The decision gave them a little peace, and they finished their dinner. There was a little breeze, and Alyssa didn’t wish to go inside. Although she refused to acknowledge the reason for loving the balcony, a small part of her heart knew that she wanted to see Nicholas return home from work. With his building located further down the street, he will pass by them on his way home.
“Ashton is leaving,” Hayley informed her while staring at some distant object, her eyes dazed as if she was transported to a different world altogether. Alyssa turned her attention toward her friend.
“Leaving? Where?” she asked curiously since Ashton worked at her brother’s restaurant full time after graduating high school. He could not afford college and studied online after work hours. Ashton had never seen his mom as she had died when he was just three years of age in a car accident. His dad was a depressed man who took to drinking and gambled all his money away. After his death, Ashton was just thirteen and would have been taken away to foster homes if Daniel Van Every hadn’t taken him under his wing. He was penniless, with only a house to call his own, and it was Daniel Van Every who paid for his education and upbringing. He moved into the Every house with Alexander and they had been inseparable ever since, just like siblings. Daniel Van Every treated both boys equally, allowing Ashton to use his old car.
“He has got a job in a hotel in Florida and has left forever. Alexander is very upset with him. They had a bitter fight last night,” said Hayley, looking more heartbroken than Alexander did. Alyssa could understand what she was going through, as she always liked Ashton since school. It was Ashton who didn’t reciprocate her feelings and flirted with other girls who were interested in him. It broke Hayley’s heart, and she finally gave up hope and agreed to marry the man her father chose for her.
“I know why he left. It’s not because of some job, but because you agreed to marry Jason Lowells. He likes you, Hails.” Hayley shook her head, disagreeing with her totally.
“No, he doesn’t. I don’t exist in his life. Madison has also moved to Florida with him. She has found work in the same hotel,” said Hayley as tears spilled from her eyes. Alyssa wrapped her arm around her friend and pulled her close to comfort her, while Hayley broke down completely in her arms. Of course, she knew who Madison Parker was. She was Ashton’s co-worker and friend, and they helped each other through thick and thin. She mostly stuck to Ashton following him wherever he went, and it annoyed Hayley a lot. Although she fought with Ashton all the time, he just gave her a cold shoulder where Madison was concerned, infuriating her even more.
A sleek blue Jaguar passed by, and Alyssa turned to look with interest. Her eyes met with Nicholas’s as he drove by and her heart skipped a beat. Would he stop? However, he looked away and drove past them as if he didn’t recognize her at all. Alyssa frowned at his indifference, wondering if Alex was right about him. Maybe all his flirtatious behavior towards her was only to rile up her brother. Her eyes followed the car as it entered his condominium and then disappeared from sight.
Hayley calmed down and wiped her eyes. “You shouldn’t give up on him if you love him. If I were you, I would have taken a job at the same hotel and pursued him there,” said Alyssa, while Hayley just gaped at her.
“Dad will never allow me.” Alyssa scoffed and gave her a look.
“Are you twelve or twenty-two? How will he stop you from pursuing a career? When will you put your degree to use?” she scolded her friend, who looked thoughtfully at her. “Anyway, let’s go inside and watch a movie. I’m feeling a little down already,” said Alyssa, dragging her friend inside. She did not know that Nicholas was watching her with binoculars from inside the darkness of his apartment.
Nicholas sighed, seeing her go inside and out of his sight. His whole body came alive, realizing that she was spending the night nearby in Christopher Barclay’s mansion. She might have come over many times, but tonight was the first time she sat on the balcony in the evening when he returned from work. Did she want him to notice her? Didn’t Alexander give her a lecture for the stunt he pulled?
Of course, he was always attracted to her, but asking for a hug and receiving it right under Alexander’s nose couldn’t be attributed to just attraction. He wanted to win against Alexander and prove to him he wasn’t afraid of his threats any longer. He would win her affection too in the same way and whisk her from right under his nose and he wouldn’t be able to do a thing about it. It would teach Alexander a lesson for being such an ashole to him. Obviously, he didn’t love her, but he could only get his revenge through his enemy’s sister. After all, it was because of her that Alexander had almost killed him ten years back.
He seethed with anger, thinking of the stunt Alexander pulled after leaving Preston Island. He called up Lucas and complained about him. It was such a petty thing to do since Lucas was newly married and shouldn’t have been bothered. Ever since, Nicholas had been avoiding his brothers, knowing that he would get a good lecture whenever they met. After a few futile efforts to see what Alyssa was up to, he gave up and went to freshen up.
Hayley went to the washroom for a shower before bed while Alyssa checked the movies they could watch when she returned. However, not finding anything, she walked out to the balcony to check out Nicholas’s condominium. She did not know which apartment was his amongst so many. Her eyes scanned all the apartments, searching for him, when the lights were suddenly switched on in a third-floor apartment. Her eyes widened at seeing a freshly showered Nicholas wrapped in a towel walk over towards the window. Did he know she was watching him? Alyssa felt like a deer caught in the headlights and waited with bated breath to see what he would do. Even from a distance, her breath hitched, seeing his gorgeous body as he stood there looking at her. He knew! Alyssa blushed, but before she could realize it, he just closed the curtains on her face, suddenly blocking her view.
A gasp escaped her mouth at the insult, and she stomped inside, seething with anger. How could she be so dumb? Why did she have to stand there and watch the ashole? Alex was right. He wasn’t what he portrayed.
Hayley emerged from the washroom and they watched a movie before tucking into a tub of ice cream and finally going off to sleep.
The next morning, Alyssa refrained from going out to the balcony. After enjoying the delicious breakfast that Hayley’s mom, aunt Caroline, made, she was ready to go home. Her brother had called her a thousand times, asking her to avoid Nicholas and his house and head straight home. She walked out towards her car when Hayley called her.
“Alyssa, do you have anything important to do?” she asked breathlessly, rushing out of the house with a long list in her hand. Alyssa groaned immediately, knowing what it actually was. It was aunt Caroline’s grocery list.
“Not yet, but it looks like you and I need to head to the departmental store.” Hayley rolled her eyes and climbed into Alyssa’s car.
“Please do me this favor. You know how much I hate grocery shopping. Mom hates everything I buy,” she complained. Alyssa grinned and drove out of Hayley’s driveway just as Nicholas’s car sped by. This time, she didn’t look and totally ignored his very existence.
She stopped in the parking area of the departmental store and they went shopping without noticing a blue jaguar parked a few feet away. Hayley spent more time in the toiletries and grooming section while Alyssa struggled in the food section. With Alexander calling her non-stop, she quickly selected the items aunt Caroline had written and dumped them into the trolley.
“Alyssa? What a pleasant surprise, dear!” said aunt Claudia from behind her, and Alyssa froze, wondering if Nicholas was with her. She didn’t wish to face him right now after the embarrassing situation last night.