Chapter 21: I am Ready
"LET.ME.GOO!!"
Her piercing scream permeated through the halls as he forcefully ushered her into the confines of his place of residence. The motivation behind his hooligan-like behavior remains unbeknownst to him. It was as if a spontaneous impulse took hold of him upon witnessing her attempt to flee. The mere notion of her potential absence provokes a sense of discomfort. He was aware that his current emotional state was a result of the guilt he felt for having intruded upon her personal space during the cruise trip. She played the role of his savior, and he was simply attempting to express his gratitude. That was it, he had convinced himself.
He lowered her onto the sofa, his towering presence still looming over her as he observed her with inscrutable expressions.
"Why are you running away?" he sought clarification. He strolled over to the adjacent sofa, positioned directly across from where she had been seated.
She feigned innocence as she uttered, "I am not."
Alana indeed made a deliberate attempt to flee.
"You've not only been shady about your name, but now you're also denying your intention to run away. I can't help but wonder what kind of character you have got. He let out a derisive sound.
First, I need to clarify that I have not been lying about my name. It is worth mentioning that you did not ask about it, and in fact, it was you who addressed me as Dorothy. Remember? Your injury was inflicted upon your thigh, not your head! "
A surge of confidence coursed through her veins as she pondered the infuriating man before her.
'As it turned out- we had indeed been referring to her as Dorothy'. He mumbled under his breath.
"Why not correct it?"
With a subtle movement, his eyebrow arched upwards.
"Why would I? Listen, Mafia Lord," she said, her voice laced with a hint of defiance. "I have no interest to know your name, nor do I intend to. " she urged, her voice tinged with irritability.
With a resolute air, "Now do what you need too"
She stand prepared for whatever may come my way.
"Do what is necessary."
With a heavy heart, she uttered her final words,
"Let my family know that I love them."
She then closed her eyes, bracing herself for the inevitable fate that awaited her - death at the hands of the ruthless Lord of the Goons who stood before her. As she thought of her was gone her heart weighed heavy with the absence of Jake, Dad, Karina, and Aunty Mei.
She shut her eyes for a few more moments, bracing herself for the expected impact. But to her surprise, the blow never came. With one eye still closed, she cautiously opened the other and caught a glimpse of Xavier's face, contorted with a mixture of fury and disdain.
"You can now open your eyes," he uttered, his incredulity palpable as he regarded the woman before him.
With unwavering resolve, she held her ground and spoke her truth.
"I can't stand watching my own death" she declared firmly, refusing to succumb to fear or weakness. Her posture remained tall and proud, a testament to her unyielding spirit and unwavering commitment to meet her fate with dignity.
"DEATH??"
"Woman!!! Do you think that I am going to end your life? Is that the reason behind how you use of a fake name and running away?"
He stood up from his position.He sat restlessly in his seat, his hands idly resting on his hips as he contemplated his next move. After a moment of contemplation, he rose from his seat and made his way to the kitchen, where he quickly downed a glass of water in one swift motion. The coolness of the air conditioning did little to ease the tension that had settled in his body. With frustration mounting, he found himself reaching up to loosen his tie, as if the physical act could somehow release the heat that seemed to radiate from his head. It was all so absurd, this misunderstanding that had taken hold.
Alana's eyes fluttered open and she gracefully stood up from her seat. She pivoted to face him, observing as he quenched his thirst with a glass of chilled water in the airy, open-concept kitchen.
"Are you not planning to kill me?"
"Why would I? You saved me," he exclaimed.
"Ah, but you are indeed a criminal. "
XAVIER : ('….')
He cleared his throat. He was never referred to as a criminal by anyone. It is somewhat disconcerting to hear such words from a delicate-looking woman who possesses a formidable punch.
"May I leave? "
Relief washed over her as she realized she had been overthinking, and her nightmare had been redundant. She breathed a deep sigh of relief, grateful to have escaped the clutches of her own mind.
"Who is Benjamin? "
He couldn't help but notice Alana's sudden pause in movement. She took a moment to collect her thoughts before turning to face him.
"Ah, have you watched the Dorothy and Benjamin sitcom?"
"It certainly evokes a certain sentiment,"
she chuckled softly, her nerves betraying her as she recalled the reason for her departure from her hometown - a secret she was determined to keep close to her chest.
Although she has moved on from him, the wound still lingers and has yet to fully heal. Despite the passing of time, she remains steadfast in her decision to steer clear of romantic relationships, her heart still haunted by the specter of abandonment.
Xavier was familiar with the sitcom she had mentioned; it had always managed to tickle his funny bone.
"What is your name? "
Her response was interrupted by the sudden growling of her stomach, the sound reverberating through the surrounding space.
Alana's expression was blank, devoid of any discernible emotion.
Alana:(*...*)
Xavier:('....')
Xavier remained silent, his thoughts swirling in his mind.
He shed his suit and deftly rolled up his sleeves once again.
"Take a seat here," He exclaimed with urgency.
Trembling with trepidation, the small creature scurried away like a timid rabbit. Alana approached him with a measured steps, taking a seat on the barstool situated atop the kitchen island with an obedience identical to that of a rabbit.
She hated him with passion, but she will survived his evil demeanor for the sake of survival, moving out still in her plan, but she will do it discreetly.
"I will prepare lunch while you share with me of who you are. Don't leave out any details, I will uncover the truth. "
"Stop these threats, i will suffer with PTSD" she said.
"Speak the truth then," he demanded.
With skillful precision, he utilized a chef's knife and began to slice the onion before her very eyes.
"Allow me to introduce myself: Alana Geri Blair, single and possesses an undeniable physical attractiveness. Some may even go so far as to say that I am a flawless specimen of humanity. " she grinned.
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