Tainted - Chapter 5

The college was fairly easy for Alexander to deal with, a few humble reminders of what he was and who he was involved with and they keeled over instantly. While he hated prolonged periods of unnecessary conversation, there were two things that he had to make sure of. One was that the schedule for the little pixie would not be difficult to alter, and if something happened, she wouldn't jeopardise her credits, since she was very adamant about that. He wasn't sure why the girl cared so much for this waste of money. It was only a piece of paper that didn't even guarantee her anything in particular. He could just about understand the need for stability, or so she called it, but at the same time, he didn't. 

"How're the cameras?" he asked into his earpiece, making his way out of the office and down the hallway while talking to the man on the other side. 

"Looking good. I'll run the scans now" was the only thing he said before Alexander dismissed him and found his way back to the direction where the girl's first class would've finished. 

When he finally found her, she looked a bit shaken, a flash of fear in her eyes that made his jaw tighten. Thian had mentioned how the attack on her had involved more than just a physical brawl, a few days in the hospital and she was still scared, but from the way she was pale and almost shaking, any sensible human could tell that strong front she put up was falling apart. Deciding to not inquire any further, he let her go first, staying close behind and eventually disappearing into the shadows to let her settle into her lecture hall for classes. The entire time his eyes were on her, he watched how she fumbled with her pen, shifting about uncomfortably in her seat, and glanced around now and then. Either something shook her up, or he missed an important detail in this whole situation. 

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Theia got up the minute classes were finished, almost relieved to finally get out of the lecture hall. She had promised herself that she would stop thinking about the whole incident, right now she was safe at the college, and as much as she didn't want to admit it, Alexander was nearby, and he would have noticed if there was anything strange. Right? Pressing her lips together, she dashed out of the hall, seeing the tall man over the height of students, casually leant against the wall, towering over everyone and grabbing the attention of more curious eyes than she expected. Wordlessly stepping in front of him, her hands gripped the binder until her knuckles had gone white and she took another little breath before asking him if they were leaving now. 

"I'm finished for today, shall we?" she rubbed her thumb over the soft of her binder and worried her bottom lip with her teeth as she glanced briefly at him. 

"Sure, Thian wants you to call him" was all he said as they made their way out of the building and to the car to get in. 

"Oh so now he's worried?" she snorted. 

"Call him when we return" 

"No thanks, I don't want to talk to him right now" she buckled herself up immediately and said a silent prayer so that Alexander didn't kill them both with his reckless driving. 

"Why not?"

"Why do you think? He sold me dreams and shipped me off to you, do you think I want to talk to him right now?" she wasn't upset with her brother, she was just afraid that she would end up worrying him. It was the first time they had been separated for so long and despite his nagging ways, she couldn't afford to lose him the way they lost their parents. There was no way she was telling the man next to her that she was scared she'd end up calling for her brother like a kid.

Alexander silently glanced at her once they had slowed to some traffic, an arm on the wheel while the other dragged casually over the gear shift. Her head was intentionally turned away from him but her reflection in the window showed him her disgruntled expression. Looking ahead once again, the traffic was moving and so was he, the way she had tugged onto the seatbelt and closed her eyes sent the man's thoughts wild. He found it interesting how she was so scared of a little speed but she refused to back down from her stubbornness. By the time they got home, she was once again thanking heavens that they reached safely, to which Alexander rolled his eyes and followed her in, the butler greeting them and then from the other room walked his lovely half-brother. 

As he expected, Theia's eyes rounded, whatever thoughts were in her head disappeared and he could practically read her like the open book she was. The shy smile she displayed at Cael caused Alexander to frown deeply, there she went with that ridiculous love-struck look on her face. Watching them walk into the family room, Alexander scoffed lightly under his breath, taking up the bottle of whiskey in his hand and filling the crystal glass, one simple sphere of ice rounding the glass as he stepped into the room to watch how she had completely switched her personality in front of Cael. 

"How was your day back out?" Cael asked. 

"It wasn't too bad... Did you um... Come to check in?" she asked, fiddling with the decorative pillow on the couch. 

Alexander's jaw squared, that wasn't a look ever directed to him, not that he cared. Or so he convinced himself. Pursing his lips and not letting his eyes let up from her, she was desperately trying to fix her hair, as if worried that her flyaways were going to made her look unpolished. Gathering the ability to continue their conversation, Theia made small inquiries, little small talk here and there. It bored the man to tears having to watch them. His brother was an oblivious blockhead and she was an indulgent pixie. 

"Will you be staying for dinner Master Cael?" interrupted the butler who brought in some refreshments, they both turned their attention to the older man and then Cael. 

"I don't see why not. Why don't you freshen up Theia? I have some stuff to discuss with Xander and we shall meet at dinner later?" 

"Of course! It'll be nice if you joined us" she smiled brightly at him, getting up to go when Alexander found her briefly glancing at him. Maybe she was surprised to find him staring, or maybe she felt embarrassed to be seen bluntly turning to an idiot for his brother but the way she immediately turned away and ran off made Alexander's jaw clench almost painfully. 

Downing the whiskey like it was just another glass of water, he straightened when Cael mentioned that he wanted to talk to him about something. That was his cue to meet up in the study, as usual, and with another wash of whiskey, Alexander made his way up with his half brother until they were both in the study. Cael filled him in on some more information about the case, other shit that Alexander could care less about, and then the new deal they were supposed to sign. Due to some unfortunate circumstances, they had ended up forced to raincheck on an important business deal, thankfully it saved them from wasting a large investment. 

"You're actually taking this bodyguard job seriously huh?" Cael teased, unfazed by his brother's infamous glare. 

"Was I supposed to leave her to get killed?" 

"Don't be such a downer, c'mon, you rarely deal with people" Cael continued. 

"I deal with people who are useful to me" Alexander argued.

"Yes, but you're taking quite good care of her" one more word from Cael's mouth and Alexander probably would've poisoned the man himself. 

"Thian is an important business partner. Cut the fuckery Cael" Alexander's firm voice only made Cael thrust his head back and belt out a laugh. 

"Fair, I guess it's difficult to convince you otherwise" he shrugged, but it made Alexander painfully uncomfortable at the sarcasm that hid along the underside of that statement.

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Theia scrubbed every inch of her body clean, washing her hair and between the cracks of her toes until her back was aching from bending over the shower and the water was starting to run slightly lukewarm. She usually didn't like wasting water, probably her trauma from her youth, but as she grew older, her hygiene became one thing she was far more concerned about. Maybe it had a bit more to do with the fact that Cael was staying for dinner tonight, or maybe she hoped that she would magically bewitch him, but when she had pampered herself enough in the bathroom till her fingers became slightly pruned, she stepped out and slipped herself into a soft white knee-length cotton sundress. 

The dress was cinched at her waist and flowed openly down in a simply A-line fashion, with a square cut and elbow-length sleeve, it was not too overdone yet held a certain elegance about it. Leaving her hair to air-dry was probably not a good idea, but unfortunately, she didn't have a hairdryer and asking one of the maids for one slipped her mind, so she just hoped that it wouldn't frizz and fell in soft waves instead. Applying her facial cream and plucking her brows into a relatively decent shape, she checked herself a few times and hoped she didn't look desperate. 

Stepping out of her room once it was nearing dinner time, Theia found herself in the hallway, making her way down and straight to the dining hall when her vision was blocked and she had to stop herself from stumbling black. Alexander towered over her, that familiar unreadable expression on his face as he crowned into her space, dragging his finger along his chin. She had gotten a more intense whiff of that woody scent on him, and from his change of clothes, she'd guessed that he had also freshened up. 

"Can I help you?" she asked tentatively, searching his eyes when he took one step towards her. 

"Dolled yourself up hm?" he did not attempt to hide the way his eyes fell on her body, taking in her outfit and even going so far as to reach towards the little string at the top of her chest she'd casually tied into a bow. Curling his finger into the fabric and tugging on it, her hand reached immediately up to stop him, a not so happy glare directed to the taller man. 

"It's not your business. If you have nothing important to say, I'll be on my way now" attempting to push him back and step out of the corner, he wrapped an arm around her waist and held her flush into his chest, the action so sudden it had thrown the girl off guard and earned an audible sound of discomfort. 

"Cael can't do anything for you pixie, you should stop wasting your time with him" he whispered over her lips and forced her head back so that she could look at him, his strong arm holding her from escaping as she'd hope to do. 

"And YOU can? Don't call me that, and let go before someone sees us" she hissed, talking through her teeth while clawing at his skin. 

Instead of an answer, Alexander's face came closer, yet she hadn't backed down. She wasn't afraid of him, and she knew he was a bluff, or rather, she knew that he was not going to do anything to her. Contrary to that, he acted beyond her expectations. Alexander's mouth had found hers in a matter of seconds, a firm press to her lips and a kiss so powerful it took her all of a few seconds to notice what was happening. Theia's hands fisted his shirt, grabbing the fabric with as much strength as she could, just as the man broke the kiss. He had made no other attempt to deepen it, neither prying at her lips nor trying to slip in, but the lack of warmth sent more than a shiver down Theia's spine. 

"What the hell are you doing!?" her mind was a mess, Alexander Kasimir, the man she had detested more than cockroaches and she assumed felt the same way, had just kissed her. 

"Kissing you" he replied like it was the most obvious thing. 

"Why the hell did you kiss me!?" 

"To show you what I can do for you" this was the first time the look in Xander's eyes had changed, instead of that cold, impenetrable fierceness, Theia saw the danger. The warning bells had gone off in her head and she was not going to be able to ignore it this time. The sound of voices and footsteps approaching them broke Theia right out of her thoughts as she balled her fists and slammed them over his chest. 

"Someone is coming" if they were caught right now she wasn't sure how the hell she'd explain herself, or even find the words. She could barely find the words right now.