Tainted - Chapter 7

Theia was not only shocked at Alexander's agreement to let her stay with her friend, but she was also very taken aback when the man had merely told the driver to make sure that she was dropped off safely and then returned without any complications. Maybe he was in a good mood, she thought, that was something she couldn't quite wrap her fingers around. He was impossible to read, she almost didn't think the man had emotions. Her thoughts were very wrong and the way he had wrapped his tongue in her mouth was evidence that he was anything but emotionless. A man with that kind of passion hiding behind a face that gave nothing away gave Theia a chill that went straight to her hips. She should not be thinking about him like that. Their kiss was a mistake. 

The drive to Feya's apartment came to an end before she could gather her thoughts, and before she had known it, Theia stood in front of her friend's apartment, welcomed by her roommates Grace and Mikey who were cooking something for dinner. The two were very kind and seemed like a great company, Grace was more extroverted than Mikey and was considered the life of the party. Mikey was friendly but very selective with his friends, often shying away from new company and hadn't started to greet Theia until a year later when he saw her more often. At the back of her mind, Theia got the impression that Mikey and Grace were secretly dating, but nothing ever really gave it away except that Mikey often found himself staring at the girl with eyes that regular housemates didn't give each other. 

"Finally! You're here, okay, I have a few choices, go crazy" Feya greeted her with a hug, instantly pulling the girl into her room that looked like or had gone through a mini clothes hurricane. Looking at the choices Feya gave her, Theia hummed softly and sat her bag down in a corner while settling into her computer chair. 

"They're all great, but I don't know if it will fit me like it's supposed to" Theia filled her cheeks with air and gave the shorter girl a little nervous smile, immediately noticing the frown on her face. 

"Don't be ridiculous. God, I wish you could see how amazing you look from my eyes" Feya rolled her eyes and threw her a pair of thick black stockings. 

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder?" Theia snorted silently and held the stocking up to stretch them out a little, wondering if she'd need to wear an extra layer in case the night got colder. 

"I just wish you were more confident" 

"Me too" 

"Oh, I almost forgot... How're things with that guy you got the hots for?" Feya grinned, suddenly distracted by the topic as she came over to her and sat over the bed curiously. Theia felt that pang of guilt fill her, instead of Cael, her brain had betrayed her, and Alexander's face came into her head. She wanted to smack herself right in the coconut for thinking about him, but refrained from doing so, fearful that her friend may worry a little too much. 

"Well... It's going nowhere. Nothing new" she shrugged, doing her best to act like saying that didn't hurt, but it did, they both knew that it did. They both understood the pain of liking someone who didn't give them the time of day. They knew what longing for a bit of attention felt like, and it wasn't great, although it may feel good when he did finally talk to her, it wasn't the reward she was hoping for. She was neither closer to him, nor did she grab his attention. 

"It seems like love probably isn't meant for us... If all else fails, we can just open up a coffee shop together and get drunk on evenings after work" Feya fell back on the bed, laughing softly as Theia also chuckled, the idea wasn't that bad. 

"Coffee shop with a reading nook? Books and warm drinks sound like heaven!" Theia grinned, a genuinely large smile on her face as Feya giggled in agreement. They were too old to be fantasizing about a dream too far into the future, but it was only during these times did Theia find herself distracted to not think about the weight of her stress. 

Pulling the dress over her arms and staring at her reflection in the mirror, her body filled the outfit out, most of her weight in her thighs and her stomach, she was a bit embarrassed that she didn't have the shape she'd like to do the outfit justice. The black velvet dress had long sleeves, a cuff of lace and fell into a pretty v-neck at the front to show a bit of the girl's cleavage. With some nude stockings and ballet flats, Theia finalised the last bits of her outfit for the night. Pulling her hair up, she grabbed the claw clip from her friend's dresser, letting it keep her hair together and then turned back to Feya who had also finished slipping her outfit on which consisted of a tight white pants and an off-the-shoulder red velvet shirt that had a bit of shimmer when the light hit it. 

Feya had chosen to wear her hair open, her naturally curly locks spreading across her shoulders and framing her face. Opening the container of makeup products Feya brought her, Theia settled on the only things she was comfortable wearing, a brown-nude lipstick and some eyeliner, the rest was too much and the last time she tried applying makeup she looked about ready to audition for the circus. 

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The club was loud, packed and mostly dark, if not for the laser lights and whatever illuminated guides there were along the baseboards leading to the dancefloor, washrooms, and VIP area, Theia was certain she would have gotten lost. Her friend on the other hand seemed a lot more comfortable with the place, shuffling through the crowd and pulling the girl with her beyond the dancefloor to the back where there were high top tables and some lounging couches followed by tight security. It made sense, if there weren't security people could get away with just about anything in the club, drugs, battery, sex, to name a few. 

"See any familiar faces?" Theia had to raise her voice into her friend's ear before the girl could get a response, the shorter girl peeking up curiously to give another look but seemed more disappointed than expected. 

"I think we need to get to the back, we are too far" 

Theia complied, following her lead for them to venture further, avoiding the stumbling drunken assholes nearby who had bumped into them a few times and heading directly back. There were several new experiences, or so to put it in kind words, half of the present people were caught up drunk or high, and it was starting to look like a bad idea. Forcing their way further through the crowd, they had finally made it back when the two were approached by a man who had one drink too many. In one of his hands was a glass that looked ready to spill everything out, while he used the other to prop himself on the wall, blocking the girls from leaving. 

"Ladies, care for a drink?" his voice was slurred and the stench that came from him was so rotten, it made both flinch at the same time. 

"Not tonight, sorry, we have plans!" Feya spoke first, pushing Theia behind her and giving her hand a tight squeeze. 

"Just one drink ladies, c'mon, the night is young!" he insisted, forcing the weight of his body against the wall to keep himself up. Atrocious was one of the words Theia had used to describe the man, but repulsive was a close runner up. When he didn't seem to get the hint, Feya attempted to walk off first and hugged the taller girl's arm as though her life depended on it. Thankfully, the guy had not followed, probably because he was struggling to even stand, but it worked to both of their benefits, allowing them to ease over to the tables and VIP section. 

"I think we should stay close, I hope there are no more wherever he crawled out of," Theia said hoping that her friend agreed and thankfully she did. 

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"Oh? Someone is awfully silent tonight, something on your mind dear brother?" Cael looked at the man whole had a permanent frown plastered across his face as they fished through some documented pieces of evidence.

"No." Alexander's rough reply hadn't bothered the older man, as usual, he knew that whatever he was busy thinking about had something to do with the kid he was taking care of. 

"Sure, let's pretend I believe you, it's odd that you'd agree to let her out the house. What kind of bribe did she offer you?" 

Alexander pressed his lips together, taking a minute to pause his reading and ponder on Cael's words. A bribe? No, it was guilt. After their little encounter, she had been on her toes around him in the most awkward way. As much as he hated to admit it, he was damn wrong for forcing that kiss on her, yet he let his hormones rage and he let his dick think before he could stop himself. He had hoped she would slap him, kick him, or even curse him a little more, but those eyes of hers held more power over him than he expected. His mouth had undoubtedly moved faster than his brain and he was saying shit he didn't think he was capable of saying. 

Years of constantly being forced to watch her waste her time and effort into what she considered 'love' for his brother had grown a rage inside of him. It wasn't that he was angry she was in love with his brother per se, it was that he had become angry at himself for growing an erection whenever she was in the damn picture. Of all the women his body could react to, it just had to be the one who hated his guts. Alexander had little luck with women, most of which were far out of his comfort zone, too rash, too bold, too scared, too soft, too much. Somehow they had all been... disappointing, and it was even more unfortunate that his focus was centred around his work. 

"Oi, don't ignore me. Come on, 'fess up" Cael's voice broke the man away from his thoughts as he sighed. 

"Do you think she has something that can bribe me?" Alexander gave the broader man a firm look who could only smirk quietly to himself. 

"Hm? She doesn't? That's odd, the Xander I know wouldn't cave so easily unless..." Cael pretended to stroke his invisible beard while leaning closer to Alexander. 

"Unless?" 

"Well... I'm sure you'll figure it out sooner or later" Cael smirked and earned an even nastier glare from the man in question. Alexander chose to ignore the comment, whatever Cael was referring to was not his priority at the moment. A short knock interrupted their moment, followed by the door opening and a frantic look from his assistant who has been clutching the handle with his life. 

"Sir, there seems to be an issue with Ms Zelgar," he said, pushing the door open further and stepping in. 

"An issue?" 

"She's... Not at the location she was dropped at" 

"Well, where the fuck is she?" Alexander had stood, narrowing his steps towards the man who flinched back in fear. 

"...uh she's" 

"Out with it."

"She's at an adult Entertainment Nightclub," the man said, mustering whatever courage he had to get the words out. 

"I must be going deaf. Repeat that for me, won't you? She's where?" Alexander's fists clenched and relaxed as his mind raced through every possible thought.