Vanilla, Cream and Strawberries (Unedited copy)

Chapter 4 - Unedited

The real question Arabella was asking herself was why she wasn't on the first plane out of the states and on her way to the south of France. Sure the guys admitted they cared for her but could she really go back to what they were when they were teens? The last four years she'd been in control her of her own destiny.. Now they were back to there old ways.. Controlling her. Maybe a fresh start without them in her life at all was what she needed.

***

"She's going to run" Alex sighed looking at Chris

"She always runs when it gets too hard"

"I don't think I can lose her again"

"Me either"

"We can't tell her"

"Maybe she could handle it"

"She needs to understand it first, Chris"

***

Alex couldn't believe his eyes Friday morning when Ari stepped out of the elevator. She flashed him a pearly white smile, handed him his usual star bucks and headed towards her office.

"Oh its low fat with splender instead of sugar.. You're putting the pounds on" She smirked and shut her door. Alex growled and dropped the coffee into the waste bin by Elena's desk, who was trying hard to fight off her giggles.

"Shut up" Alex growled and marched off after Ari. Upon barging into her office Alex realised she was on the phone, he sat on the leather sofa and waited.

"I'm fully aware of the situation Mr Anders, however that's not what A&C publishing pay you for. Minimise the leak or I'll sue you for breaking the contract.. Good day" Ari set the phone down.

"What can I do for you Mr Blake?" Alex knew she was purposely pushing his buttons, she used to do that whenever one of the twins were alone with her. Surprisingly she always managed to provoke them when they were alone but not together. Alex wasn't 17 anymore and he wasn't about to play her games but he'd play his own.

"Who were you on the phone to Miss LeBlanc? Ari's mouth twitched.. Alex decided to play her at her own game.

"Your P.R guy" Short and blunt.. Oh Ari was definitely getting pissed off Alex thought.

"Why?"

"Craig made an allegation that he was assaulted while leaving the premises" Alex tried to answer but Ari cut him off. "I know for a fact neither you or Chris nor security for that matter touched him. I went over every inch of cctv he was captured in, and there was nothing. I've sent copies over to the police. I just want to minimize the risk of bad publicity" Alex sat staring at her in disbelief. She put the company.. Christians and his company before her own emotions to do with Craig. That showed deep dedication and loyalty to the company and to Christian and himself.

"Well I'm glad you've sorted it. Keep me posted on the situation"

"Of course. Is there anything else?" Her smirked widen as she sat on the table giving Alex and closer view of her perfectly tanned legs as her red dress rode up her legs.

"I thought you were going to leave" He said truthfully.

"So did I" Alex let out a sigh of relief, maybe she didn't run like she used to. "What happened with Craig taught me a lot of things Alex, I'm not that same teenage girl anymore"

"Look its Friday, we don't have an dinner plans. Come stay over tonight it'll be like when we were younger" Without realising Alex had come to stand over Ari. She gulped, that was the first time he'd directly mentioned their past, without thinking she wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his stomach. The height difference was more noticeable now that she was leaning and he was standing. Alex place his hand on her back, she was always so warm and couldn't stop himself from placing a kiss on her head. "god, I've missed you princess"