Collateral Damage

5

After an overnight stay in the hospital, Audrey found herself in the back of a town car, which she thought only existed on tv, with Alexander beside her. She was swimming in the scent of his cologne, dwarfed in his shadow. 

"So classes start next week," He informed her, typing on his phone, and his laptop. "You need to pick your courses, soon. Like...tomorrow. You can live on campus if you want, I'll pay for it,"

His eyes were fixed on his work, so she took the time to examine his face, backlit by the blue light of the computer. Nothing was ever really a question to him, was it? He spoke in absolutes, with finality, his will be done, she mused to herself.

Audrey looked out the tinted window, watching the scenery blur past her, like most of her life had, just shapes and colors, but no real recognizable form. She'd looked up dissociation once, and hated what she saw, gave up on trying to put a name to things. The way her stomach sank at the description was enough.

"Hey?" 

Alexander had shut his laptop. His thick, perfectly arched brows were furrowed, head cocked. He reached out, touching her face. Audrey leaned back suddenly.

Alexander looked at his hand and then back at her. "Are you okay?"

Audrey nodded, leaning her face on her palm. Winter was rolling in. She made a makeshift heart on the cool windows.

Alexander chuckled, and looked away. "You still like hearts, huh?"

Audrey frowned, looking back at him. "What?"

"You used to dot your I's with a little heart when you signed your name," he grinned. "It was cute. But I guess...you've grown up now."

Audrey narrowed her eyes. "I didn't really have a choice, did I?"

Alexander's smile fell. He looked out the other window with a sigh. "No one does, Audrey. We all have to grow up sometime."

Audrey scoffed. "Yeah. You would know a lot about that, wouldn't you Steel? Growing up? Working for what you have?"

The silence between them grew cold. 

"It's not my fault you had a shitty life, Audrey," he said finally. "Your father had started running your life into the ground far before I got there. I saved you--"

"Oh you piece of shit," She started, her lips quivering in anger."

Alexander scoffed, turning toward her, leaning in close. "You think I'm the only one he owed money to? You think anyone else would've cut you a break? Huh? Put you through school, cut your debt by as much as I did?"

"Oh," She yelled facetiously, "Should I fucking suck your dick as thanks!"

"Oh sure sweety, if that's what you want, but you know what else you could do," he sneered, "Stop acting like I'm the fucking devil! We all gotta job to do sweetheart, and I'm not fucking Mary Mother of fucking Jesus okay?"

"You're such a saint," She yelled, "All hail Alexander Remington, savior of orphans and fatherless children!"

He scoffed, his eyes glinting. "Fucking bow while you're at it, you ungrateful little shit."

Audrey licked her teeth, and leaned back, crossing her arms. "You really are something, Steel."

Alexander looked away, closing his eyes with a wince. He was now arguing with a half-dead girl. God, she was so infuriating. Every time he spoke to her, she just...pushed every button he ever had. He glanced over at her. She huffed, her arms crossed, pushing up her breasts. All she wore a frayed black tank top, and low-rise jeans. He didn't know if they were actually low rise or just didn't fit anymore. Her belly peaked out. She was...he licked his lips.

Oh god. He was attracted to her. He felt his stomach twist. She was too young for him. Not to mention, despite his adamant denials of her blame, he felt it too. He ruined her life.

And yet...

He swallowed. "I...you wanna live in the dorms?"

Audrey peeked over at him, her lips turning up. "You paying?"

He scoffed and smirked. "Yeah...yeah, I'm paying."

"Then of course I am." Aurdrey muttered, murmuring over her thoughts for a moment. "i can tell you feel guilty, Remington. I think...if you keep throwing money at me, keep sinking money into my life, it'll make you feel better."

Alexander nodded. "Let's hope so. If not, I'll have to resort to prunes and character development."

Audrey chuckled a soft breath through her nose. "The horrors. Improvement on yourself. Who could ever subject you to such a thing?"

Alexander grinned, his dark hair flopping in his face as he playfully leaned over. "I pay a lot of money to avoid growing as a person."

Audrey grinned back and looked away. "I don't think you're kidding."

He leaned back. "I'm not."

He opened his laptop, trying to look at her reflection in the window. She looked so pretty when she was smiling. 

"I meant to ask...are you married," She nodded to his ring. He looked down at it.

Alexander shook his head. "Only thing I'm married to is money."

Audrey frowned. "How old are you? Like 25?"

"Actually I'm 35," He muttered. 

"Wait what?" She grinned maliciously. "Oh, that's rich."

Alexander rolled his eyes. "I'm not even old. I'm...14 years older than you."

Audrey shook her head. "And unmarried. It must be that horrid personality of yours, Steel. How about this, put me in your will, take a swan dive off the roof, and maybe you'll come back as like a...decent person." She mused thoughtfully with a slick smile.

He nodded, smiling back. "A decent person, she says. As she tells me to quite literally, kill myself."

Audrey shrugged. "I thought I was being helpful."

"Ah." He nodded. "Well, Ms. Audrey, you're not. And by the way, you shouldn't bite the hand that feeds you."

Audrey snorted. "I'm cute enough to get away with it."

Alexander looked over her, the cute slope of her button nose, her full, juicy lips, those big, pretty brown eyes. He looked away.

"Yeah...maybe you are."