Entangled Feelings

Rule number one: Alex Warren

I never expected this to actually happen...

Saturday evening. When I was supposed to be visiting the warehouse, here I sat in a fancy restaurant in a private seating, waiting for my "date" to arrive. She wasn't late. I was early. In fact, it was a test for her. Punctuality is the first thing I'm looking into. I have no idea how she looked, what she did or anything except her name. Carene Samahaulder. Hm.. unique. I liked it. I stared at the watch on my wrist. A minute left to strike seven in the evening, let's see...

I folded my arms looking at the night view of the city, soon hearing a knock on the door. "Come in." I looked at my watch. Exact seven and she walked in, I darted my eyes towards the right where the door was and there she stood... fuck.

She stood there looking ever so appealing. Simple, classy and elegant. I observed her while getting up and buttoning my suit. Long and dark locks, approx. height of five foot five, formal dressing, professional and graceful aura. Perfect.

"Alex Warren." I introduced myself standing in front of her. Her eyes met mine and I could have sworn I felt a punch in my gut. Yes, she was beautiful. Perhaps that would be an understatement. Breathtaking? Gorgeous? I have no idea, but she was definitely attractive.

"Carene Samahaulder." Her name rolled off smoothly from her tongue. I nodded keeping the air as cool as possible. I reminded myself for the reason I was here and stretched my hand to escort her and did the bare minimum as a man, pull a chair for her and make sure she's settled in comfortably.

"So... Miss Samahaulder," I settled myself and looked at her, not in the eye, just anywhere else but there. "You do know why you're here, don't you?" I asked observing her behavior. Her hands were on her lap. 

"I do." She nodded to my question.

"And yet you agreed?" Here we go.

"I did." She kept her answers short.

My expression remained neutral but eyes narrowed in curiosity. "May I know the reason?"

She stayed quiet for a while then spoke, "It's... Personal, you won't say this to anyone. Whatever I am about to say right now." She looked at me straight in the eyes and the feeling in my stomach returned. 

"Go ahead." I scanned her curiously. What can she possibly be hiding?

"I... I need help... In fact, protection." She sighed.

"Protection?" I raised my eyebrow. "From whom?"

She bit the inner wall of her cheek and mumbled. "My father."

"Your father?" My mind went to all dark places. Her seeking protection from her own parent must have a dark history. Abuse? Torture? Using her? Wanting her dead? A psycho? My mind thought about it all. "May I know the reason."

She rubbed her neck, her hand was trembling while she cleared her throat. "He was abusive." she mumbled.

"Report him then?" I tested her.

"I did. Back then as a teen. He killed mom, was imprisoned but..." she looked out stopping midway. She didn't need to complete that, I understood her situation.

"Let me guess, he's back and trying to go after you again?" 

"I received a call from him, unknown number... a week ago. Since then I've been avoiding all calls with no name and had been blocking numbers continuously." I forgot the purpose of our meeting already. This girl was actually scared. I have been no stranger to such people. Be it Ryes or Nathan. I had helped them out of it, and I will help her out too.

"What did he say?" I asked her after a deep breath. 

"He just called my name... the same tone he used all those years ago..." She finally looked at me again. The look was way too familiar to me. It was the same look my high school friend Nathan Jones had when he ran over to my place bare foot in the rain to escape his uncle and when I found a fourteen year old Ryes Jade and his twelve year old brother Joseph Jade in an alley, covered in blood of his father. The same look. The look of fear and seeking protection. The look when they're tired of running when they can't escape. I sighed heavily and looked outside. It started raining. The city was being showered down.

After some time, I turned to look at her. "Let's draw a contract." 

She looked at me a bit confused. "A contract?"

I nodded my head. "I'll provide you of the protection you need. No harm will come in your way. I won't have any restrictions on you but, I need something in return." 

"Something in... Oh..." her expression turned from confusion to realization. 

"I'll have you as my wife in return for it." I stated seriously.

"Are... Are you sure?" I nodded at her point. It's not normal to get married right after the first meet.

"We'll have plenty of time, we can get to know each other. I'll take you out and we can see each other until you're finally comfortable enough with me." I saw hesitation on her face. "See, Miss Samahaulder-"

"Carene." She mumbled.

"Okay, Carene, listen, I need a wife. You need protection. It's a mutually benefitting contract with just one rule." I placed my elbows on the table and held my hands together.

She picked on her cuticles still hesitant about it. "How are you so sure that you'll be fine with me as your wife?" 

"I trust Brian's choices and I find you to be not bad myself." I nodded not knowing what else to say, but what I said was true. Brian had always been right with his decisions. So even if he sometimes orders me, I do trusting him fully. I looked at her when she let out a small chuckle.

"We've just... Met... What if I'm not up to your standards? What if we can't adjust to each other? There are several what ifs about this, Mr. Warren." She spoke genuinely.

"Like I said, let's keep meeting. We'll eventually get used to each other. And don't worry, I won't force you until you're ready." She smiled at my words and nodded. I have no clue what's wrong with me. I was drowning in it...

I immediately pulled myself out and cleared my throat... Well, fuck.

"Mr. Warren?"

"Alex." I corrected her as well. "Call me Alex." I suppressed any emotions that could have appeared on my face.

She nodded and spoke again. "Alex." 

"Carene." I found ourselves staring at each other.

"What's the rule?" She asked with a small hint of another smile that appeared on her gently crafted features.

"Rule..." I nodded breaking the eye contact and looked down, closing my eyes. 

"Rule number one: Do not fall in love."