The Love Contract | Alex Turner

Red Light Indicates Doors are Secured

Marianne's POV

I wake up in the morning with a pounding headache, my mascara caked on my pillow, and terrible memories of the night before. 

I planned on denying everything about last night, I'll just act like I was so drunk I don't remember. That should work. 

I decided I need some sort of food to soak up the rest of the alcohol in my stomach from the night before, I throw on some clothes and make my way down to the lobby to grab a quick bite. 

I sit down at a table alone, with a black coffee, a bowl of fruit, and some toast. I suddenly hear the elevator slide open and footsteps approach me. I heart drops when I realize who it is. 

"Uh, hey. Mind if I sit?" Alex says standing in front of me. 

"Oh, sure." I respond beckoning to the open seat. 

He slowly sits down at the table, looking noticeably nervous. "How's the head today?" He questions. "It's pounding, this is why I don't go out anymore." I muster a laugh. He chuckles softly at my comment and fidgets with his hands on top of the table. "Do you... remember last night?" He asks me vaguely. "Uh-bits and pieces." I lie. Alex hesitates for a moment before asking, "what uh, "bits" do you remember?" "I remember how great the VIP section was." I laugh trying to change the subject.  Alex laughs but he didn't let me get off so easily, "yeah, yeah, the VIP was great. Anything else you remember?" I think before  I reply, "those nasty shots Jamie got us." I shudder at the memory. 

Alex sighs and scoots in closer, "come on, doll. Nothing else you remember from last night?" He says quietly. "What are you trying to get me to say, Mr. Turner." I respond with a raise of my eyebrow. He takes a deep breath, "oh, I don't know. Maybe the part where you kissed me." I cough on my fruit at his bluntness. "I-uh, I don't know what you're talking about. I don't kiss clients." I lie once again. 

A smirk appears on his face and he rubs his chin with his hand. "Bullshit. I clearly remember you kissing me." He says teasing me. "Are you sure about that, you also had a lot to drink last night." I say as I look away and take a sip of my coffee. He looks angry now, "and you don't think you had a lot to drink last night? I'm not the only one who was drunk." He presses. 

I huff, "fucking, fine." I admit. "I did kiss you, but it was a temporary lapse in judgment, not happening again." Alex furrows his eyebrows, "a temporary lapse in judgment, huh? Wasn't it good?" He tries to joke. "That doesn't matter. I was drunk, sad, and you're a client. It won't happen again. I'm sorry." I reason. 

He lets out a scoff at my words again, leaning back in his seat. "So you're just gonna act like it never even happened, huh?"

"Exactly." I say sternly, as I stand up from my seat. 

I can see his annoyance written all over his face. He suddenly grabs my wrist and stops me from leaving. "Sit down." He says sternly. I sit down in obedience, taken aback by his action. 

He releases my wrist and looks directly at me. "Why are you acting so cold with me?" I feel terrible for treating him like this, I want to tell him I don't regret the kiss, but I can't. It would never work. "Because. I can't throw everything I've worked on over a kiss. Let's just keep this between us and move on. Please." I plead with him. 

Alex looks like as if I just stabbed him in the heart, I feel terrible in this moment. "Yeah, sure. Let's just move on and forget it ever happened." He says. "Alright, thank you." I say. No matter what I felt for Alex, I could never act on those feelings. I stand back up and excuse myself from the table.

Alex's POV

I can feel a pang of pain go through me as I watch Marianne leave the table. She brushed off our kiss so quickly and easily, making me realize just how much I actually wanted this to be something. More than just a momentary "lapse in judgment," like she claimed it to be, I wanted more, I wanted her. I sat silently and watched as she headed away from me, the sound of my thoughts deafening in my mind. 

I remain in the same spot for a while, staring off into the distance as I continue to dwell over our conversation. I can't believe you thought it was a mistake, I don't know why I felt so hurt over this, but I did. 

I make my way back up to my room once again, still unable to get Marianne out of my head. No matter what I try to do, my mind keeps returning to our kiss, how her lips felt against mine, how she felt in my arms. I can't away from her. Even after she acted so cold I still found myself craving her touch. 

I spent the majority of the day cooped up in my hotel room, thoughts of Marianne still swirling around in my mind. I groan in frustration, realizing that there was no use in trying to distract myself. I stand up from the bed, an impulsive idea suddenly coming to mind. 

I find myself heading out of my room and heading down the hallway, feeling a strange mix of emotions in my chest as I walk. I don't even know why I'm walking to her room right now, she had clearly shown at breakfast that she only saw me as a client. Why am I going to make a fool of myself again? I can't help it, my impulsivity pushing me forward, until I find myself standing in front of Marianne's hotel room door.

My hand is raised, moments from knocking, that is until I head sounds coming from inside the room. I freeze at what I'm hearing, recognizing the sound of your voice as you softly moan out.