Family. (Wattpad Version)

Chapter Seventeen.

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Alec's POV.

Possible title: If I Was Your Man

Did I get the apartment wrong?
For there stood before me, a man who looks vaguely familiar.

"Uuh......Reece?" He called out confirming I got the apartment right.

"Yeah. Who is it?" She called back.

"It's Alec." This was followed by silence before she appeared at the door.

"I better go. I'll catch you later Reece." The man said. He kissed her cheek before stepping out. My hands fisted.

"Alec." He acknowledged before he disappeared down the hallway.

"May I come in?" I asked.

"Please." She said, waving me in.

I stepped in, my eyes involuntarily wondering about the room.

"Wine." She asked as she picked up the used wine glasses on the table.

"Yes. Thank you."

She placed my glass before me and the freshly opened wine bottle on the table before sitting down on the other end of the sofa I had settled into.

"Why?" I voiced and her paused halfway to her mouth.

"Why what?" She feigned ignorance.

"Don't play dumb Reece. We both know you're not." I said leaning towards her.

"I had an emergency."

"I could've helped."

"You were asleep."

"You should've woken me up. Stop trying to give me excuses Reece. Why?"

She was silent. She slid her feet off the couch and placed her glass on the table.

"Was I not good enough?"

"No. It's not that!" She said standing up then turned to face me. "That's not it."

I stood and walked to her. I took her hands in mine struggling with what to say next. I looked her right in the eye then said.

"Do you regret it?"

"No! God no! Don't even think that." She said moving her hands from mine and to my cheek.

"Then tell me why."

*48 hours before*

"Alec sir." Sophia called as I emerged from the shower, her head bowed.

"Alec? Oh no!"

"Yes sir. Your mother is here."

I sighed, "Is she alone?"

"Yes. She seeks your presence immediately."

"I'll be right there. Breakfast?"

"I'll set the table for two."

"Thank you Vtavtá." I said and she began for the door.

"Son?" She whispered and I turned to her, "are you alright?"

"I will be."

"Am I right to think it has something to do with the young lady?"

"Yes Vtavtá. Don't breathe a word to mother. At least not yet." I sighed.

"Of course not child." She said as she walked over to me taking my hands in hers. "But if she really means much to you, fight for her."

                              ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Good morning son? How nice of you to join your mother for breakfast." She says as she dabbed a napkin to her lips as I kissed her cheek. "Sophia, breakfast is lovely, thank you."

Knowing that was her cue, Sophia nodded and left the room as I pulled out my chair and sat down.

"What brings you here mother?"

She snickered, "Can't a mother visit her son?"

"We both know you never lack an agenda."

"You make me sound like a business person." She says with a chuckle.

"If you got paid for trying to set your son up with women, you would be."

"Speaking of women...." She began, ignoring my statement. "Have you considered what I asked?"

"I didn't need to. I'm not marrying any daughter of dad's business partners."

"Son, think what that would mean for the business."

"I have and I won't do it."

"Do you have someone in mind?" She asked and I paused while cutting into my pancakes. I quickly resumed but having been looking at me, she didn't miss it.

"Indeed there is!  What's her name?"

"I'm not ready to share any details yet. Now if that is all.... " I said while pushing my chair back and standing, "I've got work to do. Good day mother."

I kissed her cheek before grabbing my things and leaving for the office.

*Present*

"Just tell me why love."

It was raining outside.

"I couldn't keep lying to myself."

"I don't understand." He said confused.

"I was with you when Gwen was kidnapped. If I was there for her this wouldn't have happened."

"You don't know that."

"Yes I do! She was in a bar drinking most likely stressed about work. If I was there she wouldn't have left alone with Carter."

"All those are what ifs Reece. You can't possibly be sure things would've happened differently."

It was beginning to pour.

"And you can't convince me I couldn't have helped."

"So what are you trying to say? That it's my fault?"

"No! No it's not!"

"Then what are you trying to say?"

"That what happened can't happen again."

"Why? Cause you won't let your surrogate little sister grow up?" Thunder clapped.

She backed away from me as I realised what I said.

"Reece. That came out wrong." I reached for her but she withdrew.

"Don't!" Lightning flashed through the semi lit room.

"I'm sorry. I'm didn't mean it that way."

"I think you should leave."

"Reece please."

"Leave!" She yelled and for a moment I was stunned. I sighed, my head hung.

A storm was roaring now.

I grabbed my coat and saw myself out but not before seeing her crumble to the floor.

I had screwed up.