Restart

Chapter 18. Attraction

*Good morning. How are you feeling today?*
A message from Alexander. Not that I didn't see it coming. For him this is a very important day, so he wants to make sure I am up for it. I decide to tease him a little and I send him a picture of the pharmacy's paper bag, accompanied by the comment *Like shit*.
I immediately regret the message and I am wondering how could I be so informal with him, as if we were buddies. Before even finishing my thought, my phone rings.
"Hello?" I say with my rough voice. The pastilles had definitely improved my aching throat, but still it was irritated and swollen from the infection.
"Claire, you also sound like shit. I am coming to take you to a doctor and I won't take no for an answer."
"No, don't! I am not at the hotel anyways."
"What? And where are you?"
"At this little coffee shop around the corner of the pharmacy that I was visiting earlier, spending a little fortune on whatever the pharmacist suggested and I just came here to have a cup of coffee before going back to my room."
"So, you are feeling a bit better."
"Yes, I am. I was just messing with you, because I know how much you need me to come to dinner tonight. Don't worry, I'll be there. Also your driver doesn't need to pick me up. I 'll just take a taxi."
"No, he will. Just be ready on time, because my father and Mr. Yang don't like waiting, as you already know."
"Mr. Yang is going to be there also?"
"Yes, my father said they would come together."
"Ok. Will I need to say anything else rather than the real facts, describing the way we actually experienced them on that day?"
"Well, yes. We haven't decided on the story of how you and I know each other."
"Ok. So what will the story be?"
"I don't know. Any suggestions?"
"Well, we have to keep it simple, because to be honest I am terrible at lying. I blush and my whole body looks tensed, so if they look closely enough and pay attention, I assure you that they will figure it out."
"Ok. Then we will say we met in England 6 months ago, when I was visiting last time and we kept contact ever since. Finally, you joined me on this trip because I offered you a job here in my company, which you haven't accepted yet, by the way."
"Well, I did inform you of my decision, but you didn't like it, so don't blame me."
"Oh come on, please don't tell me again, that you are seriously applying for my driver's place. I thought we had already gone through some of the given obstacles, that would prevent you from performing the way I would expect and need you to".
"Well, I am telling you. It's the only job position I liked and I could execute in an effective and efficient way although you refuse to believe me. I am a perfectionist and trust me I wouldn't go after a job that I wouldn't be good at. But hey, I never asked for a job anyway, I am not forcing myself on you." And she pauses for a moment after she saw my smirk before she realizes how what she said sounded like.
"No, no, no... That came out wrong." She struggles to explain.
"Oh, don't worry I understand what you actually meant by that. And please, don't be all egoistic on me now. You already told me you didn't want to do that other job you had waiting for you and furthermore you don't even know if you still have that option available. You can't keep living in that hotel for long and by the way, how well are your finances for being able to be here without an income, staying at an expensive hotel and not worrying about money. Also I contacted the hospital to take care of your bill and they said that it was already paid for. Are you rich and not telling me?"
"You did what?" I know he heard the surprise and the discomfort in my voice although I sounded very huskily.
"Look, I was only trying to help. You know that money isn't a problem for me and I was feeling guilty for speaking to you in the way I did, so I wanted to complete the good deed, as part of fulfilling one of my numerous psychotherapy goals."
"Still, this is too much. I would be extremely annoyed to be obligated to you in that way. So you are seeing a psychologist, or a psychiatrist?"
"Psychiatrist, but I think this is personal."
"Well, you mentioned it first. It's not a big deal. My interest is completely professional. You do remember I am a licensed psychiatrist, don't you? I didn't mean to be indiscreet".
"Don't worry, it's ok I guess. I've been seeing Dr. Laura since I was a child and I am not ashamed of it. She did help me a lot."
"Dealing with what?"
"Oh my God! Besides the fact that you sound like you are doing a psychological evaluation on me, you are doing it over the phone! And your voice sounds like an old smoker man's voice, which isn't either very appealing nor very welcoming for a conversation."
I burst out in laughter and he responds the same way. I tell him we need to get off the phone, so I can finish my now not so hot and fresh coffee and he can spare his ears from my 'old man's voice'.
I am left smiling and hopeful. It's the first time I laughed out loud, since that day. The sun seems to have noticed my change of mood and decided to shine those much needed rays on me through that little coffee house window and I am hoping it's warmth will manage to defrost my heart. I think I like this very intriguing man and his effect on me.

Alexander's p.o.v.
I still have a silly smile plastered on my face although it's been a couple of minutes since we hung up. It was good to hear her laugh after the day she had yesterday. I think I never heard her laughing out loud before. Why on earth does this give me so much satisfaction and joy? It's only noon and my anticipation to see her is so high that I can't focus on completing my chores. I try to attend to everything that comes in my office and thankfully time eventually goes in fast forward mode as usual.
There were several times during the day, that I would find myself making an image of her, sitting alone in that coffeeshop with a beautiful smile in her face that is lightened by the sun rays that found their way to her, through the large window. I know exactly were she was and I was very tempted to go there and meet her, but besides that I was extremely busy and a bit behind on completing my errands, she would freak out most probably, so l pushed the craziness that's gotten into me away.
I was really drawn like a magnet to this woman, when seeing further from the mystery and darkness that surrounded her, I thought she was so interesting and pleasant to be with. I think, I at least owe the admittance to myself and maybe I should start doing something about it. I felt there was a strange connection between us that I couldn't really comprehend. Since when do I hesitate and not act on getting whatever I wanted?
The strange part of it was, that I wasn't really sexually attracted to her. It was different, but I wouldn't know how to explain it. It's not like I didn't want to touch her or kiss those delicious looking lips of hers, but that wasn't the strongest feeling I had when I was with her. She claims she's married, but she never talks about her husband and I kind of get the feeling that there is no husband and she only said that so I wouldn't come on to her.
Maybe I do really need to fuck someone soon, because I don't recognize myself any more. I call one of my 'sex ladies' and make a stop at Bella's place, before heading home to prepare for dinner. Bella is the only one I did have some feelings for. She is a nurse and I met her through Ronan. Later on, he had admitted he used to like her before I got my way with her. I wouldn't even go near her had I known that, as for me this is an unbreakable rule between friends.
I did him a favor really, because although she was smart and fun to be with, she was so easy to get, so if it wasn't me, it would be someone else and she would eventually break his heart. She is so good in bed and I have cleared things out with her, as she knows she is special, but she also knows she is not the only one and love has nothing to do with what we have, nor will that ever change in the future.
She begs me to spend the night there, but I tell her I have plans and leave her without any cuddles that she always claims after sex, for being such a good and obedient girl. I rush to my apartment not feeling guilty for the way I treat her, or any other girl from the 'sex ladies' collection, as I was very honest and crystal clear about the type of relationship we had and what were the rules along with some benefits.
I take a shower and ask from the staff to be dismissed, as we will only have one person to be our waiter for the night and my housekeeper that would be in charge of the cleaning. Everything is ready and the whole apartment smells like the ocean. Mr. Yang doesn't eat meat, so we are having mainly sushi and seafood. I call my driver to see where they are, as they should be here by now. I told Claire to come half an hour earlier to give her a tour around the apartment, so she wouldn't seem like this was her first time here.
"Where the fuck are you?"
"Sorry we are late sir, Miss Fay is on her way up as we speak."