Gravity is a Bitch

17. Power Play

-- Elianna --

Flashback

"Stop acting like a stupid kid and act like an adult. Just tell me what's wrong so we can fix it once and for all." Alex pushed her lollipop to one side of her mouth, and in response, I snapped at her again. "And take that stupid lollipop out of your mouth!" I pulled it from her mouth before throwing it a few feet away from her.

"The fact that you dare to ask me what's wrong when you know perfectly well why I'm angry shows how mature you are"

"If it's about Paris, I've apologized enough"

"Sending me overpriced gifts with a card most likely written by your secretary? If that's what you call apologizing, then you've got a long way to go, more than I thought. And come see me again when you're ready to apologize to Daciana and me properly. Just let me go play with immature people my age while I wait" With those words, Alex returned to the field to play with soccer with her teammate.

"Pass the ball, Mike. Pass!" she shouted from midfield.

It's been weeks, and she continues to piss me off. She sent all the presents back, and when I apologized... sort of... she wants me to apologize to that Daciana bitch? You can keep dreaming.

"Argh!" I screamed, throwing my pen on the ground.

"You know this pen costs over a thousand dollars, right?"

"Rachel, what are you doing here?"

"This isn't for courtesy. I'm here to give you an update on our progress"

"Oh, okay" She sits down in the chair in front of me and hands me the file, which I start leafing through.

"But since I'm here, can you tell me what's got you in such a mess? I know it's not Ryan, because that prick loves you too much to leave you angry for a whole day, and Esther told me you've looked like a dragon for two weeks."

If only it could be Ryan... at least that wouldn't have messed me up.

"It's nothing. Just a few things I have to do..."

"Elianna?" Rachel was staring at me threateningly.

"Alex." I forcefully close the file, resulting in white noise.

"I thought she moved out?"

"Yes, and that's not the problem"

"What is it, then?"

"She's mad at me for something stupid, and I've been apologizing for two weeks now. But no, she keeps ignoring me" My anger rised as I try to explain. Rachel had an amused smile on her lips, which made me want to slap her. She bursts into laughter before trying to cover it with her hand.

"Sorry, sorry. And what is this stupid thing?" she cleared her throat, trying to be serious.

"Three weeks ago when we were in Paris..."

"Wait, you brought her to Paris? Are you still sleeping with her?" she screamed.

"Shhh. Not so loud, you stupid"

"Answer me"

"No, we don't sleep together anymore... not since Paris"

"For only three weeks!? Elianna!" With a disapproving look, she tries to hit me under my desk, which luckily was too large.

"I know... it's just that Alex is... It's Alex. Every time I tell myself it's the last time, the next day it's even worse. I've never felt like this before, and since then, I've rushed home from my business trips just to fall asleep in her arms. Sometimes, I even wish Ryan wasn't home so it could just be the two of us. Or just to see her smile. Do you remember the time we went skateboarding? I was 13, and I lost a tooth. Since then, I've never gone back for fear of breaking another tooth. But I went with her because I knew it would please her... or the time..." Rachel was staring at me with her mouth agape. "Rachel?"