CHAPTER 6:HIS ANTIDOTE
1410 Words
IN MIDST OF PAIN PREDATES PLEASURE IS THE BEST ANSWER, ONE GAINS AND THE OTHER LOSS
*Third Person's P.O.V*
Alejandro headed up the stairs, briefcase in hand, his tailored suit a testament to his polished exterior. But, his eyes betrayed his worry, a rare sight.
"How did they find out?"he asked Makenzie Roberts with a low and urgent voice.
"I'm not sure, sir. I've been checking the company's data since I received the mail from the Custom officers, there was no activity done since the…” The voice was hesitant and Alehandro could only hear the clicking of computer keys. “shipping of Monocrystalline solar panels to South Africa…I…didn't realize that earlier I'm sorry”.
“s**t! Are you a freaking i***t!” He asked in anger and … shook from the other side nearly dropping the phone.
“Sir-”
“Have those working at the dock and those that offloaded the goods into the ship during the event and those who worked on the ship question whether forcefully or not, I need answers. We can't have the police back on our tails, you know how it ended the last time.”
“Yes Sir,” He replied knowingly swallowing a spit. Alejandro ends the call as he reaches his room door.
He released a long breath and rested his forehead on the door frustratedly.
Elizabeth who was passing by looked at him and concern washed over her features. She noticed the veins bulging on his hand and she understood he was having one of his reveries.
She knew him more than anyone knew him and that's one thing she was proud of:one thing she possessed more than all those women that acted like fools to have him. She had his mind and his trust. If only he could give her more.
“Elizabeth…”Mrs Luis' voice disturbed the silent hallway causing Elizabeth to flinch.
Alejandro straightened up, his eyes scanning the hallway for Elizabeth, but she was already gone. His gaze landed on Amaya, who was dragging a vacuum cleaner out of Mr. Luis's room
He gazed at her with a mix of burden and coldness in his heart. He had no plans of reminding himself about the conversation his ex and housekeeper engaged in earlier so he entered his room and headed into the bathroom in a heist.
He stripped off his clothes and got into the soundproof shower, where the warm water soothed his tense muscles. His eyes were closed, wet eyelashes stuck together as his hands moved over his hair, untangling and smoothing it, but his mind was elsewhere.
The memory of a ghastly fire overwhelmed him, transporting him back to his past. He was in the car that was caught on fire, his little eyes wide with shock, and hands on the steering wheel. He was no more than eighteen then.
Alejandro's hand instinctively reached for the shower walls as he panted, haunted by the another memory of a woman's hateful gaze.
She stared at Alejandro with hate and was about to charge towards him when hands held her back. She screamed like she was just possessed. “You won't get away with it child! I won't rest till you pay,” She broke into tears and fell to the ground as the media raced out of the crowd and towards Mr. Luis and his child.
Alejandro gasped, his eyes flying open as the memory grip on him tightened. He wiped the water off his face and turned off the water, his heart still racing. He needed Elizabeth, her calming presence to chase away the lingering memories.
As he exited the bathroom, he heard rumbling sounds from his room. He caught a glimpse of long black hair leaving the room.
He caught sight of the envelope under his coat on his table and he raised his brow in confusion. Why would his housekeeper write him a letter?
Before he could take a step towards it, a knock on his door disturbed him. His eyes moved to Elizabeth like she was his haven."Your mother sent for you." She noticed the strain in his eyes but chose to wait for him to talk.
"It can wait," He walked towards her and closed the door as she moved in.
"Again?" She asks and he nods. "What about being like siblings?"
The veins on his forehead bulged impatiently as he walked towards her."I'm sorry ,"he said, his voice low and husky.
Elizabeth's eyes softened, and she reached out to him once again willing to let herself feel the pain of helping him. "I'm here for you, Alejandro."
“It’s Alec…’’
** **
“Can you believe Ariana Lewis has the guts to call my car outdated,” Mrs. Luis rants to her husband who was sipping tea Elizabeth had prepared.
“Isn’t she supposed to be your friend?” He clears his throat as he places the mug on the yellowish glass dining table.
She scoffed,”I'm not friends with people whose bank account is nothing to write home about.” Like yours before I intervened. He wanted to say, maybe she'd realize his worth.
Elizabeth walked into the living room with plates of appetizing Roast beef sandwiches on both hands. Mrs. Luis's eyes move to hers and she scowls in disgust.
“Where's Alec?” She shifts her aggression to the poor girl as usual. Elizabeth drops the plates of food and she stands straight looking at the ground remembering the previous night with Alec and the burning anger in his eyes. She gripped her skirt tightly. “I mean, you should know after you-”
“Don't take your aggression out on her,” Mr. Luis grimaces in no mood for his wives tantrums.”Besides, you know she's only helping Alejandro.”
Elizabeth's grip tightened. Was that only how they could see it as? Mrs. rolled her eyes defiantly and forced a smile at Elizabeth.
“Go call Alejandro down for breakfast,” She says with gritted teeth, her smile a miserable pretense. Elizabeth nodded and headed to Alejandro's room.
She knocked but he didn't answer so she let herself in. Her eyes scanned his room for him and her eyes stayed on his bed recalling the previous night, before her lips could curl up in pride, the words of Mr. Luis slapped her pride away. Nothing they did was worth reminiscing about, it always died down after an agonizing night.
Her eyes moved to his bedside table and caught sight of a letter under his coat. Curiosity choked her and she picked up the letter. The handwriting was professional and beautiful.
~An admirer
“Beth,” Alejandro's cold yet seductive voice shattered Elizabeth's hope of disposing of the letter. She turned around and looked at him, eyes daring not to look down at his body covered in a black shirt and black perfectly ironed trouser.
“Mrs. Luis wants you down for breakfast,” her voice was soft yet hoarse. His eyes went to the letter in her hands then he remembered Amaya leaving his room in a heist.
“Is the new worker here already?”He asked, walking towards her. Her eyes held concern. She'd have a spontaneous love for Amaya.
“No. It's almost nine and I'm worried your mother won't be happy when she realizes,”she replied. Alejandro smiled softly and tool the letter out of Elizabeth's hand trying to push Amaya off his thoughts.
“About last night,”she began worriedly.
“It's not important. You don't have to talk about it,”he scowled and her fist clenched. He read the words on the envelope with the letter which once again intrigued him.
“Alec-”
“Tell mum I'll be down for breakfast soon.” He cut in impatiently, wanting to tear of the seal of the letter and read it. Elizabeth looked at him, hurt but he was too self-absorbed to notice her worry. How would he? She never complained about him using her as a tool to dissipate his pain.
“I'll.” She left.
He sat on his bed and tore off the seal then took out the letter. It smelt like rosemary which made him want to vomit but nevertheless he read the letter.
His eyes scanned each content wanting to decipher each word. His lips curled upwards in disbelief.
“Well isn't this lady full of surprises
- Writer
