Second chances

Chapter two.

“Yess, it's Janvier. Though my name is Alex, as it’s always been,” he joked, letting out an awkward chuckle.

Kristen didn’t speak. She just stood there staring at the devil’s incarnate.

Alex checked the time on his wristwatch, shoved his hands in his pockets, and looked around, thinking of what to say next.

Kristen took the opportunity to have a good look at him. He didn’t look much different from how she remembered, but more mature.

His voice was more vibrant and thick. His buzz cut complimented his perfect face. His jawline was as sharp as a knife, a perfectly shaped nose, and wide shoulders that held huge biceps.

His tall figure and ripped body stood very intimidating. But most especially, his majestic black eyes, which could be noticed at first glance.

Alex cleared his throat at the awkward silence and began to speak. “Soo, what are you doing here?” He asked her.

Kristen glanced at Sally, wondering if she had heard the same question. Sally, who was watching from the punch table, laughed and snuck away, giving Kristen a supportive pat before leaving.

Kristen faced Alex again. “Oh, I don’t know Mr. Janvier, maybe because it’s my book that was being launched?” She asked Alex sarcastically, giving a fake smile.

She turned back to the table and began refilling her cup with the punch. Alex moved closer, scratching the back of his neck. “I’m so sorry, I’m just arriving, and I wasn’t filled in on the event. I was held up at work, which is why I’m arriving late.”

Kristen ignored him. Backing him, she sipped on her punch while directing her attention to the other author who was also having their book launched.

“C’mon Kristen, at least say something to me. You’ve been ignoring me.” Alex said in a sad tone.

“What do you want from me and why are you here?” She asked, dropping the cup on the table and folding her arms, looking up at him, her neck almost snapping off.

She stared into his eyes to intimidate him. But Alex was far from intimidated.

“I want to speak with you. It’s been years Kristen,” Alex began to speak but was cut off by an irritated Kristen.

“It’s Miss Vog to you, sir,” she pointed out, “and I have no interest in speaking to you.”

“But I want to speak to you. I’m here because I was invited to the event as the CEO of a publishing company. Was supposed to see if the authors would be interested in collaborating,” he explained.

Kristen wasn’t impressed; she seemed unfazed by his explanation. “I would’ve loved to lie and say it was a pleasure having you speak to me, but it was far from that. Have a good night.”

With that being said, Kristen took her cup of punch and left the scene to look for Sally. Alex stood disappointed as he watched Kristen walk away.

He couldn’t help but outline the woman’s body with his eyes. He had missed her, and would stop at nothing to gain her attention again.

Kristen found Sally seated at one of the round tables at the very front of the hall. She sat next to her as they watched other authors give their speeches.

Sally tilted her head, so she could look at Kristen. She gave Kristen a cheerful smile and squeezed her tiny shoulders. “How do you feel?” she whispered.

Kristen gave her a look that read ‘are you seriously asking me that’. “Is the world trying to make fun of me Sally?” she asked, with a laugh filled with hidden pain.

“I thought I was done with him for good. I moved countries and have been doing so well. And he just appears out of nowhere and thinks we can be friends?” Kristen was at the brink of breaking down.

Sally could sense that she was about to have a mental breakdown and engulfed her in a warm hug. Kristen hugged her back tightly, fighting back the tears that tried to escape.

She got her act together and put her focus on her daughter and the event which she was a part of.

It was 11pm and the last author had just finished talking. Sally had to leave for an emergency at the hospital, so Kristen went through the rest of the event on her own.

She was just about to reach her car when someone called out her name. It was Alex.

Kristen didn’t stop, she continued walking. In fact, she picked up her pace to her black Porsche Panamera which was parked at the far end of the parking lot.

She couldn’t find a reasonable parking spot at the time she had arrived, and although it was far from the main building, it was closer to the exit gate.

Reaching her car, she unlocked it, put her item box in the back seat, and got in as quickly as possible. She was reversing the car when Alex caught up and stood behind the car, preventing her from reversing any further.

She wined down the car window and flipped Alex off. “If you don’t move out of my way, I swear to god I won’t hesitate to crush your bones.” She looked at him through the window.

“Please, I need a ride to my hotel,” Alex shouted over the sound of her engine.

Kristen stopped the engine, put the car in park, and just stared at Alex through the rearview, with a confused look on her face. “You’re the CEO of a company, you definitely have your own car, please get out of my way,” she pleaded this time.

“Actually,” Alex began as he walked over to the driver’s seat, so he could get a better look at Kristen, “my car is back in Los Angeles. I didn’t have it shipped because I have another car in my house here. But apparently I can’t find my keys.”

Kristen didn’t believe him for one bit, he had always been a liar after all. “You’re lying to me, look, it’s 12am, I need to be at home now,” she said, starting her engine again.

“Please, please. I’m not lying, I need a ride,” Alex begged, gripping on to the window seal.

“So tell me why, of all the people at this event, you chose me to disturb?” She said, raising her voice this time.

Alex just stood quiet, staring at Kristen with an apologetic look on his face. “Get in the car. And don’t you dare utter a word, else I'd push you out.”

Alex chuckled and got in the passenger’s seat, he buckled his seat belt and Kristen began moving the car.

“So where are we going?” She asked, focusing on the road.

“Home,” Alex said, his hands clasped on his lap. Kristen gave him a stern look and he rephrased. “Savannah hotel” he quickly said.

Kristen put in the location on Google Maps and they hit the road.