The Mask of Mr. Connel

CHAPTER 6

After having a long and tear-filled telephone conversation with John, Alexis thought she could cool her nerves with a good shower and a cup of coffee, her universal problem solver. After her shower, she patted herself down with her towel and threw on a pink bath robe. She walked to her bedroom and to her surprise, she found John standing at her bedside yet another bouquet of roses. And almost immediately did the tears start rolling from the eyes of Alexis.

“Alexis you have no idea how sorry I am and I just want you to know that I will never let you go, and I swear I will never hurt you again.” cried John.

“I’m just as sorry for being such an ass John, and I forgive you.” said Jane who began to smile with a face of tears.

John pulled Jane into his arms as she began to cry even more. John offered up a tender embrace in an attempt to comfort Alexis. The kiss gently evolved into something more and John ultimately stayed longer than expected, make up s*x. When John had left to head back home, Alexis had found the cold but familiar arms of insomnia gripping tightly onto her. She was torn between decisions. Does she choose a life with a simple man that she now realized she never really loved, a life of mediocrity, but a life of faithfulness and dedication? Does she choose a life of crazy fetishes, a life of living in the moment, a life of fun, but a relationship that was wrong, a relationship that was bound to crash and burn and to be involved with somebody who has never loved?

On that Tuesday morning, the clouds seemed to be slowly dissolving into the blue skies. Alexis did not know how she could face Connel after the ultimatum she had unwittingly created. She had rehearsed lines in her head to respond to whatever Justin had to say. She waited anxiously for Justin to come to class, but he never showed and it was the same right until Friday, it was like he dropped of the face of the earth. He did not respond to any messages nor did he answer any calls from Alexis. She had begun to think that perhaps she had served her purpose to Justin so she was tossed aside like worn out rag, but in fact she was wrong. Friday crept up rather slowly, which meant Jane was no longer a substitute teacher so if Connel did not come then, she would never see him again, but on that day he did not let her down. He approached her at the end of the school day, wearing his trade marked impassive look.

“Justin, where were you for the past few days!?” inquired a frantic sounding Jane.

“I had to take care of some family business. Listen Alexis, I have been thinking about the time we have spent together, and I do not know why but you seem to have a peculiar effect on me. It is a feeling I am not familiar with but quite honestly, I want more of it. And if you are willing to, and bare in mind I have never asked this of any women so my attempt may be feeble, but I want you to myself, not just for the sensational f*****g but because I want to give this, us, a chance.” said Connel sounding as sincere as possible.

Alexis was astounded by what Justin had said. This coming from the guy who has never had a relationship, and who is the least expressive person she knows. Alexis pursed her lips and then took a breath as if she was going to speak but she was immediately silenced by Justin.

“Before you say anything, I want you to think. When you do come to a conclusion, you know where I will be. Please know that I do not want to coerce you into something that you feel you will regret. I look forward to hearing your decision by today.”

Leaving Jane utterly stupefied, he planted a soft kiss on her lips and put his forehead against hers and she closed her eyes as if she were comforted by his presence, then he handed her a set of keys and departed. The feeling of that kiss had lingered longer than Jane had expected, even after Connel had left.

Alexis was completely blank. She had a choice to make, but conveniently today of all days she woke up in an indecisive mood. Alexis had just arrived in front of her apartment building. On a spontaneous impulse, she took to the road again with John’s house as her destination. When she had arrived she sat in the car for a bit, just to gather her thoughts before she faced John. She took a little time to observe everything around her in an attempt to soothe her mind; it was a bright, cloudless autumn afternoon, a brisk breeze would swirl around catching a few reddish-orange coloured leaves in its current. Alexis got out of the car and walked up to John’s front porch. She rang the doorbell and John immediately answered.

“Alexis. This is quite a surprise. What are you doing here?” asked John as his face lit up with a smile.

“John I need to talk to you, this is important.”

“Okay sure, would you like to come inside?” he inquired.

“No. John, I don’t know how to put this but here it goes... over the past few days I have been doing some thinking and, well I don’t think this is going to work out.” murmured Jane.

“Alexis, I don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me.”

“I’m saying that we are over okay?” snapped Jane.

“No, not okay. What do you mean we’re over, after all that we have been through you’re throwing everything away just like that? Please Alexis, don’t do this, whatever the problem is, we can work it out, that’s what couples do, and we push through things, no matter the challenge!” John argued.

“I’ve found someone else okay?! I’ve found somebody else John!” shouted Jane.

“No Alexis, no! Did you know that I was going to propose to you last Saturday, but then I f****d up.” John reached into his jeans pocket and fished out the diamond ring, “Do you see? I love you Alexis, so please stay with me, we can fix this.”

Alexis once again started to cry. The wind buffeted against her face that was wet from the tears so she felt chilly.

“Why the f**k do you have to make things so difficult? Just find somebody else, I am not good enough for you and know it so please just move on.” yelled a choked up Alexis before she stormed off leaving John speechless.

Still tearing from her encounter with John, she drove to Connel's estate. For some reason the place seemed oddly quiet. She pressed a button on the remote that was given on the set of keys by Connel. She drove onto the driveway and stopped besides the water fountain. When Alexis walked into the house, she found that the place was empty and all of the leftover furniture was covered up by white sheets. Feeling uneasy, she walked upstairs to the study. When Alexis finally got there the room that had been hidden behind the book cases was exposed. When she stepped inside, that place too was emptied out. Connel was gone and Jane was left alone. She turned to the area where the bed used to be and she found a piece of paper taped to the wall. Very eagerly, Jane walked up to it and read the note, it said:

‘111 West Wacker Street, Chicago

60th floor

I await your arrival Miss. Alexis Jane.’

Alexis, in spite of crying just minutes ago, could not help but smile.

To be continued...