CHAPTER 33

Xander's POV

“Thank you, Stanley.” I say to the middle aged man as he pulls the car up in the winding driveway. I really couldn't stay in the office after what had happened without losing my mind. So, I called Stanley to come take me home.

“You're welcome, Mr. Gold. I'm just doing my job.” He smiles while I alight from the car without his help.

The maids rush toward me when I walk through the front door but I ignore them, looking past them into the house for my wife. After the hours I have just had, all I need is her. I can't believe I just thought that. For a few seconds, I realize that I have managed to stun myself into silence.

Unsurprisingly.

“Welcome, Mr. Gold. I will take your briefcase.” One of the maids finally walk up to me to take my briefcase.

I smile at her and hand her the briefcase.  Sometimes, I get sick of seeing a lot of them around the house. How many maids can one really need? They certainly don't provide privacy around the house. It had never bothered me before until now.

Pulling at my tie that already seems to be choking me, I make my way to the kitchen where I know I will find Alexa. Since she invited Sofia and Dave over for dinner, I'm sure she is already preparing a feast.

I stop by the kitchen entrance when I see her. She doesn't see or notices me, her brows furrow in concentration with airpods stuck in her ears while she moves seamlessly across the kitchen. There seems to be a lot going on and the foods already smell amazing.  Suddenly, I'm aware of how hungry I am even though I had lunch about four hours ago.

Time for a refill.

I walk into the kitchen and stand behind her. I don't touch her and it must be the maids excusing us that makes her realize that I'm around because she tenses for a few seconds before looking over her shoulder at me with a beautiful smile on her face. Peace. She feels at peace in a kitchen.

“Hey,” she smiles and butterflies sings and flutters in my stomach.

Really, Xander?

Butterflies?

I almost tsk at myself. Get it together, man.

“Hi,” I whisper back. Unable to help myself, I step up behind her and wrap my hands around her, slowly drawing her to me. I catch her tense under my touch and panic that I might be over-doing it but before I can pull away, she molds herself into me, a breathless sigh escaping her lips.

“What are you making?” I ask her.

“Sofia's favorite food,” she tells me. I brush away her new strands of hair that are sticking to her face from the sweat. Even drenched in sweat, she looks happy. And stunning. My breath catches all over at the sight of  her.

“Hmm,” I hum. What I don't tell her is that Sofia has many favorite foods that I can't keep up with. By tomorrow, the woman would have another favorite food.

“You are home earlier than I expected.” She says, not bothering to move away from my hold.

“Yeah,” I breathe. I can tell that she knows something is up but she doesn't pushes which I'm grateful for.

“I'm going to pull away so I can watch you.” I tell her.

She chuckles softly, finding my words funny. “You want to watch me cook?” There are stars in her eyes when she turns to look at me.

“Yep,” I tell her. “I can assure you that I know nothing about helping out in the kitchen otherwise I would have offered to help.” I explain.

“Can't have you ruining things for me,” she jokes. “Help yourself out, Mr. Gold.” She adds, teasing me.

My heart rate triples at the nickname and I find myself smiling. “Is that a nickname?”

“Nah, that is still your name.” She tells me as she gets back to work. When I remain silent after a few seconds passes, she turns to me. “Xander, if you want a nickname, just tell me. I can be really creative.” She adds with a wink.

I laugh and shake my head at her. She can be unbelievable sometimes. I stand around and watch her do her thing noting how happy and not under pressure she looks.  Will she glow like this when she gets her own restaurant? I wanted to know.

When she finish cooking about thirty minutes after, we walk out of the kitchen together and go to the room. I discard my tie as soon as we walk in.

“We have to get ready. I'm sure Sofia and Dave are on their way already.” I tell her.

“Huh huh. Sofia already texted me.” She tells me, holding up her phone. When I raise a knowing brow at her, she flushes under my stare. “What? We are best friends now.”

“I'm not saying anything,” I laugh as I head to the shower first. Sofia waits behind to check out what to wear while I take a quick shower. When I finish, she is ready to go in.

I dress casually but knowing Sofia and Dave will be anything bit casual makes me change my outfit. Alexa holds up the dress she wants to wear when she walks in and I shook my head. It's an old dress, I can tell.

“You don't like it?” She asks, biting down on her lower lip. I can tell that she doesn't have any other cloth to wear asides from that.

“Sofia will be dressed to the nines. We might as well be going out to eat at a restaurant.” I get up from the bed and reach for the paper bag I came in with. I had the wild sense to stop by a clothing store on my way back from work.

Her eyes widens when I hand her the bag. Wordlessly, she retreats to the closet to change into the dress.  She takes a while, taking a time but when she comes out in the full fit, I am left speechless by how perfectly they fit her. The light pink dress had caught my attention when I walked in. I had only sought the attention of the assistants  in picking every other accessory to go with it.

“I feel like a barbie doll,” she announces shyly when she catches me ogling her.

“That's an insult, pretty woman.” I tell her. She flushes but I keep going. “You are certainly looking better than any barbie doll would.”

“Cheesy,” she clicks her tongue, her cheeks pink. “Bit thank you.”

I open my mouth to say something but her phone pings. When she checks it and looks at me, I realize that Dave and Sofia are here. With her hand in mine, we walk out of the room together to receive our guests. As soon as the two ladies see each other, they begin to squeal and scream excitedly as they rush to hug each other like they didn't only meet today.

“Women,” Dave says like a wise man as he comes to shake my hand.

We don't tall about why I had called him at the office earlier when we settle down for dinner. The ladies had a lot to tell us about their day especially Sofia. We listen to their small talks, chipping in where we can.

“My goodness, Alexa.” Sofia moans as she takes another bite of her food. “Your lasagna just hits different. I will definitely be taking some with me. If you offer me, of course.” She quickly adds the last part when her husband glares at her.

Alexa laughs, flourishing under the compliments thrown her way both from the couple and me. “Of course, Sofia. I will have one of the maids pack it up for you to take with.” She says.

“Thank you,” Sofia beams before biting into her food again.

When dinner ends, we take our wine drinking to the living room. Alexa has suggested a movie for us to watch. I realize as she cuddles up beside me how important this little moments are for her. She hasn't done anything like this in a very long time. She has been alone for the longest of times.

Now, she won't have to be alone anymore.

“Thank you,” she says as she snuggles up beside me, kissing my cheeks, shyly. “This means more than you know.”

I stare into her forest green eyes, my gaze soft too. I want her to be happy. I want to catch smiles on her face when she walks past me or when she sees Sofia. It doesn't surprise me anymore that I do.

“Anytime, pretty woman.” I tell her, brushing her hair with my hands.

Moments later, Dave and Sofia are ready to leave. After the ladies kiss each other goodbye, I escort them out. Sofia settles in the car while Dave turns toward me.

“Are you going to tell her about it?” He asks, referring to the call I had made to him earlier.

“I have to,” I say.

“Good. It would be disastrous for her to find out on her own. Eva has bitten more than she can chew this time. And please, for the love of God, Xander, don't scare my men off this time.” He warns.

I grin. “Can't promise anything.”

He glares at me. “Motherfucker,”

I laugh and throw him a lazy punch watching as his lips tilt upwards. “I really like this one so don't screw this up.” He warns me with a pat on my shoulder.

“Yes, sir!” I salute, jokingly, even though it warms my heart that he likes Alexa. His confirmation is all I need to tell me that I'm on the right part. I hold him in high regard not to want his approval on certain things.

He glares at me as he gets into his car and I laugh. A tired Sofia waves at me as their car disappears from sight. When I walk back into the house, Alexa has retreats to our room.

She is staring at herself in the mirror when I walk into the walk-in-closet. Her eyes holds disbelief as she inspects herself in the mirror already dressed in a short night dress.

She catches me staring through the mirror and she stops, turning to stare at me. We don't say anything for a few seconds and I see her eyes glisten up with tears. It really is just hitting her that her life is changing for good. Better.

“Come here, pretty woman.” I ordered her softly, my arms open for her.

She hesitates, her eyes still welling up with tears. “Don't make me beg, Alexa.” I whine.

She chuckles, wiping at a lonely tear that slipped her defenses. Slowly, tentatively, she walks up to me and press her body to mine. For the umpteenth time today, I wrap my hands around her, breathing in her feminine floral scent. I don't realize when I sigh in relief.

My heart thumps in my chest, harder, erratic. What are you doing to me, Alexa? I'm tempted to ask but I don't.

She shifts her head and press it against my chest and I hold her closer. No words are exchanged yet I feel so good and at peace. The event with my stepmother disappears to the back of my mind as I focus on only one person. There is only room for one in my heart. And I would rather dwell in the presence than the past. Be in the moment.

She holds me tighter and I hold onto her too. I don't plan on letting her go anytime soon.

Alexa chuckles as she tries to make light of the situation, trying to pull away from me but I hold still.

“Shush,” I tell her, brushing her hair with my hands. “Don't pull away. You are not a disturbance. I want to hold you.” I tell her when I notice her defenses rising again.

That seems to placate her because she exhales too and holds me tighter.

“I like this, Xander.” She breathes.

“Me too,” I tell her.

What I don't tell her is how much I crave this level of intimacy with someone. And maybe I will. One day though. One step at a time. When we are both ready to hear it.