Chapter 23
London
I’m sitting on the edge of the bathtub, texting Vanessa. She doesn’t even know the full story yet, but I’m so frazzled that I can’t think clearly anymore.
Me: We just slept together again.
Nessa: Ooh, so now you’re officially together?
Me: No idea. It was kind of intense and strange at the same time. He was so dominant, completely different from last night. Yesterday he was considerate and sweet, but now…
Nessa: What exactly do you mean?
Me: Last night it felt almost like… as if he had feelings for me. But now it was just sex.
Nessa: But you don’t want him to have feelings for you, right?
Me: I think my hormones are just messing everything up right now. I can’t think straight. I’d better head out. I’m still in his bathroom. Just showered. He’s in another one.
Nessa: See you soon. I can’t wait to hear every little detail!
I let out a quiet sigh and gently towel my hair dry before slipping into the bathrobe that’s left here. I should have brought my clothes into the bathroom with me, but instead I only have the blanket. I grab it too as I leave the bathroom.
When I pass the kitchen, I see him standing at the stove. Alex turns toward me and asks, "Did you find everything?"
"Yeah. I’m just getting my things."
If he’s already started cooking, then I’d better leave as soon as possible.
In the living room, I neatly fold the blanket and place it back on the couch, get dressed, and tie my hair into a loose bun.
It’s still damp; it'll have to dry without a hairdryer.
It's nice and warm outside, so it should dry pretty quickly.
I sneak back to the kitchen. Alex ignores me and calmly continues cooking.
"What is this between us?" The question slips out before I can stop myself. Alexander looks at me briefly, then turns back to his pan.
I lean against the refrigerator, watching him.
"What is this between us?" I didn't actually want to ask him that, but now it's done.
Alexander turns to me curiously then looks back at his pan.
I get closer and lean against the built-in fridge.
"What is this becoming, I mean. Do we have a relationship now? Or was it just a twice-only thing?"
"Do you really want to talk about something like that?" he asks me skeptically.
"I'd rather have your PIN to delete the photo."
"Is that the only reason you're still here?"
Alright, someone clearly wants me to leave.
"Actually, I came about the cleaning job. Since you don't have anyone, I thought I could take it on," I confess to him. "That was the original plan, but then I drove over because I wanted to delete the photo."
"I don't think my housekeeper is coming today. Really a shame. I expected more from her. So, the position is open."
"Would you hire me?" I ask him directly, which leaves him staring at me speechless.
"What? No. Of course not."
"I could really use the money."
Maybe I can convince him with that.
"I don't plan on firing you."
"A little more money would still be good. And I enjoy cleaning. Plus, I can assure you I won't steal any cash or other valuables."
"Hmm," he grunts and gives me a serious look. "Then I'd never get any peace from you."
"You could go somewhere else in the meantime. Meet with friends or have brunch with your parents while I clean here," I offer him.
"You already work hard enough. If you want more money, I’ll pay you more. I’d prefer that over you overexerting yourself here. You need time for yourself too."
"And you need a reliable cleaner."
"I'll book one from an agency. Handy or something like that. They're in the US too and have been in London for a while now. Very reliable cleaning staff."
""I would have liked to help you. Especially since your trust was betrayed." I mean that sincerely.
"My food is almost ready." I look at the meat he's still cooking; it looks really delicious.
"I promised Vanessa I'd stop by with food. She's waiting for me." I should get going.
"And thanks for the many orgasms." Now he smiles.
"All those intense climaxes..." I sigh softly.
"Keep them as a good memory, there won't be more from me." So that's clear. He doesn't want a relationship.
"Damn. And I can't even recommend you to others," I joke, and we both laugh.
"I'll keep quiet about it too."
"And on Monday I'll come get my photo," I playfully threaten, before pointing to the exit. "I should get going now. Thanks for letting me shower here."
"Drive safely. See you Monday. Be on time."
"I always am."
I leave his house and quietly close the door behind me. My legs are still trembling a little as I walk to my car. Once inside, I drive off immediately—but only make it a few streets before I have to stop. My heart is racing, and I’m completely flustered.
Damn it.
Damn it. I think I have feelings for him. Or at the very least, it feels like I’m developing them. It hurt when he let me go. Now I’m sitting here with tears in my eyes, wishing for nothing more than to have accepted his meal invitation.
What if that was his way of testing whether a relationship with me would work? What if he wanted to get to know me better and I just ruined it?
I pull myself together and drive on. I’ll discuss everything in detail with Vanessa. There’s nothing better than a girls’ day with cleaning, eating, and analyzing men.
An hour later, we’re sitting on her couch eating Chinese noodles, rice, and vegetables with chicken, beef, and duck. A little bit of everything. Cleaning hasn’t even started yet.
"Why didn’t you stay?" she asks with her mouth full. Nobody else would understand her, but I can piece the words together while she shovels more food in.
"Well, I wanted to come to you. And it was kind of totally weird. I just didn’t want to stay. Actually, I did, but I also sort of didn’t." I hang my head.
"Here. Open." She pushes both fortune cookies toward me since I’m already finished, though her appetite seems endless. "Pick one."
Vanessa then sighs. "And I thought I’m the one with problems."
"Yeah, and I’ve been talking your ear off for an hour."
"It’s better than a soap opera. Nobody could make this stuff up. What’s that saying? Life is stranger than fiction. Who said that again?"
"Someone wise," I murmur, staring at the two fortune cookies, taking them in my hand and weighing which one appeals to me most. I take the one that sparkles a bit more.
At least I think it does. I open the package, break the cookie, and read aloud: "Don't be deceived, the truth will soon come to light. "
"Cryptic."
Yep, I can agree with her there.
"What does that even mean?" I ask, baffled.
"That someone in the Chinese fortune cookie factory had a bad day and thought: Yeah, I'll give a hell of a headache to a poor woman whose heart was broken today after she reads this note."
That must be it. I can’t help laughing.
"So, I'm being deceived right now, but the truth will come to light.
Well, if that refers to Alexander, I wonder what he's deceiving me about.
" It could be anything. "What if he took the photo through the app when he sent it? Then he wouldn’t even have it.
What if he's fallen for me? What if he's just using me sexually and will fire me a day before my probation ends?
" I take a deep breath. "Then I really will call his mother! "
We both burst out laughing. Yeah, that would be something—talking to her. She’d definitely be on my side. But that’s not the point.
"I’m really curious about what he has planned for you on Monday," Vanessa says, raising her eyebrows meaningfully. I sigh. I’d like to know too.
Then I push the remaining fortune cookie toward her.
She opens it and cackles loudly before reading: "Your ex wants you back. Let him go, it's not a good idea."
That can't really be written there, can it? I take the note in my hand while she curls up on the couch, almost choking on her food.
"You know, I don't usually believe what horoscopes or things like that, but this is really striking. Don’t you think?"
, sitting back down. "The other way around wouldn’t have made any sense. Must be fate."
Yeah, but a little glimpse into the future isn’t the worst thing.
"Do you want a relationship with him?" she asks seriously.
"He has good and bad sides. Hard to say. I barely know him. But looks-wise, and based on what he can do in bed, he’s definitely a perfect ten." I gush, even though I didn’t mean to.
"You have good and bad sides too. Everyone does. Nobody’s perfect. The question is just whether you can live with his."
"I think so."
Hmm. But before I think about that, I’d like to know what’s happening on Monday. Then I’ll see.
After a wonderful girls’ weekend—I spontaneously stayed overnight at her place—I drive back home on Sunday evening. The week was turbulent, and I’m looking forward to a significantly calmer one.
I wake up to my alarm, arrive at work on time, and everything at the office runs smoothly.
I bring Alex his coffee, pick up some suits from the cleaners for him, handle a few small matters he needs taken care of, and sort the important issues so he doesn’t get overwhelmed in his first week.
The less urgent things I redirect to others.
On top of that, his father asked me to send some documents to his home. This way, Alex is unburdened and can focus on the crucial remaining tasks.
Yep, that’s part of my job too. I do what I can.
I’m alone during lunch break, and we don't see each other again until after work, since he’s tied up in a two-hour meeting.
We meet in the elevator going down.