Chapter 38 Nancy #2
She gave me her usual wide grin of goodbye and turned, almost bumping into Alex. I froze, and my heart switched gears.
Alex stepped into the lift. “A pleasure to see you again, Ayesha,” he said with a warm smile, just as the car doors closed us in together. He put his keycard into the slot and stopped our ascent.
“What the hell are you doing?” I edged back against the cool steel and gripped the handrail, the large car suddenly feeling cramped.
“We’re going to talk.”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
Alex stepped forward and rested a hand on either side of my head. “Yes, you do. Even if it’s unpleasant, I know you’re dying to say something to me.” He examined my hair, and his lips rose into a smile. “I like the new style. It suits you.”
My chest rose with each nervous inhale, but I held his gaze defiantly. “I needed a clean break.”
His face darkened, and he leaned closer. The smell of his woody cologne rolled over me, setting off a traitorous ache. “Tell me what happened in that bathroom?”
My eyes drew wide, but I said nothing, straightening my back to rise into his face, so close I could smell his minty breath.
“Who hurt you?”
Seriously! My brow knitted with outrage. “Are you taking the piss?”
“Tell me who he is.”
I couldn’t believe his audacity. “You really are a prick, aren’t you?”
His temper tipped over. “Tell me now, Nancy!”
“Alexander. Bloody. Toverton! Happy?” I pushed past him, punched seventy-one with my fist, then snatched his keycard. The lift jolted and started to climb.
“What are you talking about? Is it because I wasn’t there?”
I scoffed and held out the card, determined not to get dragged into his mind games. He brushed his fingers over mine as he took it. The lift chimed on seventy-one, and I bolted for the exit.
He gripped my arm. “This isn’t over.”
“Screw you!” I wrenched free and stormed towards the secure office, spotting Evelyn’s concerned face in my periphery. Alex followed close behind.
I broke into a run, my heart beating like a bat’s wings, and hit the lock, the privacy glass obscuring his enraged face. A long silence followed, but he never tried to enter.
Thankfully, David didn’t ask why I’d locked us in the office. The furious energy pouring off me said it all. Instead, he kept me topped up with soothing herbal teas. I pounded away on the keyboard, losing myself in data as the hours passed, but I never quite shook the conflict.
How can I continue to work here if Alex’s gonna accost me?
The only option was to switch teams and hope the increased physical distance stopped him, but that seemed unlikely, given his tenacity.
He owned the building, for chrissake! He could monitor me through the CCTV.
How else would he have known I was on my way back up in the lift after lunch? That couldn’t have been a coincidence…
Oh my god, what if Alex is a stalker? I panicked. He had the power and resources to make my life a living hell.
By the time five hit, my nerves were on a razor’s edge.
I had no idea what I’d face when I walked out.
He could be waiting outside the door, or maybe he’d trap me again.
The image of our heat in the lift the night of my birthday invaded my mind.
Flustered, I packed my things and tentatively pushed the glass door open.
To my surprise, Alex wasn’t about and his office was already dark.
I wished Evelyn goodnight before going to the restroom to change into my leathers.
Keen to avoid the lift, I considered taking the stairs, but the thought of a seventy-one-floor descent was too much to bear even in my anxious state, so I gave in and hit the call button.
People filed in and out the entire way down, but there was no sign of Alex.
I exited the revolving doors and walked towards my motorcycle, breathing a sigh of relief at my escape. I removed the bike lock and pulled on my helmet, but as I slotted the key in the ignition, I heard Alex’s smooth voice behind. “Are you ready to talk?”
I spun around. “No! I told you. I have nothing to say to you.” I mounted the bike, but before I could bolt, he’d gripped my arm.
“And I told you, you have plenty to say. It’s just a matter of time.”
“You arrogant, narcissistic, devious…knob!” I shouted, furious at him and my lack of creativity. Various suits passing by looked around in shock before hurrying up the street.
In contrast, Alex stood calm and collected. “That’s a start. Anything more?”
In reply, I turned the key. The Ninja revved, then idled to a low warning purr.
Alex didn’t shift, but his gaze turned severe.
A petulant part of me felt satisfied I was getting to him.
“Nancy!” he was forced to yell, but the engine’s thunderous growl drowned him out as I revved the throttle in unison.
“Stop!” he tried to command as I revved again.
Our eyes pierced each other with fury. “I’m never letting you go,” he mouthed. The threat tipped me over.
I flicked into first, gripped the throttle harder than I should have and launched away from the kerb with a violent jolt, almost throwing us to the ground and barely missing a passing van.
The driver hit their horn, and Alex called out in panic, but I managed to recover my balance.
I sped down the street, my heart thumping hard in my chest. I knew I should stop and compose myself, but I was too desperate to get away.
Instead, I let the warm evening wind rush through my visor, drying my tears.
I was grateful to reach World’s End without another incident.
As soon as I parked, my phone buzzed.
Never ride angry! You could have been killed! I won’t attempt to talk to you again. I’ll wait for you to approach me.
I re-read Alex’s message several times, trying to place the maelstrom of emotions flooding through me.
Guilt because he was right. I never rode angry—it was a sure way to die.
Relief that he wouldn’t try to harass me at work—though I doubted he could hold to it.
And incredulity that he thought I would ever approach him to talk—In your dreams! I stormed into the block.
Mum was stirring a delicious-smelling soup and swaying to Vibes FM when I entered the lounge.
Its normality calmed me. Then, my eyes darted to the counter where an enormous bouquet sat, and my pulse peaked again.
They were the same arrangement I’d received from Alex after our first date: dusky pink roses, blue delphiniums, and forget-me-nots.
“When did these come?”
Mum jumped. “Oh, Nancy! I didn’t see you, love. What was that?”
“The flowers. When did they come?” I prickled.
“About ten minutes ago. I take it they’re from Alex. Did you two manage to talk it through?”
“No, we didn’t talk.” Had he organised these before or after I saw him? I opened the small envelope attached to the stalk. Inside was a single business card. Alex’s details were embossed in gold on the front, as I knew they would be. On the back were three words:
I’ll be waiting.