Limits of Destiny (Volume 2)

by Sharlyn G. Branson

  I couldn’t hide anything from him. My lover knew me too well. Still, I didn’t want to appear weak. And unfortunately, weak was exactly what I was. I feared for his safety, but I couldn’t do anything to protect him.

  “I think I have low blood pressure,” I said in attempt to deceive him.

  His look told me he didn’t believe me. I didn’t want him to focus his attention on me, so I quickly asked him, “I take it you’ve made a list of all persons who could have given him a key and the password?”

  I poured myself a little more coffee and put my palm on Alexander’s knee. He held me a little closer. I sensed he was no less worried about me and my safety than I for him.

  5

  After breakfast, we went to the office of Kraftberg International, which was on the thirtieth floor of some skyscraper in the center of Dubai. The building was cylinder-shaped. Its entire exterior was covered in mirrored glass, which cheerfully reflected the rays of the sun. The lobby was very spacious. Its floor was covered in black and white mosaic with golden strands.

  “Who owns this building?” I asked simply to satisfy my curiosity.

  “I do,” replied Alexander, his lips twisting into a faint smile.

  Of course. How did I not realize?

  “Oh… And all offices inside, they pay you rent?”

  “Yes. A very good investment, don’t you think?” He snaked his arm around my waist.

  We came out on the thirtieth floor, and a young woman greeted us at the reception. She was quite attractive, with red hair and hazel eyes. Her red blouse with a plunging neckline exposed far too much of her large breasts.

  We are in Dubai. How can she walk around showing so much skin? But seeing the fire in her eyes and the way she drank in my boyfriend, I instantly understood the purpose of her skimpy outfit.

  “Larissa,” addressed Alexander. “Don’t put anyone through to me, not until it’s time for my appointment with the gentlemen from James & Timerson.”

  “Of course, Mr. Kraftberg, as you wish,” she said, smiling widely—too widely. Her pearly white teeth gleamed in all their glory.

  Alexander introduced us, we shook hands very briefly, and then she turned back to my boyfriend to chirp, “Would you like something to drink, Mr. Kraftberg?”

  It took her a few seconds to remember he wasn’t alone. She looked at me and asked, “Miss Welson?”

  I knew it—this hussy liked him, and how could she not? Why the hell had he chosen such a tempting secretary? Could he not hire a man instead or at least a plain woman? Jealousy slowly kindled its fire within me, and I really didn’t like this side of myself.

  “No, thank you,” I replied, my mouth half open.

  Alexander took me by the hand and led me to his office. We entered a huge room with panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows.

  When he shut the door behind him, I rushed to point out, “She likes you.” I frowned. Is there a woman who doesn’t?

  “Who?” he asked, placing his briefcase on the tasteful desk made of solid brown wood.

  “This Larissa girl. Couldn’t you pick someone a bit uglier? And don’t you think her blouse was too open? You could see the entire cleft between her breasts.” I sat on the elegant brown leather sofa, which was very soft and comfortable.

  “Are you jealous, sweetie?” Alexander chuckled and sat next to me.

  “I’m not just jealous—I’m about to explode with jealousy.” Looking down at my Swarovski bracelet with green crystals, I started to play with it.

  He leaned toward me, took my chin in his hand, and lifted it slightly with his index finger so I would look at him. The soft light filtering into the room made his eyes shine in different hues of blue.

  “I like that you’re feeling jealous, but…” he whispered.

  “But?”

  “I’m not interested in her, baby. She’s not my type at all. She’s simply good at her job, which is why I hired her.” He grabbed me by the waist, and I found myself in his lap.

  I reached my arm around his shoulders and stroked his smoothly shaven chin with my fingertips. “I just know whenever she hands you a document to sign, she bends too far down—I’m ready to put money on it—and stands too close to you so you can get a better look. She shamelessly sticks her tits in your face in an attempt to seduce you.” I took a deep breath and exhaled hopelessly.

  Alexander burst out laughing so hard his whole body shook.

  “It’s not funny.” I tried to scold him.

  “You certainly have a very wild imagination, Miss Welson.”

  “I don’t like her. She wants to get you in bed.” I folded my arms.

  “Hey.” Alexander put his hands on my face and kissed me slowly and tenderly. “I only want you. There’s only one woman who drives me wild and inspires an insatiable desire in me—you.”

  Running my fingers through his hair, I grabbed it. Then I leaned toward him and kissed him hard, deep, and with passion. He moaned, put his hands on my hips, and pulled me in.

  We were both panting, when a woman’s voice rang out, “The gentlemen Johnson and Wirtz are expecting you for your appointment in—”

  “Got it, Larissa.” He interrupted her. “Make them comfortable in the conference hall. I’m coming now.”

  He looked at me and ran his thumb across the outline of my lower lip. “You make me want you all the time, Alexia. No other woman has had such power over me. And you must remember this once and for all.” He lifted my hand and pressed his soft lips against my fingers. “I’ll have to leave you on your own, baby. Put the TV on or read a magazine. I’ll make sure I don’t take too long.” He gave me a quick peck and stood.

  When he left, I stood to have a look around his office. It was very stylish and tasteful. Everything Alexander touched became an example of perfection. He polished every last detail. Many pictures of hotels owned by Kraftberg International, I guessed, hung on the walls. Opposite the sofa was a huge Samsung TV with large speakers on each side. Beautiful statuettes of wild animals stood on top of an elegant chest of drawers. They made quite an impression on me. I decided they embodied Alexander’s nature extremely well. He was gracious like a panther and powerful like a tiger.

  All the wooden furniture was of the same dark material as his desk. They were clearly made to order. In the corner by the windows was a solid table with eight chairs arranged around it.

  I sat on the large leather chair behind the desk, on which stood a beautiful golden lamp with opaque green glass. My gaze stopped at the golden frame next to it. The picture of Alexander and me at the ball had been inserted in it. This had an incredibly strong emotional effect on me; my heart started to beat quickly and my stomach tightened. Shivers surged through my entire body from head to toe. A wave of feelings washed over me—of love, yearning, and gratitude for this incredible man who loved me and didn’t want to hide his love for me. This was proof that Alexander had thought about us… And then all feelings of jealousy I’d felt for his voluptuous secretary dissipated. Not even a trace was left. A weight had lifted off my shoulders.

  Let everyone know he’s attached. I smiled at myself and the thoughts swirling around my head.

  I took the picture, kissed his image, and held it close to my heart.

  * * *

  While we were travelling in the Bentley, Alexander took out his iPhone and showed me pictures of the hotel taken from a helicopter. They were incredibly beautiful.

  The Kraftberg Hotel was shaped like a mountain. Its upper part was covered in something like a rhomboid mesh, with small lights installed inside the shapes. In the dark, they shone in different colors—orange, blue, red, and green. The entire building had an aura of strength, might, and majesty, just like its owner.

  When we entered the lobby, I instinctively put my hand over my mouth to stop myself from crying out. There was blood spatter on the marble floor. The bomb had destroyed part of the upper floor and the ceiling had caved in. I imagined how many innocent men had lost their lives here, torn limb
from limb by the merciless explosive device.

  How unfair life can sometimes be… All these people had come here, to Dubai, with hopes of a better life but had found their deaths instead.

  Alexander pulled me close by my waist and said, “The laborers are working intensely on the repairs. The hotel opening is planned for November, and I believe we can manage it. We’ll return here then and you’ll see it in a new light.”

  I realized my hands were shaking, so I folded my arms. It felt like a cinema reel played before my eyes, and I imagined corpses sprawled on the floor. I suddenly felt the urge to run away.

  “Let’s go outside, on the terrace. You look like you need some fresh air,” he said, concerned.

  The terrace of the Kraftberg Hotel had a wonderful view of the Persian Gulf. The breeze playfully ruffled my hair. I could hear waves breaking on the shore.

  “I feel much better now. Sorry. I probably should have had more to eat at breakfast.” I shrugged apologetically.

  “Don’t worry about it, sweetie. I was also shaken up yesterday. Your reaction is completely normal. What happened was horrific… Innocent people died.”

  I turned to face him. “I’m proud of you. Your hotel is great. Everything you take on is polished to every last detail.”

  Alexander hugged me and pressed his lips briefly to my forehead. “Thank you for coming with me, Alexia. You’re so brave.” His eyes were shining.

  “You’re mistaken. Unfortunately, I’m not.” I wanted to be honest. “I’m trying to be, though. I know you need my support, and I’m ready to do anything to help.”

  I heard a polite cough. “Mr. Kraftberg,” said Herzling. “Do you have a minute? I wanted us to elaborate on some more things concerning the hotel’s refurbishment.”

  “I’ll be with you in a moment,” replied Alexander, and he turned to me. “Go for a walk. Henry will escort you. If something comes up, give me a call straightaway.”

  “Okay. I’m in good hands. Don’t worry about me.” I stood on my toes and kissed him.

  * * *

  Henry and I walked along the coast. Sunrays cheerfully gleamed off the surface of the sea. Tourists already lay on their chaise lounges, catching some rays. I stared at three children as they enthusiastically built a sandcastle. They filled their plastic buckets with wet sand and then turned them over to make the towers. One minute, they would giggle as only carefree children could; then the next, they would argue exactly where the castle’s gate should be.

  They reminded me of holidays with my parents. How carefree I felt then too, walking along the beach, licking ice cream, or building similar sandcastles. God, how time flies… When you’re young, everything seems so far away, but once you’ve grown up and the mundaneness of everyday life has taken over, you get the feeling everything is passing you by too quickly. Life slips by like grains of sand through your fingers, and all you can do is not think about it, but try to enjoy the present and dream about the future.

  I thought about everything that had happened so far. Alexander and I had known each other for such a short time, but so much had happened. I felt close to him, as if I’d known him my whole life. He’d told me he loved me. How I’d yearned to hear those words, and he finally plucked up the courage to say them. They warmed my soul, and now I felt so thrilled that I wanted to skip like a little kid. It is so great to love and be loved.

  * * *

  Around two hours had passed when Alexander called me. We arranged to have lunch in the Italian restaurant of the Atlantis Hotel in half an hour, so Henry and I drove toward the Palm, where the hotel was located.

  We entered the lobby and started looking for Alexander, when I suddenly heard a female voice saying in German, “Hey, isn’t that the sexy guy from the club?”

  Out of curiosity, I turned my head to find two very stylish, good-looking women.

  “Yes, it’s him! I would do anything to fuck him again,” answered the other one.

  They both giggled and instantly headed toward… Alexander!

  6

  I froze on the spot and felt the blood drain from my face. My stomach twisted into a painful ball. I felt disgusted, imagining all kinds of perverted scenes. The anguish turned into anger, and then the anger into despair.

  Goddamn you, Alexander. You and your sick sex games.

  My self-confidence collapsed into nothing. They were both so beautiful and ready to do anything to have him again.

  I felt like I’d been struck by lightning and my legs had been paralyzed. I couldn’t move. My heart skipped a beat and then started to thrum furiously, causing first a cold flush and then a hot flush to course through me. Henry had also overheard their conversation. He anxiously took me by the hand to steady me.

  “Alexia, I don’t want to get involved in your relationship with Mr. Kraftberg, but you should know he has never valued a woman as highly as you.”

  I watched the two of them approach Alexander and talk to him. I liked neither the small intimate gesture of the blonde, who tenderly stroked his hand, nor how the brunette was flirting with him, grinning widely. Even though I stood far away, I could detect the strong gleam in their eyes, revealing their purely carnal desires.

  Alexander spotted me and his smile froze. Had he realized how awful I must feel? I couldn’t deceive myself.

  He will always be surrounded by other women who want to get him in bed. Even if he decides to stay with me, I will grow old eventually, but there will always be new young and beautiful women hoping to catch his attention. What will happen to me then? They’ll always want him. He has power, money, and sex appeal. What do I have? These relentless questions raced around my head, making me feel even worse. If he were to resume his old lifestyle, I would live in distress until I fell to pieces. And once the pieces of the puzzle had fallen apart, I would find it very difficult to put them back together.

  “Henry, please take me outside. I’m starting to feel nauseous.” My stomach felt like someone was painfully squeezing it with both hands.

  “Of course. At once,” he said quietly and led me to the terrace.

  I gripped the parapet so tightly that my fingers went white at the knuckles. I started to take deep breaths to stem my tears. God… I didn’t want them. I hated them. They didn’t help with anything. Quite the opposite. They showed how weak I was. I closed my eyes. The warm wind and the combined smells of the sea and shisha wafting through the air calmed my nerves a little.

  “Alexia,” came Alexander’s voice.

  Henry discreetly walked away to give us some privacy.

  Turning to Alexander, I raised my index finger and said quietly, “Give me a minute and we’ll go inside the restaurant.”

  I didn’t dare look him in the eyes because I didn’t want him to see my pain and realize how vulnerable I was. I tried to hide my feelings behind a fake smile.

  “Baby, they mean nothing to me. You’re not jealous, are you?”

  “Me, jealous… How did you get that idea?” I replied sarcastically. The sarcasm was more for my benefit. I pretended not to care. But the truth was I was so jealous that my body felt like it was engulfed in flames that burned me painfully and slowly. I felt crestfallen, and the worst part was I didn’t know whether I could ever get myself out the quicksand into which I was sinking.

  Would it not be better to end our relationship now before I get involved even more deeply?

  Alexander reached out to hug me, but I signaled him to stop.

  “Alexia, please, don’t torture yourself. Don’t withdraw into yourself, baby. I beg you.”

  “Sorry. I’m just not myself. I overheard, by complete accident, the conversation those two were having about the incredible sex they’d had with you… This made me feel awful. I don’t know if another woman in my place would feel any different, but I definitely…” I couldn’t finish the sentence, and there was no point anyway. He knew full well what I was talking about.

  “They mean nothing to me. You’re the only one I care for. Please
let me prove this to you.”

  Turning my head, I gazed at the sculpted features of his face. He was perfect.

  Breathe, Alexia, breathe!

  I swallowed with difficulty, my throat bone dry. “I don’t know whether I can learn to live with all this.”

  “What do you mean?” His eyes were wide with pain. “You’re not considering leaving me, are you?”

  I had fallen into an emotional trap. My powerful feelings for him were no help at all in this situation. “I’m not going to pretend I like your weakness for that kind of club at all.” I took a deep breath, choking at the thought. “I’m concerned that one day you’ll want to do it again, and I’ll have neither the strength nor the ability to stop you.”

  “You can’t end our relationship just because you’re afraid of what might happen,” he whispered.

  I knew he was right, but his twisted past scared me and was tearing me apart slowly and painfully.

  Alexander dug his hands into my hair. “I understand your hesitation, but you have to try to understand me too. I don’t want anyone else.”

  “Until when, Alexander?” We stood there, our eyes locked.

  “I don’t mean to scare you, but I want you only for myself. I want you to always be by my side. To fall asleep and wake up next to you. To spend my days and nights with you. To laugh with you and console you when you’re sad. To make love to you until we’re both breathless. I want you, Alexia, and I think I won’t ever let you walk away from me.”

  “I don’t want to leave. I’m simply worried one day everything good between us will end.”

  “Baby, why don’t you trust me? I’ve given you no reason to doubt me.”

  Could I trust him? I didn’t have much experience as a basis for comparison. My exes were very ordinary; they didn’t have such perverted sexual interests.

  Yet Daniel cheated on you, a faint and malicious voice tried to remind me. I felt like screaming at the top of my voice.

  Did Alexander and I have a future together? After all, he was a gifted man full of so much energy. A man who could make love for hours. A man who loved variety. Would he make me do things I didn’t want to do? No, I shouldn’t think like that. So far, he’d been so gentle and tender with me, so attentive.