Beautifully Twisted

by Jennifer Domenico

  Scott rushes to the desk and snatches the phone before Martina can answer it. “Alexa! Where the hell are you?”

  Alexa draws in her breath, shocked to hear Scott’s voice answering her office phone. She’s quiet for a moment while she composes her thoughts then speaks as calmly as possible. “Where I am, is none of your business. Why are you answering the phone in my office? Where is Martina?”

  “Alexa, I’m here because we’ve been worried about you, all of us. Brett, Martina, and me. We need you to come home.”

  “I need you to give the phone to Martina. I have nothing to discuss with you.”

  “Alexa, I’m begging you, just come back. What would it take?”

  “Nothing that you could give me. I’m going to say this as nicely as possible, hand the goddamn phone to Martina.”

  Scott sighs and hands the phone to Martina. “Hi, Alexa.”

  “What’s going on? Why is he there?” Alexa’s voice shakes as she speaks.

  “He’s not the only one. Brett is here too.”

  “Why?”

  “For you.”

  “I’m not there.”

  Martina sighs. “Yeah, I know. They came because you haven’t been here and they are worried about you. I think they plan to stay until they find you,” she says, looking up nervously at the two men listening to her every word.

  Scott leans across the desk. “Tell her I’m not leaving until I see her. Period.”

  “I heard him,” Alexa says to Martina. “Tell him I said fuck off.”

  Martina winces and looks up, “She said, um, fuck off. Her words.”

  Scott frowns and takes the handset away from Martina again. “Listen to me, Alexa. Just listen. You don’t have to say anything. I was wrong and I know it. Sorry isn’t enough to make it right, I know this too. When Brett told me you’ve been MIA for two weeks, I knew I had to get here. I have to see you and at least explain my side of things. Just… please come back to London and let’s talk.” He’s silent waiting for a response. All he hears for a moment is her breathing.

  Alexa sits in shock for a moment. She wanted him to come back for her but now that he has, all the anger and hurt she feels rises to the top, robbing her of any other emotion.

  “You know what? I can’t even stand the sound of your voice much less the sight of your face. I can barely stand to even know you’re in the same country I’m in. I hate you. I never want to see you again. Listen to me, Scott Patrick, because that’s the last time you’re going to hear my voice say your name. Fuck. You.” Alexa slams down the phone and runs her hands through her hair. How dare he think he’s going to waltz in my office and demand I show up? She immediately falls into another fit of tears, surprised she has any more to shed. Goddamn him. Why can’t he just leave me alone? Her heart hurts more than she could imagine was ever possible. She knew what was next. He wouldn’t give up that easy. She had to get out of the cottage and figure out where to go until she could make sure he left London. If she ever saw him again, she wanted it to be on her terms.

  Scott turns back to Martina and Brett. “She hung up.” He sighs. “We just need to go there. Maybe I can talk some sense into her in person.”

  “Mr. Patrick?” Martina asks.

  “What?”

  “If I know Alexa, I’m pretty sure she’s packing her bag and getting the hell out of there.”

  Scott nods and Brett looks worried. “I have an idea, Scott.” Brett says. “Why don’t I go to the cottage and you go to her place. We’ll split up and maybe catch her in between.”

  Scott considers his suggestion. “I don’t know which one of us she is going to be angrier to see. It’s your fault I’m back in London. Might make her pretty mad.”

  Brett scratches his chin. “You’re right. Martina, you know her well, what’s your suggestion?”

  “My suggestion is both of you leave her alone until she’s ready but I don’t suppose that is going to happen. So barring that, I think Brett has a fairly decent idea. I can go with him to the cottage and at least run interference with Alexa if she’s there. Mr. Patrick, you’re on your own, buddy.”

  Scott smiles at the perky assistant. “I’m glad she has you, Martina. You’re good to her. I promise I will be just as good if she gives me another chance.”

  “Honestly, I don’t know if she will. I’ve never seen her like this before and… well, it’s just bad.”

  Scott looks serious for a moment and asks, “Does she love me?”

  Martina crosses her arms over her chest and stares at him. “Gee, Mr. Patrick, I’m not sure. I guess it’s possible that she would give up everything she’s worked her entire life to get for a guy she has no feelings for. I suppose that would make sense.”

  Just then, Oswald enters the room and looks around confused. Martina introduces everyone and Oswald narrows his eyes at Scott. “Ah, so you’re the chap that ruined Alexa. Well played, mate.”

  Scott’s jaw twitches and for a moment, he looks like he might punch Oswald. Instead he takes a deep breath and rubs his hands together. “You know what, I deserve that. Now, can we just get on with finding Alexa and bringing her back? We need you to take us to her, Oswald.”

  He laughs. “Are you kidding me? She’ll boot me on my arse for that. I have strict orders, no one, especially, and I quote, Scott Fucking Patrick, is to know where she is. That means you.” He points to Scott.

  Now Scott is clearly pissed and Brett steps in to smooth things over. “Oswald, you seem like a caring man. We’re here because we’re worried about Alexa. We know she doesn’t want us around but she won’t come back. We just want to talk some sense into her. Besides, Martina and I are going to the cottage and Scott will wait back at her place. How does that feel to you?”

  Martina smiles at Brett, noticing he is definitely a masterful negotiator. Oswald’s demeanor softens and he says, “Well yeah, I’ve been worried too. It’s not like her to miss work.”

  “Right,” Brett agrees. “It’s so unusual it’s got all of us worked up. We’re all here because we care about Alexa, including Scott.”

  “Alright,” Oswald says. “I’ll take you. It’s a forty minute drive from here.”

  Martina forwards her phone and grabs her handbag, and the group walks down to go find Alexa. She may not want to be found, but she’s going to be anyway.

  Alexa quickly packs her bag and looks around one last time before she rushes out to meet the cab she called. She had a sneaking suspicion that Martina would cave under the pressure of both Brett and Scott drilling her for information. She decided that if they were going to come here, she would just have to go away.

  The cab driver throws her bag in the trunk and asks where to take her.

  “Just take me to a bar somewhere. I don’t care where.”

  He nods and starts driving. Alexa would figure out what to do later. She wouldn’t go home until she was sure the coast was clear.

  An hour later, Brett dials Scott’s phone. “Martina was right, she left.”

  “She’s not here either,” Scott replies. “I’ve been outside her apartment for an hour with no sign. Has she called anyone?”

  “Not at all. Now I’m really worried. Martina’s a wreck and Alexa won’t answer her phone.”

  “Jesus, Brett. What are we gonna do if we can’t find her? Call the fucking police? I don’t know what to do,” Scott says.

  “I know. Let’s try and stay calm. We’re heading back that way. She has to come home at some point. We’ll wait with you.”

  “I’ll be here.” Scott hangs up his phone and paces the foyer, desperately wishing that the next person who came off that elevator was Alexa.

  Alexa drinks down her glass of whiskey. A quick look at her watch shows it’s been three hours since she heard Scott’s voice. She almost can’t believe he’s back in London. As much as it hurt, she knows if she has any chance of healing and truly getting over him, she has to avoid him at all costs. She motions for the bartender to bring her tab and after payin
g, grabs her things and begins the short walk back to her apartment. London is beautifully lit up with holiday lights and people swarm the streets with bags filled with their Christmas shopping. Alexa hates this time of year. It always reminds her of just how lonely she is.

  She bundles herself up, her thick scarf a shield from the brisk London air. She welcomes this short walk back, the crisp weather clearing away the whiskey cobwebs that swirl around her mind. She turns the corner to her building and smiles warmly as she sees James standing at his post, ever on guard. In spite of herself, she actually feels happy to be coming back home. Tomorrow she would announce her resignation and start the next chapter of her life. Hopefully, she could find a way to be happy once and for all.

  James opens the door and practically hugs Alexa as he grabs her bag and ushers her inside the warm foyer. “Miss Drake, so good to see you. How was your time away?”

  “Much needed, James. Thank you. Now, I’m ready for a nice bath,” she says as she starts to walk towards the elevators.

  “You have some friends waiting for you upstairs,” James says.

  “Friends?” Alexa’s heart starts to race. She doesn’t have friends.

  “Yes, friends.”

  She turns to leave but James stops her by softly gripping her arm. “If I may, just go up there and at least let them see you. They’re considering filing a police report if they don’t see you soon.”

  She sighs and decides she’ll go deal with them and get this over with. Might as well say everything she plans to all at once. Her mind is made up and no one is going to change it. “Alright, James, I’ll go up.”

  He smiles and watches as she hits the up button. She steps on and dreads the situation she’s about to step into. The doors open and she steps off, surprised to see Oswald, Martina, Brett, and Scott sitting in the hallway by her door. Scott jumps up and rushes towards her but she holds her hand up, stopping him in his tracks.

  “Don’t,” she says, firmly.

  “Alexa…” Scott says, but she immediately cuts him off.

  “No! You have no right to be here. Any of you.” She pulls out her key and unlocks the apartment door. “But since you are here, you can come in because I have a few things to say. I’m going to say it once and let me just be clear, this is a one way dialogue. I am not interested in what any of you have to say about it, especially you,” she says, pointing at Scott.

  Everyone files in behind her, nervously standing in the cold, dark living room. Alexa flips on a switch and soft lighting fills the room. Everyone watches as she sets her handbag down and removes her coat. She walks into the living room and sits on the couch.

  “Sit,” she directs. “I’ve had a lot of time to think about things the past couple of weeks and I’ve made some decisions. Tomorrow, I’ll be resigning from my position at Patrick Collins Media…”

  Martina’s loud sob interrupts Alexa’s speech. Brett gently places his arm over her shoulder, in an attempt to comfort her. Alexa’s face remains stoic. She reveals zero emotion. She’s got her heart locked safely behind a wall where no one is going to get to it again.

  “Pull yourself together, Martina. You’ll be fine. Oswald, I’ve appreciated your service for the time I’ve been in London. I do hope you do well in the future.” She shifts slightly towards Brett and Scott. “As for the two of you, I hope you’re both happy. I have little to say to either of you, and I want this meeting over as soon as possible so I can begin planning the next phase of my life without either of you in it.” She runs her fingers through her hair. “So, now you’ve seen me. I’m alive, so call off the search and rescue mission and leave me in peace.” Alexa glares at Scott and if she could will him to disappear, she would. He could look at her with his intensity all he wanted; she wasn’t going to break down in front of him. Not again.

  Brett stands and lifts Martina to her feet. “I think we all need to respect Alexa’s wishes and leave now.” He turns towards Alexa. “I have many words I would like to say to you, Alexa, and maybe someday you’ll hear them. I realize words are not what you need at this moment, so I will leave you be. I hope you’ll reconsider your resignation. None of us wish to lose you.”

  Alexa remains cold and neutral, slowly blinking her eyes without saying a word. Martina sobs as Brett and Oswald walk her to the door. Finally, Scott stands in front of Alexa and for a moment, she wonders what he could possibly have to say for himself. The expression on her face is pure hostility and he knows there is nothing he could say that would fix things.

  He turns and joins the others at the door, looking back at the love of his life, before turning and walking out the door. Alexa sits quietly on her sofa. There couldn’t be anything more painful than watching him walk out that door again.

  She stands up to get another glass of whiskey before she goes to take her bath. She hears a shuffling outside her door. Opening it, she is shocked to see Scott sitting at her feet. “Why are you still here? I told you to leave. Don’t make me call security because I will. I do not want to see you.”

  Scott looks up at her, a deep sadness in his eyes. “I’m going to sit here, Alexa, until you at least hear me out. If it’s the last thing I do on this earth, you will hear me out.”

  “I don’t give a shit what you have to say. You have said plenty. I have listened to you more than enough. I should have never let you come back into my life.”

  “I deserve every hateful thing you say to me. I deserve your anger. I just want you to hear my side. It’s the last thing I’ll ever ask of you.”

  “Well you’re going to be sitting there a long time, Scott,” she says, and closes the door. Leaning back against the door, she’s positive he really will sit there and she’s just not sure how she’s going to handle it. For now, she’s taking a bath and going to bed.

  “Beautiful and twisted, just like us.”

  ~ Alexa

  Alexa peeks out her front door and exhales when she doesn’t see Scott. She’s happy he decided to be reasonable and leave. Or is she? Walking into the kitchen, she starts the coffee machine and leans against the counter before she hears the same shuffling noise outside her front door. She walks back and opens the door. Sure enough, Scott is standing there, holding a bouquet of flowers and fresh coffee from her favorite place.

  “I told you to leave, Scott.”

  “I told you I would when you gave me a chance to talk.”

  “I don’t want that stuff.”

  “It’s yours anyway.”

  “How do you keep getting up here?” she demands.

  He shrugs. “I guess James is a romantic at heart.”

  “You’re not going to charm your way out of this.”

  “I’m not trying to. I’m trying to show you how important you are to me.”

  Alexa rolls her eyes, takes the coffee and says, “Goodbye, Scotty,” and shuts the door in his face. She calls down to the front desk and asks to speak to James. “Why do you keep letting him come up here, James?”

  “Miss Drake, you have to see the man. He’s in love with you.”

  “You should stay out of my personal affairs.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” James replies, chastised. “Would you like me to have him removed from the premises?”

  Would I? “I’ll deal with him, James.”

  “Yes, ma’am. Sorry, Miss Drake.”

  “It’s fine.”

  She hangs up and realizes that she doesn’t actually want Scott to leave. Oh shit, really, Alexa? You’re even considering talking to this bastard?

  Alexa goes about her day, staying inside her apartment, she on her couch with a book and Scott sitting on the other side of her front door. She hears him taking calls and ordering food throughout the day. After several hours, she decides to call Martina and see what’s happening at the office.

  “Oh my gosh, Alexa,” Martina exclaims, “How are you?”

  “I’m perfectly fine,” she says, which is possibly the biggest lie she’s ever told. “How are things at the office
?”

  “The same but I want you back here so bad. Please, don’t quit, Alexa.”

  “That decision has already been made. The only reason I’m not there is because Scotty is camping outside my door until I talk to him. I haven’t decided how I’m going to handle him yet.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah, really. Fucker. He has some nerve. He’s so arrogant and mean and…and…”

  “And he loves you enough to drop every ounce of pride he has to sit outside your door. I don’t know about you but that would at least get me to listen to the guy.”

  Alexa’s voice turns colder than cold. “You have no idea the things he has done to me.”

  “Not entirely, but…” Martina pauses for a moment before she makes her next brave statement. “You’ve done things to him too. Isn’t there room to talk and see if you can forgive each other?”

  Alexa sighs. She wants to be mad but Martina is absolutely right. “I don’t know yet. Anyway, I’m going to be in eventually and I’ll deal with work then. I appreciate that you’ve been keeping things together.”

  “Of course. Um, I have another question,” Martina says.

  “Okay.”

  “Would it be upsetting to you if I dated Braveheart?”

  “What? Date Brett?”

  “Well, yeah. After all this with you, he’s been around a lot and he asked me to dinner last night and we really hit it off. I really like him. I think he likes me too. I just don’t want to upset you though.”

  Alexa is shocked. “It’s your life, I don’t care. Besides, I’ll be out of here inside of a month anyway. Do whatever you like.”

  “You sound mad,” she says, softly.

  “Well I’m not. I’m just not sure you know what you’re getting into with him.”

  “I do. He told me about his, um, preferences.”

  “On your first date?”

  “Alexa, I know you think I’m some goody-two-shoes, but I’ve lived a pretty cool life too. I’ve had plenty of sex and I’m pretty much open to anything. Brett told me because he wanted me to know what he was into before we got involved.”