Chapter 2 - One track mind

I was stunned. No one had ever dared insult me that much. I was kind of angry that she had left without giving me the chance to answer her back. I was tempted to follow her, and I didn’t know what had stopped me. Maybe, it was the acknowledgement in the back of my mind that if I had followed her, and saw her angry, mad at me, worked up for me, I wouldn’t have been able to answer for my actions. Seeing her in those conditions would have sent me in a state of uncontrollable lust for her, a lust so strong, in fact only second to the blood lust Edward Cullen had for his plain -looking Bella (yes, I read Twilight because I was forced to by my little sister, and yes my lust is only second. I didn’t have any wish of draining her of blood…but of something else…like energy...if you catch my drift) that I would have tried kissing her, taking her to my house and…you all know what I would have tried to do. I don’t think I need to explain.

I was home now, the weight of the day that had passed was getting to me and I was physically and emotionally tired. After leaving the restaurant while being under the disapproval of both Laurence and Giselle, I couldn’t stop thinking about the recent events. Using slang….Allegra was hot. Super hot. She was fascinating, intriguing, and for what I had seen she didn’t seem to lack a brain. Her look was mesmerizing and she could have easily been a model, or an actress, for all I knew. She didn’t certainly lack the drama queen attitude. 

I sighed before turning the lights on in my bedroom. I was met by the sight of a woman in my bed: my sister, Kirsten. I smiled at her. My amazing 21 years-old sister was finally here. She was on top of the comforter of the bed, a peaceful expression on her face.

I got my pajama and went to the bathroom where I got changed into it. I stared at my ruined shirt and shook my head. Allegra was crazy. I put my sister under the bed sheets after going back to the bedroom.

“Chris?” she asked groggily.

“Hey…” I mumbled grinning “Go back to sleep. We’ll talk tomorrow morning.” I reassured her.

“’Night, bro’” she whispered before falling asleep once again.

“’Night, princess.” I whispered back, fighting back a yawn.

 I went in the spare room and left my sister to rest. I threw myself on the bed. I got comfortable enough to be ready to fall asleep but nothing could make me fall into slumber.

I tried everything. I counted sheep, I counted backwards from a 100, however when I reached 11 I gave up. I got out of the bed and went in the kitchen and prepared myself a cup of chamomile tea. When I went back to bed, I was feeling the need to sleep, but I still couldn’t be relaxed enough to fall asleep. I sighed stressed out. I was going to work the following day’s afternoon, even if it was a Saturday. She was still there, Allegra, in my mind, monopolizing my every thought. The same dirty thoughts, the same fantasies, and new ones, more aggressive, more extreme, more everything. I needed to get a grip. I couldn’t really lust after someone that wasn’t my type. Could I? I knew I didn’t like her, but why couldn’t I just get over the fact that she was so…so darn good-looking? She looked like a Goddess, I had to admit, and her eyes…they were so expressive. I huffed and started thinking the lyrics of different songs in my head, to distract myself. I don’t even have to say what the songs were about…Hotel Room by Pitbull, Birthday Sex by Jeremiah are just a few examples of the songs I was singing in my head, songs I attached a sort of video clip to. A video clip in which a certain golden cappuccino skinned woman named Allegra starred in, dressed in bikinis, or with just a bed sheet to cover her body.

I was obsessed, let’s face it, but at the time I had tried to dismissed my lust for her in just a want for sex in general, considering I hadn’t had some in at least six months. It had to be because of that…

I could easily deal with that. Just a one night stand with a sexy girl and everything would be okay again. Who was Allegra Carter? No one, absolutely no one.

I woke up at 5 am, as usual and I felt in pieces. Why was I on the couch? Why? Good Lord, my sleep was not good at all. I didn’t feel I would have been able to go running that morning. I yawned and sleepily started my routine. I went in the bathroom and slowly got undressed, like the day before. I needed a shower, after that night. As soon as I got in the shower, the sleep got out of my eyes and I finally remembered what I dreamed about. Oh my Goodness, why did I remember? Why? Again her, her eyes, her face. I groaned and quickly got out of the shower trying to get the dream out of my mind. Something that was clearly impossible. I didn’t need the vivid image of my wet dreams early in the morning.

Allegra was smiling at me sensually, a mesmerizing red lingerie piece on. I was on the bed admiring her while she was straddling me. Her hair was falling all over the place and she had this hungry look on her face. She was hungry for me. She kissed me passionately and I responded, unable to stop myself. I just kissed her back until she pulled away leaving my lips wanting more. I frowned at her and I was ready to tell her to kiss me again when she started trailing wet kisses to my neck where she left her mark.

“You are mine…” she murmured against my neck “Say it!”

“I’m yours.” I wasn’t lucid; the only thing I cared about was feeling her lips on my neck again. She caught my sweet spot just under my ear and I yelped in surprise.

“Say it louder!” she ordered me before she started kissing my chest.

“I’m yours, I’m yours.” I said louder, my eyes rolled back in my head.

I was tired of her being in charge of the game. I stopped her and changed our position so that I was on top of her… It was her now getting kissed; it was me now kissing her, savoring her,  touching her, undressing her.

“I love you” I said.

“I love you too.” She whispered and smiled sweetly.

I stopped myself. I didn’t need to think about it again. Especially the last bit before the overwhelming amazing sex.

 I put some clothes on and went back in my bedroom where I saw the bed was empty.

“Kirsten?” I yelled.

“Kitchen, bro.” she yelled back.

I reached the kitchen where the smell of coffee was almost overwhelming. I wrinkled my nose and sat on a chair near the isle.

Kirsten laughed “I’ve never understood why you hate the smell of coffee but can’t survive without drinking it.”

“Don’t ask me. I don’t know either.” I smiled at her. “I’m so happy you are finally here.” I said sincerely.

“Oh, thanks, big brother.” She grinned at me triumphantly.

“So…do you plan to come and stay here or…” I didn’t voice the second option because, really, I didn’t want her to rent an apartment and live on her own. I am very overprotective of my sister and therefore I wanted her to be always nearby so I could always keep an eye on her.

She huffed and rolled her eyes, the same blue color as mine.“I’m staying here so you won’t get on my nerves by calling me and making sure that I am okay all the time. You are such a freaking nuisance, bro. That’s why I came earlier. I couldn’t stand one more day of your exasperating phone calls.”

“Hey, you would do the same in my place. You don’t know all the people that go and try things on young, nice, naïve and innocent girls such as yourself.” I justified myself.

She gave me  a sly smile “Why are you so sure that I’m still naïve and innocent?”

I gasped, my mouth nearly touched the floor at the thought of my kid sister not being innocent anymore “Who is he?! I’m so going to kill him!”

She laughed “Come on, don’t be unreasonable, bro. I’m 21, now. You wouldn’t expect me to—“

I covered my ears “Blah blah blah! Don’t want to hear it! I don’t want my ears to bleed.”

She shook her head “You’re such a drama king.” Her eyes full of laughter. “Anyway, since I am a good girl, and I do consider your feelings, I think that is better to change topic, for your sake obviously.”

“Yes, yes, do make fun of me, please!” I huffed sarcastically.

“Met anyone?” she asked looking at me enthusiastically.

“Not really, no.”  I avoided her gaze.

“You met someone, didn’t you?” She poured some coffee in two mugs “Who is she? Is she tall? Is she beautiful?”

“Woah, stop right there. I met someone but she’s such a drama queen—“

“Good, you complete each other, then.”

I looked at her in disbelief “I don’t even like her. She insulted me in every possible way, last night, and I don’t want to meet her ever again, seriously.”

“Where did you meet her?” she asked curiously “And what did you do to her so to make her want to bite your head off?”

“Why are you assuming I did something?” I shook my head “She’s Laurence’s girlfriend’s best friend.”

“Oh…sorry to tell you this, but you will probably meet her again, bro.”

“Thanks a lot.” I got my mug and sipped my coffee. “That is exactly what I need to hear to make me feel better.” I scoffed.

“You’re so overdramatic.” She rolled her eyes “And annoying, of course. “ she hit my shoulder and laughed again.

“Whatever, Kirsten.” Why did I drink that coffee? How am I suppose to go run now? Well I didn’t feel like going anyway. “Are you excited about starting your internship at the Human Rights department of the UN?”

“Absolutely. I can’t wait for Monday to come. Six months of pure bliss.” She sighed dreamily.

“Do you know some of the people that also got in the internship program?”

“No, not really. However, when I got a tour of the office yesterday, I found out who is going to be my mentor while I’m being her personal assistant. She’s absolutely amazing. She’s really serious about her job, and even though she looks like she’s constantly in a bad mood, we got coffee at Starbucks during a break and she is really nice. I think we will become really close friends.”

“I’d love to meet her.” I was being sincere. “What are you doing today, sister dearest?”

“I was thinking shopping. You’re coming with me, right?”

I groaned “Only if I can go book shopping.” I tried to compromise “And remember that I have to step at the office for a few hours.”

“I was planning to go to a bookstore, anyway.” She said with nonchalance Are we taking your car?”

“Of course.” I smiled slyly.

I spent the rest of my week-end working, catching up with my sister and having fun with her. I heard from Laurence that almost ordered me to say sorry to Allegra for my behavior, but I really told him to go to hell. I didn’t want to apologize until she did so.

She hurt my pride…therefore I wasn’t planning on doing anything, really.

My sister had placed all her stuff in one of the spare rooms in my house, and I was absolutely happy.

On Monday morning I went through my same routine, and after having breakfast with my sister, I decided to accompany her to work. She was so excited she couldn’t stay calm.

“Are you having a sugar-rush?”

“Shut up.” She grinned while playing with her hands.

“Are you nervous?” I asked.

“No, I’m just hyper excited. Can’t wait to start.”

I just smiled. I was proud of her. “Here you are.” I parked the car in an empty spot as soon as I saw it, earning myself being cursed by someone. “See you later, sister dearest. Good luck”

“Thanks, bro.” she opened the door and quickly got out of my car.  She closed the door and started walking towards the building. I saw her waving at someone and I soon left.

That evening I found myself at Laurence who wanted to talk to me. His sister, Anne, of course, was there. Oh God, that woman was absolutely clingy and I couldn’t stand her. She looked just like her brother. They had the same red hair and green eyes. Hers, however, seemed to glow every time they set upon me. But I couldn’t stand her. She didn’t understand that she would never get me to love her. I always saw her as  a little sister, when we were kids, and then as soon as she grew too attached to me, I tried to keep my distance. However, for the sake of my friendship with her brother I tried to tolerate her presence. And the fact that she kept hitting on me wasn’t really helping my opinion of her.

“Tell me, Chris, what are you doing?” Anne asked interrupting me for the hundredth time, if possible.

“I’m writing an email to my partners regarding an issue at work.” I said coldly

“Oh…Those emails are so boring…”

“Then, it is good that I am the one writing them.” I stated.

“Absolutely.” She paused before saying excitedly “You type so fast, Chris.” Was she insane? For Goodness’ sake was that suppose to be a compliment to flatter me so I would ask her out?

Saved by the doorbell. “I’ll get it.” I yelled upstairs, where Laurence was assisting his girlfriend emptying her stomach for some unknown reason. She was either pregnant or having food poisoning.

I put my laptop down on the loveseat I was sitting on and sprinted for the door. When I opened it words couldn’t describe how I felt after seeing who was waiting with an annoyed expression painted on her face. It definitely wasn’t the take-away guy with our pizzas. In fact it was her. Allegra.

“Are you gonna check me out for the rest of the evening, or are you gonna let me in?”

I blushed and stepped out of her way “Come in, Allegra.” When I saw her I started repeating the dreams I had had during the week-end.

“Jerk.” She said before getting in the apartment. I closed the door behind her.

“Where is Giselle?”

“Upstairs.” I mumbled.

“Fine.” She looked at me disgusted by what she saw “No nasty remarks, smart ass?” she asked sarcastically.

“Not really, no.”

“Whatever.” She flipped her hair on her shoulder and went in the living room “Hello, Anne.” Allegra said with civility.

“Hello, Allegra.” Anne said coldly.

“I’m just gonna go upstairs.” She explained.

“Go, then.” Anne dismissed her.

Allegra left and I found myself alone with Anne, once again.

“Who does she think she is? Just because she’s wealthy, has a great job at UN, doesn’t mean she has to be so proud. I can’t stand that woman.”

I just looked at her. Even though I couldn’t stand Allegra, I seriously would prefer being insulted by her in that moment instead of listening to freaking annoying Anne.

“And then just because she is half Japanese, and she looks fine, she thinks she is so good looking.  Why  didn’t she go for modeling then? It’s because she got rejected, I’m telling you.”

“Well I don’t think she got rejected really. Probably she just declined the agencies that threw themselves at her for a chance to have her representing their images.” she stared at me, her eyes wide.

That woman talked trash every single day, good God. I put on a fake smile and kept doing whatever that I was doing. I ignored her until I heard her suddenly say “Allegra, dear, how is Giselle doing?”

“She’s doing better, thank you for asking.” She answered before taking a book out of her bag.

“What are you reading, Allegra?” I asked genuinely curios.

“Fatherland by Robert Harris.”

“Chris, you love reading, don’t you?” Why couldn’t Anne shut the hell up? “I remember you once said that the love of reading is something that you look for in a woman.”

“Yes. “ I said slightly embarrassed.

“I’m curious to know what does Mr Fitzwilliam look for in a woman.” Did she want to know whether she met my standards or not?

“Well….she has to have a career of her own, be well-opinionated, intelligent, good-looking, atletic…she needs to speak several languages, have an interest for the arts, be gracious. And I want her to be graduated, and have a passion for music.”

“Did you meet anyone that reaches your standards?” she looked at me in disbelief.

“Yes, of course. Why? Do you doubt it?”

“It seems to me that you want a sort of Stanford wife with a career. Does she have to give that up for you when you’re gonna have kids?” she laughed. Was she making fun of me and my expectations?

“Do you speak more than one language, Allegra?” Anne asked her with a venomous smile

“Oh well…I speak Italian, Spanish, English, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Greek, French and now I’m learning German.” She smirked

Anne huffed “At what university did you graduate?”

“Well, I had many offers…..but at the end I settled down for the University of Oxford.” She smiled. She graduated at the university Laurence attended. “Now, if you will excuse me, I need to go.”

“No, don’t go, Allegra!” Laurence yelled coming down the stairs. “Can you sleep over?”

“Why?” she asked puzzled. I liked her puzzled. That was an expression that fitted her better than anger, or disgust.

I couldn’t hear what they were saying anymore. I was lost imagining me and her, hand in hand, while we would get into my penthouse, she with a puzzled expression on her features. She would look up at me, confused, and smile hesitantly. I would cup her cheek and kiss her softly. She would look shocked before kissing me back and then we would end up in my bedroom and…

“Chris, are you okay?” Anne, why did you have to interrupt my fantasy? Why?!

I sighed and saw everyone in the room staring at me. Laurence was trying not to laugh. “What’s wrong?” I asked self-consciously.

“You’re a pervert.” Allegra muttered, again disgusted by me. Did she? How?

I felt a warm feeling in my stomach. It was probably the disgust I proved for being called a pervert.

“I would love to stay, Laurence, but I really can’t. I have to go back to the office…” she trailed off.

“What do you have to do at the office?” I questioned her.

“Not that it concerns you, racist, but there are a few reports that I left at work, and I absolutely need them.” She answered venomously.

“Will you be able to come back here and sleep over once you achieve your task?” Laurence asked innocently, but I knew him better than that. He was smirking.

“Yes, but I can’t really sleep here. I don’t have my pajama, I don’t have my tooth brush , I don’t have my pillow and—“

Laurence interrupted her “You don’t have to worry about that. Your Q7 is still at the garage, right?”

“Yes, it is, but really I can’t---“

He smiled slyly “Don’t worry about it. Chris can take you to work and then to your apartment so you can get your things to stay overnight.”

“What?” Allegra and I yelled simultaneously. Match-making Laurence playing his creepy tricks.

“I don’t need his freaking lift. I can get a cab, seriously.”

I snorted “Do you really think I would want to give you a lift? That’s out of question.” I crossed my arms to my chest.

She rolled her eyes “You wish I thought so.” She took her bag and slung it over her shoulder “I will come back, Laurence, just reassure Giselle, okay?” her voice was suddenly sweet, nice, soft like a melody. Why couldn’t she talk to me like that?

“I will take a cab, and then come back with my new amazing baby…” she grinned.

“Did you actually get it?” Laurence’s eyes were shining.

“Yep. Daddy dearest thought it was good to give his little girl a reward for her hard work….”

Laurence came up to her and hugged her for dear life. He picked her up and swung her around. He put her down and grinned. I stared at them wide-eyed as I saw them do some kind of crazy handshake. Anne was clearly annoyed.

“I told you I was going to get one before you, and you didn’t believe me!” she laughed mockingly.

I was really clueless. What the hell were they talking about? Babies?

“What color?”

She rolled her eyes after putting her hands to her hips “Do you even have to ask?”

“Of course black.” He sighed in defeat “Are you gonna let me drive it?” he asked hopeful. Are they serious? What the creeping hell?

“Are you crazy? No! No one touches my babies.”

“Please?” he pleaded.

She huffed and rolled her eyes “No. Aren’t you getting one, anyway?”

“I’m not sure….please just one time.”

“You already know my answer…but who knows? Maybe you will get one, one day…” she said suggestively.

“Really?” his voice came out squeaky. He coughed “Anyway, Chris take her to the office and home, then you can just drive back here, while she comes with her new car…” he said the last bit with envy.

Oh. They were talking about cars…well I felt much better now.

Allegra huffed “I hate you, Laurence.”

“You know you love me, babe.”

“No, I don’t, you jerk.” She jokingly threw a punch at him.

“You guys are such kids” Giselle said feebly while coming downstairs.

“So what?” Allegra smirked.

Giselle reached the bottom of the stairs and just smiled “I am so glad to hear that you are staying over, sweetie.”

“I’m doing it just for you, okay?” she justified herself.

Laurence pouted indignantly “What about me? You’re not doing it for me?”

“Yeah, I’m staying over for you as well.” She said slightly annoyed.

“Good.” Laurence smiled big “You and Chris may want to leave now…”

I sighed in defeat “See you later.”

I collected my jacket and put it on, and then I tried to find Allegra’s, so to give it to her. Once I found it she snatched it out of my hands.

“Let’s go.” She said flatly.

“Okay.”

A few minutes later we found ourselves in my car, which is a Volvo XC60, while I was driving towards her office. The silence in the car was unbearable and I thought I may have died from awkwardness. This was insane. This was absolutely, indefinitely insane. I know I am a reserved person, but still.

She took out her I-phone and started texting.

When I was about to speak to cut the tension she started staring at me “ I am texting because you are boring me, and because I am asking for my assistant to get the reports I need ready so I will collect them sooner and put an end to this torture soon enough.” She explained her actions.

“Okay…” I answered puzzled. Why this sudden talkativeness towards me? She was talking to me, even though she wasn’t saying anything nice. I mean she said that I was boring. “How long have you and Giselle been friends for?”

“Since we were in primary school. Then I moved around and so I didn’t see her as much as I wanted, but in the end it worked out okay.” She said while texting.

I stopped at a traffic light “Do you know who is the friend that  Laurence say to be the link between him and Giselle?” I asked. That was a question I wanted an answer for. And I was determined to find the truth on the matter.

“Me.”

“You?” I inquired in disbelief.

“Is it so hard to believe that I am the link to their relationship?” she snapped.

“No, no. Sorry…” I tried to defend myself.

“Well I don’t know if Laurence ever told you, but he is my friend, a really close friend. He is like my best buddy. I met him when I was reading law at the University of Oxford and he was a friend of a friend. Since then we are almost inseparable.”

“You are the famous Allie? I never made the association.” I said, realization dawning in me “I thought his female best friend’s name was Allison.”

“Well, I was not called Allison, so deal with it.” She stared at my face, slowly studying it.

 I paid particular attention to her eyes and that was the end of it. I suddenly felt a warm feeling in my stomach. It couldn’t be neither sickness…nor anxiety, nor fear…in fact the only possible definition of what I was feeling was admitting that I was feeling butterflies in my stomach. However, I would have never done that.

“What music do you listen to?”

“Why this sudden interest in talking to me? If I do remember correctly last Friday you were trying to avoid me and Giselle, but especially me, like we had some sort of contagious illness that was transmitted by exchanging words.” She was definitely making fun of me now.

“Well, it’s not like I care, it’s just that I wanted to make the trip more bearable, and get to know each other, since our best friends are dating.” I answered offended by her behavior towards me.

She rolled her eyes “Drama queen.” She muttered “I was thinking…”

“Yes?” I was curious. Was she going to insult me again?

“You laid down all the qualities you want in the woman of your dreams..”

“Are you interested?” I didn’t know how I found the strength to wink at her and smirk, while the butterflies in my stomach were doing somersaults.

“You wish…anyway, what I want to know is if you actually have those qualities you require in a woman.” She said firmly.

“Of course. I went to college, Yale precisely, I speak Italian, French, German and Spanish, and I’m currently learning Japanese.”

“Shit.” She mumbled “So you actually did understand my conversation with my mom on the phone, last Friday…”

“Well…I didn’t catch all the Japanese…” I confirmed sheepishly.

“Great. I’ll have to remember not to speak both when you are around if I’ll have the misfortune of seeing you again”  She said “Do you think you are good-looking?” she asked out of the blue.

I just stared at her for a few seconds “Of course I am.”

She rolled her eyes and focused her attention on her I-phone once again, signaling that the conversation was over.

I sighed. The talking didn’t have the outcome I wished for…wait what did I wish for? What did I wanted her to be?  A friend? I was going crazy. However, I was proud of myself, because although I was stressed, and terrified, and nervous, I did manage to have one of the longest embarrassing conversations of my life. And I did enjoy it…or at least it looked like I enjoyed the company.

We reached the UN building she worked in and she quickly got out of my car and went in. I stared at her assets until she disappeared. Good God, this girl was driving me crazy.

She came back 10 minutes later carrying a massive folder in her hands. I opened the door for her and she got in.

“Thanks.” She whispered.

“Let me help you..” I said while taking the folder out of her hands to put it in the back seat. Fireworks…that’s what I felt…fireworks inside of me as my hand touched hers. I could feel current while our fingers met…I shivered. She let go of my hand quickly. I cleared my throat “Where do you live?”

The ride to her house was silent, except for her giving me indications to reach it.

And then I saw it. An amazing two storey house, a gate to protect it from intruders. I’d never seen a house like this in Manhattan. It wasn’t a mansion, it was just a normal villa that inspired comfort. The gate suddenly opened and I finally drove in. I killed the engine, unfasten the safety belt and got out of the car. I got her folder and held it for dear life.

“Wow, you have a nice house.” I said.

She got out of the car and closed the door “I know.” She smiled genuinely and I swore I could have heard my heart jump in my chest. She put the key in the lock opened the door and got in. I followed her.

 I looked around uncomfortably. The place was really well furnished.

“Make yourself at home if you want to stay for a while. The kitchen is just where you can see the sliding doors. I’m gonna go upstairs and collect my stuff.” She smirked, got the folder while avoiding touching me and left me alone. She felt it too, otherwise how could I explain the smirk, the sudden kind attitude?

“Okay…”  I was embarrassed. Mainly because I kept staring at her lips while she was talking, and then I couldn’t stop thinking of how she was dressed. I didn’t notice it before, but she was wearing a nice light grey skirt that reached almost her knees. A light blue dress shirt was hugging her figure, and was combined with a blazer the same color of the skirt. Her hair was up in a high pony tail. She looked hot, and I was itching for her, I was itching to get to know what she had under those stupid clothes that made it even easier for me to get all lustful.

I sat on the couch and kept thinking about her….her smile, her kissable lips, her gorgeous eyes, and those freaking curves I so wanted to touch, I so wanted to call mine. Yes, I was definitely becoming insane. And I was starting to enjoy it.

My cell phone rang. Startled I took it out of my pocket. A message from Laurence.

‘You’re sleeping over. No discussion.’

I snorted. I had no choice but to do what he wanted, otherwise he would have ruined my night by calling me and stressing me until I said yes.

“Hey.” I heard her say. I turned around and almost gaped at her. She had changed and now instead of formal clothes she was wearing a pair of flats, skinny jeans, a white undershirt with a blue cardigan on top. Her long hair was loose and I lost myself looking at those waves. If I had said once that she was okay…and fine, that was the understatement of the year. The girl not only was burning hot, but also the most beautiful girl I had the privilege to set my eyes upon. I was attracted. And I was going to accept it, in order to get to know her….

She rolled her eyes. “Do you want anything?”

‘Yes, you’ I thought “What?”

“A drink or something before you leave?”

“Ehm…yes, please. How about some tea?” I initially thought to say no, but I came to the conclusion that I could spend more time with her by making her make some tea for me

“How? Black, white..?” she inquired while opening the sliding doors that led to the kitchen

“Black, two sugar.” I answered by following her, my eyes too focused on her to analyze my surroundings. There were a few chairs around the isle and I considered the idea of sitting down, but I decided not to. I would help if she needed my help…and I would…I would…I definitely needed to stop daydreaming about her in sexual contests.

“Are you okay?” she asked, anxiety in her voice. Was she worried about me? I decided to ask.

“Why do you ask? Are you worried?”

“I ask because you are all red. It’s almost like you are blushing…and worried? Yes, worried that you may die on me. I would have to explain everything to the ambulance and the police. Such a waste of my precious time.” She said nonchalantly.

“Well it is good to know that I am considered a waste of time.” I replied, offended.

“Drama queen.” She fired back while taking two cups out of a cabinet. She poured some water in the kettle and started it. She reached a wall and took a telephone. She dialed a number and waited. “Daddy!” her eyes were suddenly shining “Right now? Are you serious? YAY!” Was she the same Allegra I’d seen before? She was a kid, seriously. Suddenly she became serious. She covered the telephone with one hand. “I am going outside to check my new car. Wanna come?”

“Me?” I looked at her incredulously.

“Not you, the poltergeist right behind you” she answered mockingly “You, of course. I need to share this with someone, and unfortunately you are the only one here so…” she grabbed my hand. Again I felt a sparkle.

While she was talking on the phone excitedly she dragged me to the front door. She opened it and instantly gasped. A Maserati Gran Turismo S was just outside the gate. A big red bow attached to it.

“Daddy!” she yelled in the phone “Daddy you are the greatest dad in the world. I’ll call you later.” She hang up and hugged me. I stood there, absolutely shocked. I felt hot all over. I automatically hugged her back and awkwardly patted her back. Once the gate were opened someone stepped out of the car. She broke our embrace ad got the keys for the car and an envelope.

“Fitzwilliam, can you please go and check the water for the tea? I’ll be there in a minute, okay?”

“Sure thing.” I said blushing. I ran in the house and saw that the water was ready. I poured it in the cups that already had the tea, put some sugar in them and waited till she came back in.

She got the cup of tea “Sorry for before…” she said “I didn’t mean to hug you, I swear. It was the excitement of the moment, really.”

I couldn’t help but feel disappointed “I understand.”

She sighed in relief “Good.” She smiled awkwardly “Well..” she took a sip from her cup.

“I got to go.” I said. I had to leave. I couldn’t possibly stay in a room alone with her. I just couldn’t, if I wanted to stay with my mind in a clear state. I was feeling lust, anger, disappointment..I was so confused.

“What about your tea.?” She asked confused

“I really have to go, Allegra.” I muttered “See you at Laurence’s.” I quickly said before leaving the kitchen. I got out of the house and saw that the Maserati was parked right next to my car. I took the keys of my car out and opened it.  I didn’t have time to step in the car that I saw Allegra with a vacuum flask in her hand.

“You wouldn’t possibly expect me to throw  away tea, would you?”

I gave her an half smile “Thank you.”

“You can keep the flask if you want. I don’t want any of your germs.” She made a face and I almost burst into laughing, but then she was talking about my germs, implying that I wasn’t clean enough and therefore I had germs.

I huffed, got the flask, put it somewhere safe and got into the car. I closed the door with excessive strength and drove away as soon as the gate opened.

Kirsten was right: I was going to see her, even if I didn’t like it. But did I really think I would be happy without her presence?