DICHOTOMY™

• LINE OF CONTROL •

Alex nodded as she picked up the basket. "Would you like some chocolate madeleines to compliment the tea, ma'am? I can have a cup of Darjeeling brought out for you."

She kept arranging the snacks and cutlery, not looking at Elysse anymore.

"No. I appreciate the gesture though. Thank you."

From the corner of her eye, she saw Elysse stand up from her chair. The tablecloth swished as she moved towards Alex. Staring at her, she stood beside Alex, who was still not keen on looking back at her.

Alex refrained from acting out. Unlike Claude's volatile patience, this woman seemed to have an exploding patience. Angering her would create a mess she did not want herself in right now.

Little did she know, Elysse was actually impressed with the indifference of the young woman. Even in such a tense miasma, she was composed. Her hand rested on the younger's shoulder, and she whispered like an Iblis,

"I wish my son wasn't married with a child."

Alex hands halted with her stiffened body. The smile that did not reach her eyes vanished into thin air.

"I would have brought a woman like you as his wife. So peaceful and smart, just a woman that families like ours need."

'Sparrow. You will make such a good wife. Quiet and still, just as I want.'

She suddenly remembered the last piece of conversation she ever had with him. Was that all she was capable of even after all these years of struggle? A good wife who will sit still and look pretty?

She wasn't even pretty.

Her breathing grew rugged again. She tried to count backwards in her mind to calm down.

"You. . . are not some commoner. Tell me, where are you from?", Elysse's eyes squinted as she asked.

". . . . . "

"Do not think you can skip. I had your file picked out from the company directory. Even though you are an orphan. . . .you must have somew-"

"I am not an orphan."

Alex hushed with a blank voice. But it was so low that Elysse did not hear it.

"Wha-"

"I . am . not . an . orphan."

She tried to lay emphasis on every word to stress her point.

"Oh really, then why the hell do you have to be a good for nothing so lonely? Are you trying to backtalk?", she cried.

Alex cut her off, "You cannot make up things about me if you don't know me. I am sorry."

Elysse leaned away from her. Gritting her teeth, she seethed, "Now I see why you managed to survive here. Both of you are equally malicious. Nasty bastards!"

Alex kept quite to not aggravate the situation further. But, her abstaining actions were riling up her voices.

What are you waiting for? She is humiliating you! Just burn her mouth! Throw that boiling tea on her face!

Alex had to keep her hands tightly screwed in to not move them. The cacophony was overwhelming to the point of breakdown.

Let her suffer from some nasty blisters and boils! Do it little girl, or let us do it for you! You are weak, let us protect you!

"Tell me. You really are a promiscuous woman. Because of you, Maximus actually had an investigation run upon my business. Can your poor self ever cover to repair the damage you have inflicted on our brand name?"

Oh, so that was why she was here.

Alexandra.

Him. She shuddered badly when his voice echoed in her brain. Her heart dropped inside her burning chest, which seemed to paralyze her in fear.

What did I tell you?

What did you tell me?

You need to deal with the consequences. You are lucky because I save you.

It was a rare case for him to appear in her voices. But his voice was what scared him the most. All the curses and slanders Elysse spoke faded behind his words.

You know you cannot do it. Come back to me.

"No! Get out!" , her jaw shivered as she snapped.

Phhatt!

And there, a taken aback Elysse slapped her across the face, causing her face to be thrown to the side as she dropped down to her knees with a thud.

Whatever happened afterwards drowned in the daze. Her head was aching when a beep ringed in her continuously. But even in the pain, she remained a still as a statue.

Until, she felt a pair of arms drag her out of the dine hall.

*

"Oh Jesus! Mother what have you done?", Chandler cried as he rushed over to the disorderedly woman.

"This insolent brat tried to speak ill to me. This was just a simple payback. Be happy that I did not do more."

Claude heard from behind what everyone had to say. But, his eyes were burningly fixed at the intern. All the while the mother and son quarreled in a heated argument, he walked towards the limp figure that did not speak a word in her defense.

Once his tall form hovered over her, both Chandler and Elysse shut up and snapped their attention towards him. Chandler's hands were just about to land on her shoulder with the intent to caress them out of her shock as he knelt down next to her, but Claude stopped it.

"I expected better from you, Maximus. Being seduced by a plain woman who is as ungrateful, you should get yourself examined.", Elysse mocked him at his back.

His blank expression remained as his arms circled her carefully. His movements were delicate, as if afraid to break her.

In a slow voice, he warned chandler with darkened eyes,

"Control your mother, dear friend. Before I lose anymore respect for her as an older person."

With that, he left a bewildered Chandler and a seething Elysse behind, picking Alex up and dragging her out of the place.

*