Intertwined: Invisible Strings

Chapter Seven

I tried to ignore it as much I possibly could, focusing on the conversation with Juan Franco, but he must have noticed my discomfort. His expression shifted from cheerful to concerned, and he reached out a hand, placing it gently on mine. "Rubiya, are you feeling alright? You look a bit flushed," he asked, his voice filled with worry. I mustered a weak smile, attempting to reassure him. "I'm fine, just a bit tired," I replied, but even as I spoke, I could feel my temperature rising. The room began to spin, and I knew I wouldn't be able to finish the meal but I had to push through for Franco's sake.

As Juan Franco and I engaged in friendly conversation, I couldn't help but feel my mind drifting off to thoughts of Alaric. He was my boss, the attorney I worked for...why was he on my mind? Alaric was undeniably handsome, with a commanding presence that demanded attention. Despite his arrogance and cocky demeanor, there was a surprising side to Alaric. I didn't expect him to take care of me the way he did today especially after I argued with him. I zoned out into my thoughts while fever overtook my body once more. As I glanced behind Juan Franco's head the silhouette of a figure hastily approaching looked oddly like Alaric Vanderfield...oh god was I hallucinating again because of the fever? Yes, obviously because why would Alaric Vanderfield be walking towards me in the middle of my date?

My fever was playing dirty tricks on me and it had conjured a ghost of Alaric to haunt me as if he didn't haunt me enough and now this ghost was standing over Juan Franco and I with an extremely fuming expression etched onto his face. "Mr. Vanderfield, Sir..." Franco stated acknowledging the presence of this ghost...wait why was Juan Franco talking to my fever ghost? How could he see a product or a figment of my imagination? Unless it was not and Alaric Vanderfield is actually standing more like towering over us like a ferocious giant, if smoke could've escaped from his ears like in those cartoons it definitely would've. Alaric didn't even bother to acknowledge Juan Franco who sat there with the most confused expression on his face.

"Come to the side. Now. Rubiya," he stated emphasizing every word through his clenched jaw. Is it possible to look even more sexually appealing when you're angry? I don't know but he certainly did. "I...I'm in the middle of a date," I stated staring back up at him with an equal determined intensity. "Now," he stated once again without breaking eye contact, the sound and tone of his voice was absolutely terrifying therefore I didn't think it would be wise to deny his request without ruining my entire night. "Okay," I gave in and stood up, "Sorry Juan Franco, I'll be right back," I muttered apologetically standing next to Alaric. He grabbed my upper arm with a strong and tight grip pulling me forwards with him as he walked away from the crowd of the restaurant. Okay, Rubiya calm down...he helped you today, so let's try to be civilized and nice, I thought trying to convince myself to control my impulsive behaviour.

As we came to a dimly lit corner in the middle of a narrow corridor, he stopped and spun around to face me. Anger evidently visibly by the dilating of his pitch-black eyes. He took a deep breath in before he began, "Rubiya, are you God damn insane? You had a temperature of 102 degrees Fahrenheit! Now here you are prancing through the freezing cold streets of Brooklyn and not to mention your skin is as burning hot as it was before!" He shouted, his voice intense enough to make me cower visibly. "I'm not in the streets, I'm a restaurant..." I whispered pouting angrily...why the hell was he scolding me?

"Rubiya, the restaurant is freezing cold and you're wearing a backless dress where I can see half of your bare skin," he continued while his hand moved from gripping my arm tightly to tracing the lining of my spine. The trail that his fingers made tingled all of my senses and pores raised against my will. "Why are you even here?" I asked shaking his touch off even though every fiber of body wanted him to touch me.

"You can't even fucking answer your phone! Do you know how many times I called you?" He cursed staring intently at me, "Was the conversation so interesting with your date? It didn't seem so," He scoffed. Okay, now he was getting on my nerves.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Alaric?" I quizzed curiously clearly annoyed by his behaviour, "I'm so thankful for your help earlier but this is my personal life and my personal time...so why do you even care? And what are you doing here?"

"Because you're mine," he stated, "you're my employee and I need you to be performing at your best...not falling sick and wasting your time on mediocre dates,"

"I was thanking him for helping us with YOUR case! And what I choose to do with my personal time is none of your business," I shouted back at him raising my voice to same octave as his one. Two can play this anger game of his.

"You're so fucking frustrating!" He let out a frustrated grunt. And I stood there in utter horror watching the scene unfold in front of me. I couldn't believe my eyes as I watched Alaric's fist collide with the wall of the restaurant, I felt a surge of fear and sadness. His anger was palpable, radiating off him in waves that seemed to fill the entire room. The argument we had been having had escalated quickly, fueled by our stubbornness and pride. But as I looked at Alaric, his hand now bruised and sore from the impact, my anger began to soften. Despite his arrogance and domineering nature, there was a vulnerability to him in that moment that I couldn't ignore. I knew that I had contributed to his outburst, and I felt a pang of guilt for pushing him to that point. Approaching him tentatively, I reached out a hand to touch his bruised knuckles. "Let me help you with that," I said softly, my voice filled with genuine concern. Alaric looked at me, his eyes softening slightly as he nodded.

I quickly flagged down a waitress and asked her for a cold compress that I could use to tend to his bruises. Gently, I took his hand in mine, inspecting the bruise. I could feel the tension in his muscles, but he didn't pull away. Carefully, I applied a cold compress to his hand, hoping to ease the pain and swelling. As I tended to his bruises, a sense of peace washed over me, replacing the anger and frustration that had consumed me moments before. I know how overwhelming emotions can be and I didn't help the situation either maybe he was dealing with his own bullshit that I was unaware of.

"Thank you for your help today," I began with his hand still in mine as I continued to apply the compress, "I'm sorry but I still don't understand why you're here," I stated looking up at him for answers.

"You forgot your medication that the doctor prescribed...and you weren't answering your phone, Maria told me where you were and I came to give it to you because you needed it...I don't know what came over me to react in this manner, I usually maintain my composure," He embarrassingly admitted as he flinched in pain that radiated from the blue-black bruises forming on the knuckles of his right hand.

My heart couldn't help but do backflips, he came all the way down here...to give me my medication that was prescribed by the doctor that he had called to take care of me while I was unconscious. All of my annoyance was some how disappearing into the background. "Thank you for your concern and assistance..." I trailed off, "I hope I can repay it soon,".

He stood there in deep concentration with his eyebrows furrowed while biting his bottom lip. "There is one thing you can do," he stated bluntly. I didn't expect him to have an answer this quickly much less actually wanting me to repay my dept and once again my anger resurfaced. How dare he barge into my date and ruin it with his arrogance, pride and stubbornness.

"Tell me about it tomorrow, during working hours," I snapped wittily, "thanks for the medication," I grabbed the small white paper bag that hanging out of his jacket pocket. I pulled myself away from him as he studied my every move, "I have a date that I need to get back to...and I need to repay this favour before I repay yours," and with that I walked away slowly, purposefully swaying my hips confidently. And while I was walking away, his gaze burned through the skin on my back as his eyes were glued onto me and with every step I took I could feel them following me with immaculate precision. And as I returned to my date with Juan Franco, I couldn't help but think...what Alaric Vanderfield had in store for me, what could he possibly want me to do in order to repay him?