An Intangible Pattern - Fate Bound.

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"You don't like him?" prodded Jess.

Alex reigned in the urge to snap at her and said, "I'm not interested in dating him, if that's what you're asking."

"Really? I'd have thought he'd be your type: brainy, stoic, quiet..."

"Yes, quiet: we've barely even spoken to one another. Sorry to disappoint you, but there's nothing exciting going on."

"Leave it out Jess. You're not on the clock, so stop trying to matchmake." Robert chastised, throwing a pillow at her. She squawked as it hit her in the face.

"Honestly, alphas are wasted on you lot! I'd be on that before he could finish saying hello," she huffed.

Rob snorted, "Which is why you can't find a boyfriend, they're all terrified of you!"

Jess threw the pillow back at him, "I can get a man no problem, I'm just busy with my career right now!"

"If you say so!"

"I do say so. I'm a god damn catch!"

"Yeah, like the cold."

"Dickhead." She sulked.

Robert laughed at her and opened another bottle.

"All done," said Alex as she tied off the last braid in Jess's hair and stood up.

Cat looked up inquiringly, "Where are you going?"

"Need to pee."

"Oh."

Once secluded in the bathroom, Alex let out a long breath.

I shouldn't have come.

She knew Jess meant nothing by it, she knew she wouldn't joke around if she knew the truth and she only had herself to blame for the situation she was in.

Please say that's the end of it. Please say she's given up!

She couldn't hide in the bathroom all night, so she took a last deep breath, opened the door and came face to face with Rob. She started in surprise.

"Wow! Am I such a fright to behold?"

"I just didn't expect you to be lurking behind the door, you weirdo!"

"I came to check you were alright." He whispered.

"I'm fine."

"Come with me, we should talk," he said gently.

"What about Cat and Jess?"

"They're busy talking about Arthur. They won't miss us for five minutes."

She followed him into his bedroom and he guided her to his walk in wardrobe.

"Welcome to the closet!" He flicked on the light and gestured with affected flamboyance at the rails of colorful clothing.

"I'm confused."

"The clothes will dampen our voices."

"Do you spend a lot of time in closets," she inquired archly.

"Ha! Not since I was fifteen." He pulled down a gold sequin blazer and held it out for her to try on, then brought down a brocade waistcoat for himself and slipped it over his T-shirt.

Alex raised an eyebrow at him, "What are we doing?"

"Fashion, darling," he turned a fez over in his hands and held it out to her, "pick something for me."

She selected a diamante tie from a hook by the mirror.

"Nice choice," he handed her a lurid pink feather boa.

"Where would you wear this?"

He shrugged, "Found it on the dancefloor. It must have belonged to someone on a hen night."

She pulled down a smoking jacket made of oriental silk and passed it to him, "That's pretty."

"There's a really good vintage boutique in old town, I'll take you there someday. Sit down," he indicated the ottoman under the dressing table and she did as she was asked.

He pulled out a pallete of brightly coloured eyeshadows and a roll of makeup brushes.

"Close your eyes, oh don't look at me like that, I know what I'm doing."

"Alright," she agreed.

She felt him gently sweep over her eyelids with a soft brush.

"So, do you want to tell me what's going on?" He murmured cautiously as he worked.

She shrugged and he tutted as the brush slipped under her eye.

"Sorry."

"It's easily fixed." He reassured her, wiping away the stray eyeshadow with a wet wipe.

Alex was silent as she tried to assemble her thoughts, it was difficult to know where to start.

"Has he hurt you again," asked Rob softly.

"No, not really. It's just hard to explain."

"Open your eyes."

She looked up into his dark, concerned eyes and sighed, she hated that she made him worry about her, "We have... an agreement until he can find a way to make it stop."

"I could just kill him."

"Don't be melodramatic."

"I mean it."

She shook her head.

"I hate it," he muttered darkly, "I feel like he's cornered you and now he's getting everything he wants."

"He doesn't want this," she muttered.

"That's what he tells you. He could have just left the country and never come back; but he didn't. I don't trust him, I think he's playing with you."

"It's not that simple."

"Isn't it?"

"No, he is working on the problem, it's just way too big."

"He could be lying."

"I don't think he is."

"And meanwhile he can do what he wants to you?"

"No. It's only happened two more times and he uh..." she blushed and felt ridiculous: Rob had told her far more embarrassing things without batting an eye, "he was restrained both times. It was a case of just getting it out of the way so we could act normal."

Rob looked at her sadly, "That's not how it should be, Alex. You shouldn't have to just, 'Get it out of the way,'" he sighed and lifted up a lush green eyeliner, "look up...sex is supposed to be fun. You deserve better than this."

"Please don't," she muttered and her eyes began to tear up, "I'll wreck your work."

"It's just makeup," he put the liner pencil back down and lifted her chin, "it's waterproof anyway. Green looks good on you, it brings out the amber in your eyes."

She blinked and looked in the mirror, he was right, the gold flecks around her pupils glowed next to their emerald frame.

"You don't have to hide things from me, Alex. I won't lie, I want to beat the shit out of him, but it is safe to come and talk to me."

"I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologize, I shouldn't have pushed you to tell anyone before you were ready. I won't do that anymore, just don't try to keep it a secret from me."

"And if I'm never ready?"

"I'll run him over."

"Please don't do that."

"Rob? Alex? Are you here?" called Jess.

Rob mouthed, "ready?"

Alex nodded.

"We're in here." He called out.

Jess poked her head round the door and burst out laughing.

"What the fuck are you wearing?"