Alliance

The Deal

~Chapter Four~

She stopped the car and quietly climbed out, throwing her purse over her shoulder she took a deep breath and walked towards the building. The events of yesterday had left Victoria with puffy eyes and a hell of a heart ache. Every girl dreamt about their wedding day, they dreamt about that one handsome man that would come into their lives and sweep them off their feet. Victoria had waited for that day since she was old enough to understand love. Now it all seemed to be in vain to have dreamt a night and shining armor, a prince charming. Sure Alex was very handsome man, but he lacked charm, character, and most of all respect. A guy like that never thought of being tied down at least until their mid thirties or sometimes never. She knew things weren't going to be easy, but maybe she could strike a friendship with the guy and help him see that she was willing to negotiate.

She tried prying Alex off her mind and put they key into the lock pushing the door open. Immediately she was hit with the sweet scent of bread and frosting. She went about the small shop flicking on all the lights, and then made her way into the kitchen. Taking a seat on a stool she placed both elbows over the table and smiled as a memory of her childhood entered her mind. This business had been in her family for generations since the eighteen hundreds. Of course repairs had been made but her father had always wanted it to stay in its original design.

It was a small bakery shop, one that was nearly swallowed up by the other giant stores. Its brick walls gave the place a warm feeling, as black and white picture frames were hung on the walls to show the customer the shops history. A few of her great grandfather's photographs hung on the wall, standing next to the giant cakes this bakery use to see out. But folks around here had stopped coming by seeing that they could buy a made cake for cheaper at other stores.

She rose off the stool to see that the time read eight o'clock and went to flip the sign over waiting for someone to stop by. There hadn't been a customer for weeks and she feared that if things kept up that way they would soon go into closing. She sat at the front register for a moment and then decided to give the glossy wooden floor a moping just in case. When more time passed she went about cleaning the windows and the glass shelf that displayed a few cake designs. When the door jingled she spun around to face the customer.

"Alexander?" She blurted out. Alex's jaw clenched and he let out a sigh as he crossed his arms and inspected the small bakery.

"So...I'm supposed to come and pick you up." He mumbled.

"Excuse me?"

"Come on stop acting dumb and just get in the car." He said.

"I'm confused, who told you to pick me up?" She asked. She pulled up her sleeves and continued to wipe at the glass counter.

"What, your parent's didn't tell you that we were supposed to be, getting to know each other." He quoted with his fingers the last sentence.

"I'm sorry, no...and besides I cannot leave, there will be no one to watch the bakery." She replied.

"This bakery hasn't seen a costumer in centuries." He dryly pointed out.

She eyed him from head to toe. He dressed in a pair of jeans, an open baby blue sweat shirt that revealed a simple muscle shirt underneath and a pair of sun glasses over his feathery hair. He reeked of money as she noticed the gold chain around his neck , the heavy encrusted diamond watch on his wrist, and the expensive cologne overpowering the smell of the lemon scented cleaning rag in her hand.

Victoria felt her face redden at his comment but knew deep down he was right.

"Look are you coming or not, because I'm gone." He asked.