Bonus chapter 29

Pulling up in the driveway she parked her car and killed the engine. Taking three deep breaths as she tried to get her raging nerves into control. This was perhaps one of the scariest thing she was ever going to face.

It didn't help that she had only managed to achieve three hours of sleep last night. She had just been tossing and turning and finally at 3 in the morning she gave up the task of falling asleep. Throwing off her covers and grabbing her house-coat off the board she tiptoed down the stairs and into the kitchen for a glass of grape juice.

Sighing she took a sip and her mind wandered on the whirlwind and the tornado that was her life.

Alexander would just not leave her alone. He had been so persistent. She had no idea when or how and most importantly why he had taken such an interest in her. Her thoughts went back to the first day that she had set her eyes on him. It was a mistake, 'a wonderful mistake' though she will never be vocal and admit it to anyone. By fortune or by curse she was yet to decide, by chance they had literally run into each other at the dry cleaners. Months ago, she had just returned after picking up a dress from the dry cleaners. She was ready to pull out of the street when she felt the impact of a car behind her. Quickly getting out, she stepped out of the car just as he was. She was a bit ticked off and frightened for the person in the car. Walking out of his black Ferrari was a blond young man.

He was recognizable but she couldn't pinpoint where she had seen him. They exchanged pleasantries and numbers after making sure that they were both unhurt and they drove off. She didn't give it much thought as she was shooting episodes for her new cooking show.

On the premiere freaking out in her dressing room, a stage hand came with a bouquet of daisies. Gasping at the beautiful arrangement she read the note signed "Glad to see our little crash didn't interfere with your performance. Break a leg. A. T."

She remembered there and then who he was and couldn't help the smile that came to her lips. 'How sweet' she thought to herself and tuck the note into her purse. She still hadn't found out who exactly Alex Tay was. She recognized the name.

All that she knew was that he was a rich young man that probably was spoilt.

The coming weeks, had gone without any other event between the two of them. She tried to stay away from the public which meant declining any invitations to restaurant openings or social events. Fate decided to intervene and they found themselves in the same bakery. They had shared a cup of coffee and some muffins over an interesting conversation.

To her delight found him to be a sweet, funny and charming man. The shared a couple of the same interest like tennis, food and TV shows. From then on they had been talking nonstop, calling, texting and meeting for lunch. It was a gratifying feeling to know that she had a friend. They talked about a lot of things.

Eventually, she had found out who he was, an actor, and a fine one at that. But they still kept in touch. She almost, almost felt human again. Her daughter still had no idea that she knew him before she did. It seemed unimportant.

She had no idea when his attraction as more than a friend started. All she knew was that one day he had called and asked her out to dinner. Thinking nothing more as a dinner between friends she had accepted and they had met at Leuver. The conversation had been great and the company splendid. They had cracked jokes and at the end of the night. He insistent that he drop her home instead of her taking a taxi. Like a gentleman he was. He had walked her to her door and she was in the process of thanking him for a lovely evening when out of nowhere he had silenced her with a kiss.

She couldn't say a word she had been in too much shock.

Then he smiled and then walked back to his car and drove off honking at her. She walked to her room in daze. She didn't know what to think of Alex's kiss. Where did that come from?

That was certainly not a kiss between two friends. She enjoyed his company but she was uncomfortable to where this new relationship was going. What had he been thinking?

Was it an accident, had she led him on without knowing? Or maybe he just kissed her out of pity? Whatever it was, she had to put a stop to it there and then. It was painful, because he was one of the few friends she had but she knew that was what was best. For both of them.

So the next morning, she put her plan into action and started to ignore him completely, his text messages, calls and even emails. It had worked for a month and she thought she had passed the awkwardness. Then something bad had happened, Diane had been out with the boys and feeling lonely, she decided to do something to keep her company, cooking. She was whipping up a storm when the doorbell rang. It couldn't possibly be Diane she was to be gone for two days at a family resort. Opening the door, there was Alex looking handsome in a blue shirt and jeans and holding a bottle of white wine.

Alex. What are you doing here" she questioned. She had thought that he had gotten the message by now.

"I came for dinner. You are looking beautiful love" barging in and giving her a kiss on the cheek. Walking into the house like he owned the place

"Alex" quickly shutting the door and chasing after him. She found him in the kitchen going through the cupboards.

"What are you doing?" she asked.

"Looking for two glasses to pour the wine in" he answered.

"I mean in my house" she demanded.

"I thought that you would need some company. You know being alone since Diane is gone" he answered finally finding the glasses.

"How did you know that?"

"I was the one who suggested it" he said simply uncorking the bottle wine and pouring it into one of the glasses.

"What?" she whispered. This guy could not serious.

"Well since you have been avoiding me I figured this was the best way to get to you and some time alone. Just the two of us. So when Diane was talking about the long vacation I merely suggested that she should spend some quality time her kids. Just mother and son. No grandmothers" he smirked.

"Alex I want you to leave" she said firmly.

"No"

"Alex. I am being serious. I am demanding that you leave right now or l'm calling the police" she threatened. She had no plan to follow through with the threat and he was very well aware of that.

He had the nerve to laugh at her feeble threat. Long story short he had stayed for dinner. It was not all that bad. It was like old times, laughing and joking around. He had helped clean up and then he went home after giving her a kiss on the cheek. She supposed that was the end of it and that it was all behind her and they were back in the friendship zone.

It was not to be. Alex would not get the term 'friendship zone'.

He took her out on private dates. If she ever denied and not show he would stalk her and badger her until she gave in.

She tried her absolutely best to stay away from him but it never happened. He would play dirty until he got his way, he threatened, tricked and used every dirty trick ever invented to get her to go out with him. Like the time he had called her to come pick him up because he had gone to the dentist and there was no one to drive him home and he was still drowsy from the drugs. Her compassion had gotten the best of her and she had driven to pick him up. There he was standing there all drowsy like and he had given her directions to his place and then drowsed off to sleep. She had punched the location into the GPS and it was maddening to see that it had taken her to a shipping bay. She was thinking that the GPS had misled her. She was looking around her trying to find where he was when he threw the passenger door open and ran up to her side and unbuckled her seatbelt then gently but firmly dragged her out of the car.