Chapter 6 : Feelings

After sending Hope to Sarah's house just next to hers, Alissa quickly took a shower to be ready for the dinner tonight. Once she was done, she gently dried herself and sat in Ron tof her dresser. 

Her eyes drifted to the Ralp Lauren pretty gift bag she has taken from Daniel's chauffeur. Unlike his boss, Randy was a friendly guy despite being super intimidating with his shaved head and burly muscles that stretch out his suit. He would be better suited to be Daniel's bodyguard rather than a driver.

From the way he observe her when they've met earlier and had her called 'Mrs. Walton', she could've swore that there is a look of acceptance in his eyes. As if any of that matters because she would be always remain as a Perez than having that horrible family name.

Thinking about her whole day at the office, she was super annoyed at how Daniel couldn't stop being a pain in the ass. Asking her to repeatedly remake his coffee because it was too bitter and later end up being too sweet and making her going back and forth to hand in files or finish some work in such a limited time like what the heck is wrong with him? In fact, he even told her something that made her wanted to pour the hot coffee on his head.

"You know, being someone's wife, you should know how to make a simple coffee for your husband. The way to man's heart is through his stomach after all. You don't seem to do that right yet. Don't worry, practices makes perfect. I'm a patient husband." He had the audacity to smile when he say that.

That misogynistic ass****. As if she wants to stay married to him. Once she gets all the matters in her life settled, she will immediately file for divorce before getting too involve with him seeing he was the only person that has affected her emotionally. Why? She has no idea.

Opening the package, she was astonished to see a beautiful black dress with sequence top that has form fitting long sleeve and a smooth satin  skirt that has a long split on the its left. It was such a gorgeous dress and it would be such a waste knowing the dress would only be worn for this night. She made a mental note to return the dress later even though she has already fall in love with it.

Looking at the mirror, she stare at her reflection. From her cheek, her overall skin and her body. Alissa was grateful for her mother's gene that she was able to maintain her small figure after giving birth. Sure her breast did grew by a few cup size and her waist has flare a bit, she has nothing to complain. She looks good.

Her skin was the same milky white as it was before and blemish free. Again, another good genes she have gotten from her mother but again, she was only 21 years old.

Thinking back to her journey before she started working for Gregory made her sigh. The hours spent waiting on tables, staying at women's shelter and getting into a part time college classes was tough. Now that she has finally got her shit together to care for her daughter and currently paying for her small house, she was at peace.

Sure she doesn't own a lot but she was grateful. She had enough. Alissa has create a better life for herself compare to what she has before but she will always treasure that memories, even the hardest of times especially the one she had spend with her mother.

A part of her kinda forgives the Walton s', putting her and her family in a cruel situation. Her faith has made it easier to accept that her mother would have eventually die due to cancer if she didn't commit suicide since she was at the final stage but another part of her is still holding grudges against William Walton for pushing her to that extent.

He was a cruel man through and through and she wasn't shock that his son would be like him. Except for Daniel. He was different.It was never his fault and they were young. He misunderstood and seem to be sorry about it.

Sighing, Alissa push away all her complicated thoughts that she seem to be having lately, into an imaginary closet inside her brain. She dried her hair, blow dry it and style it into a donut bun. She wore a simple teardrop pearl earrings and put on her dress. She look at herself into the mirror once again and she blush.

You know the feeling when you know you look gorgeous but you don't really want to say it out loud just because people would think you are too full of yourself? Well, she felt every moment of that. Nothing wrong with feeling that way.

She went to her bed and took out the shoes Daniel has given to her as well and she sucked in deep breath looking at the gorgeous embellished heel peep toe T strap platform sandals she had once glance through at the window in Macy. She put it on and smile at how it fits her feet. Comfortable and gorgeous, kinda hard to find a heel with such features nowadays.

When Alissa heard her door bell rang, she frowned at who had visit her at this hour. She quickly ran to her door with her tall heels (pretty sturdy it seems ) and opens the door without peeking at the peephole.

She regretted not doing so seeing Daniel freakin Walton is standing in front of her apartment with his business casual outfit. A simple white shirt with his coat hanging over his arm . He wore a long black khaki pants which hug his leg perfectly. Not too tight, not too lose either.

Everything about his look was perfect. That bright blue eyes staring back at her and his dimples, damn that dimples for making her blushing. Not forgetting  the huge bouquet of rose he tries so hard to hide behind his back.

He didn't seem to be affected by her expression because his mouth was open wide, as if in shock and his eyes was lingering at her body from bottom up. She could've swore he had a blush on his face but he quickly cough and divert her attention to the object behind her.

"Is that a pink tricycle behind you?" He ask.

Alissa gasped, forgotten about Hope pink tricycle. She quickly closes her door and crossed her arm.

"You came here without telling me and the first thing you do is peek at my house without my permission? " She raised one brow and glare at him.

Daniel raised both of his brow and gave the bouquets to her. "Yeah, I um..sorry. I forgot to let you know that I'll be picking you up.  Randy is waiting for us at the lobby. I got you a flower. Hope you like it."

She couldn't help but smile and took the bouquet from his hand. It was sweet of him and she gave him that. However...

"Thank you. It's pretty but if it's another one of your way to not grant me that divorce, I'm sorry to tell you that it won't work. Plus, we are going to a business dinner aren't we, so it's not really necessary."

He snorted, "You know. A simple thank you is enough and I brought that for you because I think it's appropriate to bring you a gift for my first time visiting your home. You still getting ready yet?"

"I'm good. I just need to grab my purse and I'm all set." She opens the door to her home but quickly stops when Daniel tries to enter with her. She blocked his way by sterching her hand to the door which resulted in a frown from him.

"You can't come in."

"But why? Nervous? I won't bite, not unless you want me too." He grin while saying that which he quickly regrets when he see how her expression has change.

"I would appreciate it if you don't use that kind of reference with me."

"Shit! I'm..ugh..I'm so sorry, Alissa. I forgot. I didn't mean to offend you. I_"

"That's fine. Let me go grab my purse and we'll go. Just stay here." She told him in a strict tone before getting her purse in her bedroom. She steps out of her apartment and lock her door.

Daniel follows her from behind quietly and they enter the empty elevator together. They didn't look at each other once they are inside and the tension between them was so thick it can be cut with a knife. He chose to broke the silence.

"You look really beautiful tonight."

Alissa hesitate for a second but caved in eventually. "Thank you. It's the dress really. I'll make sure to get it cleaned up before returning it to you by this week."

He chuckled. "I don't know about you but I don't think my body would fit in that dress. It's yours, agapi mou. I want you to have it."

She turn her gaze at him. "Why do you keep calling me that?'

"Call you what?"

"Agapi mou? I know what it means so I don't think its the right endearment to use seeing you don't even have feelings for me. Guilt and infatuation is two different thing, Mr Walton."

He snickered. "Since when did you become a psychic?"

"So what I say is true then?"

"If that's what you believe agapi mou, I can't do anything about that but I know how I feel about you. Nothing you can say would change that."

"And how do you feel about me?" She asked him. Curiosity got a hold on her.

When the door to the elevator opens, Daniel grin at her and nonchalantly walk out of the elevator, leaving her speechless and annoyed. They entered his 2019 BMW 3 Series and drove away, leaving Alissa wondering about how Daniel Walton, her legal estranged husband actually feels about her.