My Most Precious One (21 page)

“I’m fine, good actually, but I’m itching to get back to work.” I said excitedly.

“Ah sweetie we missed you too, but I was calling to see if maybe you wanted some more time off. You still have one more week and I wanted you to enjoy your man over there.” I grew agitated.

“Philip I need the money and I love working there, are you trying to get rid of me?”

He scoffed. “Are you crazy, get rid of you, you’re the head waitress and my sweetheart. I just wanted you to have some more time off. Alexia, it’s been a few years and you finally have someone, just enjoy it because when you come back your ass belongs to me.” Lukas stirred looking at me with narrowed eyes, shit he heard the last comment.

“Philip, I appreciate why you’re doing this, I really do, but I need the money and I really would love to come back. I miss you guys.” I breathed playing with my hair, why was I feeling so insecure right now?

“Alright, fine, come back to work, usually time.” He huffed.

“Thanks again Philip, it really meant a lot to me that you thought of me like that, but I’d rather work.” I said softly.

“See you tomorrow. Kisses.” He cried out on the phone.

“Kisses.” I relied.

“If he offered you more time you should have taken it.” Lukas leaned to one side looking at me, propped on his elbow.

“Lukas I need to pay my bills and continue with my life.” I continued to play with my hair. The feeling of being insecure was now plaguing me.

“I know that. I just hated knowing you took time off from work for this, instead of me taking you somewhere exotic and nice, not to nurse the wounds I caused you.” He exhaled. He rolled back covering his eyes with his arm. I put my phone down and scooted over to him. I found my nook the one I missed so much.

“Its fine, I’ll take time off next year, it’s not a big deal.” He took my arms and rolled us over so that he was on top of me.

“Next year? Not a big deal?” He hissed. “Alexia, you are my number one priority, there’s no way I’m going to have you work yourself to the bone as a waitress, especially when you will have a masters in archaeology? As for your bills, I’ll pay for them.” He said in a serious tone.

“Thanks, but I won’t have you pay for me and what I do with my work doesn’t concern you.” I fired back.

“Like hell it doesn’t, your mine, mine to take care of, mine to protect. I won’t have my woman slaving away when I have more money than that of a small country.” He said bluntly.

“Lukas” I scoffed.

“No discussion Alexia.”

Niko

Work was awesome. I missed the girls more than anything, I was glad to be back.

“So where did he take you?” Kaci asked.

“Nowhere, we just spend time together. He needed to work and I thought it be nice to just stay with him.” It was a lie and I rarely lied to Kaci, but I just couldn’t tell her what had happened. I didn’t want the pity look. I was going to tell her, but not right now.

“I don’t believe you.” She said eyeing me. “You lost a serious amount of weight and you don’t look like you just came off two weeks of sex heaven.” She pulled on my arm took me aside.

“What happened?” She asked.

“Nothing” I squirmed.

She squinted “I call bullshit.” I swallowed hard.

“Later” I finally said.

Kaci nodded. “Damn right later.”

She pointed at her table “I’ll be back, we’ll make plans for tonight, maybe we’ll watch the last twilight movie and make fun of it, like we did the with the rest of them, cool?” I forced a smile.

“Ok.” Why did she have to do this to me? I seriously wasn’t in the mood the rehash all this.

Roxi smiled. “So? When are you going to tell me what fucken happened, you little shit? There is no marathon sex smell on you. Kaci is right something’s up and bitch you are so going to tell me.” She was irritated.

“Kaci is coming over tonight.” I said.

“I’ll call Peter telling him I’m going to your place and you better not fucken lie, cause right now I’m so pissed at you.” She walked away leaving me anxious about what exactly would happen tonight when they found out.

“What?” Yelled Roxi.

“You have to be fucken kidding me!” Cried out Kaci. “So after that you stayed here alone?” She hissed.

Roxi stood up and paced “I’m so fucken angry at you right now, I can’t see straight, all that shit happened and you didn’t think to call or lean on us.” She stood in front of me. “Oh don’t you dare start crying, I swear Lexi, it doesn’t work with me. So now what?” Roxi asked and I shrugged. I guess fake tears only work on men.

“I love him too much, my brain still doesn’t really accept this, but the rest of me does.”

Roxi rolled her eyes. “Tell him to get lost, sayonara, bye bye.” She waved her hand at me.

“Roxi come on, it’s not that easy for everyone. What if what he says is true. What? She should give up wanting to be with him. Shit happens sometimes it’s out of our control.” Kaci stated.

“I don’t want him screwing her over.” Roxi turned to Kaci and bit out.

I stood up and hugged her. “I get it really I do, but I love him Roxi. It feels like I can’t move on with my life if he’s not in it. I need him, just support me. If he screws up again then I give you the right to go all terminator on his ass.” She pushed me back.

“Fucken right I will.” She threatened.

We talked some more about everything that happened. Kaci really saw it the way Lukas did, but Roxi was wary. Nervous that I might be going down a path I wasn’t ready for. We picked up the dishes and I began rinsing them out, loading them into the dishwasher, when a knock came at my door. Roxi opened it without looking, Lukas stood in front of her.

“Lukas” She bit out. I watched as he stood at the door.

“Roxi.” He said cautiously. I turned to her in Greek and told her to behave. She argued, but relented.

Both Kaci and Roxi left quickly afterwards. The awkwardness had gotten to all of us. He closed the door as they walked out.

“I guess I have to win them back too?” he asked. I bit my lower lip, I felt stupid for telling them, but I needed them more then I realized.

“Roxi more than Kaci, just buy something for Kaci. Roxi won’t be easy, but she’s important to me so you have to make an effort.” I said and he nodded.

“So you know. I had the same talk with them too. I told Roxi that if you ever fuck up again that she has carte blanche.” I warned him.

He walked over to me hugging me tightly. “I’m never going to fuck up again.”

It was Saturday morning and the sun shined brightly even though it had rained last night. The cobble stone roads of Old Montréal glistened from the downpour. Even the sounds and smells of summer were heightened by last night’s storm. My shift finished early, which I was grateful for since Stella had asked me to cover for her this weekend. Lukas was not too pleased, but held his tongue. I took out my phone and texted him.

Was cut early, going 2 stellas see u later


I walked into the café and the best barista in town was working. Diane had won various competitions when it came to coffee. Stella fell in love with her instantly and they became fast friends, nevertheless, I loved working with her too. She had no filter and said whatever came to mind. She sported a full sleeve. Her tats were beautiful and well thought out. She was a perfect 50’s pin up girl, and she dressed the part to the tee.

“Hey girlfriend.” She waved. “Heard that you’ll be working here while the boss lady takes some much needed time off.”

“Yeah, she wrangled me into it, but I insisted I’d only work with you and none of the noobs.”

She laughed. “Yeah I know! They’re a pain in my ass. No one has fucken pride in their work anymore.” I took an apron and tied it around me.

“I know, you should have seen the crap that walked into the bistro, some didn’t even have experience.” I scoffed.

We laughed as we shared our stories, she would tell me all about her ‘adventures’ as she called them, mostly with pierced and tattoo clad guys. Damn, she lived an interesting life.

“Yeah and then when we were done, I told him to leave.” She said bluntly. I rolled my eyes at her.

“Do me the favour and stop inviting them over to your apartment.” She ignored me and turned the steamer of the espresso machine louder.

“Diane, are you listening to me?” She only turned it higher.

“I think she’s ignoring you.” I jerked and saw Niko smiling at me as he nudged his head towards her direction.

“What are you doing here?’ I asked exasperated by his efforts, the man seriously didn’t get a clue. He kept calling me and I kept disregarding his calls. What bigger clue did he need?

“Getting coffee and wanting to see you.” I almost gagged at his comment.

“I’m just guessing, but my mother must have told you I was here.”

He smiled. “She relentless, I can tell you that much.”

I nodded my head, biting at my lips. “So are you.” I replied, but he said nothing. “Ah, are you going to order or just stand there?” I snapped.

I saw Diane out of the corner of my eye as she walked over to me.

“Double espresso, long.” I leaned my head towards her.

“I’m assuming you heard that?” I said sarcastically, since she was ignoring me before.

“One double espresso long for the douche, yeah I finally heard.” She laughed and I giggled.

He gave me a twenty and told me to keep the change. I rolled my eyes again at his effort at acting cool. He waited at the service counter as Diane finished his espresso.

“Why don’t you come and join me?” He asked as he held up his cup. I shook my head no.

“Sorry I’m busy with the customers.” I shrugged.

He looked around, but there was no one in the store. “Busy? Really?”

“Yeah she’s busy douche, get a hint.” Diane said dismissively towards him, as she waved her hand at him to leave.

“He knows you dating that uber hot guy right?” I watched as he sat right in front of my station.

“Yeah, he does.” I sighed. She shivered as she followed my line of sight.

“There’s this creepy air about him, like he thinks his hot but seriously he’s not.” She said in a disgusted manner.

“Trying to rhyme?” I asked.

“Making an effort. Like?” She asked me.

“Needs work.” I offered.

“I figured.” She answered.

We both laughed and continued our conversation about her ‘assorted adventures’.

“Fine! I’ll fucken stop bringing them over.” She relented.

“Hallelujah!” I cried out.

“Just go to a motel, at least it slightly safer in the sense the guy doesn’t know where you live.” I continued to lecture her.

“You should listen to her.” Niko cried out from his seat, at least four hours had passed and he was now on his third cup of coffee.

“Seriously Lexi, is the fucker going to leave?” Diane thumbed towards his direction while she looked at me.

“I have a feeling his waiting for me to finish my shift.” I looked at the time and I still had an hour to go. Lukas had a surprise for me and I was completely excited.

We ignored his presence until the faithful hour that I needed to leave. I whispered to Diane, that I’d see her tomorrow, not wanting him to hear me. She was working a double shift, taking charge of the night crew.

She winked. “Go out the back.” She lowered her voice as she pointed to the front door, I guess in an attempt to confuse him. I had a staff member take my stuff with them to make it seem it was theirs, to the back of the store and I followed a few minutes after. Niko was engrossed with some phone call and didn’t notice me slip out the back. I hurried taking off my apron and walked right out to the alley. Some of the night crew were out smoking and I wished them a good night and left.

It was around seven o’clock at night and the sun was still up, my phone vibrated and I reached for it.

You ignore my calls but you can’t ignore my texts. Trademark move for you to avoid me, I’ll be back until we have this talk. Niko

Something inside me snapped. I was completely irritated by this man. I wanted to go home and see Lukas, but I needed this stupid thing with Niko to be over with. I marched back to the café with a determination in me that I seldom had. As I reached and pulled the door, I almost ramming into Niko who stood right before me, surprised that I was there.

“You. In. Now.” I pointed inside.

We sat right back down at the table he had occupied for past five hours. Diane gave me a look and made sure she was close to me, just in case I needed her.

“I don’t know who the hell you think you are by stalking me, but I’m not interested. I am dating someone else and I have no thoughts about you in any shape way or form. To be honest, when you do appear before me or when I get a call or a text, all I feel is irritation and disgust. Do you understand now?” I enunciated the last part so that I could make him realize how tired I was of all this..

“I want you.” He murmured.

I sighed heavily. “I want to be a millionaire and live on a secluded island in the Mediterranean, but guess what? We don’t always get what we want. I am seriously not interested.” I fired back. He looked away then back at me.

“I still want you.” He narrowed his eyes at me. I raised my hands up in defeat and looked at Diane.

“Seriously?!” I said to Diane and pointed at him. “I can’t win.” I shook my head taking my bag and leaving him in the café, but he followed quickly.

“Look Alexia, just give me a chance, you’ll see that I’m a better suited for you.”

I was walking as fast as I could, but he matched my pace. “I get it, you love him, but love fades, but I can be there for you for the long run. Alexia!” He screamed after me. “Be with him now when it runs its course I’ll be waiting for you. You’ll see, you’ll have a better life with me than with him. Alexia…” His words trailed off and I turned around to punch him square in the face, but Jacob and Lukas stood between us.

“If you don’t leave her alone, I will make sure that you lose everything that is important to you. First, I will call the cops and make sure there is a restraining order placed. Secondly, your precious import export company will be quickly and effortlessly bought out from under you.” Lukas was two inches from his face.

“Now you listen to me very carefully. Alexia was born to be mine and mine alone. You will never have her, so be a good little boy and walk away or by this time tomorrow everything you worked for will be mine.” Lukas seethed. Niko almost tripped over his own feet, as he stepped back trying to wind up his punch to hit Lukas. Lukas dodged it and punched him in the ribs. Niko double over in pain.

“I told you to leave. You’re the one making it harder on yourself.” Lukas hissed. Niko raised his head “I’m fighting for what I want.” He gritted out.

Lukas lowered himself and peered down at Niko. “I’m fighting for what’s mine.” He stood up and looked over at me. His eyes told me he was not happy with me at the moment. He walked over and took my hand.

“Lukas…” I said, but he didn’t bother to look at me.

“Don’t.” He hissed. He dragged me to the Q7 while Jacob followed right behind. He slammed the door as he sat next to me, his body turned away from me. His arm leaned up against the window as his hand covered his mouth.

“Lukas.” I whispered, but he disregarded me.

“Lukas.” I tried again.

“Not one word.” Was all he uttered.

We rode the short distance to my condo in complete silence. Jacob opened my door, letting me out. I was working on how we were going to deal with this problem. He was going to yell at me for sure and I was going to yell back. I stepped out. Jacob offered me a faint smile as he closed the door. I walked to the sidewalk, waiting for Lukas, but all I saw was Jacob getting back into the car. I was going to walk over to get Lukas’s door, but they drove off leaving me behind. I stood there on the sidewalk of my condo shocked, like I was stripped naked.

On no he didn’t, was the only thing that went through my mind. I reached for my phone, and called him, but he didn’t answer. I was in raging bitch mode. First, I was fucken tired waking up at five in the morning and working a doubt shift today on top of being stalked, now this. Forget it, I was going to murder someone and that someone was him. Before I could press redial, my phone rang, without looking, I answered it.

“Alexia!” My mother screamed. Could this day get any better? No seriously, I’m asking?

“What?” I barked. She silenced herself and waited.

“I don’t have the time nor the want to do this with you. Stop acting like a matchmaker and act like a mother who loves her daughter. Your daughter is in love with a stubborn man and wants him. Not any fucken loser you think is better suited for me. I’m not fucken interested in anything you have to say. If it’s not to say, how was your day? Did you make money? Did you have fun? Then don’t fucken call me anymore.” I hung up the phone on my mother and stormed up to my condo.