Amber opened her eyes, and her mind suddenly confessed to sleeping right after she had taken a shower. More like he picked her up and they sat on the tube for an hour watching TV. She didn't remember most of it because of the wine they had while in the tub. She was so consumed by the attention he gave her, that she never question it. He looked like he needed something.
She moved her head to look beside her, Alex was still in sleep, his body turned towards her, his hand under his head and other slightly over her waist, his sunken eyes looked better now, and his chapped lips looked normal. His wet hair dried up and messy. Amber cursed in her mind thinking about what she does.
They weren't a couple. It was just sex, then why did she let him take care of her after it? Even if his face showed the desperation that he needed her to stay. She did not want to risk her emotions and feelings in it.
The sudden movement caught her attention and she sat up but winced at the soreness between her legs. Her legs felt numb and her body was exhausted. Her hair fell over her shoulder as she pulled the sheets to cover her chest. Alex laid on his back with his hand over his head knowing well enough that what they did was more than just sex. But he refused to admit it. He refused to say out loud that he needed her because she made him feel better.
And out of nowhere he did it again.
"It's late, just stay the night."
"But I can't-"
"Please. Just stay."
Amber knew it, he was unwell. He seemed emotionally drained. She nodded and search for her clothed but blushed, they were downstairs in the living room where he had sat her on the counter and kissed her with such passion and roughness. It seemed surreal.
Alex sat up pushing back his hair. Somehow that messy hair made him look more attractive, or maybe because she always saw him with a perfect appearance. He walked behind a wall and came back with a shirt and joggers placing them in front of her.
"It's eight, I'll make something for you"
He said before putting on a jogger and walking out himself leaving her alone. His voice was still damp. Like he wasn't okay yet. She wonders why in the world he would prefer she stay if he was so down.
His shirt obviously was huge on her but it covered her till her thighs, the long sleeves went over her hands and she pushed them back deciding to skip the joggers overall. After a quick mouth wash and freshening up, she grabbed her phone and replied to her work emails before grabbing Alex's phone and walking down. While walking down his phone rang.
Amber was used to answering his calls, but this was his personal phone. A women's name flashed across the screen.
'Alison'
Amber gulped, even if she had no idea who she was. Even if she had no relationship or authority knowing this woman there was a hint of sadness in her. There wasn't any moment when she saw Alex associated with another woman since he had been their boss. And of course, she had no reason to question anything in her position, but this was the first time she had seen a women's name pop up on his phone who was probably not a work relation because Amber knew everyone from that side. Perhaps not all..but the thought of him having an actual girl he was interested in did something to her. Maybe jealousy? She hated herself the minute she felt disappointed in seeing a women's name flash across his phone.
Nevertheless, she ignored her stupid thoughts and walked towards the kitchen at a faster pace.
Alex's bareback, with his muscular body, was all on the display. The tattoos covering his back were something saw very well the first time. It was the first time he had his back to her in white light.
"You have a call"
"Pick it up and tell them I am busy" He mumbled.
She bites her lip at his posture. It seemed like he had withdrawn himself from talking to anyone. She knew this after his manager called him but he had no heart to take the call. Letting it ring twice before his manager finally called Amber. There were countless phone calls Amber had gotten since Alex was absent from the office, which made it obvious that he had no interest in work that day.
"It's from someone called Alison"
Alex stopped what he was doing and turned his head around. Immediately walking over to Amber, his eyes flashed over her body and to her bare legs before he grabbed his phone and accepted the call walking directly to his study room across the hallways leaving Amber alone.
Somehow that hurt. She clenched her hand at the absurd emotions she was feeling. To get her head out of the gutter Amber walked to the kitchen counter and began to chop the veggies Alex had taken out. Soon he walked back out while still on the phone.
"Yeah. I am hanging up" he walked back towards the counter and suddenly leaned on the counter with his face to her. Watched her as she cut the onions. Amber stopped and glanced at him.
"Is everything okay?" She asked.
But his eyes stayed over her. She felt nervous, her feet shifted as she felt self-conscious. Her eyes fell to the floor, her heart somehow picked up its pace. Amber has indeed forgotten how his eyes affected her. They weren't showing any emotion. But they were several emotions that could hide within them.
"Been better" He casually stated and she frowned.
On the other hand, Alex spend his time thinking in circles after Alison called him. His stepmother had called to tell his Father's condition. They were moving him back to their cottage house away from the busy city and work. It was the best way to get him back to his lively state. The noise and stress produced in the city would only make it worse for him. His father needed a distraction, after being told to his wife that he was depressed and it would be best to give him some space from any work or noisy life they were leaving the city for a couple of weeks or months until he recovered.
Alison knew Alex would want to visit his father as soon as he was discharged. She wanted him to know where they were going and how much he wanted to see Alex.
"Um-If it's nothing personal, maybe talking about it will help."
Alex stayed quiet, still with his eyes on her. Suddenly Amber felt like she had gone too far and stepped over the line. Immediately regretting her words she blinked and fidgetted with her fingers.
"Sorry. It's none of my business" She whispered looking away.
"I won't beat around the bush, even if I went in circled it would be hard to say it. And I don't want you to take it the wrong way and I don't want to do it the wrong way,"
His words brought her attention back to him.
"I wanted to ask you for a....a favour"