TWENTY-FOUR

“Staying out late again? You’ll want to wound up dead like your pathetic parent don’t you?”. Her aunt’s words had pierced her heard like a sword. She had felt like screaming and telling her to leave her parents out of it but she was tipsy, and she needed to get some sleep.

She had just returned from the very first wild party she had attended; she had had a drink or two and she hadn’t been quite used to the lightheadedness that came with alcohol. In a way, it was blissful, it numbed her thoughts and calmed her in a way which had been unfamiliar to her for a very long time. But at the same time, it made her nauseous and completely exhausted.

“Goodnight Aunt Def”. She said quietly as she made her way around her and headed up to tacky basement she had been living in since she came here.

Her aunt, Defne Harris was her father’s cousin, they had never been really close but she was the only available relative to send Yalda to after her parents died. Yalda hated everything about her, she hated the house and everyone that lived in in; herself included. She hadn’t seen or heard from Defne and her children in a long time, and she was rather surprised when she dreamt of them.

Her mood had been wretched the very second she woke up; a frown had etched her face and darkness had crept into her eyes as she lay there staring up at the one ceiling. The smell of antiseptics did nothing to make her feel better, for one, it reminded her of the day she had been called to the hospital when her parents had been in an accident; it upset her even more.

She hadn’t thought about her aunt in a long time, in fact, she had buried the memories of her and her house in the deepest and darkest part of her mind which she had intended to leave unbothered forever. Her subconscious had just had to dig them up and remind her of the darkest times of her life; of people she despised.

From Defne, to her children Nora and Zayn who she never got along with. She hated Zayn the most for several reasons; he was disgusting, he along with Nora and Defne had hit her on countless occasions, and she had caught him spying on her when she changed her clothes several times, that was right before he had groped her ass on her way upstairs. Of course, she had told Defne about it but she would hear nothing against her son.

That had been her biggest motivation to leave them once and for all.

Her gaze flickered to the door on hearing Alexander’s voice just outside.

“Alright. Thank you”. He was saying to someone, probably a doctor or a nurse.

She blew out a breath before propping herself up on her elbow and pulling herself upright. She realized it didn’t hurt much anywhere; her head felt heavy and uncomfortable, and perhaps it ached dully, but it didn’t bother her much. She was glad there was no cut or open wound on her skin, well, she wasn’t sure if there indeed weren’t any, but couldn’t feel any as of now and she was glad.

Alexander walked in at that moment, and his temple creased slightly as he made his way over to her.

“Why are you upright? You should be asleep or resting”. He said as he settled down on the edge of the bed.

She was in no mood to be reprimanded by him for no reason at all, thus, she averted her gaze from his. Plus, she was still upset with him. Her frown deepened as he reached out and brushed her hair from her face, his fingers were gentle and perhaps even soothing, but she frowned nonetheless.

“How are you feeling today?”. He asked her, he had dropped the reprimanding tone. Perhaps he had sensed that she was already in a crappy mood.

“I’m fine. Can I leave now?”. She replied.

“Does it still hurt anywhere?”. He asked her.

The fact that he had disregarded her question had her gaze snapping back to his.

“Can I leave now?”. She asked again.

He arched a brow slightly. She was clearly irritated and he obviously knew he was the cause of her irritation.

“What’s wrong?”. He asked her.

He moved closer to her and the fragrance of his cologne chased away the smell of the antiseptics; it soothed her, calmed her in a way, she breathed in deeply. The proximity should have been annoying but it wasn’t; it was comforting.

“Had a nightmare?”. He guessed.

A nightmare. She had indeed had a nightmare; going back to that time of her life was her greatest fear, and she had been dragged back there in a nightmare. She nodded simply.

“Do you want to talk about it? You seem more upset than shaken”. He asked as he took her hand in his comfortingly.

She shook her head.

“I just want to leave”. She replied quietly.

He nodded.

He knew her well enough to know when she was trying her best to hold herself together, he knew her well enough to know when to simply be what she needed. He guided her closer so and wrapped his arms around her so she was engulfed in a comforting hug, she melted against him immediately, her eyes fluttered close as she leaned her head against his shoulder.

“You’re alright”. He told her.

It was his way of reminding her that she had made it through all she had been through, it was his way of reminding her that she was here at this very moment, his way of reminding her that she was fine.

………….

It was still early when they arrived at the penthouse; just a few minutes passed six. Alexander had insisted that she went straight to bed while he went to shower and prepare for work, of course, she had argued a bit because she had felt the need to also go to the office, but a single glare from Alexander had shut her up.

She had lay in his bed tossing and turning while trying her best not to think about her past. The restlessness was eating her up and she hated it. Her gaze flickered to Alexander the very second he returned from the bathroom.

“Please let me come with you”. She said to him.

He shook his head immediately.

“Go to sleep, Yalda. Order breakfast when you wake up”. He said as he made his way into his walk-in closet.

“I can’t go back to sleep”. She told him.

“Then order breakfast”. His reply came from the closet.

It was early, how could she possibly eat at this time. Her mind and thoughts were going to kill her before the end of the day. She stirred to her side so she was facing him when he returned.

“Please”. She said again.

His gaze flickered to hers and he arched a brow slightly.

“What’s the problem with you, Yalda? Are you obsessed with work or something?”. He asked her.

She shook her head.

“I just don’t want to lie here doing nothing”. She replied.

“That’s not an excuse. You’re not going to the office till Monday”. He told he simply. “What kind of boss would I be to have my secretary working a day after she was in a car accident?”.

That made sense. And she knew well enough that he wouldn’t go back on his word. She was wasting her time asking him to let her come along.

“Will you…..stay then?”. The words left her lips before she could stop herself.

She averted her gaze from his because she didn’t want to see the look he would have in them. A moment of silence stretched between them, and just when she thought he wasn’t going to reply, he said;

“Why?”. He asked her.

Her gaze returned to his at once and she found he wasn’t looking at her; he was drying his hair with a towel, he probably wasn’t even going to listen to her but she replied nonetheless.

“I don’t want to be alone”. She said quietly.

His gaze flickered to hers and he stared at her wordlessly for a moment before blowing at a resigned breath.

“As you wish, Yalda”.