Chapter 5 The fifth chapter

Laura woke up and while struggling to open her eyes she couldn't help but notice the room surrounding her was different, too luxurious, too flawless.

The sheets were as soft as silk, the aroma smelled of expensive cologne, the air was fresh.

She lost track of where she was for a brief moment. Her mind struggled to put together the events of the previous night.

The memories of the club, the liquor, the dance, the music. Then it all came pouring back.

The nightclub. The dance. Alexander!

Her eyes widened, fear rising through her as she realized where she was or, rather, who she was with.

She turned her head gently, almost scared to breathe, and there he was, lying next to her.

Alexander Russo, the man who had been on her mind since the day they met, was sleeping next to her, his face relaxed in a way she had never seen before.

For a moment, she was unable to move or think. The truth of what had occurred hit her with full force, causing a another rise of fear.

What did she do? How had she allowed herself to become so engrossed in the moment as to make such a risky decision?

This was not her. This was not the woman who had spent her life being cautious and thinking three steps ahead.

However, the evidence was undeniable. The scattered clothes on the floor, the mild aching in her muscles, she smelled like Alexander, all these told a tale about what had happened.

She'd spent the night with Alexander Russo, a man so far out of her league that it was almost absurd. And now, she was left to face the consequences.

"What the fuck have you done Laura" She cussed to herself. Laura's thoughts raced as she tried to figure out what to do next.

Should she leave quietly before he wakes up? Should she pretend this never happened, or should she just accept what had occurred, and deal with it like an adult?

As she lay there, silent with indecision, she felt Alexander move next her. His breathing became deeper, and she realized he was waking up.

Laura's heart hit in her chest, and she desired more than anything to simply disappear, fade into the background as she always had. But it was too late.

Alexander's eyes opened, and for a brief period, they were unfocused and heavy with sleep. Then they sharpened, and he turned to face her. His gaze filled with surprise, but it was swiftly replaced by something else, something Laura couldn't interpret.

"Good morning Laura" He said, his voice still husky from his sleep.

For a long time, they simply stared at each other, the weight of the situation hanging between them like thread.

Laura had no idea what to say or how to negotiate this unusual, embarrassing situation. She was very conscious of their physical, emotional, and social distance. They came from different worlds, and last night was only a chance encounter.

But the reality of that only made the situation worse.

She sat up slowly, gathering the sheets around her to cover herself.

The room was bathed in warm morning sun, with the heavy curtains drawn back just enough to let in a glimpse of the outside world.

The city outside the windows was waking up, as did her, rising up to the consequences of a night she could not take back.

"I need to go" She said finally breaking the silence that lingered for a long time.

But Alexander stretched out and gently closed his fingers around her wrist, preventing her from standing up.

She returned to look at him, her heart in her throat, and noticed that his face had relaxed. He appeared nearly concerned.

"When you try to run off so early. It makes you look like a call girl and I know you are not one." He said in a low voice.

Laura astonished by what he just said began to pull away from his grip even though she's no match to him.

"I have to! You and I know this wasn't supposed to happen." She said softly

"And now it has happened? You want to run off?" He asked. His left eyebrow raised a little.

Laura felt a lump forming in her throat, the weight of her emotions threatening to overwhelm her.

"This is not me," she whispered, her voice trembling.

"I don't do this. I don't... sleep with men I barely know."

Alexander remained silent for a minute, his gaze fixed on her, as if he were trying to figure out what was going on in her head.

He sighed and sat up, the sheets folded around his waist.

"Neither do I, Laura" he said. "I'm not the kind of man that sleeps with anybody I meet. I always have control over my shit but I don't know how this happened."

"The way he says my name always made me shiver. He was the only man that has ever made me feel this way." Laura thought to herself

"Jesus! I just did something unthinkable and I'm still here drooling over this man. What the hell is wrong with you Laura?"

She snapped out of her thoughts

"What did you say?" She asked facing him

"I just said. I'm not that kind of man either." He replied.

Laura looked at him, searching for any indication that he was lying, but from the look on his face, he seemed sincere.

This totally caught her off guard, and it made her weak in unexpected ways.

It was weird to see him like this, vulnerable, even if only little. She had always thought of him as being perfectly in control, never allowing his emotions to get the best of him.

But now she saw that he was just as human as she was, which made the issue much more complicated.

"I really don't know what to do" She said very softly.

Alexander's expression softened more, and he reached out again, shoving the hair that covered her face behind her ear.

The gesture was so kind and unexpected that it sent shivers down her spine. Again!

"You don't have to do anything. Just go with your instincts.

"If you want to leave, that's fine. "But if you want to stay, that's fine too." He said staring at her.

Laura felt her breath seize in her throat as he spoke. The manner he presented her with a decision was so soothing and tempting.

He wasn't pressing or manipulating her into staying. He was simply giving her the opportunity.

And at that moment, Laura understood she didn't want to leave- not yet.

"I really want to stay, but my mum is sick and I've been away all night. I'm afraid, she might start to worry." She said sadly.

"Alright. That's fine, but let my chef fix you something to eat at least. I'm sure your head is still banging from last night." He said smiling.

"That's fine." She said smiling back.

After having what she could call the best breakfast of her life. She got dressed and went downstairs to meet him.

"I'm ready to go." She said as soon as she entered the room.

Alexander moved to her engulfing her into a warm embrace, the scent of his cologne going up through her nose.

"I hope I see you soon." He said planting a soft kiss on her forehead.

"My driver will take you home." He said as he pulled away from her.

"Thank you." She said softly as she exited the room.

The ride home was a really long one.

All she could think of was how she went from attending to him at the office to sleeping on the same bed with him.

Everything happened so fast but she kind of liked it.

She touched her forehead, the exact place he planted the kiss.

She couldn't stop smiling.

There was a spark of something new, something delicate yet hopeful but it wasn't love... yet.