#thetrade

After their kiss at the Beaumont’s study, Alexis was rattled, she couldn’t allow herself to succumb to Drake anymore. Still feeling his lips on her, she decided to take a shower and try to get him out of her mind. She went into the bathroom and began undressing when a loud noise from the bedroom got her attention. She came back into the room and gasped when she saw Tariq standing in front of her, a twisted smile on his lips.

“My, my I had pictured you without clothes, but my imagination didn’t do you any justice.” He stepped closer looking brazenly at her on her underwear. She took the silky robe next to her bed and put it on.

“What are you doing here?”

He sneered again and pull a knife out of his pocket.

Her eyes widened “Don’t do anything stupid, Tariq. Leave my room, now.” She tried to sound calm and steady, but she was terrified.

“I won’t leave until we’ve had a little fun.”

Her eyes darted to the door, she tried to run to it, but he was quicker than her, so he blocked her passage.

“Where do you think you’re going? I told you that we were going to have a lot of fun tonight.” He pointed the knife at her again. “You can scream all you want but everyone is still at the party, no one will hear you. Plus, I’m not afraid of using this. You owe me, whore.”

After her attack when she was fifteen years old, Alexis had sworn to herself that something like that would never happen to her again. When she left for college in New York, the first thing she had done was to sign up for self-defense lessons. Also, she always carried a pepper spray with her, which was currently at her nightstand next to her bed.

She tried to think fast, if she screamed now, it’d only spook Tariq and make him do something irreparable, plus he was right: when she had left the party everyone was still there.

She’d definitely have more chances of surviving if she managed to convince Tariq that she would sleep willingly with him. Then, as soon as she’d have a chance, she’d mace him, kick him and run.

Alexis raised her hands. “Okay, calm down.  Maybe we can talk about this, you don’t have to hurt me.”

“I knew you would come to your senses.” He licked his lips walking towards her and grabbed her by the waist kissing her lasciviously. Feeling his hands and lips on her was repugnant but it was the only way to escape.

After a few atrocious seconds, she pulled apart. “Yes.” She smiled and kept talking on a soft voice, “there’s no reason to make this horrible for either of us, we can just have fun. There are some whiskey and wine on the cabinet behind you. I could use some to relax.” She waited for him to turn to the cabinet and grabbed the spray as fast as she could, hiding it in her robe’s pocket. She watched Tariq put the knife on the cabinet while he served them both a glass of red wine.

She was ready, so as soon as he approached her to give her the drink, she maced him. He screamed at the sharp pain but immediately gripped her right arm to stop her from leaving. She remembered what Briana had taught her and used the heel of her free palm to strike him under his nose; she threw her whole weight into the move so she could cause him the most pain possible and force him to loosen his grip. She succeeded and ran to the door but just when she was opening it, he grabbed her ripping her robe. He felt like his eyes and nose were on fire, and that enraged him. He pinned her violently to the floor as she tried to kick him on the knees and screamed for help, begging that someone would hear her.

Drake was walking to his room with Maxwell’s words playing in his head over and over again. He knew the wisest decision was to wait until the morning to talk to her, but no argument was good enough, he needed to see her right then. He turned around and when he was getting closer to her room his blood froze. Alexis was screaming.

Less than five seconds later Drake ran into her room. He barely had time to register the scene in front of him, when a rage like nothing he had never felt before invaded him.

“GET AWAY FROM HER. NOW!”

Alexis took advantage of Tariq’s surprise and got loose of his grip as Drake grabbed him from his collar and slammed him strongly against the wall.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” He hit him repeatedly, then tackled him to the floor immobilizing him, and turned to Alexis who was sitting on the floor. “Are you ok, Lexie?” She nodded but he saw the bruises in her arms, her black mascara all over her face and the terrified look on her eyes.

“How dare you touch her, you fucking piece of shit?” He punched him again and again until Alexis screamed.

“Drake! Stop! You’re going to kill him, he’s not worth it, please Drake, stop!” The distress in her voice made him stop giving a chance to Tariq to free himself, stand up, and reach for the knife he had left on the cabinet. He pointed it at Drake.

Drake arched his eyebrows smirking. “Do you think you’re scaring me? You’re nothing but a fucking coward.” He stepped towards Tariq.

“You better stay where you are, Drake because if you lose this fight, I’ll stab that whore right after you.”

Drake raised his hands shaking with anger. “You won’t be able to hide anywhere asshole, I’ll swear I’ll find you.”

Tariq left the bedroom and ran as fast as he could.

Drake didn’t hesitate for a second, even if he should follow Tariq, he couldn’t ignore Alexis’ small sobs. He kneeled next to where Alexis was sitting on the floor and took her chin. “Are you ok, Lexie?” She had an empty look on her eyes. “Baby, look at me.” He tilted his head so he could meet her gaze. “Are you alright?” He swallowed hard. “Did he-?”

She came back to her senses and shook her head strongly. “No, he didn’t have time.” She looked gratefully at him. “Thanks to you.”

“It seems to me that you put one hell of a fight yourself, baby. Let’s get you to bed.” He took her in his arms and put her gently on the bed, helping her to get under the covers.

“Come on Lexie.” He sat next to her and pulled her close to him. “I’m so sorry.” He placed a kiss on her forehead. “Tariq’s eyes looked like they were on fire”

“I maced him.” She smiled at him.

Drake chuckled. “Really?”

“Yeah,” she answered proudly. “I also kicked him and almost broke his nose.”

He hugged her smiling against her head. “You’re so brave. You have no idea how scared I was when I heard you screaming.” He held her tightly.“If anything would’ve happened to you… I…” He cupped her face as softly as he could and kissed her lips with all the gentleness he was capable of.

Alexis smiled and cuddled up against him. His gentle kisses and strong arms wrapping her were everything she needed. She felt as she did every time Drake was around her, completely safe. 

Drake stroke her hair and kissed the top of her head as she began to fell asleep when someone knocked at the door. Drake stood up and opened it. It was, Liam.

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Everything was going according to plan; he had talked with his contact at The Cordonian Daily News and she was going to wait until the right moment to release the pictures.

Liam would be so humiliated that it would be impossible for him to recover from it, and if by any miracle he managed to do it, he’ll simply set the second part of his plan in motion. Recruiting Penelope had been a master move, who could suspect the mousy assistant working for the party planner? She had access to every guest on the list and as dull as she was, she understood how he felt better than anyone.

He knew she would die for him if the time came. Of course, he didn’t want it to happen but if it did, it would be for the cause. The times when he was feeling remorse were over, after all, he was the one supposed to lead Cordonia. If someone else had to become collateral damage for him to fulfill his destiny, so be it.

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“What the fuck are you doing here?” Liam shouted

“What the hell is your problem, Liam!”

Liam entered the room furiously, but Alexis jumped off the bed and managed to get in the middle of them.

“Liam! Stop it! Drake is here because he helped me. I was going to take a shower and I heard a noise, when I came into the room Tariq was there, he...he wanted to...”

She looked at Drake incapable of formulating the words, he nodded at her reassuringly.

“He had a knife, Liam, he was going to attack her, she screamed so I ran to help her.”

Liam turned to Alexis visibly worried. “Oh god! Are you alright, love? Did he do anything?”

“No, Drake was right on time.”

Liam seemed relieved. “Thank you, Drake” He squeezed Alexis’s hand. “Come on darling, I’ll stay with you.”

Alexis’s heart broke seeing Drake standing next to the door watching her.

Liam turned to his friend. “I’ll take care of her now, Drake. But thank you” His voice broke thinking of what could’ve happened. “I mean it.”

“Of course. I’ll ask security to search the whole estate, I think he escaped but I prefer to be safe than sorry.” Before he turned to leave, he looked at Alexis one last time “Please, take care of yourself ” She only nodded, the lump on her throat prevented her from speaking.

When Drake left Liam turned to Alexis “Is there anything I can do for you, love?”

She shook her head and lied. “No, Li it’s fine.”

“I don’t think you should be alone, Alexis. Let me be here for you.”

She smiled at Liam. As touched as she was by his concern, the only thing she wanted was to be with Drake again.  

“I can sleep on the couch, darling,” he suggested watching how uneasy she seemed.

Alexis felt relieved. “If you don’t mind, I think it would be better for tonight.”

Liam took some covers out of the closet and prepared himself for a night on the couch. After a moment, he noticed that Alexis was turning around on the bed, and his chest tightened, he would’ve loved to take her in his arms and comfort her, but he knew she wasn’t ready. His feelings, on the other hand, were growing stronger every day. It was almost ironic how he had always been able to have any woman he wanted without even trying, and now that he actually loved one, she seemed impervious to him. Because despite his best efforts, Alexis had built an invisible wall between them, one that Liam was decided to tear down by doing anything he could to be the perfect man for her, and with time, he was sure he would be able to conquer her. Liam wanted her so badly that he could barely sleep anymore, he dreamed about her, about her body under his, about her soft voice screaming his name. He wanted to share his life with her, to spoil her, to be her world. Alexis O’Brien was driving him insane, she would have to end up loving him, no matter what. Her voice pulled him out of his thoughts. She was talking in her sleep, so he pricked up his ears to listen and his heart froze, she was calling for Drake.

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Drake called Mara and Franz, the chiefs of security and they all looked thoroughly for Tariq around the house and gardens but there was no sign of him anywhere. After two hours, Mara tried to convince him to stop but Drake refused. Deep down, he knew Tariq had already fled but he needed something to occupy his mind and take it far away from whatever was happening between Alexis and Liam in her room. After her attack, he was aware that Liam was probably just comforting her but the mere thought of his arms around her pushed him over the edge. Finally, he gave up the futile search and took a bottle of whiskey from Bertrand’s collection, it was going to be a long sleepless night.

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Rashad lied in bed, smiling to himself thinking about Maxwell dancing and joking with Alexis at the party. He knew he would never be able to find anyone like him again, so sparkling and compassionate. Maxwell had been able to see through his fears and insecurities and had given him a chance to be himself. He had listened to him countless times during all those sleepless nights at the Beaumont State, and he had been the first man Rashad had ever loved, the only one. Maxwell knew him much better than his fiancé for over a decade ever did, and they only had been together for a couple of years.

Rashad knew he had taken the right decision breaking up the engagement with Kiara, it didn’t make sense anymore. Sure, she was the perfect match if he wanted to pursue a political career but pretending to love each other was getting impossible for both of them; she slept with a different man every night and he was sure she harbored very strong feelings for Drake Walker. As for him, well there was no point in denying it anymore, he was crazy about Max, even if he wasn’t ready to publicly come out of the closet just yet.

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The next day, after a quick shower in his bedroom, Liam went to work in the business center of the Beaumont’s state. He hadn’t forgotten what Alexis had dreamt the previous night, but he had decided to let it go for the time being. Drake was surely a mere distraction for her, nothing serious. Alexis had been raised to be with a man like him, someone who could give her the life she was used to, who would enchant her, and Drake would never be that kind of man. Liam still remembered the agreement they had made when he had asked for his help with the campaign, Drake would stay for two years, and then he would be free to live his life away from politics. Liam knew that for Drake that meant to retire to his cabin in the woods, finish his Veterinary degree, and live a simple life with no luxuries, and that was not the life Alexis deserved.

“Good morning, Liam.” Drake sat next to Liam with a large cup of coffee.

Liam couldn’t remember the last time he had been glad to spend time with his best friend.

“Hi, Drake. Rough night?” He pointed at the coffee.

“Nah, don’t worry,” Drake smirked to hide the fact that he hadn’t slept thinking about Alexis all night. “We searched the estate thoroughly last night but there was no sign of Tariq anywhere, I’ll go this morning to his parent’s house to see if he’s there.”

Liam raised his brows. “It’s not your job to protect her, Drake. It’s mine; I’ll take care of it.”

“This is not about you or me, Liam! It’s about her. She needs to know that he won’t hurt her anymore. She needs to feel safe.”

Despite his friend’s outburst, Liam remained calm “He won’t. I’ll make sure of it. That bastard will never get near her again. I’ll engage some security; they’ll look up for him.”

Drake sighed and nodded. As long as Alexis was safe, he didn’t care about the rest. 

After a few minutes of quietly working and drinking coffee, Drake spoke. “We need to prepare for the rally in Castelraillan.”

“I agree, it’s a top priority. Can you take care of it?” Liam asked, coldly. 

“Yes, I’ll go look for Kiara so she can brief me on the preparations that Joelle has already made.”

Drake stood up to leave the room but before he could get out of the door, he heard Liam’s voice. Something had been bothering the candidate since the previous night.

“I really appreciate what you did for Alexis last night.” He paused, “what I cannot understand, it’s how you heard her screaming. Your room it’s on the other side of the house. What were you doing on the west wing?”

Drake was tired, he hadn’t slept all night, and Liam’s attitude was starting to seriously annoy him; he pinched the bridge of his nose.

“I didn’t know I had to give you a detailed report of my whereabouts, Liam.”

Liam stood up as well “You’re not answering my question.”

“And I’m not going to. Where I go or not after I’m done working it’s not your problem.”

Liam raised his hands “Fine. Don’t tell me. I, however, will tell you this for the last time.” He cut the distance between them and added with a threatening tone of voice. “Get away from her, stop pretending to be her friend or her knight on shining armor or whatever it is you’re doing. She wants to be with me, and you’ll have to accept that.”

Drake’s fist clenched. “What I can’t understand, it’s why are you being so fucking jealous if you’re sure she wants to be with you.”

Liam glared at him, they were standing only a few inches apart. “I don’t care what you think, just stay the hell away from her.” His blood boiled at the thought of Alexis saying Drake’s name in her sleep. “Or I swear, you’ll regret it.” Liam tapped his finger on Drake’s chest.

Drake shoved him. “Don’t fucking touch me!”

Liam was about to push him back when the doors opened, Alexis entered it but she stopped in her tracks, immediately sensing the tension in the room.

Her eyes darted from one man to the other. “What’s going on?”

Liam approached her “Nothing, love. Drake and I were having a misunderstanding, but I think everything is clear now. Isn’t it, Drake?”

His dark eyes did their best to hide the pain in his heart, as much as it hurt to admit it, Liam was right, she had chosen him. “Crystal.” He turned to Alexis, even after everything she had done, Drake had to make sure that she was fine “How are you doing this morning O’Brien?”

His voice had the power of making her terribly nervous, she had to swallow before answering “I’m fine, Drake. Thank you”. They locked eyes on each other for a second and they both blushed.

“Yes, you were sleeping soundly when I left your room this morning” Liam smiled, circling her waist with his arm and kissing her cheek, possessively.

Drake had to turn his head, seeing Liam being so affectionate with her and talk about their night together was much more than he could bear. “Alright, I have work to do. See you later”

Alexis reached for his shoulder to stop him from leaving. “Um, actually I was looking for you. I need you to give me some information so I can write Liam’s speech for Castelraillan.”

Drake nodded; maybe that would be a good opportunity to talk to her about what Maxwell had told him the previous night.  “Of course, I can postpone my meeting.”

Liam cleared his throat visibly uncomfortable. “Don’t bother Drake with that, Darling. I can help you myself.”

Alexis turned to Liam exasperated “That’s not your job, Li. Plus, you told me that you have a meeting with the leader of the farmer’s union this morning. And I need to start writing this as soon as possible. The rally is tomorrow.”

Liam looked at his expensive watch, he needed to leave right now if he wanted to be on time, but the idea of leaving Alexis alone with Drake drove him mad.

“Come with me to the meeting, I can give you all the information you need on the ride there. And, we can go for lunch later. I have a surprise for you.”

Alexis sighed angrily because he wasn’t leaving her much of a choice.  “Okay”

Drake arched his brows fighting the urge to punch Liam in his smug face. His attempt to control Alexis was as blatant as it was obnoxious. But Alexis had made her choice, there was nothing that Drake could do about it. “If that’s taken care of, I’ll go meet with Kiara,” he said angrily before leaving the room. 

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The riding to the meeting proved infructuous for Alexis, Liam didn’t have the information she needed to write the speech.

“I apologize love, I can talk to you about policies and agendas but as far as the logistics go, it’s not my area of expertise.”

She took a deep breath. “I know Li, that’s why I needed to talk to Drake, I know you don’t like it, but I have to work with him in this.”

“I’ll ask my assistant to give you all the information you need, Drake has other things on his mind right now.”

“It’s not going to be the only time, Liam. We’re supposed to work together, you don’t have to worry about it. I’m with you.” Alexis placed her hand on his arm.

Liam chose not to answer, they rode in silence until the chauffeur stopped. “We’ve arrived, come on, love.”

After a long meeting with the farmer’s union, Liam and Alexis were free to go for lunch.

“God, I’m starving! I would kill for a cheese bacon burger and extra-large fries.”

Liam cocked his left brow smiling. “Extra-large?”

She laughed. “And with cheddar on top, obviously.”

He stopped to look at her, she was wearing a simple sleeveless white dress, but the way it hugged her curves was tantalizing.

“Well, I apologize in advance dear, but I don’t think they serve any burgers where we’re going.”

He took her to the roof of the building where a helicopter was waiting for them.

She turned to look at him surprised. “Where are you taking me?”

He kissed her. “If I tell you, it wouldn’t be a surprise, would it?”

Two hours later, the helicopter landed. Alexis was exhausted so she had slept almost the whole trip.

“Love, we’re here” He kissed her hand “I would like to cover your eyes, so you’re really surprised when we get there”

She gave him a small smile. “Oh, that’s fine”

He put a silky scarf on her eyes and guided her to the car, then to an elevator. When it reached the top floor, he helped her step out of it and he stood behind her to untie the scarf. Alexis had to admit that she was more than surprised. They were in Paris.

He kissed her bare shoulder. “Welcome to La Tour d’Argent, Love”

The gesture was amazing, it was the most splendid thing anyone had ever done for her, but she couldn’t feel a thing.

The waiter took them to a table on the terrace, the view of the Notre Dame cathedral was incredible.

“I hope you like this, Alexis.” He took her small hand between his larger ones “I’m only doing this because I want you to understand how special you’re for me.”

She smiled at him reaching for his hand. “Thank you Li, it’s beautiful”

The waiter approached them with the menus, after a moment they both order the food and Liam asked for a bottle of champagne.

“I didn’t know you spoke such impeccable French.”

“I went to boarding school here. I arrived when I was 5 and left at 18.”

“So, I’m guessing Paris it’s not as impressive for you as I thought.” He grinned.

She looked at the sight “Paris is always impressive, Li. And I definitely wasn’t planning in having lunch here when I woke up this morning. It was a beautiful surprise.”

They spend the afternoon talking, eating and drinking wine. Alexis couldn’t deny that Liam was a very charming, interesting man, but her soul had been irremediably stolen by Drake.

At the end of their date, Liam took Alexis’s hand between his. “This was a delightful afternoon, love. Did you have fun?”

“Of course, Li. It was great.”

He took her chin between his fingers and kissed her carefully. “I’m aware that we’re going too fast, Alexis. The coming elections are definitely hastening things between us. I know my father is pressuring me and I’m guessing yours is too?” He tilted his head to meet her gaze.

Alexis wanted to be honest with him, at least once. “Yes, he is.”

Liam nodded. “That doesn’t mean I’m not completely crazy about you. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you, Alexis.” He took a small velvety box from his pocket. Alexis's heart started to beat so fast she feared Liam might hear it. He opened it and took out a huge diamond ring off it. “Would you marry me, love?” His eyes were filled with hope and vulnerability.

She wanted to run as fast as she could, but her fate had been sealed 10 years earlier when she had taken the worst decision of her life. She managed to smile, and pass her desperate tears for happy ones. “Yes, Li, I will.”

He slipped the ring through her finger and kissed her hand. “You just made me the happiest man in the world, darling.” He sealed their engagement with another searing kiss.

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The next day, the whole campaign team including George, Constantine, and Regina were having breakfast in the hall room before leaving for Castelraillan. Liam was nervously expecting Alexis to show up so they could announce their official engagement together. As soon as she entered the hall, Liam caught her eye and gave her a knowing look so she wouldn’t be surprised at the announcement.

“Good morning to you all, before we head to Castelraillan, we have some news we will like to share with you. Come here, love” He gave his hand to Alexis.

She had spent the night awake thinking about Drake’s reaction, hoping that she would be able to tell him before everyone else, but Liam had beat her to it.

“Yesterday, I asked Alexis to marry me, and to my great joy, she said yes.” The guests immediately clapped happily, most of them standing up to congratulate them.

Drake watched the scene like it was in slow motion. At Liam’s announcement, he felt an acute pain on his chest, not a metaphorical one, but an actual physical pain ripping his heart apart. He felt nauseated at the sight of Alexis in his arms, his mouth on her cheeks, on her lips, his ring on her finger. Suddenly, he felt someone touching his arm.

“Put it together, Walker. They made their choice. Almost everyone else has stood up and congratulated them, it’s our turn.”

Olivia and Drake made their way to the head of the table, Liam and Alexis were talking with Regina who was already busy making plans for the wedding.

“Well, it is going to be a society wedding, of course, anyone who is anyone in Cordonia will have to be there,” Regina said, excitedly.

Alexis wasn’t listening anymore; all her focus was on Drake. The man that had helped her so many times, that had held her when she had felt lonely and scared making her feel safe for the first time in her life. The man that had saved her and took her away when she had needed it. The man that had made love to her, making her feel things she didn’t even know possible. The incredible man that she loved more than everything. Alexis cursed herself, the pained expression on Drake’s eyes was going to haunt her for the rest of her life.

“Congratulations, O’Brien.” He extended his hand.

“Please, Drake she’s going to be like your sister now that she will marry Liam.” Regina patted both their backs “You should hug each other.”

Drake locked eyes with her and saw a profound sadness on them, something he wasn’t expecting. He took her in his arms and held her for a few seconds, enjoying her soft body against him. Drake could’ve sworn that she was trembling slightly, but he didn’t have a chance to ask her anything, Liam was watching them closely.

“Thank you, Liv, Drake. We’re planning to get married as soon as possible, not later than a month. We’re desperate to be together.” Liam told them proudly.

Olivia arched her brows smirking “Just in time for the elections. If I was a cynical woman, which of course I’m not, I would say that that was a huge coincidence.” She threw a disgusted look at Alexis.

Maxwell spoke up desperate to end the tension. “Attention everyone, I have ordered mimosas to the kitchens so everyone can cheer to the- er happy couple.”

Everyone raised their glasses. Drake couldn’t take it anymore, he gulped his drink and left the room, followed by Maxwell.

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The whole trip to Castelraillan Liam had been thinking about the decision he was about to make. He knew Alexis wouldn’t be happy about it, so he arranged a meeting with Constantine and George to help him explain to her why he was firing her as his speechwriter. Of course, he didn’t tell them the real reason, that he wasn’t going to let her work with Drake and risk losing her. Liam had a whole other set of excuses ready.

Alexis was surprised when Liam asked her to go to the Estate’s office, and even more when she saw her father and Constantine sitting on the couch.

“Well, no one told me we were about to have a family reunion.” Or I would’ve taken a bottle of vodka with me. “What’s going on?”

Liam cleared his throat, going straight to the point “Love, I called you because I need you to step down as my speechwriter.”

She arched her brows. “What? What do you mean?”

George stood up. “What you heard, you can’t be his future first lady and his speechwriter, the electors would see that as a sign of nepotism.”

She ignored her father and addressed to Liam. “You have got to be kidding me, Liam, your whole cabinet grew up with you. I don’t understand what the problem is.” She saw the closed look in his face but insisted anyway, her job was the only thing that was keeping her sane. “Please, don’t do this, I love my job. I want to be more than a decorative figure on your arm, Li. I know I can help you get elected.”

Liam felt bad for her, but he wasn’t going to change his mind, she would have to understand.

“The decision is made, love. I’m sorry”

“You’re pathetic. I know why you’re really doing this, and you can go fuck yourself!”

She slammed the door on her way out.

George poured himself a tumbler of whiskey “Don’t worry, son. She’s always been a little wild, but she knows what’s best for her. She will be back tonight.”

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Alexis was furious. Until then she had felt guilty because she was lying to Liam, who she considered a good, caring man, but that new side of him was frightening. She had no choice than to marry him, so it terrified her that he would turn out to be as controlling as her own father was. That she would have to live a similar life than her mother’s with a man that had no interest in the woman she really was.

Maxwell found her drinking a glass of whiskey on the stairs. “Blossom! I was looking for you. Is everything okay?”

“Yes, don’t worry about it, Max. Liam and I just had a fight; he doesn’t want me working on the campaign anymore.”

“Oh! I’m sorry hon, I can think of a way to cheer you up though, I want to take you to my favorite spot.”

She smiled. “Yes, that sounds like a great idea, I could drink a gallon of whiskey right now.”

Just when they were about to leave in Maxwell’s red Porsche, Liam came running into the parking lot.

“Come on love, I’m sorry I had to make that decision but it’s best for everyone. Come back into the house so we can talk.”

She arched her brows. “You can talk about it with our fathers, you seem to value their opinions much more than you do mine. Come on, Max, let’s go”

Maxwell threw Liam an apologetic look, but he started the car and drove away.

After what seemed like half an hour Maxwell pulled the car at the beach.

Alexis didn’t understand. “Is this your favorite spot? The beach?”

Maxwell grinned “Here? Please, Blossom; It would need four walls, an expensive cocktail bar, two different dance floors, and three Dj’s to make this old beach acceptable for me. It is, however, someone else’s favorite spot.”

Alexis recognized the place, it was the beach where Drake had taken her the night they had met.

“Hi, O’Brien. I think we need to talk.” His deep, manly voice sent a jolt of electricity through her spine. Alexis knew that if she stayed on the beach with him, she was going to succumb to him again.

“I don’t think so, please Max take me back to Castelraillan.”

“I will, if you really want me to, Lexie, but I think you two truly need to talk. I’m sorry that I couldn’t keep your secret, but it was breaking my heart seeing you so sad.”

Drake approached her carefully. “Please, O’Brien talk to me. I saw your face this morning when Liam announced your engagement.” He stood in front of her and stroked her face. “I know something is not right.”

“Well, I’ll leave you two alone. Text me when you’re done, I’ll take you back to Castelraillan, Blossom.”

Drake offered Alexis his hand, and she took it. He was going to really hate in a few minutes when he knew the truth of what she had done, so she wanted to make the most of her last moments with him.

He took her to the cove, where he had set a blanket on the sand and lighted a fire. He had also brought a bottle of whiskey with a couple of glasses and the ingredients to make S’mores.

Alexis smiled widely, it was wonderful. It felt like home.

They sat on the blanket, Drake poured them a glass of whiskey and she took a large sip.

They didn’t say anything for a while, just enjoying their moment together staring at the fire, eating S’mores, and holding hands.

Finally, Alexis broke the silence. “I will tell you the truth because you deserve to know it. I didn’t say anything before because I wanted to protect you, but I only made things worse. What I’m about to tell you, will change how you feel about me. I’m a horrible person, and I deserve everything that’s happening; I’m just sorry I dragged you and Liam with me.”

He shook his head and squeezed her hand. “You’re an amazing, brave woman Lexie, and I promise you there’s nothing you can tell me that would make me think any different.”

She snorted but a streak of tears started to run through her face. “You have no idea what you’re saying. I’m exactly like your mother. I abandoned my own child.”

Drake’s eyes widened but he continued to hold her hand. “Tell me everything from the beginning, baby. What happened?”

“After … my attack … my father sent me back to the school in France. It was a very difficult time, I didn’t know how to cope with what had happened by myself, and I was sick all the time. Finally, one of the nuns saw me throwing up one morning and she guessed that I was pregnant. I was terrified, Drake”.

Drake’s chest tightened at her profound sadness. He moved to sit behind her and pulled her body to him so he could hug her tightly, with her back leaning against his chest. He moved her hair to one side of her neck and kissed her cheek. “I can only imagine what you felt, Lexie.”

Emboldened by his strong arms around her, she continued. “The nuns called my father who was beyond furious. His only concern was that he had paid my expensive education so I could marry well, and I had ruined his investment. I was kicked out of school, of course. It turns out that prestigious catholic schools don’t like pregnant girls.” She gave him a bitter smile. “So my father took me back to the States with him. During the flight, he made it very clear that I had two options. Either I gave up the baby for adoption or he’d cut me out entirely and I would have to survive by myself. The truth is that I felt mixed emotions concerning the baby. One part of me already loved her intensely, but the other part resented her just as much because she was a reminder of what had happened to me.” She drank her glass. “My father didn’t want anyone to find out that I was pregnant so he sent me to a house for rich girls who had the same kind of problem as me. It turned out to be a solace, the nurses who worked there were very nice, and I made friends with the other girls. The best part was that they had a psychologist and she really helped me to figure out a lot of things. When my final trimester arrived, I had decided that it would be best for the baby if I gave her up. I felt extremely guilty, but I had no qualifications, no money and I didn’t know how I could take care of her. My father had chosen a wealthy couple who would adopt her.” Alexis stopped unable to speak for a few moments. The memories were too painful, and she couldn’t stop crying.

Drake held her tightly stroking her hair and face. “It’s ok, baby. Cry all you need, it’s fine. I’m here with you.” She took a while to gather herself while Drake kissed the top of her head and wiped the tears off her face. After a moment she was calm enough to proceed.  

“The day she was born was the most amazing and the most horrible day of my life. Giving birth really is an extremely beautiful and painful thing. I can still remember her smell when the nurse brought her to me. The way her little hand gripped my finger, the way she looked directly at me.” She started to cry again. “I changed my mind right there, I wanted to keep her but I had already signed the papers and no one wanted to upset my father.” She stopped to take a sharp breath. “They took her after the first time I fed her. The woman seemed very nice, she asked me if I had named her and then she promised she would call her the same. She also said that she would send a picture of her every year so I could see that she was healthy and well.” Drake wasn’t a man that cried often, but her broken heart was too painful for him, he couldn’t avoid the tears in his eyes. He hugged her as tightly as he could knowing that nothing in the world would be enough to calm her pain.

He cupped her face with his large hand and turned it to his, placing a kiss on her front. “How you named her, baby?”

“Abigail, like my mother’s mother. She’s ten now.”

“Did the woman send the pictures?”

“Yes, to my father who then sends them to me.” She pulled out her phone and showed her the pictures of a beautiful brunette little girl.

He grinned. “She’s beautiful Lexie, she looks like a little version of you.”

She smiled proudly. “Yes, I have a picture of me at the same age and we’re really similar.”

He shifted positions and sat in front of her, rubbing her face with his thumb. “How could you think I was going to hate you, Lexie. Or even compare you to my mother, a grown-ass woman with an income who abandoned her two children in the middle of the day with a note. You were sixteen, scared, and alone baby. It’s not remotely the same.”

She simply nodded taking refuge in his arms for a few moments.

He took her hand between his and grimaced at the sight of her engagement ring.

“And Liam? Why are you with him? Maxwell said your father was forcing you.”

“My father made a series of bad investments, and he has lost a lot of money. He wants to control Cordonia’s commerce, but the current president won’t let him have as much access to the transactions as he’d like. So, he made a deal with Constantine. If I marry Liam and my father donates enough money to his campaign, Constantine will convince Liam to give him all control over the exports and imports between Cordonia and The States. Every big company would have to have my father’s approval to make business here.”

Drake shook his head furiously. “So he’s using you as a bargaining chip. You can’t let that happen, O’Brien. You can let him control you like that!”

She stood up furious as well. “Didn’t you understand what is at stake here? I’m talking about my daughter, and if you’re thinking that he’s bluffing or that he would never hurt his ten-year-old granddaughter, well, think again Walker! Why do you think he sends me those pictures of her? SO I know why I’m doing this.” She gulped her whiskey tumbler.

“Do you know what did he do when my grandmother, his own mother, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s? He put her in a home. He has all the fucking money in the world to hire a nurse who could take care of her in the house where she has lived all her life. In the house where she feels safe. Or, at least, he could’ve taken her to a good facility where she could have the best medical care possible, but no! That … that asshole just ditched her on a cheap nursing home and never looked back. He didn’t visit once. I had to pull a lot of strings and ask my ex-boyfriend who is a doctor for help so I could change her to a good place, where she has good care.” She rubbed her face tiredly. “You know the sociopaths they talk about in the movies? The narcissist, egotistical characters everyone thinks they’re too evil to be true? Well, that is my father. He truly has no feelings, he never loved my mother or me or even his own parents. So yes, he really would be capable of hurting her, and if he does, I … I ...” She burst into tears.

Drake cut the distance between them and took her in his arms. “Shhh, it’s ok baby, I’m sorry, you’re right we have to be smart about this.”

She cupped his face so he could look at her. “No, Drake. There is no way around this. I didn’t tell you all of this, so you could help or save me. I told you because you deserve the truth, but I’m marrying Liam in a month, and there’s nothing you or me or anyone can do about it. I’m sorry.”

Drake didn’t answer anything, but he knew he wasn’t going to lose her without putting a fight. Not now that he knew that she didn’t love Liam. He took her chin with his hand and wiped the tears off her face, placing a soft kiss in her forehead, a gentle one in her right cheek, and a last one in her nose until finally, his lips found hers crashing into a desperate, hungry kiss. He knew it wasn’t the right moment to tell her everything he felt for her, so he tried to convey every feeling he had, into the kiss. All his desperation, his passion, his love for her where there. Finally, they parted, breathless. He couldn’t help but think how beautiful she looked under the firelight, with her bright eyes, the blush on her cheeks, her efforts to steady her breath after his kiss.  

He held her in his arms until they had to text Max so he could come back looking for her.

Flashback: 26 years ago

 Elena Ortiz was so lucky that she had married the man of her dreams. Never in a million years, she would’ve guessed that her deepest desire would come true for her. Admittedly, she was a beautiful woman, but she was also a poor immigrant who had to work very hard to make something of herself. She had met George O’Brien working as a maid for his family and since the day she had lay eyes on him she had been in love. He was a handsome, elegant man who treated her with respect, and she could feel that his gaze was always on her when she was around. Finally, after months of longing looks and hidden touches, at the end of a very drunken party, he had gone to her room, at the back of the house, and seduced her. She was more than happy to let him, thinking that her love was reciprocated, that he loved her as much as she did. But after that heated night, she hadn’t heard from him. When he came to see his parents, he ignored her, treating her like he did the other maids, coldly and distant. Until one afternoon everything changed when Elena found out she was pregnant. She came from a very religious family so no many options were open to her. Desperate, she decided to ask for his help, but he had dismissed her insinuating that he hadn’t been the only one in her life. George thought he could convince his parents to fire her and forget about the problem, but they had been adamant, they regretted that their son had mixed with the help, but they were strict Catholics, and he had to fix his mistake by marrying her. His mother had promised to take Elena under her wing and teach how to behave and to give her the aura of an educated woman, like the one he was supposed to marry. And truth be told Sienna O’Brien had been gladly surprised by her old maid, who had revealed to be a smart, talented woman capable of shinning wherever she went despite her background. They could’ve been a happy couple; Elena had done everything she could to make George happy and proud of her, but it was impossible. The attraction he had felt for her at the beginning was gone and it had been replaced, first by disdain and finally, by hate... He never forgot that he had been forced to marry her, and he had vowed that he would make her life a living hell, not only for her but for the bastard she was carrying.

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Maxwell looked around the room satisfied with himself. He had pulled the party of the year and everyone seemed happy, even Regina Rhys had congratulated him and he knew first-hand how difficult to please she could be. He was aware people saw him as a very funny, and shallow party planner, but he didn’t care. Underneath that superfluous first impression, he was a caring and giving human being. Lately, his relationship was causing him so much pain that he needed all the parties and buzz to escape. Maxwell was in love, he knew it, but he wasn't sure his feelings were reciprocated. He was pulled out of his thoughts by Penelope, cofounder of “Bash events”, who was asking him a question about Hana.

 “Wow, Max! Look at her dress! She’s so beautiful! I admire her so much” She was grinning. “But who is she talking too? Do you know her?”

Max turned around curious to see who Penelope was talking about, and he couldn’t be more surprised to see it was Elena, the girl he and Drake had met at the restaurant the day before. He started to smile remembering how smitten his best friend seemed when he left the restaurant with her.  Max knew he had to find him fast.

“Wait here, Penn, I have something to do”

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Drake was still glued to the bar, thinking about what he had just witnessed. Not only he had seen Elena again, something he had been feverishly wishing since he had dropped her at the restaurant last night, but he had witnessed his best friend, his brother, in complete awe at her. He was about to get up to talk to them when a beautiful redhead sat on the stool next to him. 

 “Hi Walker,” she smiled at him sardonically. “Trying to beat your own record of the number of whiskeys drank before midnight?”

 “I actually feel bad for you right now” He smirked, “that was a really bad joke, Liv.”

 “Well, forgive me” She smiled sadly. “But I’ve actually drunk a record number of champagne glasses tonight.” She was watching Liam laugh with Hana and Alexis. “He has been with that bitch all night, I don’t know what to do anymore, Drake” 

 “Well, forgive my honesty but you’ve tried everything except to assault him at his bed while he’s sleeping.” Drake sighed “It’s been 3 years Liv, it might be time to move on. You’re an amazing woman with a great military career. What would your subordinates say if they saw you being all weak about a man, eh?”

 “Yeah right, move on” She spat angrily at him “You have no idea what you’re talking about Walker. Everybody knows you’re a fucking manwhore, so let’s talk again when you grow a heart” 

 Drake nodded, watching her leave. He had grown up with Olivia, so her sudden outbursts didn’t surprise or offended him anymore. His gaze returned to Elena.  -fuck she looked beautiful in that dress-  

Drake sighed wistfully and saw Liam excuse himself and come to the bar to get a drink. 

 “Hi, Drake,” his friend said, a huge grin in his face, “amusing yourself?” 

“He! I’ve been worse, Beaumont chose a great whiskey.” He looked at Liam intrigued. “You, on the other hand, seem to be having a great time, I see you met Elena.”

Liam looked puzzled. “Who’s Elena?”

“The girl on white you’ve been talking to, her name is Elena, I ac-“

“Oh, her name is not Elena, is Alexis.” He turned his head at her “She’s ambassador’s O’Brien daughter.” 

It was Drake’s turn to look puzzled

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Alexis was happily talking with Hana when she saw Liam talking to a tall man at the bar, she couldn’t see his face but something in his demeanor gave her a familiar feeling.

She decided to go looking for Liam. Almost freezing, she saw that next to the man destined to be her fiancé, was standing the man she had spent the previous night kissing. The same one that had kissed her like no one before. Her heart started beating strongly when she realized they were both looking at her, Alexis couldn’t afford Liam to know the truth. That would ruin everything. 

 Drake was about to correct Liam and tell him that she was Elena, the woman he had met last night when he saw her coming with the corner of his eye.

 “Hi Liam!” her voice was as silvery as he remembered, “Who’s your friend?” Drake looked at her confused.

 “This is my best friend, my almost brother, Drake Walker” Liam was smiling at her with an affection Drake had never seen before. 

 “Hi, Drake! I’m Alexis, Alexis O’Brien” She gave him a begging look and offered her hand.

Drake took it and felt again the same electricity he had felt the night before. Judging by how quickly she took her hand away, she had felt it too. “Nice to meet you, Alexis.” He turned to Liam “I’ll go looking for Liv, she wasn’t feeling great earlier” 

He started walking as fast as he could without drawing attention. Drake couldn’t get far away from them fast enough. 

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 Rashad Domvallier was a proud man. He came from a prominent family with a lot of money. If Liam won, he would be the youngest Minister of Commerce and on top of all that, he had a beautiful, qualified fiancé who had been offered a great position as well. They would be the new power couple of Cordonia, and someday, who knows? Maybe he would be president himself. He smiled when he saw Kiara dancing closely with Neville; she was smiling at him, seeming very interested in the conversation but Rashad knew she was only trying to get more funds for Liam’s campaign. Neville seemed completely mesmerized by her, Rashad would be surprised if he didn’t try to give her his state at the end of the evening. Neville was his best friend, but for a good check, he could flirt with his fiancé all he wanted. 

Kiara saw Rashad looking at them, so she got close to Neville to get his attention but as usual, it didn’t work. She was a practical woman, and even if she loved Rashad, she knew that after 10 years of relationship, he wasn’t going to play the jealous boyfriend and make a fool of himself. Still, deep down she longed for a relationship with a man who would sweep her off her feet, who would make her feel something animal and passionate. Unwillingly, her gaze turned at the brooding man talking to the candidate. She had always been attracted to him. Kiara noticed that his gaze was glued to the woman in front of him, she had a nice dress, and one couldn’t deny that she was beautiful. Seeing the way Drake was devouring her with his eyes, Kiara felt something she hadn’t in a long time, something she desperately wanted Rashad to feel for her: Jealousy.

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Maxwell went looking for Drake to give him the good news, when he heard someone crying softly in the balcony, behind the curtains. 

 “Elena?, Is that you?” She turned her head, cleaning her eyes with the back of her hands 

 “Yes, it is me, I mean…” She stopped unsure of how to continue and desperate for the situation she had put herself into. “I mean, my name is not Elena, that’s my mother’s name. I’m Alexis. Last night, I… I…”

 “You were trying to get out of your life for a little while?” he asked softly “Hey! Don’t cry, I’m not judging” 

 “You’re not?” She asked quietly.

 “Nop, been there done that, more times than I can count.” He smiled. “Once I was trying to get into one of the infamous Leo Rhys's parties, I was underage so I pretended to be my brother Bertrand. When he found out he almost killed me”. He laughed at the memory “Why did you do it? What’s your story?”

 “I don’t have one, I just didn’t want to be the ambassador’s daughter for one night.” 

 “I get that too; it can be overwhelming being related to a prominent politician. My father was Constantine Rhys’s vice-president. I mean, granted, it would get me laid a lot, and I was invited to all the good parties, and of course, there were the gifts baskets everybody gave us…” he seemed in a trance

“Well it doesn’t sound like you were that tired of it Max.” She grinned.

“Hehe! It’s true, a lot of the time I was happy to enjoy all the perks but others…” He shuddered “Let’s just say I get you, Lexie, can I call you Lexie?” 

She smiled widely “Of course Max, and…” she looked right to his eyes. “Thank you”

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Drake thought about it... about letting her go. Liam seemed so smitten with her and so happy for the first time in so long that Drake had almost decided to forget about that night at the cove. Especially, because she wasn’t being honest with him, or Liam…but looking at her dance and laugh with Max, observing the way she moved her hands when she talked, so full of grace, of life, he decided that he couldn’t give her up. She was special, he could feel it in his bones, and he had met her first, after all. If Elena or whatever her name was wanted him too, Liam would have to understand. But he had to talk to her first. At the end of the dance, Max bowed at her mockingly and she had left the ballroom. Drake followed her to through the door, her white gown floating behind her.

 “Wait, El... fuck! Alexis! Wait!” Drake watched her stop. “What the fuck was that?”

 “What do you want Drake? I thought everything was pretty clear” She hated herself for what she was saying, but she had to, she had no choice. “I knew I was coming here tonight to meet Liam tonight. I was very excited but also very stressed, so I went out last night because I needed to blew some steam, that’s it.” Her self-hatred only grew stronger when she saw the hurt in his eyes

 She made a move to leave but her back was against the wall of the hall so Drake put his hands at each side of her shoulders, trapping her between his arms

 “What are you playing at, Alexis, Elena, or whatever your name is? I was there last night, remember? You were saying how much you hated your life, how much you wanted to escape...” He got closer to her, his mouth next to her ears, almost whispering; his voice was deep and soft at the same time, his eyes trying to meet hers. “And the way you kissed me, the way you were looking at me, I didn’t imagine that.” 

She avoided his gaze, looking pointedly to the floor, so Drake took her chin between his fingers to make her look at him.

“Elena, please look at me, there’s something here, I can feel it, and I’m sure you can too.” 

Alexis was tempted by him, by his soft chocolate eyes, his deep voice when he spoke at her, by that damned woody scent filling her senses. She knew he was about to lean and kiss her again, his mouth only inches apart from hers, and she wanted nothing more than to repeat the embrace that they had shared the previous night, the one that had left her inebriated. She felt his large hand in her neck, caressing her cheek with his thumb, and she almost leaned as well, when she suddenly remembered everything that was at stake. All the things her father could and certainly would do if she failed. Alexis thought about the only person she cared for, and how she was in danger, so she pushed Drake out of her way.

“Listen to me Drake, I’m the American ambassador’s daughter. Whether you believe it or not, I was playing a role last night. This is the real me, and the real me belongs with a man like Liam, so Let. Me. Go! “

 He was hurt by her words, but he didn’t let her see it. Instead, he put a sarcastic smile in his lips and pulled back from the wall letting her pass.

“Oh, I apologize, my lady! By all means, return to your man of the evening.” He said maliciously and stormed out leaving her in the middle of the hall, breathing heavily, with tears in her eyes, tears he never saw.