The Boy from New York City

Christmas parties. I really don’t like them. Especially office parties held at the Leighton mansion. Of course, Sara was here, which made the whole situation tolerable. But that was the extent of it. Lucy has to put up her front for the businesspeople and Alexzander was taking a break from everything with his friends.

“Loosen up some, Sam.” Sara says, handing me a flute of champagne.

I laugh and push her hand away, “do you want me to get in trouble?” I ask, finishing off my glass of water.

“Oh, right, you’re just a kid.”

“Ha-ha, I’m not a kid; I’m just not allowed to drink yet.”

She rolls her eyes, “same thing.” I will admit that it was hard to not drink here. Everyone had some type of alcohol in their hands and then there was me who was drinking water. “Oh shoot, in-laws just walked in. I better head of there. Will you be okay?”

“I’ll be fine Sara, go suck up to your in-laws.” Sara laughs and sticks her tongue out at me before heading off in the direction of Jason. I step away from the group of girls that Sara and I were surrounded by. Whenever I was near they’d start discussing their sex life with Alexzander and it honestly wasn’t anything I wanted to hear. It’s not that I’m jealous or anything, it’s just weird.

“Hey,” Alexzander says, wrapping his arms around me. “Enjoying yourself?”

“Yeah, I just love hearing sex stories that includes you.”

His face drops a little bit, “I’ll let you in on a little secret,” he leans in close, his breath tickling my skin, “I never slept with any of them.”

A laugh escapes my lips as he pulls away. These women didn’t have anything better to do then make up a sex life? How sad. “I guess their mission to make me jealous has now failed.”

Alexzander smirks, “does that mean you were jealous before?”

“I don’t know, you seemed a tad bit too rough for me.”

“Oh god! What are they saying about me?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.”

“Well obviously not here, but yes, I would.” I roll my eyes to end the conversation, since my quick comebacks were not working tonight.

“Anyways, I came to tell you that I’m gonna go for a walk.” I tell him.

His face suddenly showed worry, “you okay?”

“Definitely. I just need to get away from all the drinking for a moment.”

“Okay, well don’t be too long.”

“I won’t.”

“Fifteen minutes or I’ll come looking.”

“Yes sir,” I joke.

He squeezes my hand, “I deserve that, but I don’t want anything to happen to you, these guys aren’t exactly the most morale people.”

“I know. I promise to be safe.”

“Good, you may go.” He kisses my cheek and let’s go of my hands.”

I laugh, “Thanks for the permission.” I start walking away and then pause and turn back around to add something. Alexzander was still standing there, watching me leave. When he noticed I was facing him he looked like a deer caught in headlights. “It’s alright to watch your girlfriend walk away, don’t look so guilty.”

A smirk appears on his face, “who said I was watching you?”

I gasp and slap his arm “no cheating!”

“Yes ma’am.”

“And also, we’ll talk later about the reasons, but please not tonight.”

It took him a moment to know what I was talking about before he nodded, “okay. No go for your walk or I’ll pull you out to the dance floor.”

I smile and head out the back door, not wanting to deal with the media who were in the main lobby. Alexzander had shown me around some and I knew there was a back staircase in the kitchen. It was used for the servants (which disturbed me) and went to the same places as the main one. I decided to go to Alexzander’s room and rest a bit before coming back and since I’d been to that part of the house many times before it shouldn’t be too difficult to get to it.

Instead I end up in a hallway that I had never seen before. It looked like all the others with expensive painting, random bouquets, and many doors. But this hallway just had an eerie feeling to it. I wanted out though had a feeling going back the way I came wouldn’t exactly be the best idea.

I notice someone walking down the hallway and head that way to get directions. He was carrying dishes as if he were taking food to someone. Was a family member sick that I didn’t know about? That could be likely. Or maybe this was the servants’ quarters and that’s why I didn’t know about it. Whatever the reason, I quickly follow the man, trying to catch up to him.

Before I could reach the man someone grabs my arm. I didn’t scream since I just assumed it was Alexzander. I was clearly wrong as I came face to face with Henry. “Where do you think you’re going?” He sounded anything buy happy to see me here.

“I-I got lost.” I stutter, afraid of what was going to happen next. He didn’t exactly seem like a person who’d let something go very easily.

“Don’t lie anymore! Why were you following him? Huh? Who are you really?”

“I never lied.” Tears started drip down my face, something that only happens when I’m scared.

Henry still didn’t believe me and gripped my arm harder “I know you’re lying. Who hired you? FBI? Private group? They all come through at this time of year.” I couldn’t quite comprehend what he was saying. My arm was throbbing, the fear of something happening to me was just as real now as it was 12 years ago, and all I wanted was to get down to the party. But even in the midst of this I couldn’t help but wonder why he’d be investigated this time of year.

“Please!” I beg, “I just want to go back to the party.” With no more words, Henry roughly drags me through the mansion and right to Alexzander. I kept my head down to hide the fact that I was both crying and scared. Though I could tell that Alexzander saw through it.

Henry lets go of me with a slight push towards his son, “Better keep a leash on her, Alex.” He says before heading off to socialize once again.

I bury my head into Alexzander’s shoulder and just cry, not being able to hold it in any longer. It was all a reminder of that night, of the kidnapping. The way his voice was filled with anger and the rough grabbing, how could I not be scared?

Alexzander doesn’t even ask any questions, he just leads us out the back door to our car. Even once we were sitting he didn’t let go of me. “Thank you,” I mumble into his chest, finally calming down a little.

“You’re in tears and you’re thanking me?”

I nod, “for not making me stay and stick it through.”

He gently pushes my face up so that I was looking into his eyes, “why would I make you stay?”

Silently I shrug, trying to think of a reason. “Because there are important business people in there.”

Alexzander wipes away the tear stains on my face, “Nothing, and I mean nothing, is more important than you, Sam. They can wait.”

“Can we go home now?”

“Of course,” he kisses my forehead and sits back in the seat. I stare out the window as we drive through town. Sometime through the drive Alexzander grabs my hand and squeezes it in a supportive manner. “So I was thinking of taking a trip this week.” He comments, probably trying to take my mind off of the events earlier.

“Where would you be off to?”

“We, Sam. We would be taking a trip.”

“Oh.”

“And the location is a surprise.”

I chuckle, “of course it is, you wouldn’t have it any other way.”

“You’ll have fun, I promise.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then I’ll take my father off the guest list for our party.”

Even though I was still in tears I broke out laughing at that promise. “Oh really? I don’t think he’d be too fond of that.”

“It would definitely give the media something to talk about.”

I stare out the window for a bit, watching the trees pass by. “Speaking of the party, could we do the proposal at it? I just want it to be around people we know, not random businessmen that your father knows.”

Alexzander chuckles and glances my way, “I was wondering if that’s why you wanted it changed. And of course we can do it next weekend. That’ll even give me time to get the ring.

I gasp and turn to face him, eyes wide with shock, “did you really expect to propose to me without a ring?!”

He nods in all seriousness and I just stare at him in shock. How could he think a ring wouldn’t be necessary? Suddenly the sound of laughter fills the car, “you looked so angry! Do you really think I’d forget the ring?”

“I don’t know! You said you did!”

“Well I’m glad you have so much trust in me. I have the ring though, I promise.” He parks the car in front of our house instead of the garage, which made me a little suspicious. What was he up to? Alexzander leaves the car running and runs around to my side, opening up my door for me. I look at him suspiciously as he helps me out and then leans in, turning on the radio. He steps in front of me and holds out his hand “May I have this dance?”

I wanted to both cry and laugh at the gesture and could only get myself to nod in response. White Christmas came on and Alexzander continued to twirl me around in the snow. “So why are we dancing outside in the freezing cold?” I finally ask, my head resting on his shoulder.

“Because we never got the chance to dance earlier this evening. And it seemed like you needed some cheering up.”

“Especially after you lied to me.”

“The look on your face was definitely worth the whole thing” He spins me out again but this time I lose my balance on the ice and fall, taking Alexzander down with me.

“Sorry,” I mumble, the ice soaking through my dress.

“Stop apologizing Sam.” I move my head so that I’m looking at him and notice his eyes twinkling. That’s something I definitely wasn’t used to seeing. He brushes a piece of hair behind my ear, letting his hand linger on my cheek. “You okay?” For some reason my muscles weren’t working, and no words would come out so I just give a little nod. Alexzander leans in a little closer, just centimeters away from me. “Good.”

I couldn’t wait any longer, his slowness was killing me. I lean up and press my lips against his. They moved in sync as if they were made to mold together. It was a perfect match, two puzzle pieces finding each other. Alexzander’s hands find their way into my hair and all thoughts of the proposal or wedding flew out the window.

To my dismay, even a passionate filled kiss, couldn’t get my mind off of the nights earlier events. A part of me told me to back out of the deal that finding my parents wasn’t worth my life. But then again, at this point, I can’t imagine myself with anyone else. Alexzander has become more than just a random rich guy on the street. He has been there to support me through everything and I couldn’t help but fall for him. Fall hard.
And that was scarier than any threat I received.