Protection

The silence in the car was palpable. Alexander hasn't said a word to me since he carried me out of the alleyway. 

The man who wanted to attack me was left behind with two of Alexander's bodyguards who showed up from nowhere. I'm still wondering how he knew where I was and at the exact place. I didn't remember telling anyone where I was going to. I simply sneaked out and I'm sure no one saw me when I did or maybe someone did.

My erratically beating heart had reduced and the shock I felt when I thought the strange man would hurt me had fizzled off. 

What was he going to do with me anyway?

Hurt me? Kill me? Abduct or kidnap? Worst of all, rape me? 

I couldn't just pinpoint exactly what could've happened to me if Alexander hadn't arrived on time. Despite him being an arrogant ass, I'm still grateful to him for saving my life.

I sighed out and glanced at him, his grip on the steering wheel was tight and his face was taut. I could feel the anger and annoyance that was oozing off him. I gulped down hard when I realized that his anger may be directed at me. I slowly took my eyes away from him and kept my gaze straight on the road ahead.

Tension crackled in the air as Alexander and I stood facing each other in the large sitting room. His anger has been brewing for sometime now, simmering beneath the surface until it finally bubbled over into a heated one.

"Why won't you just listen to me for once?" his voice was raised, frustration evident in his tone.

My face immediately contorted into a frown. Why is he raising his voice at me? I just wanted a breathe of fresh air and also see the outside world. It isn't my fault that I was almost attacked.

I crossed my arms defiantly, my eyes flashing with anger. "I am listening, but I can't just follow your every command like a puppet on a string! You just keep trying to control me."

He took a step closer, his jaw clenched. "I'm not trying to control you, I just want to keep you safe. Can't you see that?"

I shook my head, my voice tinged with defiance. "I don't need you to protect me. I can take care of myself."

His hands folded into fists at his sides, his temper flaring, "Yeah, right! You can protect yourself. Did you protect yourself back there, Ivory? If I hadn't arrived on time, who knows what that bastard would've done to you."

My eyes softened slightly, but I remained resolute. "I appreciate you for your concern, but I can handle things my own way."

I appreciate him for saving me. Yes. But I don't want him to think I'm weak and that I need his protection all the time. He may have saved me once and I don't think he'd be doing it again. I can really take care of myself. 

Alexander's jaw clenched in obvious frustration and he ran his hands through his hair in agitation.

"Why are you so damn stubborn?" he growled, his voice tinged with both anger and concern. "You could've been seriously hurt back there!"

"I don't need you to babysit me. I can take of myself," I retorted defiantly.

"You think this is about babysitting? What if I didn't get to you on time? Think about what that man could've done to you."

I shuddered at the thoughts of what the strange man could've done to me. Maybe I did need his protection, but I'm never going to admit that to his face. It will boost his already overflowing ego.

I scoffed, shaking my head. "I don't need your protection. I never asked for it."

"Dammit, it's not about what you want!" he snapped, his voice rising in frustration. "It's about what you need, about keeping you alive! Can't you see that?"

The tension between us was patent, the room feeling suffocating with unspoken words and unresolved feelings. Alexander took a deep breath, trying to calm the rising storm within him.

"I just want what's best for you," he said, his voice softer now, laced with a hint of vulnerability.

My expression softened too, a flicker of understanding passing between us. "I know, and I appreciate that. But we don't always see eye to eye on what that is."

Silence hung heavy in the air as we both stood here, the weight of my unspoken emotions settling inside me. I felt a presence behind me but I didn't turn to look at the person. Alexander's eyes travelled away from mine to the intruder behind me.

"Jackson," he muttered simply. I swiftly turned around to see one of Alexander's bodyguards. 

His eyes continuously drifted from me to Alexander. From his stance and poise, I could tell he felt the tension in the air. 

"He has been held hostage and he's being questioned, boss." Alexander nodded. He glanced briefly at me, his eyes telling me that our conversation is not over yet. Without another word, he left the sitting room with Jackson.

I heaved out a deep sigh that I didn't know I was holding in. I slowly dropped my body on one of the sofas, suddenly feeling exhausted and tired.

Protection this, protection that!

I'm thankful that he saved me. I'm unscathed, thanks to him. He really should stop making this whole protection and safety stuff seem like a big deal.

Or maybe I'm just being a stupid, ungrateful girl? If his bodyguards are to follow me around, it's better they do it discreetly rather than doing it openly.

"Are you alright?" I heard a familiar soft voice whisper lowly to me. I looked up to see Claire standing in front of me with a glass of orange juice in her hand. "Here, I brought you this?" She handed me the glass of orange juice and I took it from her with a small smile.

"Thanks, Claire," I muttered under my breath and took a sip of the orange juice. Claire sat beside me and smoothed my hair at the top. I flashed her a thankful smile and took another sip from the orange juice, but this time it was a large gulp. 

"I heard you almost got hurt. Are you okay? Why didn't you tell anybody where you were going to. At least, the bodyguards would've protected you."

"There you all go again with the protection stuff. Is it a crime to decide to leave the house on my own without any guards flocking around me like some desperate bees?" I sighed out with a hint of annoyance in my voice.

"I understand how you feel, but it's important you always leave the house with bodyguards. You're married into an influential family. People would want to hurt you. And you know master Alexander is a mafia, he'd want you protected from his rivalries," she uttered in a soft voice.

"Alexander is the first person I need protection from," I scoffed and Claire laughed out.

"I bet you don't understand how this whole thing works. You're an important person to Master Alexander which makes you a high target for enemies. They feel that, once they get a hold of you, they have gotten Master Alexander too."

"Alexander wouldn't care if I lived or died. He'd probably throw me to the wolves if given the opportunity." I gulped down the remaining contents of the orange juice and handed Claire the empty glass.

"He wouldn't be so hellbent on protecting you if he didn't care." I rolled my eyes at her and stood up. "I'd bring your lunch to your room?"

I nodded at her as I headed towards the stairs, eager to reach my room and plunge myself on my comfy bed.