"Ah, Tao! Would you care for some breakfast? " Mat said, trying to break the tense atmosphere.
"No, I fucking do not want breakfast! I want to know who he is and what he is doing here! " Tao said, walking over.
"Look, Tao..." Alannah was about to explain.
"I am Kurt. I was rescued by Alannah from some thieves. They were trying to steal my phone. The guys here kindly patched me up and gave me some breakfast. Don't worry, I'll soon be on my way and out of your hair! " Kurt said, with his most dashing smile.
"So, you have not had sex with Alannah?" Tao demanded whilst folding his arms, which, of course, made his enormous muscles bulge. Alannah went bright red and wished the ground would swallow her whole.
"Tao, how dare you ask such a personal question! Alannah, I am so sorry. Tao is just a little grumpy because the Chairman was on the phone last night, ranting about a missing friend or something." Said a small, delicate- looking Chinese woman who came out from behind Tao.
"Maya!" Tao moaned, but instantly softened up when he saw his wife's face.
"No Tao, you were wrong and very rude. Say sorry, now, please! " Maya said, looking stern.
"Maya, I don't think that is necessary. There was no harm done." Alannah said.
"Tao!" Maya said.
"I apologise for my rude behaviour towards Kurt and Alannah. What you guys get up to in your own time, is your own business. But I will say this: Alannah, you need to keep your head in the game. You know, a moment's distraction can lead to injury or death. I am sure Kurt is very nice, but he is not from our world. No offence Kurt." Tao said. Kurt looked around and everyone cast their eyes to the ground.
"You are right, of course! Come on Kurt, I will give you a lift back. " Alannah said sadly as she started to walk to the large exit door.
"Alannah, make sure you say goodbye!" Tao said in Mandarin, and Alannah just nodded.
Once outside, Kurt asked, "Are you OK?"
"Yes, why wouldn't I be?" Alannah said, clearly upset, as she unlocked her moped.
"I don't understand what just happened!" Kurt spoke softly.
"You know what, Kurt? That is good! It means you are not part of the same bat shit crazy and dangerous world I am in. Trust me, Kurt, you will be much better out of it!" Alannah said with a fake smile as she handed him the helmet. Kurt took the helmet, deep in thought.
"So where am I taking you to?" Alannah asked.
"Lux Hotel, do you know it?" Kurt said.
"It is only the most expensive hotel in the city!" Alannah said, rolling her eyes. "Come on, get on!" She motioned for him to take a seat behind her.
"Are you sure you're not joking?"Kurt said, concerned that he would be able to control his body's reaction if he was so close to her.
"Are you posh or something? I am sorry. Is this not to my Lord's liking? " Alannah said sarcastically, trying to hide her hurt and embarrassment. The truth was that this moped was Alannah's pride and joy. She had to win many fights to save enough money for it, as most of her winnings went on either her upkeep or to pay off her brother's debts. To her, her old moped represented her freedom and a little slice of normality-something she desperately craved.
"I am sorry, I did not mean.." Kurt was starting to apologise but was interrupted by Alannah.
"Look, we don't owe each other anything. Now are you getting on or what?" Alannah snapped, and Kurt mounted the moped.
Kurt's worst fears were confirmed as his body was pressing against Alannah's. Matters were made worse when Alannah grabbed his arms and wrapped them around her waist. He prayed to God that his body would behave.
Alannah started the moped and drove off. They were soon on the main road, and she was zipping in and out of traffic like it was second nature. Kurt also learnt some new Chinese swear words from Alannah, who shouted them if cars dared get too close. Eventually, they arrived outside the hotel and Alannah parked up, Much to the disgust of the doorman, Alannah didn't give a dam!
Kurt got off and took off the helmet, passing it to Alannah.
"Do you want to come in for a coffee?" Kurt asked casually.
"No thanks, I don't think this is my scene!" Alannah said, noticing the doorman dispersing inside. Probably to get security to scare her off.
"What about dinner? I know this lovely French place down the road. " Kurt asked.
"Well, I give you points for being persistent!" Alannah said with a smile.
"Hmm, that means you're tempted! Come on, just one dinner to say thank you. Where is the harm in that? " Kurt said, doing his best persuasive look.
Alannah was about to answer "OK" when she heard a woman's voice.
"Kurt! Kurt! Thank God! I have been going out of my mind! " A woman shouted. The woman had green eyes and brown hair, and she ran to him.
"I am sorry, Grace! "Kurt said sheepishly, as Grace flung her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. That was the last straw for Alannah, who put on her helmet and drove off.
"Alannah, wait! It is not what you think! Please! " Kurt shouted after her, but she did not hear.
"Is everything OK, Kurt?" Grace said
concerned.
"I don't know." Kurt said honestly as he watched the moped disappear into the distance.
===========================================================
"Of course, he had a partner! How stupid could she be? " Alannah said, scolding herself as she locked up her moped and stormed into the warehouse. She was not surprised to see all the guys waiting for her.
"Well, did you say goodbye?" Adam asked.
"Yes, I fucking did Adam, so get off my fucking case!" Alannah shouted, shocking all the guys.
"Alannah.." Tao started to say, seeing that someone he considered as a little sister was in some serious pain.
"What Tao? What do you want to hear, that you were right? Well, you'll be happy to know that you were fucking right! So leave me the fuck alone! " Alannah shouted as she chucked her helmet across the warehouse and stomped to her bedroom.
"Wow, what the heck was that?" Ethan was astonished. Alannah never lost her temper like that, never.
"You have just witnessed her heartbreaking." Maya said sadly.
"Not possible, they only met yesterday!" Tao argued.
"Right, because we did not fall in love that fast!" Maya reminded him.
"Oh, fuck!" Tao said.
Meanwhile, Alannah was standing on her bed, lifting a ceiling tile. She then pulled herself up and climbed up the rope she had put there years ago. Once at the top of the rope, she moved a metal sheet and climbed to the roof of the warehouse. Alannah had discovered this area years ago when she first got here. No one else used it, and she managed to turn the flat roof area into a mini garden with bamboo and some wildflowers.
Alannah dug underneath the bamboo until she found a metal box. Opening it, she took out a gold locket. It was the only thing she had left from her old life; her mother's locket. The locket had a lion engraved on the front and an inscription on the back -
To Emily, Keep me close, love your lion.
Alannah opened the locket to see a photo of her mother."Oh, Mum, I wish you were here. I really miss you! " Alannah said as she held the locket to her heart. "I know I was stupid, but for a split second, I thought he liked me, for me and I could be normal. All along, he was just playing with my feelings! " Alannah said, tears rolling down her face.
Alannah could not remember the last time she cried. Laying down, the locket still held to her heart, Alannah wept uncontrollably.