Alexis' POV
It was the last week of the free trial and I was happy I'd stumbled upon the ad on the internet a month ago. It was so fascinating how much my life had changed since then. I was no longer scared of having constant nightmares nor having panic attacks in public, and also, my life wasn't so boring anymore_not with Quinn on my tail, and I was beginning to see a career path I wanted to take. It seemed I'd got everything at my fingertips and all I needed was to make the move to start achieving my dreams.
After our morning at the cafe the previous week, it became a regular thing for Quinn and I. Every morning, I no longer hurried home as soon as the session came to an end but I waited for him and together we headed to the cafe to get breakfast. All through these times, I've gotten to know so much of the man that I had no reason not to want him except for my own demons, which thankfully, I've been dealing well with. But was I truly ready to get into another relationship while I was just beginning my selfgrowth journey? This was a question I'd continuously asked myself over the past week, and I realized that each time the answer was always negative. I couldn't heap my issues on him.
As usual, it was another morning at the studio and the yoga session had just ended. Quinn had signified for me to wait before stroding out to take a call, while I packed my bag. I'd just finished folding my mat, when I heard a snappy voice behind me and from her words, I had no doubt she was talking to me.
"So you think you've got him in your palms huh?" The feminine voice sailed into my ears, but I chose to ignore it, while keeping my mat in my backpack. "Come on fatty, I'm talking to you," she grabbed onto my arm, yanking it until I was forced to turn to her.
Her words struck me, my heart racing from anxiety but I managed to keep a cool exterior while staring at the slim blonde woman, staring at me with a hostile expression on her face.
"Honey," she called in a sugar-coated voice, smiling sweetly, with a sinister look in her eyes. "I know Quinn and I've known him for years. Let me educate your ignorance, you cheap whore," she placed a hand on my shoulder like she was advising me dearly, but the words that left her lips only stung at my heart, raising my anxiety and causing a lump to form in my throat. "He's not into curvy women with a lose vagina that just want to fuck him for his name and what they can extort from him. And gosh, you're not even half as pretty as the other women he's been with. I think we both know he's only taking what you're offering and he'll leave you as soon as he finds someone better. Get that into your fat brain and stop deceiving yourself. Men like Quinn don't go after women like you. He'd be ashamed to be seen with you in public,"
"I'd be more ashamed to be associated with a foul-mouthed woman like you who clearly doesn't recognize what it means to be beautiful without the help of the surgeon's knife," Quinn's deep voice interrupted from behind her and gasps filled the room from his harsh words.
From my peripheral vision, the blonde turned around, with wide eyes and mouth agape, meaning to speak but he immediately cut her off.
"I'm so disappointed in you, Candice. It's a shame that you stoop so low as to body shaming a fellow woman, feeding her with lies just so she could see you as a superior. I knew you've always had it in you but I honestly thought you'd do better,"
"Quinn…" She tried to speak again but he raised a hand, while I struggled to continue packing my bag, needing to get out of there as soon as I could.
"I don't want to ever see you in this environment, nor around me. Consider this as an end to all impending deals we have and I'll be sure to call your agency to let them know of my decision to withdraw. I will not work with someone that lacks a basic sense of human decency. Now get out and never come back here,"
More gasps erupted around the room, but he didn't care as he grabbed my arm, taking my bag in the other and pulling me away from their midsts, with purposeful strides, heading towards his private office. He didn't care that all eyes were on us as he entered and he immediately slid the lock in place.
The lock sliding in place broke the last of my resolve. The last thing I needed was to be alone with him, not after all Candice had said to me. The tears that had been threatening to choke me finally spilled, sobs escaping my lips. I tried to turn away from him, embarrassed at the entire situation but he didn't let me as he wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me against him. I buried my head into his chest and let the tears flow freely, unable to hold back.
"Shhh… it's okay, baby," he spoke in a soft tone, rubbing my back soothingly.
Moments later, when I was calm, I pulled away to see my tears had left a large wet spot on his shirt. My fingers traced it and I felt him stiffen but I quickly dropped my hand, understanding that I was crossing my limits.
"I'm sorry about this," I muttered in a broken voice.
"It's nothing love, it'll dry out soon," he reached for my face and tried to clean off the wet streaks of tears and I let him, too weak to protest.
"Maybe I should register for a proper workout routine to burn out the fat and the excess curves. I could even get skinny like the models and get the ideal body?"
"No," Quinn objected, cradling my face in his palms and staring into my eyes. It was as if I was totally hypnotized by his stare. "You will not do that, Alexis. You're beautiful just the way you are. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Remember not letting the standards of the world define you?"
"B-but, this is different," I tried explaining but he wouldn't have it.
"You're a gorgeous woman with an enchanting smile that left me weak to my bones the first moment I saw you and I wouldn't give up your beautiful body for anything, ever,"
"People are different, Quinn. My," I licked my lips, remembering the ugly incident with Ted and his model girlfriend. "My ex left me for a model right after he told me no man wanted a curvy woman. What makes you think another man wouldn't do that to me?"
"Because no other man matters, Alexis. I'd never ask you to do that and you should never settle for a man that asks you to change just to make him feel better. If they wanted a skinny model, they'd get one. Do not let anyone prey on your looks because you look amazing and they simply can't stand it," his thumb caressed my cheek and I stared into his eyes.
How does the man manage to get more awesome everytime?
"And I absolutely adore curvy women," he whispered, his hands on my face sliding down to my shoulders, down to my back and pressing me against him. My breath was coming out in short pants, drying up my lips. Quickly, I slid my tongue across them but his eyes followed the action, lingering on my lips, while his hands kept grazing the exposed skin of my back that my top bra couldn't conceal.
Suddenly, as though I'd just returned to my senses, I realized how closely we were pressed and how charged the air around the room was. His eyes held mine hostage, that I couldn't look away from his intense stare. As much as it soothed my nerves, it also sent shivers down my spine.
"Quinn…" I murmured, my voice a mere whisper.
"I want to kiss you so badly, baby,"
His growled out in a guttural voice, setting off butterflies in my lower stomach. As though inviting him, my lips parted of their own volition, and he didn't need permission to act. He seared his lips to mine, kissing me like his life depended on it. A whimper escaped my lips, as he sneaked his tongue into my mouth, sliding it across my wet lips, to mate with mine and to explore. With each licks of his tongue against mine, I felt myself melt against him, my knees going weak. His hands on my back slid down to my waist, holding me tightly against him as though he was scared I'd leave him. I was getting so lost in the kiss, until he pulled away, breathing hard and staring at me, with his eyes a shade darker than usual.
"Baby…" he leaned in again, as though testing the waters but I quickly pressed a hand to his chest.
I was freaking out on the inside, realizing my mistake. You weren't supposed to kiss him or even be in an enclosed room with him. I didn't trust myself so much to stop whatever it is that was happening between us and I couldn't let him past my walls. It was too risky. I berated myself, taking a step away from him and grabbing my bag off his large desk.
I shook my head, trying hard not to let the tears in my eyes spill from the heart breaking look on his face.
"I-I… we can't. I just, I have to go,"
Without second thoughts and without glancing back, I hurried out of the building, quickly getting into a taxi with the incident still fresh in my mind.
Don't think of it. Do not think of it. I kept on chanting to myself throughout the ride home, knowing that thinking too deeply might result in a panic attack. The last time I had such attacks was still fresh in my mind_the first time I'd met him. I couldn't embarrass myself in such a way anymore and I couldn't risk going back to a place I'd been struggling to get out of.
Leaving him hanging wasn't nice, but it was the safest option and that was good enough for me.