Mike was in shock, confronted by the protective figure of Alexander standing tall in defense of Emily. What irked him even more was the familiarity he felt with the man.
"What do you think you're doing?" Mike angrily questioned, eyeing Alexander with disdain.
"What does it look like?" Alexander retorted arrogantly, regarding Mike as if he were an utter fool.
"Emily, didn't I tell you to stay away from him?" Mike growled, his anger directed towards the man he despised. He had his reasons, buried deep, and he could never disclose the truth to Emily.
"Why should I stay away from Alex? He's my friend, and he took care of me when I was sick," Emily countered with confidence. She stood her ground, refusing to let Mike's disapproval dictate her choices.
"A doctor?" Mike muttered, confused. He had presumed the worst about Alexander's identity, only to discover he was just a doctor. Still, he persisted, "You should stay away from him."
"Why should I listen to you?" Emily defiantly fought against Mike's protests.
"Emily, that's enough," Alexander interjected, his tone soft yet firm. He gently tapped Emily's shoulder, coaxing her to calm down.
But Mike, suspecting something more, realized he might have misjudged the situation. A surge of anger and jealousy consumed him, and without warning, he forcefully grabbed Emily's arm.
Alexander, not tolerating the aggression, swiftly intervened. He seized Mike's hand and bent it with a force that made Mike wince in pain. Alexander released him only when he felt Mike had learned his lesson.
"So what if we are seeing each other? It's none of your business," Alexander declared with unyielding confidence, surprising Emily. In her mind, she pondered, 'When did they start dating?'
As Mike hastily retreated, nursing his almost broken hand, he vowed revenge. He couldn't let things end like this, not with Emily seemingly moving on so successfully. The identity of the man might have turned out to be just a doctor, but even that was a more prestigious career than what Mike had. Simultaneously, Emily was on the brink of signing with Brave, and if word got out about her success, Mike feared becoming the laughing stock.
"You'll regret this," Mike seethed angrily as he hurriedly left the scene. Emily, still in shock from Alexander's unexpected declaration, was left standing there.
Alexander approached her, concern etched on his face. "Are you alright?" he asked with a soft, reassuring tone. Emily could only manage a nod, avoiding eye contact out of embarrassment. She hurriedly picked up her bag, which she had dropped earlier, and fumbled for her keys.
"Thank you," Emily muttered, breaking the awkward silence after she found her keys and quickly unlocked her door. With a hasty farewell, she entered her apartment, leaving Alexander standing outside. As the door closed, Alexander sighed, feeling a mix of relief and lingering concern for Emily's well-being.
As Emily entered her apartment, she found herself crouching on the floor, trying to process the whirlwind of events that had just transpired. "Did he just declare that we have a relationship?" she muttered to herself, her mind still reeling from the unexpected turn of events. The idea of a romantic relationship with Alexander had never crossed her mind, and she was unsure how to navigate this new development.
Unable to wrap her head around the situation, Emily decided to take a refreshing shower, hoping it would help clear her mind and provide some clarity. As the water cascaded down, she pondered on the need for clarification but lacked the courage to confront Alexander directly.
After finishing her shower, Emily glanced out of her window and noticed Alexander in the vicinity, seemingly preparing to leave. "Oh, is he heading out?" she wondered, feeling a mix of curiosity and confusion. Out of coincidence, their eyes met as Alexander turned around, checking on the source of the noise.
In an unexpected yet oddly synchronized moment, Emily and Alexander found themselves looking directly at each other. Alexander, anticipating some distance between them after the events of the day, was surprised to find Emily at her window. Awkwardly, she waved and shouted, "Take care."
Caught off guard, Alexander wore a faint smile and replied, "Get some rest." With a nod and a last glance, he headed to his car, leaving Emily to ponder the newfound dynamics of their relationship.
As the day waned, Emily decided to immerse herself in the simplicity of routine. She had a quiet meal and spent the evening watching movies to distract herself from the impending challenges. With the signing scheduled for the afternoon, she used the morning to reflect on the complicated situation she found herself in. Mike's influence in Brave posed a threat not just to her but to Suzy's career as well. The confrontation with Mike earlier had only heightened her awareness of the hurdles she was about to face.
Lost in her thoughts, Emily was startled by a knock on her door, disrupting the silent contemplation. Glancing at the clock, she realized it was late and wondered who could be calling at this hour. Emily cautiously approached the door and inquired, "Who is it?"
To her surprise, Alexander's voice came through, "It's me."
Curiosity piqued, Emily swiftly opened the door to find Alexander, who seemed to have just returned home.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, genuinely surprised to see him so late.
Alexander explained, "I came to check on you. How's your arm?" His concern was evident as he examined Emily's arms. She rolled up her sleeves, revealing a small bruise. "It's fine, doesn't hurt much," she reassured him with a smile. However, Alexander's frown betrayed his discontent. He hadn't expected Mike to use such force, leaving a visible mark on Emily's arm. The protective instinct in Alexander grew stronger as he considered the implications of Mike's actions.
Alexander produced a small container from his pocket and handed it to Emily. Curious, she asked, "What's this for?" Without saying a word, Alexander took the container back, opened it, and applied a small amount to his finger. Gently, he grabbed Emily's bruised arm and applied the ointment. Emily was taken aback by his unexpected gesture, her heart skipping a beat. In her mind, she wondered, 'Is this something out of a movie scene?'
As Alexander continued to tend to her bruise, Emily gathered her courage and asked, "Did you mean what you said earlier?"
Alexander remained silent, focused on the task at hand. Once he finished applying the ointment, he closed the container and said, "It'll mend your bruise." Emily, still caught off guard by his actions, sought clarification on his previous words.
"Isn't part of moving on meeting someone new?" Alexander said casually, meeting Emily's eyes.
Confused by his cryptic remark, Emily responded, "Excuse me?"
Alexander looked at her, his gaze unwavering. "Moving on doesn't always mean forgetting the past. Sometimes, it means finding a new beginning," he explained, leaving Emily to ponder the depth of his words.
Alexander, with a hint of mystery in his eyes, continued speaking, "Would you like me to play the role?" Emily looked at him, a glimmer of understanding crossing her face. Was he suggesting they pretend to be dating, creating a shield against Mike's interference? "Are you saying you want to pretend to be dating each other?" Emily inquired, seeking clarity.
"You can say that," Alexander replied, maintaining his cryptic demeanor. Emily pressed for more, questioning his motive. "Why?" she asked, genuinely puzzled by his proposal.
"Don't you need someone to have your back?" Alexander said with confidence. The idea struck Emily, realizing that with him by her side, Mike would think twice before trying anything again. The protection of a supportive boyfriend seemed like a powerful deterrent.
"That's true," Emily responded, acknowledging the potential benefits of such an arrangement. Yet, she couldn't shake off the fact that Mike still held influence within Brave, and Alexander might not be able to shield her from every challenge. However, the concept wasn't entirely without merit.
"Then let's start dating," Emily proposed, deciding to go along with Alexander's unconventional idea. The stage was set for a pretend relationship, a strategic move to navigate the complexities of both personal and professional challenges.
As Emily confidently agreed to the pretend relationship, she didn't anticipate that Alexander would suggest something beyond her expectations. "Then, let's start packing," Alexander said, nonchalantly heading toward his apartment.
"Packing? Why? Are we going somewhere?" Emily inquired, puzzled by Alexander's sudden suggestion, as she trailed behind him.
"As you said, we are now dating each other. Shouldn't we leave together?" Alexander responded casually, not giving much thought to his words. However, Emily had a mind-blowing reaction, causing her to run next to Alexander and take his arm. "Wait, move, to where?" Emily looked thoroughly confused as she locked eyes with Alexander, seeking an explanation.
"Where else? To our place," Alexander replied, a smirk playing on his lips. The idea of 'our place' caught Emily off guard, and her thoughts raced to comprehend what Alexander meant. It seemed the pretend relationship had taken an unexpected turn into uncharted territory.