Chapter Eleven - High-on-steroids

"So are you,"

I turned my head towards the person standing at the door, leaning against the frame.

I stood up from beside Luke. The room was silent but Leila was busy on the swing set.

Alec started walking up to me but I took long strides and motioned for him to follow me outside the room, surprised when he actually did it.

Once in the corridor, I turned to him. His lips were pressed in a thin line.

"Your meeting's over already?" I managed to speak under his piercing glare.

"Took a break,"

"It started five minutes ago," I muttered.

He took a sudden step and my back touched the wall. He placed his hand above my head and I looked up at him.

His alluring scent and captivating blue eyes were turning my legs to jelly as he held my gaze. Blinking, I looked down at the floor.

"Why? Did I interrupt something?" He spoke in a dangerously low voice and I bit my lip.

"No,"

"What is he doing here?"

"Leila, his niece, left her teddy here yesterday. They just came to get it,"

"They got it, didn't they? Why are they still here? Did you ask them to stay?" His eyes narrowed.

I nodded slightly. "You were gone for the meeting and I was bored so-"

"I didn't ask you to come here, Scarlet," He snapped.

Biting my lower lip, I looked up at him.

"Okay then. I'll leave," I tried to move away from him but he placed his other hand on my side, caging me, and I looked up at him, annoyed.

He let out a low chuckle. "Leave with him? No. Get back in there," He withdrew his hands from my sides and turned to go back.

"I wanna find you in that room after the meeting," He said over his shoulder and went back inside the conference room.

I sighed and went back to the waiting room. Luke looked up at me with a smirk. "Told ya,"

I gave him a smile. "It's not what you think, Luke. We were talking about something else,"

"Sure," He nodded but it didn't seem like he believed me.

"Anyway, I just got a call from Leila's mother. We gotta leave," He got up from his seat and Leila walked over to him.

I pouted at that but nodded anyway. As Leila walked up to me, I bent down to give her a hug but she gave me a kiss on the cheek, giggling softly.

I pulled back and planted a tiny kiss on her cheek. "You're such a sweetheart," I muttered.

"You too," She spoke.

Smiling, I looked up at Luke who was looking at Leila in awe but averted his gaze to me.

"It was really good to meet you, Scarlet."

"Likewise," I said and waved them goodbye.

The chirpy waiting room was now empty and I blew a raspberry before collapsing on one of the comfortable chairs.

I looked down at my watch. There was a lot of time before Alec's meeting would be over.

I played some games on my phone and leaned back in the chair. My eyelids became heavy as I stifled a yawn. Shoving my phone back in my pocket, I shut my eyes for a moment.

The next thing I knew was being shaken vigorously and my entire front being in contact with something hard. What the hell is going on?

"Scarlet? What is the matter? Do you need a doctor?" I heard Alec's voice and got even more confused.

I opened my eyes to find myself lying face front on the floor. Turning over, I faced Alec.

I sat up on the floor and looked at him confused and then at my surroundings. Suddenly, it dawned on me.

Alec gave me an incredulous look.

"I must have fallen asleep," I muttered while standing up.

He got up from his crouched position and raised a brow at me. "On the floor?"

"No, Silly. On the chair obviously. I must have fallen off," I rolled my eyes while he heaved a sigh.

I massaged my wrists and neck. Realizing something, I narrowed my gaze at him.

"You," I poked my finger in his chest and he looked at me in bewilderment. "You wanted me to wait here. It's all because of you that my muscles are sore now,"

A smirk formed on his lips. "And I haven't done anything yet,"

I blinked at him in confusion but once I realized what he said, I flushed with embarrassment and walked past him to get out of the room, feeling his footsteps behind me. The corridor was filled with people, probably from the conference, but I didn't know any of them so I just simply called the elevators and got inside once they arrived.

"How did the meeting go?" I asked as the doors closed.

He looked at me in confusion as if not sure I was asking him but since we were the only two people in the elevator, he nodded slightly. "Good,"

He seemed baffled. I was used to asking dad about his meetings. Does nobody ask Alec how his meetings went?

Well, who would?

I gave him a smile and looked ahead, not really waiting for him to return it, knowing that he wouldn't have anyway.

Alec stood silently beside me and I stole a glance at him. His posture seemed to be relaxed as he patiently waited for the doors to open, a serene expression plastered on his face.

"Scarlet if you wanna look at me, just do it," He spoke with a hint of mischief in his voice and my head snapped in his direction.

My gaze met his sharp jawline as he kept looking forward. The doors opened and he walked outside, me following behind him.

"I was looking at the mirror beside you," I spoke without looking up and didn't realize when Alec stopped walking as I bumped straight into his back.

He turned to me, the serenity now gone from his face. "When did Luke leave?"

"Right after you went back," I spoke and took an awkward step back.

He nodded and started walking out of the lobby. We got in the car and the chauffeur started driving us back to the hotel.

The drive back to the hotel was going silent when I decided to speak.

"So....it's Barbados," I muttered.

"Really?" He asked, dryly. "I thought we were in-"

"Okay," I cut him off. "I did not ask for sass,"

He turned to face me fully and rested his elbow on the back rest. "What are you asking for, Scarlet?" His deep voice murmured.

My mouth went dry at the intensity in his eyes and I broke the gaze away.

"I mean......you know," I shrugged. How am I supposed to put this without giving him the wrong idea?

"What?" He asked.

Sighing, I spoke. "I wanna have fun,"

His forefinger rubbed his chin as he formed a mocking expression.

"Ugh," I groaned. "I mean....throughout the entire trip, you don't plan to spend the entire day in the cottage, do you?"

"I don't," He spoke and I sighed in relief. "I have to go out for meetings,"

I stared at him blankly and after a few seconds, looked out of my window.

He let out a chuckle and my heart started beating loudly as the deep sexy voice reverberated from his throat.

The car pulled up at the hotel and I got out. Without waiting for him, I started walking back to the cottage. I passed the busy side of the beach and finally stepped on the isolated side of ours. Climbing up the steps, I tried to get in but it was locked.

A moment later, someone stepped up behind me and I shifted to the side to let him unlock the door.

He pulled a card out of his pocket and punched it on a screen beside the door. I heard a click and he held the door open for me.

Rolling my eyes, I stepped into the cottage and headed straight for my room, and stayed there until noon.

When I checked my watch, it was 3 p.m.

Sighing, I swinged my legs off the bed and decided to go upstairs for a while. Since I didn't have a swimsuit in my stuff, I went in my shorts and tank top.

Hot breeze hit my face the moment I stepped on the wooden deck. I smiled at the inviting pool and walked up to the railing past it. The sea looked so beautiful but the Sun was at its best so I decided to just take a dip in the shaded pool.

Looking around, I carefully removed my tank top and tossed it on the floor. I stretched my limbs in the sunlight and turned around to jump in the pool but my body froze.

Alec was resting back on one of the chaise loungers, his eyes fixed intently on me.

He was in his swimsuit shorts and my jaw dropped at his half naked body. His abs were on full display and I found myself staring for longer than I should and quickly averted my gaze to his eyes, which seemed to be lingering on my body.

Not knowing what do to, I quickly picked up my top from the ground and slipped into it. He blinked and looked away for a moment, then his gaze settled on me once more.

"I didn't see you," I muttered in mortification.

He was right there! How could I not see him?

A smirk formed on his lips as he got up and made his way to me. My heart started beating rapidly at the sight of a sexy specimen walking right in my direction.

He stopped when he was a few inches away and I did not dare to look up at him, but since my eyes were on his abs so I looked up into his eyes instead.

"But I saw you," He smirked.

My mouth opened slightly as I found myself sweating under his gaze.

"Umm...okay...I--uh--I'll just go back," I stepped to the side, not realizing that deck was ending and my foot touched the water. I found myself falling but Alec caught my hand.

My entire body was at the mercy of his arm but he didn't pull me back. With a confused look, I tried pulling myself but he let go of my hand and I fell back in the pool.

Gasping, I resurfaced and coughing a few times, I glared up at him.

He chuckled at me but I didn't find anything funny about the situation. "You asshole," I gritted my teeth and got out of the pool.

I ran up to him while he just stood there casually, almost like I couldn't do anything. But I smirked when I placed my hands on his chest and pushed him back.

Let me rephrase that people, I tried to push him back.

Man! He was strong. He gave me a smirk as I attemtped one more time to just move him an inch to make him fall back in the pool but that didn't happen.

Instead, he grabbed my hands and gently gave my body a twist, making me stumble back into the pool once more.

I resurfaced and pushed my hair angrily out of my face. He looked down at me with fake sympathy and shook his head. "You need help, wife?"

His mocking tone ticked a nerve inside me, yet lit up my mood at the same time, as I got out of the pool again.

He gave me a challenging smirk but I walked up to him slowly, giving him a smile. I lifted my hands and gently placed them on his shoulders.

He glanced at me with bewilderment and his muscles tensed up under my hands.

"You're not just a bundle of boredom, are you, husband?" I spoke the last part in a husky voice.

His eyes darkened and I felt butterflies in my stomach when he looked at me like that but I composed myself.

I traced my finger along his neck and his well built torso, as he took in a sharp breath, glaring down at me with desire filled in his eyes. I lifted my body up and his face inched closer to mine. I placed my hands firmly on his chest and--

I pushed him back.

I watched as he fell back in the pool and I burst out laughing as he resurfaced and seemed confused for a few moments.

He looked up at me with narrowed eyes and I smirked at him.

"You need help, husband?" I mocked his tone.

To my surprise, a look of amusement flashed across his face as he looked up at me.

I blew him an air kiss, which he obviously did not catch, and I slowly walked towards the stairs to go downstairs, feeling his eyes on me the entire time but he made no move to get out of the pool.

Once downstairs, I got into my room and leaned against the door, smiling like an idiot at the events that just took place.

The look on his face when I had pushed him was priceless.

I couldn't stop replaying the feel of his torso under my hands, and the tranquil look on his face. For once, I felt like I had Alec Sinclair wrapped around the--tip of my little finger.

Feeling accomplished, I took a cold shower and changed into a tee and sweatpants.

I carefully stepped out of the room, checking the hall for Alec and when I found that the path was clear, I propped myself on the couch and switched the TV on.

Comedy Central was telecasting F.R.I.E.N.D.S again and I jumped in glee. Clapping four times in the theme song, I let out a laugh.

My stomach growled and I looked back at the kitchen, secretly hoping that food would fly out of it and land on my lap.

Sighing, I went to it and opened the refrigerator. There were frozen snacks but I wasn't up for pressing microwave buttons so I simply pulled out the huge chocolate ice cream tub from the freezer and carried it back to the living room.

Collapsing on the couch again, I dipped my spoon in the tub and scooped out a huge bite, devouring it slowly.

Just then, I felt like someone was watching me and I turned around to find Alec standing in his doorway, leaning against the frame, his eyes on me.

He was wearing a white tshirt and black track pants. The well fitted tshirt accentuated his body and I gulped, remembering that he could be up for revenge but realizing that childish games wasn't an Alec thing oftenly, I realxed and offered him a smile.

Without returning it, he walked up to me. He didn't seem to be in his usual crappy mood as I watched him sit down beside me on the couch and look ahead at the TV.

I held up the ice cream tub infront of him. "You want some?"

He shook his head and I looked back at the TV. To my surprise, it wasn't on Comedy Central anymore. The screen showed some business channel, with various company shares passing by in the headline. When did he change the channel?

"Hey. I was watching it before you," I said but he didn't seem to care as he pulled his phone out and dialled to someone.

"Erica?"

My eyes grew wide. "No. You can watch anything you want. I'm sorry! Please,"

He seemed to be weirded out for a second as he completely ignored me and started speaking.

"Their shares look good. Say yes to that meeting," He spoke shortly and hung up.

I blinked at him and turned away, my cheeks turning red in embarrassment.

"What were you saying?" He asked me.

"I just thought......," I trailed off and shrugged.

"What?"

"That maybe you were calling Erica to withdraw the investment or something,"

He frowned at me. "Why would I do that?"

"Because I was asking you to change the channel," I muttered in a low voice, realizing how stupid I was sounding.

His frown deepened as he raised a brow at me. "I didn't know colleges accepted kindergarten kids like you. Did they not call you for an interview?"

My jaw dropped.

Did he just call me a kid?

"You.....," I poked my finger in his chest but he grabbed it in a firm grip.

Gritting my teeth, I tried to yank it free but his grip was strong. I placed my other hand on his chest, pushing him back and trying to pull my finger free from his hand while he just sat there, almost as if bored.

"No one can be that strong, you high-on-steroid animal," I snapped.

He let out a chuckle and let go of my finger. I rubbed it with my other hand and glared at him.

"Seriously, Alec? You know that's illegal at some point, don't you?"

"What is?"

"See? It's affecting your brain already. You don't remember what I just said a few seconds ago,"

He frowned.

"I'm talking about steroids," I rolled my eyes.

He blinked at me for a moment. "Your brain is underdeveloped, Price,"

"And yours could have Alzheimer, Sinclair," I gave him a sarcastic smile. "Ring a bell? Sinclair? Price? Sinclair? Price?"

"Alright. Shut up," He spoke, annoyed and got up to go back to his room.

"And just so you know," I started speaking and he paused in his tracks. "A person who forces someone into marriage and keeps forgetting his wife's last name cannot call someone else underdeveloped,"

He crossed his arms over his chest and turned to me with narrowed eyes.

"Because that would make them a hypocrite," I spoke the last part huskily and burst out laughing.

He shut his room's door with force.

I smirked.