“I don’t give a shit about the lipstick.” I stood on my toes and lost myself, even if only for an instant, in his kiss. He placed his hand on my bare back and it felt like electricity surged through me.
I now understood Alexander just wanted us to be
together
and not let anything come between us. To a great extent, the stability of our relationship depended on me. It was time I grabbed life with both hands and defended my happiness tooth and nail.
I remembered Alexander’s words.
Nobody is insured. Nobody knows when entering a relationship how far they will get, whether they will split up or not.
He was completely right. I couldn’t know what the future held for us, but I could give everything I had to keep the love of my life.
I gazed at his beautiful face and those sapphire eyes of his in which I always lost myself and thanked God I was with him. My face was beaming. “Alexander, have you got a hankie?”
“Yes.” He took a neatly ironed white hankie and passed it to me.
“I’m sorry. I got some lipstick on you.” I wiped his lips, giving him a warm smile. “Done, no trace left.”
A photographer, wearing a pass reading
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
round his neck, approached us for a picture. Alexander nodded and pulled me by the waist so I was stood next to him.
“May I know what your name is, miss?” asked the photographer.
“This is my girlfriend Alexia Welson,” said Alexander quickly.
The man wrote recorded it in his cell phone and said, “Much appreciated, Mr. Kraftberg. I’ll send the pictures to your mother, Mrs. Kraftberg, as soon as possible.”
“Excellent.”
“Enjoy your evening, Miss Welson, Mr. Kraftberg,” he said politely and walked away.
The night had draped its cloak over the earth and stars twinkled in the sky. A scent of flowers wafted through the air. The Natalie Cole song “When I Fall In Love” rang through the garden and drifted over it like a gust of wind.
During the ball, I had the pleasure of meeting many famous politicians, writers, artists, and musicians. I never left Alexander’s side, who introduced me to everyone he talked to. He treated me like a real lady and didn’t hide from anyone that I was his girlfriend. I even sensed in his voice that he was proud of this, which, of course, made me feel even happier.
We sat at the round dining table, and I was very happy to find that Carmen had seated me between Alexander and Francesco. I was very glad when I saw him. He was one of few familiar faces in a sea of strangers.
“Ciao, bella.” He raised my hand to his lips. “You look amazing.”
“Thanks… You too.”
“Are you having fun?”
“Much more than I expected,” I replied, which made him laugh.
After all guests had taken their seats, the compere asked everyone to make their donations. Young girls in ivory-colored dresses started to walk around the marquee, carrying golden boxes in front of them to collect our donations.
The waiters started to serve the dinner. As a starter, they served us mussels with field salad and truffles. I took my fork and tried them. They were incredibly delicious.
The entire charity event had been prepared with a lot of love and taste. I’d read about Berg for Children and the numerous orphanages supported by the organization. And at this moment, I was proud to be part of the life of this oh-so-noble man—Alexander Kraftberg. The better I got to know him, the more I realized behind the hard shell of a powerful businessman who loved controlling everything around him was hiding a large, noble, and good heart.
Looking at him, I smiled. I realized my decision to work for his company hadn’t been too hasty. I wanted to be a part of everything good he created, but the most important thing for me was we would be able to spend more time together. After all, most people spend a greater part of their lives with their coworkers than with their family and friends. We had the chance to work together, and I should take advantage of this.
Alexander was in an intense conversation with Rahel Tresch—the chief editor of the international magazine
Emmanuelle
, while I was enjoying a pleasant chat with Francesco. We told him I had accepted Alexander’s proposal to work in his company, and I absorbed everything he said about interior design. Francesco was a man with excellent taste and great ideas. It was no accident that Alexander had hired him. The conversation was so fascinating that I didn’t realize when they’d served the main dish—beef with white mushroom sauce and hash brown potatoes.
“Alexander tells me you’re American,” said Mrs. Tresch.
“Yes, my father is American and my mother is German,” I replied.
“Ah, that’s why you speak German so well—no accent at all. Impressive.” She continued.
“Thank you.”
“It would be a great pleasure and honor for me if you agree to give me an interview. Everyone is interested in who Alexander Kraftberg’s charming girlfriend is, and I would be happy if our magazine is the first to tell people more about you. I’m thinking we could take a few professional photographs and choose the best one for the magazine cover. What do you say?”
I looked at Alexander, unsure whether it was a good idea to reveal myself to everyone. On the other hand, people would know the truth about me, rather than read speculations.
“Miss Welson would have to go through the interview questions in advance and then decide whether she wants to do it or not, right?” interjected Alexander, for which I was extremely grateful. He knew me very well and could guess what I was thinking, and, unlike me, he had quite a lot of experience in dealing with journalists, so he knew how to negotiate with them.
“Great, I’ll try to prepare the questions this week.” Mrs. Tresch didn’t hide her satisfied smile as she arranged the bow on her beige silk dress.
When the Leona Lewis song “A Moment Like This” came on, Alexander gallantly invited me to a dance. We went to the dance floor. Our bodies touched and I felt the heat radiating from his body being absorbed into me, creating a highly electrified aura around us. This incredible magic between us was always present.
“I love this song,” I whispered, enjoying the tender rhythm of the music.
Alexander held me tight against him. I pressed the side of my face to his. I always felt so relaxed and happy in his arms. Sensing his scent, the touch of his fingers, and his hot breath had become a source of life force for me. I loved this man so much, with all my heart.
“My mother isn’t to be underestimated—it was very calculating to seat me right next to Rahel Tresch.”
“Alexander, she had put Vanessa next to you. But having seen I didn’t like her, she took me here and swapped the name cards in front me,” I told him.
“Really?” he said, surprised. “Well, my mother has proven yet again that she is very observant. I think it’s a good idea for you to give an interview. This way people will get the lowdown directly from the horse’s mouth.” His lips gently touched that oh-so-sensitive area under my ear and sent a surge of lava through my veins.
“I also believe the idea of my giving an interview isn’t bad at all, but first I have to give some serious thought to how I’ll answer the questions.”
“Don’t worry, baby. Take as much time as you need to think on them.”
When the song finished, he pulled away, put his hand in his pocket, and took out his cell phone, which was vibrating intensely.
“Sorry, babe, I have to get this,” he said and tenderly kissed my hand before letting it go. “I’ll be back soon.” He walked away from the dance floor to talk in peace.
I decided to go to the toilet and freshen up in the meantime. I touched up my makeup and, as I was coming out, I almost ran into Vanessa at the door.
“Alexia, can you spare a couple minutes?” she asked.
Was she following me?
No, I wouldn’t spare even a second for you
, I thought but wasn’t brave enough to say it to her face.
I didn’t want to talk to her. I had noticed the enamored looks she was giving Alexander and I didn’t like it at all. And the fact that she and her husband Bert both went to that damn club… I couldn’t get my head around how they did it. I didn’t understand how such marriages could exist, but, clearly, everything was possible if there were two willing parties.
“What for, Vanessa?” I didn’t try to hide my hostility.
She took me by the elbow and we walked away from the crowd. “You don’t actually think you can give Alexander everything he needs in bed, do you?” Her eyes gave me a mocking look. She was far too blunt with me, but this didn’t surprise me. My inner voice hinted to me that I couldn’t expect anything nice from this woman.
“The fact that he’s with you now doesn’t mean that next week he won’t decide again to satisfy his huge sexual appetite somewhere else. Where there are no barriers for anyone and everyone can satisfy their sexual fantasies with one or more partners.” She took a drag on her cigarette and blew out a smoke ring through her open lips.
“Well, as far as I know, he didn’t want to repeat his experience with you, in spite of your skills. Now, would you excuse me? Alexander is waiting for me.” I looked at her through hooded eyes and walked toward the marquee.
“I give him one week, darling, no more,” she shouted after me.
To put it mildly, I hit rock bottom. Vanessa had verbalized my fears, which made me capitulate completely.
I sat at the table next to Francesco.
“Hey, are you okay? You’re as white as a sheet,” he asked, concerned.
“No… I’m not okay. Vanessa managed to achieve her goal of making me mad,” I whispered in his ear.
“Alexia, she’s just jealous. Even a blind man could see that,” he said, trying to calm me.
“Does she have no feelings for her husband?”
“No, their marriage is a complete farce. Bert married her only for her money. And she did it to make Alexander jealous. Don’t let her ruin your evening.”
Someone placed a warm hand on my shoulder. I looked up and saw it was Alexander. He kissed me on the cheek and turned to Francesco. “We have to talk.”
Francesco stood and they both abandoned me.
Great, exactly what I needed… The evening started off so well, and now I feel… awful. Vanessa, you damn bitch…
I raised my champagne glass and drank the contents. The alcohol pleasantly warmed my stomach. I pondered everything that had happened so far. Alexander, unfortunately, remained a mystery to me. He wanted me to work in his company, but at the same time, there were things he hid from me. Who called him? What had happened? Why did he not want me to know? All these questions bounced around my head like a pool ball and wouldn’t give me peace of mind.
“May I have a dance?” I turned and looked up. Bert Gras was standing behind me.
Huh, that’s all I need… And how do I refuse him now? Well, I’ll endure one dance somehow, but no more.
Gras danced surprisingly well, but I still felt apprehensive being so close to him. He put one of his hands below my waist, so I had to lift it higher.
“Mr. Gras, let’s keep the decorum.” I glared at him angrily.
“Of course, Alexia, but why all the formalities? Let’s address each other by our first names. I’m Bert.” After a brief pause, he continued. “It was painful to see how your companions abandoned you,” he said, feigning concern.
Well, he and Vanessa certainly have one thing in common—they know how to touch a sore spot…
“Alexander and Francesco have to discuss company matters, and I don’t work there. So whatever happens there doesn’t concern me, either directly or indirectly.”
“Alexia, you’d make me very happy if you accepted my invitation to lunch. Shall we say Monday?”
Pardon? Never.
“I won’t be in Zurich next week.”
“Oh, that’s a shame.” He sighed and pulled me closer to him.
I thanked God the song was over and, when I saw Alexander was coming over, I started to breathe more easily.
“Bert, the lady is
mine!”
he told him and possessively pulled me to him.
“Of course, Kraftberg, I just didn’t want to her to get bored,” he said and withdrew.
Visibly I relaxed, but at the same time, I felt troubled on the inside, worried by my own fears—as spoken aloud by Vanessa—and by the secrets Alexander was hiding. I knew he had things he didn’t want to talk about with me, such as his brother and now this covert phone conversation…
It was clear he didn’t trust me. I almost regretted telling him everything about me, but he felt no need to share with me.
“Dance with me, baby,” whispered Alexander when James Arthur started singing “Recovery.”
I hugged him, rested my cheek against his, and closed my eyes. We danced without saying a word, both of us lost in thought.
“You seem quiet. Has something happened?” He lowered his eyes toward me.
“Everything is fine,” I lied.
“Do you really think I believe that?” he whispered in my ear, and his hot breath sent a wave of tingles throughout my body. I loved him a lot… but did he love me just as much? I started to feel that uncertainty that eats at you on the inside, making you crazy. The secrets he kept from me were building a barrier between us. And I didn’t know whether this barrier would destroy our relationship.
“What do you want me to say? That while you weren’t here, I had to endure Bert’s company and listen to Vanessa’s veiled
warnings
?” I sighed.
“What did Vanessa want from you?” He scowled.
“I don’t think this is the time to discuss it.”
The song finished, and he said, “Come on. Let’s try the dessert.”
“Are you trying to placate me with chocolate?”
“The dessert my mother has ordered isn’t to be missed. Believe me.”
He was, of course, completely right. My mouth literally started watering when I saw the Luxemburgerli from the Sprüngli patisserie, as well as the small cakes and chocolates. I had a few bites and immediately felt better.
After I was finished, Alexander took my hand and said, “I want us to go.”
“Why are you in such a hurry?”
“There’s something I want to discuss with you and it really can’t wait. Let’s say good-bye to my parents.”