Rachel's POV

A knock on the door made me snap out of my thoughts but before I could open it, Alexander did. It was one of his men dropping of some takeout. He curtly said a small thank you to the man and closed the door.

He brought the food to the table and laid everything out. "Again, I don't know how many times to tell you, but you need to eat. It's the second day that you've skipped lunch and dinner," he said and pulled out the chair to for me to sit.

"You've lost some more weight on your hips and that's without me even touching you to confirm. Eat. More. Food.," he growled out harshly.

My tummy rumbled at the food set out in front me and I took a seat. He did as well as he waited for me to begin eating.

I took another bite and looked at him. "How do you know that? And how did you know that I was at the hospital?"

His face remained emotionless and stoic. He took out his phone and typed away not bothering to answer my question. I shrugged it off because Alexander was irritable and continued eating.

"My men watch you 24/7," he very plainly said. I looked at him dumbfounded. He further explained, "2 of them always lurk around here, another in the mansion and 1 on Saturdays at the golf club."

I took a sip of my water and the put the bottle down. "Why?"

He finally put down his phone and faced me. "For your safety, off course."

I suddenly felt creeped out about being watched 24/7 and reported on as if I was some experiment. "I don't need protection. I can protect myself."

He stood up and walked to the window looking outside. It was hardly a view, only the dirty street and the trash cans.

He laughed humourlessly. "You can protect yourself, princess? Can you really?" he taunted. "Can you protect yourself from your neighbour downstairs touching your breasts when coming back from work? Can you protect yourself from being robbed on the 24th of June when coming back from the grocery store? Can you protect yourself from a random group of men cutting your arm when you refused to sleep with them? Can you?"

He turned around and looked at me with dark, dangerous eyes. "Well, can you fucking protect yourself?" he asked extremely harshly.

I sat there with my arms wrapped around me because he was right. I couldn't protect myself no matter how hard I tried. After all, this was the dangerous side of the neighbourhood.

He turned around again and looked out the window breathing heavier than usual. I gently stood up and began clearing the table. I glanced at him every minute or so but he stood looking out the window. How do you approach someone like this? I was afraid that he'd lash out at me again.

I cleared the table and rinsed my mouth in the bathroom before I went back to the living room and stood behind him. I softly tapped his tensed up shoulder and he turned to face me.

"Would you like something to drink?" I cautiously asked.

He ignored me and pointed behind. "Do you sleep there?" He was pointing at the couch with my pillow and blanket.

I subtly nodded at him.

"On a sleazy couch?" he further asked perplexed.

Again I nodded. However I felt as if I had to justify myself. "It's comfortable at least," I weakly contributed.

He scoffed at me and gestured with his hand for me to go on the couch. "Well go sleep then. It's past 2am."

I made my way to the couch adjusting the pillow and blanket.

"If you're not leaving anytime soon, then I don't expect you to stand all night." I also gestured towards the couch. He looked at me contemplating.

Nevertheless, he proceeded to sit on the right side while I snuggly held my pillow and went to the left side.

"Actually no, get up. Swap sides," he demanded.

I looked at him incredulously, "What difference does it make?"

He gave me another harsh look. "I sit closer to the door in case something happens, not you," he grunted out and waited for me to move.

I sat on the other side and leaned against couch. My pillow in between my legs that was propped up and held tightly by my arms. Alexander sat up straight with immaculate posture, except his eyes were closed and he looked tired.

"Alexander?" I softly asked since I didn't know if he was asleep.

He answered me with his eyes still closed. "Yes, princess?"

"Even though what you did was wrong, I'm sorry for slapping you the other week. I overreacted."

Now he opened his eyes and looked at me. "I told you Rachel, you'll regret it soon when the time comes. I haven't forgotten about that."

I looked down ashamed. "What are you going to do?"

He closed his eyes and leaned back. "You'll just have to wait and see."

After a few minutes of silence passed I called out to him again. "Alexander?"

He sighed and sat up straight. He unbuttoned the first 2 buttons of his white dress shirt and rolled up his sleeves. "Now what is it?"

I hesitated to ask him my question but decided that I really had nothing to lose. "Why did you come and help me? And why do you care for my safety?"

He stood straight up and stretched. He lifted his arms above his head cracked his knuckles. He then went to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. Gulping it in one go, he leaned against the counter facing me as he crossed his arms. The scar on his face was prominent as the light from the window beamed on it.

"Those are questions I still ask myself, Rachel. But simply put, you are too beautiful for you own good and to some extent, you remind me of my mother."

I changed my position on the couch to look at him. I cocked my head to the side and furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "Your mother?"

"Yes, my mother," he softly confirmed. "But that's a story for another day."

I slowly nodded at him.

"Any other questions?"

I thought about it for a few seconds, "I have a million questions for you. Would you answer them all now?"

He shook his head. "It's late and you need to sleep. You may ask me one more."

There is one thing I have been wondering about. "How old are you?"

He smiled at my question, "I am 29."

A whole 10 years older. "Jeez you're an old man already," I jokingly said.

He laughed heartily which in turn put a smile on my face.

"Is 29 too old for you, princess? Can you not handle it?" he asked as he tipped his head to the side.

"Well I don't need to tell you my age because I'm sure you already know but let's just say my youth will hold up for much longer than yours," I playfully pointed out.

"I'll have you eating your words soon so watch it," he warned but slightly grinned. "Now go to sleep."