Thread: The Heiress and the Hacker [[Silva & Quix]]

Physical violence was not something that was familiar to Alexandra, which was why she had been briefly overwhelmed that their quarrel had escalated so quickly. Verbal abuse and emotional blackmail were things she had learned to navigate as she got older, mostly due to her father. Richard may have thought her free will and speech would have been stripped away long ago just by being a member of such a prominent family, however she had just gotten better at hiding her opinions on the inside and being outwardly agreeable. His unexpected appearance seemed to be the last drop to open the floodgates, however, and even as she clock ticked the heiress wasnt sure how she could just go back out into the party and pretend that she was unaffected. There was so much baggage that came along with knowing her, and she had been somewhat surprised that her former lover even wanted anything to do with her going into the future. Alexandra could have understood and forgiven his outburst if he had just wanted to gain some closure and go their separate ways, but she couldnt deny the immediate sense of pleasure that had welled up when he challenged her. He was so completely different from anyone she knew, and it was an indulgence to be treated like a normal person instead of being put up on a pedestal to be constantly scrutinized. She had been enjoying the shy intimacy between them as they spoke, and she was contrite to see him become affected by her admission. Lexi wasnt one to lie, however, and she knew that sooner or later if they continued to gravitate towards each other something was bound to happen. Better to be up front about the fact that she was in a relationship, instead of making it a lie of omission. If she was being honest with herself the only reason she even agreed to go out with James was to get her father to cease his complaining about her single status, and James was a convenient option. Curiously she watched as he walked over to the desk and pulled out a pad of paper, one questioning blonde brow cocked. The details of why she remained under the thumb of her father were too numerous to explain at the present, especially with the clock ticking on how long shed been gone from the ballroom. Alexandra didnt resist as he passed the slip of paper to her, her fingers curling around it securely. He had piqued her interest about his profession, and his confidence in the admission that he could help her get away and be safe. She may not know the dirty details of how her father operated, but from her own observations and what Richard had admitted to her she knew it would be tough to truly escape him. Even a light touch was enough to tend tingles down her spine, but she resisted the urge to reach out to him in the knowledge that they would probably never leave if she did. His words evidently struck a chord within her at the contemplative look that descended over her features, but she was also scared. Could she dare to be that same girl she had once been? Ill be in touch. Alexandra didnt bother to offer her own contact information, knowing that if had managed to crash her familys event that he had ways to find out what he wanted to know. The rest of the evening had her set on edge, wondering if he would be discovered. She was practiced enough not to show her unease, and after making up a plausible excuse for her absence the rest of the night flowed uneventfully. In the next few days his words haunted her, plaguing her and making the socialite wonder if he truly could help her be free from her familys toxic influence. It took her a few more days to work up the nerve to finally make a decision, but once her mind was made up she didnt waste any more time. Lexi didnt know what Richards schedule would be like or if he was even at home, but once she made a decision she sent him a short text message stating that she was coming to see him. Despite the fact that there was nothing wrong with going to visit a friend the socialite took extra care to dress casually , not wanting to draw extra attention to herself. Nonchalantly she departed the familys mansion and walked a few blocks away before hailing a taxi, not wanting to risk driving herself and being followed. The thought of seeing him again made her nervous, but she was also curious to see where he lived and what this mysterious career was. The ride was a short one, and all too soon she found herself anxiously sliding out of the car.