Love's Wild Card

Sunday morning arrived with Grace's wake-up call jolting Alex from his sleep. No urgent matter - she just wanted to make sure he was up. He checked the time: 7 AM. Was she trying to kill him?

The morning sun blazed through the windows with aggressive cheerfulness. Try as he might, Alex couldn't fall back asleep. Might as well get up and prepare for another exhausting day of accompanying his demanding houseguest.

"Hey, Emma, you awake?"

Silence.

"No answer means yes - I'm coming in!"

Emma had been staying here for a week now, and remarkably, she never locked her door at night. Was it because she was that trusting? Or did Alex just look that harmless? He couldn't tell.

Inside, she was sleeping peacefully in her new La Perla sleepwear from yesterday's shopping spree. No surprise she'd been eager to change - she'd been wearing the same things for a week.

Her slender form was curled into a graceful arc, hands resting naturally on the bed, hair scattered across her porcelain skin like silk on snow. Her delicate features and slightly parted lips, accompanied by soft breathing, made her look like a sleeping angel.

Perhaps only in moments like this, when she wasn't talking or causing chaos, did Alex truly appreciate her beauty.

"Rise and shine, sleeping beauty!" he called loudly near her ear, getting revenge for all the times she'd woken him up.

"Mmm... five more minutes..." Emma opened her eyes drowsily, glanced at Alex standing by the bed, looked at the sunlight outside, then buried her face back in the pillow. Clearly, the bed's allure was still too strong.

"Up you get - breakfast duty calls!" Alex sat on the bed's edge, tapping her head lightly.

"No... it's the weekend. Let me sleep in..." Emma pushed his hand away, determined to continue her slumber.

"Is this how a housekeeper should behave? The master of the house is up, and you're still in bed?" Alex teased. Having woken up so early, he might as well have some fun tormenting her. Let her experience the joy of being rudely awakened.

"I'm exhausted from yesterday's shopping marathon. My whole body aches. Please, Master, just a little longer!" Emma grabbed his hand, curling up even more. Her plea came out more like a lazy cat's purr than actual begging.

"You've only got yourself to blame. I suggested we head home at lunch, but you insisted on continuing. Now you're feeling the consequences?" Alex grinned. Having a beautiful woman purring and pleading with him was admittedly quite enjoyable.

"But I was so happy! It's the first time anyone's ever gone shopping with me. Of course I wanted to make the most of it. And I really didn't feel tired at the time!" Emma kept her eyes closed, holding his hand against her cheek before adjusting her position to drift back to sleep.

*She really has turned into a cat*, Alex thought.

"Fine, sleep if you must." Alex found himself powerless against her antics. Sometimes she drove him crazy with frustration, but other times she inspired an inexplicable tenderness that seemed to come from deep within. It was confusing. If she left, his life would certainly be less complicated - but would it still feel this... complete?

"Thank you, Master," Emma murmured, hovering between sleep and wakefulness.

Hearing her response, Alex shook his head helplessly. This woman's self-preservation instincts were dangerously low.

"I have plans with colleagues today. You'll be home alone - be careful. Make yourself something to eat when you wake up. If I'm not back by five... just have dinner without me." Alex found himself fussing like a worried parent.

"Did you hear me?" He nudged her gently when she didn't respond.

"Mmm... zzz..."

Alex couldn't tell if that was acknowledgment or just a snore. Shaking his head again, he carefully extracted his hand from her grip, pulled up the light blanket to cover her, adjusted the curtains, and quietly left the room, closing the door behind him.

After a breakfast of toast and milk, he wrote down his instructions and stuck the note on the TV before heading out.

Downstairs, he called Emma Winter across the street to let her know he'd arrived. She was ready and waiting for his call, coming down immediately.

"Where were you yesterday?" she demanded as soon as she saw him.

"At home," Alex replied casually.

"Liar. I called your place - no answer. Your cell was off too, and you didn't reply to my texts. Were you up to no good again?" She eyed him suspiciously.

"Forgot my phone. Wait - why were you calling me on a weekend anyway?"

"I... I just moved here and don't know many people. When I got bored, you were the only breathing entity nearby I could think of!" she explained matter-of-factly.

"And what good would I be? Tell you jokes?" Alex retorted. "What time is it?"

"If not jokes, I could at least have someone to yell at. It's 8:30, why?"

"Grace called super early and asked us to pick her up on the way. It's on our route, and we have time. Let's head to her place - ten minutes."

"Okay," Emma nodded. "But you still haven't said where you were yesterday!"

"That's my private business. Why should I tell you?"

"Grace gave me authority over you!"

"Wielding imaginary power now, are we? Fine - I was out admiring beautiful women. Happy?" Alex replied with shameless grin. Being serious with women like her never worked.

"You... I'm telling Grace!"

"You could tell Grace's mother and it wouldn't matter. She knows my weekend habits!"

"Habits?"

"For me, appreciating beauty on weekends has become a lifestyle."

"Pervert!"

"Why, thank you!"

"That wasn't a compliment!"

"Oh?" Alex attempted Emma's signature innocent look - something he'd learned from his houseguest.

"Alex Stone, are you trying to drive me crazy?"

"I'm not that powerful..."

"Stop running! Get back here... Wait for me!"

...

# Chapter 30: The Joy of People-Watching

"Bang! Bang! Bang!" Alex knocked forcefully on Grace's apartment door. He was out of breath from running - clearly out of shape.

"You evil man, are you trying to kill me?" Emma Winter leaned on his shoulder, panting.

"You're still alive, aren't you?" Alex retorted. "What's taking so long with the door?"

He knocked again. Still no response.

"Maybe Grace already left?" Emma wondered. "Are you sure she asked you to come?"

"Obviously - unless you're the one who called me at dawn?" Alex pulled out his keys, found the right one, and let them in.

"You... have her key?" Emma stared as Alex walked in like he owned the place.

"What's so surprising? She has my key too. Come in, make yourself at home!"

"Who's making themselves at home? This isn't your place!" Emma snapped.

"Still as messy as ever..." Alex sighed as they entered the living room. Though Emma didn't know how it used to be, the current scene was certainly chaotic.

Magazines, shoes, and empty bottles littered the floor. Clothes were strewn across the sofa, and the curtains remained drawn, leaving the apartment in gloomy darkness.

"Watch your step - navigating her place is like solving a maze!" Alex warned Emma.

"Grace! Are you alive? Make a sound if you're breathing!"

"Mmph..." came a response from the bedroom. Alex walked in confidently to find Grace lying in bed in red lingerie.

"Well, well. You wake me up at dawn, and here you are still sleeping!" Alex poked her head reproachfully.

"Mm? Oh, Alex... Emma? You're here too. What time is it?" Grace opened her eyes groggily.

"8:50. If you don't get up now, we'll be late!" Alex scolded. "Didn't you wake up before seven? Why are you back in bed?"

"Because I woke up too early and had nothing to do... then somehow fell asleep again. 8:50? Ten more minutes..." Grace rolled over to find a more comfortable position.

"Come on, Grace - Emma's here! At least try to make a good impression on the newcomer. Look at yourself - and you claim you don't live like a ghost!" Alex sat on the bed, legs crossed.

"Who claimed that? Emma's practically family now, right Emma?"

"Heh... hehe..." Emma laughed awkwardly. The Grace she was seeing now was worlds apart from the stylish, sexy, professional woman at the office.

"Can't you set a good example? You're both single women - how is there such a huge difference?" Alex criticized.

"I'm destined for a life of luxury as someone's pampered wife. Housework is beneath me."

"Right... well, it's nine o'clock now!" Alex pointed at the wall clock.

"It's your fault for wasting ten minutes! Maybe just five more minutes?"

"Smack!" Alex landed a sharp slap on her upturned bottom, leaving a red mark on her fair skin.

"Ouch! What was that for?" Grace sat up clutching her behind, yelling at Alex. "You beast! That hurt! It's all red now!"

"Not so sleepy anymore, are you? Now hurry up - Sue and the others are waiting!" Alex stood up and left her bedroom.