Chapter 3
Alex walked into the small restaurant and headed straight for the bar, she nodded her head towards the table of CID before she pulled herself onto one of the high stools, she couldn't be bothered to socialise with them tonight. All she wanted to do was grab a bottle of wine and head upstairs. She gave a small smile as Luigi came straight over to serve her, she knew that Luigi was fond of her and she knew that he always tried to look out for her. As he reached Alex, he filled a glass with red wine and pushed it across towards her.
"On the house Signorina, tell me, why are you so unhappy?" He asked her with a little frown.
"Try that pig headed boss of mine Luigi, why don't you ask him?" She mumbled looking into her glass like it held the answer to all her problems.
"Ah he is like that because he loves you, you both argue a lotta the time because you love each other, you English you just cannot see it." He told her sincerely.
"No Luigi. He does not love me. Nope. Not at all. He has made that perfectly clear." She gulped her wine down deciding that if she were to have this conversation with Luigi it would be better for her to be drunk. Luigi gave her an odd look before he pulled the glass towards him and filled it up again.
"He does, he just does not know how to show you, he is hard man and he is out of his depth!" Luigi expressed waving his arms about.
"Sorry Luigi but this time I just can't believe you. Now, please may I have the bottle?" She asked him resting her head in her hand. Luigi sighed picking up the open bottle he had been filling her glass with and placed it in front of her.
"Talk to him. Make him understand. Listen to him. Make things better Signorina,"
"I try Luigi I really do but nothing will happen, he is my boss and that is all." She looked at him levelly and realised that the affects of alcohol where finally beginning to take place as she felt the dull buzz in her head.
"Excuse me? Do you mind if I cut in? It's just I was wondering why you were sat here drinking all by yourself?" A dark haired man asked her. Alex began to smile maybe luck was beginning to turn her way after all, the man was certainly attractive and he seemed pleasant. So she waved her hand above the stool next to her in an open gesture for him to sit.
"I bet you use that line on all the girls," She said her smile growing wider as he laughed and he shook his head.
"Only the pretty ones darlin'" He winked and Alex found herself giggling. She slyly looked towards the corner of the restaurant. He still wasn't there. "What drink would you like..?"
"Alex. I'm fine thanks, I have this." She picked up the half empty bottle of wine and waved it gently in the air before placing it on the bar.
"Bad day then? Steven Richardson by the way." He held out his hand and Alex took it shaking it firmly before slowly pulling away mindful to gently stroke her index finger against the inside of his wrist. Steven held her gaze curiosity reflecting back.
"It can be tough, that's for sure but I'd rather not talk about it to a complete stranger if you don't mind."
"Sure. I can understand that, you get those days where you just want to give everything up right?" He shrugged reaching over to top up her glass.
"What line of work are you in Steven?" Alex asked her gaze flicking to the doorway of the trattoria as a familiar form entered before she quickly turned her attention back to Steven. She knew he'd seen her when he barked at Luigi for a double whisky and began watching her from "their" table.
"I'm in business Alex, nothing interesting really, I just wanted a secure job that offered a lot of money it makes me sound conceited but I grew up in a two bedroom house with me mum and sister and we didn't have an awful lot." His smile was shy and Alex found that she was really beginning to like this guy, he seemed genuine and had obviously lived unlike some of the posh blokes she'd dated previously. Maybe this was the type of person she needed, an experienced male who understands how hard life can be but who unlike a certain northerner was polite and stable too. She slid her hand across the bar and over his fingers.
"It must have been hard to climb the career ladder coming from a deprived background." Alex's voice was soft like velvet as she looked up shyly from thick lowered lashes. Steven leaned in closer squeezing Alex's hand back.
"It was but I was lucky to become successful, put hard work in too Alex. What do you do?"
"I'm a police officer." Alex lifted the wine glass to her lips and took a sip as Steven watched her.
"So you could say it is hard for you too, fighting around a very male dominated job." They both held each other's gaze. Alex looked into his green irises, something about them peculiar and inviting. "We are the same people Alex."
Alex suddenly found herself kissing Steven her hand in his hair bringing his face down to hers. His lips warm against hers, his battling for dominance. She pulled herself away a little reluctantly.
"Sorry, probably shouldn't have done that," She blushed placing her hands in her lap; she looked down to her knees before her gaze flicked to the side. Gene was scowling in her direction a foul expression on his face, Ray was talking to him but his eyes never left Alex and she shivered before turning back to Steven. Just another hundred knives in her back from him, she might as well be kept for target practice.
"Actually I rather enjoyed it, it seems to have been a while for me I'm afraid. I came out of a relationship six months back, I've had a few girlfriends since but nothing serious. Perhaps I'm finally moving on? Alex do you fancy going on a date sometime?" He asked her, the inner psychologist within Alex noted that Steven had mentioned this in order for her to feel like the healer but she too hadn't been on a date in a while, in fact the last one she had been on was with Gene. As she stole another look at the form in the corner, her heart ached looking at him and that made her decision.
"I Would love to Steven." She smiled and made her excuses to leave before giving him her phone number so he could call her for days, times and events later in the week.
"Where do you live? Perhaps I could escort you home?" He asked standing from the stool and offering his arm. Alex stood and took it being careful to carry Gene's gaze over Steven's shoulder as she walked out of the small restaurant and up the stairs.
Gene slammed his glass down on the table and picked up his long black coat before leaving the building. He didn't see Alex's new companion leave the building five minutes after he first went up. He was sick of playing her little games but worst of all he was sick of himself. It was his entire fault in the first place for treating her badly after their sordid little night. He was out of his depth the next morning they woke, she seemed flippant about the situation even though she couldn't remember the night before and Gene though confused was wounded by the realisation that he could have been anybody in her bed. He could have made things better though, told her everything would be fine, kissed her and maybe even shagged her again but what did he actually do?He fucked it up, he pushed her away and she thought he had rejected him and he supposed it looked that way. The whole situation angered him though, he didn't want the first time they came together to be drunk and neither of them to remember what had passed he had wanted it to be special. Yes, the Gene Genie, Great Manc Lion of Fenchurch East wanted his first time with Alex Drake to be special and now he was off to a strip joint to get wasted and hopefully pick up a bird for the night. Drown his sorrows, they could never work out anyway her new boyfriend all heirs and graces proved that by reinforcing the class line that divided both Gene and Alex.
The rest of CID where left staring in his wake suddenly remembering his presence before returning to previous conversations and activities. After all it was typical behaviour for their senior officers wasn't it? Luigi stopped polishing the glass in his hands and tutted. Those two would never learn if they didn't listen to him, and Ms Alex must go careful with her fancy men if she was to keep Mr Hunt interested perseverance was hard to keep up for so long if jealousy stands in the way.
