Lexa takes a deep breath, emotionally preparing herself to face Alexander. She pushes open his door, not allowing herself to stop for a moment, knowing better than to show weakness in his presence.
"I finished these reports, they need your final look over," she says, her voice still a few pitches deeper, as she puts the file on his desk.
She can feel his eyes on her, and she stands tall, meeting his eyes.
"What kind of a man wears makeup?" Alexander questions.
Lexa clenches her jaw, not answering.
"Are you deaf?" Alexander questions, his voice becoming calmer.
"No sir, I am not deaf," Lexa says, focusing on her breathing. In, one, two, three. Out, one, two, three. In, one, two, three. Out, one, two, three.
"I will not have my son wearing makeup. You will go wash it off."
"Sir, the bruises are very defined. I would not want a concerned-"
"Nobody is concerned with you Axel, do not worry," he cuts her off, dismissing her with a wave of his hand.
"Of course sir," Lexa nods her head, leaving the room without another word.
"Axel," Nia calls, stopping Lexa from her track back to her office.
"Yes Miss Knight?" Lexa questions, stopping to turn to the older woman.
"Your father said you would be needing this," she says, holding out a small travel package of makeup remover wipes.
"Of course, thank you ma'am," Lexa takes the package.
"My pleasure," Nia smirks, her eyes going directly to Lexa's throat.
Lexa doesn't say a word, instead turning on her heel and going to her office.
"Harper," Lexa calls as she walks past, waving her hand to direct the younger woman to follow her.
"Yes sir?" Harper questions, closing the door behind them automatically.
"I need you to cancel all appointments for the next two weeks," Lexa states, ripping open the package and rubbing at her neck.
"Are you sure you should be doing that?" Harper questions, watching as Lexa grits her teeth in pain.
"We talked about discussing personal matters at work, Miss McIntyre."
"I find it hard not to discuss the huge handprint around your neck," Harper bites, then adds quickly, "Sir."
"Miss McIntyre, I suggest you find a way to keep your personal thoughts to yourself, otherwise you may need to find a new line of work," Lexa says softly.
Harper sighs, glaring at her boss, her mouth opening to say something, then stopping herself.
"I expect you will be busy cancelling and rescheduling my appointment for the next two weeks, you may want to get to it," Lexa says, her voice and face indiferent.
"Yes sir," Harper spits, turning on her heel and slamming the door behind her.
Lexa sighs, her handing coming to her temple. She gently massages them, closing her eyes.
"Mr Woods?" Harper says, the door cracking open.
"What is it Harper?" Lexa questions.
"There's a woman here for you. She says she's going to be your mother in law?" Harper more questions than says.
"Yes, Mrs Griffin. Send her in please," Lexa says.
"Axel," Harper steps into the room, "are you sure? With your…?"
"Send her in Miss McIntyre," Lexa says again.
"Yes sir," she nods, leaving Lexa alone again for a second.
Lexa reaches up, gently massaging her bruised neck for a second, clenching her jaw when it hurts. The door opens quickly, relieving none other than Abigail Griffin.
"Mrs Griffin, what a pleasure to finally meet you," Lexa states, standing up and easily taking her hand, pressing a light kiss to the back of it, "It would seem that my parents didn't inform me from who Clarke got her beauty."
Abby doesn't respond, her eyes glued to the large bruise on Lexa's neck.
"So, what seems to have brought you to me?" Lexa questions, dropping into her face of indifference, praying to a god she doesn't believe in that Abby ignore it.
"What happened?" Abby says, her hand coming up to Lexa's neck, softly touching the bruises.
"Ma'am," Lexa says, stepping back from the woman, "I am sure you came here for a good reason?" she questions, going to the other side of her desk, easily putting space between herself and the woman.
Abby doesn't say a word, instead turning on her heel and walking out.
"Ma'am, you can't go in there without an appointment," Lexa hears Nia say.
Lexa stands, quickly heading to where she's sure Abby has gone, to see her father.
"No need to call them Nia, Abby is a family friend," Alexander states as Lexa gets to the door.
Nia nods, knowing she's been dismissed.
"What the fuck Woods?" Abby shouts at the man.
"I'm going to need you to calm down, Mrs Griffin, otherwise I will be forced to call security," Alexander states calmly, not bothering to stand from his desk.
Lexa closes the door, knowing this isn't a conversation for the office to hear.
"Your son has been choked! There are bruises on his neck, how can I trust him with my daughter if he can't-"
"Axel is trained in many forms of self defense. We had him put in many classes when we decided he was down growing. He boxes and works out daily. I have complete faith in his ability to protect your daughter in a dangerous situation," Alexander cuts her off.
Lexa stands there, her face of indifference gone as she digests what her father just said. It's the nicest thing she's ever heard from him. It creates a weird feeling in her stomach that she hasn't felt.
"I think I'm going to be sick, please excuse me," she says, rushing to the closest bathroom.
She was right, barely getting to the toilet in time, her stomach contents spilling into the toilet.
"Fuck," Lexa mumbles, wiping her mouth off before getting up and looking at herself in the mirror.
She rebuttons her top button, ignoring the dark purple bruise in the shape of a handprint on her neck. She slowly walks back to her father's office, not walking right in, instead listening.
"He deserved it from whoever did that. He knows how to protect himself."
"I see." Abby says, "I will be in contact with you and Axel later."
Lexa decides now is the time to come in, so she does, almost running into Abby.
"My apologies," Lexa nods her head.
"Clarke is looking forward to see you again, Axel," Abby says, gently patting Lexa's shoulder as she passes.
"Father," Lexa nods, meeting his eyes.
"Did you plan that?" Alexander questions, voice low, dangerous.
"No sir. She surprised me."
Alexander nods, with a wave of his hand he dismisses her.
"Are you sure?" Clarke questions, looking at her mother.
"Clarke, I want you to go and see him tomorrow. Do not take no for an answer. He was so… I wouldn't say broken, but he's definitely being controlled. Just because he's a man doesn't make it any easier for him to get help," Abby says.
"I mean, I knew his parents were controlling, but I didn't think… I mean, have you seen Axel? He's built. I'm sure he could take his father down," Clarke mumbles, looking down.
"Hey," Abby says, tilting Clarke's chin up, "it is not on you to see it, okay? Don't you dare feel bad for not seeing it."
"But mom, the signs were already there, I mean, looking back-"
"Exactly, looking back. We can't live in the past. We are going to get him help."
"How? The Woods are one of the biggest companies in the world. They aren't going to let us take their son away from them."
"I'll make sure you get your own house. That'll at least get Axel out from under their roof. We can't help him unless he helps himself, but we can try."
"I can't believe this."
"Hey, it doesn't make him any weaker, you know that right?" Abby questions.
"Of course. I can't believe what it'd be like, to live with someone who could hit you. I can't… Geez."
"I want you to know some stuff, before you decide to go ahead with the marriage."
"I'm going to marry him Mom," Clarke says, glaring at the woman for suggesting otherwise.
"Abusive tendencies are usually learned. I know right now Axel is a victim, but sometimes, when people come from an abusive household-"
"They pick it up too, I know mom," Clarke cuts her off, "I trust Axel."
"You barely know him."
Clarke shrugs, "Axel is different."
Abby smiles, raising an eyebrow, "different?"
Clarke chuckles, turning pink, "Oh my gosh Ma."
"Do we have a crush?" Abby questions with a grin.
Clarke shrugs, shaking her head with a laugh.
"I'll take that as a yes," Abby smiles, looking over at her daughter.
She gets lost in her thoughts as she watches her only child blush. Flashes of Jake laughing flash in her mind. She reaches out, grabbing Clarke's hand in hers.
"He'd be so happy."
"He is," Clarke says, looking up, as if she could see her father looking down at them.
"I hope we're doing this right."
"Here's the breakdown. We're giving away dad's technology, which will be remade within a few year anyways. In return, you get a new house and money for the rest of your days. I get a sugar daddy, and get to help him get out of his father's grasps. I'd say it's a fair trade."
"God Clarke, that's a really run down of it."
Clarke shrugs, pressing a kiss to the back of her mother's hand.
"I don't want you to worry about me Ma."
"You're my baby," Abby chuckles, turning her hand to cup Clarke's face, "I'll always worry," she whispers, leaning in to press a kiss to Clarke's forehead.
"I love you," Clarke whispers.
"BITCH YOU WILL NOT-" Raven cuts herself off, clearing her throat, "Abby, hello."
Abby chuckles, pressing another kiss to Clarke's forehead before getting up and saying "I have to go anyways dear. Marcus is probably waiting for me."
"Don't think we won't talk about his Marcus," Clarke says.
"I don't know what you're talking about dear, I love you," Abby laughs, rushing out of the apartment.
"Sorry for interrupting," Raven says.
"It's fine, what's going on?" Clarke questions.
"Did you hear the news?"
"No? What?"
"BAJA BLAST IS GOING INTO STORES!" Raven yells.
"Oh my god, really? That's what you're screaming about?" Clarke shakes her head.