Why does she have this effect in me?

Will this ever be over?

Do I truly love her?

"To deny the truth is to deny thy true self. To deny thy true self is to deny all joy from life." TheClownAreThere.

Chapter 9: Shit!

"What?" Piper stammered. "But… You're the assistant to the leader or what?"

"Oh no babe, I'm the leader of this entire fucking island. I run it all," Alex gloated.

Piper's heart did somersaults and she lost complete control of herself flustered cheeks, her confidence and composure was instantly tossed into freefall.

"But… but… but…"

"You sure are cute when you stammer like that; I like that in a woman," Alex smiled.

Wait what?

Piper's cheeks glowed bright pink and the more she tried to hide the blush the worse it got.

"Oh I know I'm going to like you," Alex purred seductively.

Piper felt her body responding, ready to be at this woman's command. Her feet were rocking back in forth, her legs trebling, every inch of her frightened, but excited. It felt so wrong, but at a deeper level so right. She hated the feeling, the lack of pure clarity.

Shit, get control of yourself!

"Why am I here?" Piper mumbled as she looked away from Alex, and out the window.

"Hey, look at me Piper," Alex commanded coldly.

Piper complied instantly, starring on through Alex's glasses and into her dark eyes, masked in shadow. Piper knew she was in trouble.

"Now, Piper, I've heard a lot about you from my accountant, who I know you've already met."

"Uhhhhh…"

"Joe Caputo. Yeah, I know that was a bit of a low blow to prey on you like that for information, but I had to know if you'd be a useful asset to my organization."

Piper didn't like the way Alex talked. She was so commanding and confident, while also making her body flop in circles like never before.

What the hell was happening to her?

"You still didn't answer my question," Piper muttered, staring at the floor.

"Oh, a quiet but feisty one, I really like that," Alex purred. "Fine then Piper, I'll tell you why you're here and what your options are."

Alex took Piper by the shoulder and lead her into the adjoining room. She strode to the edge of the balcony and looked out over the edge at the island before her. Piper remained steadfast, watching her at the door's threshold.

"Come here with that sexy red dress of yours and tell me what you see," Alex commanded.

Piper blushed and paced over beside Alex, staying away from the edge of the balcony railing, away from Alex.

"Are you afraid you'll tumble overboard?" Alex teased.

"No," Piper blushed.

Alex hooked an arm around her and pulled her down to the railing as she inclined her neck out towards the landscape in front of her.

"Now tell me what you see Piper Chapman. You're the chemist, so what do you see in this vast expanse of molecules before you."

"I could attempt to answer your question, but I can guess you already know what you want to say, so me participating in this activity is inefficient."

Instantly she was afraid Alex would toss her over the edge, but Alex merely laughed. It was a deep and powerful laugh, like a muscular, toned, lioness cornering her prey victoriously. Still, Piper couldn't take her eyes off Alex.

What the hell was going on?

"Look Pipes, I like the way you think."

"It's Piper."

Well Pipes, this place is where I see the ultimate opportunity. The people here have been let down and abandon by the rest of the world."

"Well boo hoo, do you also use the island as a metaphor for your life like every other powerful control freak in that stupid trope?"

Piper slammed her hands over her mouth so rapidly that she could taste blood.

Why the hell had she just said that? Fuck!

Alex smiled at her again, but it was a darker smile that chilled, yet warmed Piper confusingly. It was a reaction she would never have predicted, one so profound, yet warming.

"I guess I was starting to sound like that, I'm sorry, cliches aren't my thing. But yeah I do feel for the island like that, but it's a symbiotic relationship between this place and me; we both really need each other, we both want to survive. I have come to rectify what's been done by dogma and neglect, and you're going to help me do that."

"How?"

"You're a chemist, so you'll work in the lab I'd expect. There's a lot I need to due, and chemistry seems to be the key to solving my problems."

Piper didn't know why, but she liked this woman. Alex may not be something she at all understood, but on a deep level she resonated with her perfectly. The feeling was a chock, but she knew what it was instantly, it was the feeling of being home.

"I'm ready to start," Piper replied. "When do I begin."

Author's notes: I'm really enjoying this piece. I hope everyone is on edge and the characters are continuing to develop nicely enough. So thanks for reviewing and reading, see you next week.