This was originally a chapter with over 7,000 words, almost 8,000, but I got so tired so I made two separate chapters.

Anyways, enjoy! ^_^

Chapter 21
What Are You Doing Here?

Wednesday, June 11, 2013

Looking up from my BlackBerry, I glance nervously around but I don't see Felix anywhere.

"Here you go, ma'am," the bartender says as she hands me a Cosmo.

Thanking her, I turn around to leave and down by the pool I see him. I freeze on the spot as he looks in my direction, and my heart leaps with excitement. Holy crap, he's actually here - for me. My inner goddess jumps up cheering from her chair. I watch as he moves smoothly around the pool and to the stairs leading to the second level. I can't see his eyes behind his sunglasses but his mouth is set in a grim line, his jaw tense. Oh, holy shit...no. Here he is and suddenly I am so mad at him right now. But how can I be angry with him in front of all these people?

He approaches me slowly, gazing at me warily behind his sunglasses. He's dressed in a black and white striped t-shirt and a pair of black shorts. Oh my, he looks so yummy.

"Hi," I squeak, unable to hide my shock and awe at seeing him here in the flesh.

"Hi," he replies, and leaning down, he kisses my cheek, taking me by surprise. "Are you here with your mother?"

I nod. "Yes. What are you doing here?" My question sounds more brittle than I mean, and his smile disappears, his expression now guarded. I am beyond thrilled to see him but completely thrown off balance. My anger about Mrs. Andreassen has vanished. I don't know if I want to scream and shout at him or throw myself into his arms, but I know he won't like that. And I want to know how long he has been watching me. I'm also a little anxious about the e-mail I just sent him.

"I came here to see you." He gazes down at me impassively. Oh, what is he thinking about? "I'm staying at this hotel."

"You're staying here?" I sound like a freshmen on amphetamines, too high pitched even for my own ears.

"Well, yesterday you said you wished I was here with you." He pauses, trying to gauge my reaction. "We aim to please, Miss Callahan." His Swedish accent is quiet with no trace of humor.

Crap, is he mad? Maybe the Mrs. Andreassen comments? Or the fact that I am holding a glass of Cosmo in my hand?

"Would you like to join my mother and I?" I ask as politeness takes over.

He smiles and gestures for me to lead the way.

With my legs feeling like jelly, I lead the way back to the table. A second later, Felix grabs hold of my hand, stopping me in my tracks.

"What happened to your ankle?" he asks, noticing the ace bandage.

"I fell and twisted it," I say. "It's no big deal, it doesn't hurt."

He eyes me suspiciously. "Are you sure? Otherwise, you shouldn't even be walking on it."

I nod, wanting to roll my eyes at him, but I don't.

The rest of the way to the table, he holds my hand. On our return, my mother smiles at the two of us.

"Oh, hello, Felix," she says. "How nice to see you again."

"Mrs. Callahan, It's such a pleasure to meet you again," he says politely.

He gives her the heart-stopping, Felix Kjellberg patened, full blown panty busting, no prisoners smile. She doesn't have a hope. My mother's cheeks turn a bright pink. Jeez, get a grip, mom. She takes his proffered hand, and they shake. She remains speechless. Oh, complete dumbfounded speechlessness is genetic - I had no idea.

"Please, join us," she says finally.

I narrow my eyes at the both of them as Felix pulls up a chair and sits gracefully down beside me. He takes off his sunglasses and gazes at me with his bright blue eyes.

"Would you like a drink?" my mother asks.

"I guess one wouldn't hurt."

My mother smiles and waves down one of the waiters who is passing by the table.

"I'll have a gin and tonic," Felix says. "Hendricks if you have it, or a Bombay Sapphire. Lime with the Hendricks, lemon with the Bombay."

Holy crap...only PewDiePie can make a meal out of ordering a drink.

"Yes, sir," the waiter says, scribbling down the order on a notepad.

"And another Cosmo, please," I add, looking anxiously at Felix. I am drinking with my mother - no way can he be angry about that.

The waiter nods and scurries away.

"So you just happen to be staying in the hotel where we're drinking?" I ask, trying to keep the tone of my voice light.

"Or you just happen to be drinking at the hotel where I'm staying," Felix replies. "I just finished lunch, came out here, and saw you at the bar. I was distracted, thinking about your recent e-mail, and then I glanced up and saw you at the bar. Quite a coincidence, huh?" He cocks his head to one side, and I see a trace of a smile.

"My mother and I were shopping this morning. We decided to come to this hotel because it is famous," I mutter.

"Yes, I heard. Did you buy that dress?" He nods at my brand new cobalt blue halter-neck sundress. "The color suits you. And you've caught some sun. You look very lovely."

I blush rosy pink, speechless at his compliment. He smiles and reaching over, he takes my hand in his, and squeezes it gently, running his thumb across my knuckles to and fro...and I feel that familiar pull that draws me to him every time. The electric charge zapping beneath my skin under the gentle pressure from his thumb fires through my bloodstream, pulsing around my body, and heating everything in it's path. It's only been two days since I last saw him. Oh my. I want him right now. My breath hitches as my heart beats wildly in my chest. I blink at him, smiling shyly, and he smiles back.

"I thought about surprising you, but as ever, Elizabeth, you surprise me by being here," he says, his accent soft.

I glance quickly at my mother, who is staring at Felix...yes staring! Stop it, mother, you've seen him before. She's staring at him as if he's some exotic creature that's never been seen before.

"I don't want to interrupt the time you have with your mother, so I'll just have a quick drink and then retire for the rest of the evening. I have some videos to upload for the bro's," he states.

"Felix, it's lovely seeing you here," my mother interjects, finally finding her voice. "Elizabeth has spoken so much about you in the last few days."

He smiles at her. "Really?" He looks at me and raises an eyebrow with an amused expression on his face, and I blush again.

The waiter arrives with our drinks.

"Hendricks, sir," he says with a triumphant flourish.

"Thank you," Felix says.

"And a Cosmo for the young lady," he says, handing me the glass.

I smile, and thanking him, I nervously sip my latest Cosmo.

"How long will you be staying here, Felix?" my mother asks.

"Until Friday, Mrs. Callahan."

"Would you like to join us for dinner tomorrow evening? And please, call me Maria."

"I would love to, Maria."

"Excellent. If you two will excuse me, I need to visit the little girls room."

Mother, you just went to the bathroom. I look at her desperately as she stands up from the table and she widens her eyes at me while mouthing the words: "talk to him." She turns and walks off, leaving Felix and I alone together.

"So, you're angry with me for having dinner with an old friend?" Felix turns his burning, wary gaze to me, and lifting my hand to his lips, he kisses each of my knuckles gently.

Jeez, does he want to do this right now?

"Yes," I murmur breathlessly as my heated blood courses through my body.

"My sexual relationship with Rika was over with long ago, Elizabeth," he whispers. "I don't want anyone else. I want you and only you. Haven't you figured that out yet?"

I blink at him, blushing at his words of only wanting me. "I think of her as a child molester, Felix." I hold my breath and wait for his reaction.

Felix blanches and let's go of my hand. "That's a very judgmental thing to say," he whispers, shocked. "It wasn't like that at all."

What? Judgmental?

I cross my arms at him. "Oh, then how was it?" I ask. These Cosmos are making me brave.

He frowns at me, bewildered, and I continue. "She took advantage of a innocent fourteen year old boy. If you had been a fourteen year old girl and Mrs. Andreassen was a Mr. Andreassen, luring you into a BDSM lifestyle, that would have been okay? What would you do if all this happened to Kamilla?"

He gasps and scowls at me. "Elizabeth, it wasn't like that."

I glare at him.

"Okay, but it didn't feel like that to me," he continues quietly. "She was a force for my own good. She was what I needed."

"I don't understand." Now it's my turn to look bewildered.

"Elizabeth, your mother is going to be back shortly, and I really don't feel comfortable talking about this right now. Maybe later, though, but if you don't want me here, then I'll go to the airport and catch a plane back to California."

He's angry with me?

"No, don't go. Please stay. I'm thrilled that your here. I'm just trying to make you understand. I'm angry that as soon as I left, you had dinner with Rika. Think about how you get when I see Vinnie. Vinnie is just a good friend. We have never had a sexual relationship. Whereas you and her..." I trail off, refusing to think any further.

"You're jealous?" Felix stares at me, dumbfounded, and his eyes widen.

"Yes, and I'm also angry about what she did to you."

"Elizabeth, she helped me get started on YouTube. That's all I'm going to say about that. And as for your jealousy, put yourself in my shoes. I haven't had to justify my actions to anyone in the last eight years. Not one person. I do as I wish. I didn't go and see Mrs. Andreassen to upset you. I went because every now and then we have dinner. She's a friend and a business partner."

Business partner? Well, this is news.

He gazes at me, watching my expression. "Yes, we're business partners. She's one of the co-founders of YouTube and she helped me get famous. The sex is over between us. It has been for many years."

"Why did your relationship end?" I ask.

He looks down at the table. "Her husband found out."

Holy shit!

"Can we talk about this some other time, please - somewhere more private?" he asks coldly.

"I don't think there's any way that you could convince me that she's not some kind of pedophile," I say.

"Elizabeth, I don't think of her that way. I never have. Now that is enough!" he snaps, his blue eyes blazing with fury.

"Did you love her?"

He glares at me and as he opens his mouth to speak, my mother returns.

"How are you two getting along?" she asks.

I plaster a fake smile on my face as Felix puts his arm around my shoulders.

"Fine, mom," I say as he holds me close.

Felix says nothing and takes a sip of his drink. What is he thinking about right now? Did he love her? I think he did, and if so, I will lose it, big time.

"Well, ladies, I shall leave you to enjoy the rest of your evening."

No, no, no, he can't leave me hanging like this.

"Please put these drinks on my tab in room 112," he says. "I'll call you in the morning, Elizabeth. Until tomorrow, Maria."

"Have a wonderful evening, Felix," she says and they shake hands.

I gaze up at him, imploring him to answer my question, and then he kisses my cheek.

"Later, baby," he whispers in my ear, and then he turns and leaves.

Ugh, damned control freak bastard. My anger returns in full force. I sit back in my chair and turn to face my mother.

"Elizabeth, I don't know what's going on between the two of you, but I think you need to talk to each other. Wow, the heat out here is so unbearable." She fans herself theatrically.

"MOTHER!"

"Darling, go and talk to him."

"I can't. I came here to see you."

"Elizabeth, you came here because you're confused about that boy. It's obvious that you two are crazy about each other. There's something going on between you two. I've been trying to figure it out since you arrived here. But, the only way you'll be able to sort out the problem, whatever it is, is to talk it through with him, so go and talk to him. He's just flown halfway across the U.S to see you, for heaven's sake.

I frown at my mother.

"Honey, you've always had a tendency to over-analyze things. Go with your heart. What does that tell you, sweetheart?"

I stare down at my knotted fingers. "I think I've fallen in love with him," I mutter.

"I know, Elizabeth. And I think he's fallen in love with you, too."

My eyes widen. "No!"

"Yes, Elizabeth. Hell - what do you need to see that he does? A neon sign flashing on his forehead?"

I gape at her as tears roll down my cheeks.

"Darling, please don't cry," she says as she wipes away my tears with a handkerchief.

"Mom, I don't think Felix loves me."

"I don't care how internet famous you are, you don't just drop everything and get on an airplane to cross an entire continent for afternoon tea. Go to him! This is a very beautiful location, very romantic."

I squirm under her gaze. I want to go and I don't.

"Sweetheart, go to him. I want you to be happy, and right now, I think the key to your happiness is upstairs in room 112. If you need to come back to the house later, the spare key is under the mat on the back porch. If you stay - well...you're a grown woman now. Just please be safe."

I flush a tomato red. Jeez, mom.

"OK. But let me finish my Cosmo first."

"Atta girl, Elizabeth!" She grins.