She got a job. A real, actual job that wasn't sketchy or anything. It was some assistant type position, and she'd have to go to counseling. But it was a job. Alex was ecstatic, as was Sean. Things were beginning to brighten for her. Although she was hesitant and apprehensive about the counseling and how far her fake ID would get her, she was moving forward. She was really going to get better. That didn't mean things weren't difficult, and she could stop fighting. But she could take her next step without concerns for the future. There was an end in sight. She had a goal. She had a life worth living.
The apartment Alex eventually got was crappy. However, it was close to work, the super didn't look too closely at her paperwork, and she got along well with her neighbors. She soon became friends with a couple of them, hanging out after work just talking and relaxing. Her work wasn't too challenging. Some days went smoothly. Some were down right boring. And others left her so ragged and tired she didn't want to show up the next day. She did though. She kept going and fighting and living. Breathing seemed so much easier and carefree.
Counseling, however, counseling was a pain in Alex's ass. She understood the purpose of it. A part of staying clean was healing. And if she wanted to remain at the job she acquired through the work program, she had to attend. Yet, no matter what, she didn't want to. She'd sit in her chair, staring blankly at the therapist until the session was over. She gave answers here and there, otherwise she kept her mouth shut. What was she supposed to say. She couldn't just admit that she had survived a deliberate attack on her prominent Russian family, and she was sold into sex slavery as a result. Who would believe her. And who out there would be willing to exploit her because of it.
Alex had to keep things close to her chest. So she lied about how she became an orphan and ended up on the streets. She pretended she wasn't forced full of drugs and chose to take them. And, most importantly, she kept her past to herself. She discussed her present and what she thought of the future. It wasn't the best she could do, but it stopped the therapist from digging. Focusing on the present and how she could control that was far better for her than processing her past, after all. She could change the future. The past needed to be dead and buried.
That strategy appeared to work for Alex. She didn't have to go to counseling as often; and after two years, she didn't have to go at all. She kept her therapist's number in her contacts, however- just in case she wanted to talk. But she was doing well. The years had been excellent to her. She was an outstanding assistant, gaining a promotion recently. She had made her little apartment a cozy home. Her friendships were strong. Yet most importantly, the best thing to come from the past two years, Sean was by her side.
They had become incredibly close. Alex and Sean talked just about everyday. Even when he had returned to service, they wrote to each other and Skyped. It was awesome. He was her rock during her struggle, and she quickly became his as well. The two confided in one another. They shared everything they could, talking and laughing for hours. Sean and Alex had definitely become closer than normal friends over the few years. They were involved in each other's life, always providing care and encouragement. They were also friends with the same people, and Alex had gotten to know Sean's family well.
Maybe that lent a hand to her promotion from being an assistant to a junior senator to being Madeline Pierce's assistant. Everyone assured her that she had gotten the job on her own, but she knew she had impressed his family. Alex was glad she did. She really liked Sean. He was fantastic, loyal, sincere, and so unbelievably kind. She was lucky to call him her best friend. However, she had recently begun to wish for more. Their relationship had been moving in that direction for a while. They constantly talked and spent time together. They held hands. Cuddled on the couch while watching a movie. And they kinda sorta went on dates. There were deep feelings growing between them, Alex knew it. They just hadn't acted on them.
A part of her was glad they hadn't. She needed to focus on herself and healing before jumping into a serious romantic relationship. She needed time. Sean of course gave that to her. He'd move as slowly as she wanted. He wouldn't rush her. But she was tired of waiting. She was finally in a great place, and she was ready to dive into it with him. She just had to admit her thoughts and feelings. It took her a moment to build up the courage. Once she did, she knew it was going to be perfect.
She called him one day as she went to pick up her and Madeline's typical coffee order. Sean had been busy on some sort of special assignment. He was stressed and tired, and way too high strung. Alex figured she had the solution to that. She'd invite him over for her famous homemade pizza (the one real thing she had learned how to cook), and tell him just how much she wanted to be with him. He was sure to become ecstatic and kiss her. Not the ones they placed on their cheeks, but a real kiss. A passionate, loving kiss. Alex couldn't wait, "Hey, Seany-boy. You busy tonight?"
"I think I can rearrange my schedule for you," Sean attempted to be light. Alex could hear the strain in his voice, however. Although he was in the country and able to go home at night, his newest assignment was tearing him up. He simply wanted to be done with it- move on to better things. He never said a word of that to her, yet she knew. She had learned to read that man like a book. He needed to relax, and she was going to help him achieve that.
"Great. 'Cause there's gonna be pizza, movies, and- wait for it- ice cream sundaes," Jogging across the street to beat the 'no crossing' sign, Alex laid out some of the things she had planned for the night. At the mention of a cozy night in, Sean sighed in contentment. It was the perfect evening for him after all he had been dealing with. There was no way he could say no. Not that he could ever really say no to her.
"Sounds awesome. I'll be there," Sean promised. He wasn't up for his usual jokes or teasing. He also didn't have that much time to talk. Alex understood. Besides, he'd be more himself the second he was with her. He really had to relax. So she ended their call with the assurance that he could chill and breathe with her. She wasn't going to expect anything from him; he could simply be. She had no idea how much he appreciated that.
Alex was smiling to herself the entire time she paid for and grabbed the coffee. She could not wait for that evening. It was going to be the best night of her life. Nothing was going to ruin it. She didn't even mind the man flirting with her at the coffee shop. He was nice and funny- in that geeky sort of way. He wasn't being too forward, only making light conversation. And he was helpful with her drinks and the lids. It was nice and pleasant, and made her think about Sean just a little bit more. He would've been jealous of the nerdy man, despite how harmless he was.
Or, how harmless he seemed. If Alex wasn't so used to looking out for tells like that over her years in the brothel and on the streets, she would've missed it. He was good. Yet she was better. The man slipped something into one of the coffees. Not her coffee, though. It was the one clearly labeled 'Madeline'. Did he know who she was. Did he know she worked for a senator and was trying to poison her. Alex couldn't let that happen. The Pierces had been so good and kind to her. She'd do anything for them. She couldn't let one of them potentially get hurt.
What she did next was quite possibly the most reckless and dumbest thing she had ever done. Alex threw away both coffees, and followed the man. She had picked up a thing or two about following people when she was an addict. It was a way for her to steal money or drugs. She didn't do it often. But she had practiced the skill enough to follow the man without him noticing. She hoped he would lead her to some kind of evidence she could use to turn him into the police. He had to pay for his attempt on Madeline's life. There was no way she was going to let him get away with it.
However, he led her into a blind alley. Alex didn't know what she was stumbling into. She should've turned around and left. She should've called somebody much more skilled and experienced to deal with it. Instead, she walked into a trap. A woman instantly grabbed her, putting her into an unbreakable and effortless hold. A pistol was pressed to her temple. The woman's voice was even and calm as she whispered in her ear, "Whatcha doing following my partner, huh?"
The partner- the nerdy man- waved some kind of electronic device over Alex. She tried her hardest to fight the two, but all of her thrashing was for nothing. Not even licking and biting at the hand the woman clamped over her mouth did anything. For the first time in a long while, she was helpless. She hated it. The man's confusing words didn't help in the matter, "She's clean. Doubt she's Division or Gogol."
"So why the tail?" Finally, the woman let her go. Well, sort of. She spun Alex so that her back slammed into the opposite wall. She was then face to face with the woman and her gun. She expected malice to reflect in her brown eyes. However, they shone in recognition. The woman was shocked, "No way. I knew you were working in the city, but… what are the odds?"
"What the hell are you talking about? Who are you people?" Alex's voice shook and wavered, but it still dripped with venom. She didn't know what the hell was going on, yet she wouldn't allow her assailants to see her falter. They were going to feel her wrath no matter how that came across. If that required her to be defiant and hellacious, then she could do so without problem.
Although the woman smiled softly, her gun remained aimed at Alex. She did lighten her hold, at least, and she spoke gently, "I'm Nikita. I saved your life, Alexandra Udinov."