Chapter 5

"What happen?" Taylor asked

"Nothing I want to talk about I had to get out of there." she said putting her seatbelt on

"Where do you want to go?"

"I don't care."

Taylor nodded and drove, he wasn't sure where he was headed but if she needed to escape then fine. Before he knew they were in Coney Island walking along the boardwalk.

"I was drying my hair when I heard a noise downstairs, Willie was back and Grams was cutting into him." she finally said sitting on a bench

Taylor didn't say a word just sat next to her, letting her get it out.

"He started in on how she it only seems she care about me, how she only takes care of me...I've been trouble from the start." she said

"No you haven't." he countered

"Yes I have my father didn't care enough abouut me to get of drugs, and my mom...I didn't know much about her I never asked, but comes to fine up she living the high life n the upper eastside. I guess having a baby would have cramped her style."

"But you have your Grams." he told her

"I know..but it would be nice to see them you know them. To know that they really do care about me."

"I can't speak for them..but I know if it wasn't for the fact that your Grams loves you so much she took you in. And had she not done so I wouldn't know you, Matty wouldn't know you, Scrapa or Marbles wouldn't know you either."

"I can't imagine my life without you in it." she said looking with tears into his eyes. "I want to go back to your place."

Taylor didn't say a word just grabbed her hand and lead her to his van.

Unbeknownst to them that a person was watching closely...he needed to have a little talk to Carol Williams.

Taylor spooned behind Alex back, kissing her sweaty neck. When they arrived at his building they barely made it in his apartment before they had their clothes off in bed making love all afternoon.

"I love you Taylor." she said sleepily.

"I love you too.." he said just sleepily

When they finally woke up from the sexual induced coma, what seem like only a few minutes of dosing was actually hours.

"She is going to kill me." Alex said getting dress

"No it's me she'll be after. I'm the one who's corrupting you."

"If corruption is this good..."

"Stop let's get you home." he said pushing her to the front door.

When he pulled up outside her house they sat there for a minute.

"Scare to go in?"

"A little I think she suspected we're more than just friends now."

"Is that a bad thing."

"No but I can suspect a lecture coming upon my entry."

"Does she still think your a virgin?"

"Not anymore." she said laughing "I guess I better go in."

"It'll be alright Alex I promise." he told her

Alex smiled at his words and lean over and kissed him.

"Pick me up from school tomorrow." she said and jumped out the car.

Taylor waited until she was inside before he pulled off.

Alex closed the door and locked it.

"Where have you been?" Carol asked at the foot of the stairs.

"Out with Taylor." she said turning to her

"Look Alex I know you two are friends and all but I think you need to cool it with him...all them."

"Grams..."

"I talked to Mr. Williams today he said he saw you and Taylor in his pharmacy the other day...buying condoms." She said

"Grams..." she said not being able to look at her.

"Are you having sex? she asked and Alex didn't answer her.

"Grams we were careful." she finally said

"Jesus." she said getting off the stairs

"Gram wait..."

"Why would you do that? You have potenital, a future and you're going to throw it all away on him."

"No I'm not. We were careful Grams I promise. Taylor loves me and he wants me to go to school. He even encourage me to take the offer in Miami and I am." she said

"He loves you? Do you even realize that he has probably said that to the countless other girls he has taken home to bed."

"You can't just give him a chance can you? If it wasn't for him I wouldn't have any friends. He looks at me and I feel...beautiful..."

"You are beautiful and you don't need someone like him telling you that are."

"Why do you all of sudden have a problem with him? I'm them you know...I know the consequences of my actions and I'm taking all the neccessary precautions."

"I don't want you to ruin your future."

"Isn't that what I am anyway,someones mistake they didn't want."

"Alex..."

"I never ask you about my mother...yet I stood at the top of those stairs and heard everything." she said said pointing up the stairs

"You never asked...I felt like when and only when you wanted to know more I would tell you."

"Taylor Reese isn't a bad guy Grams...he wants more for me just like you do."

"I...I don't know what to say...I'm not condoning what your doing nor am I consenting but since I can't be with you all hours of the day...I'm trusting you to do the right thing."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet, have you have dinner yet?" she said walking to the kitchen

"No not yet." she said following to the kitchen to help her

The next day while Alex was at school Carol called Taylor mother Lorraine and asked to send Taylor over.

She was taking her tea kettle off the stove when there was a knock on the front door.

"Hello Taylor come on in." she said opening the door for him.

"Thanks ." he said walking in making sure to wipe his feet.

"You can hang your coat up here and join me in the kitchen." she said

Taylor hung his coat up and went to join her in the kitchen.

"Have a you like a cup of tea?" she asked

"Water is just fine." he said

Carol got a him and glass of water and finish making her tea for herself.

"Now I asked here to talk about Alexandra." she said taking a seat

Taylor nodded and let her continue.

"Now I know you and your friends have been friends with my grand-daughter since you guys were knee high and all but it has come to my attention that you and Alex have something more going on."

"Well me and Alex have gotten closer in recent weeks."

"Oh I know how close you have gotten. So close both of you were seen in Williams Pharmacy buying condoms while I was away visiting my sick sister."

"I was getting the condoms but Alex was just getting her snack she like."

"Child I know you not trying to run that game on me." she said "She already told me you two have 'consummate' your relationship. Now I'm going to tell her what I told you I'm condoning nor am I consenting but please be careful with her she has a lot going for her and I would really hate to see it wasted."

"I know how much college means to her I do. I hate the idea of her leaving but I would hate myself more for making her stay knowing she has a better opportunity out there."

"That's good to hear."

"I have to go I'm picking Alex up and school is letting out in 5 minutes."

"Okay and if she's going over to your place make sure she does her homework please." she said letting him out

"Yes ma`ma."

Alex was waiting outside the school for Taylor.

'He should have been here by now.' she thought

"What's up Alex." a voice said behind her

Alex turned and found Dean McClellan ,star quaterback of the varsity football team.

"Hi Dean." she said turning back around

"So what new? Waiting on your boyfriend."

"Yeah I'm waiting on my boyfriend, why?"

"Just I never took as a mobster type of girl."

"And what kinds of girl did you take me for?"

"I'm not sure, I guess someone like me." he said giving her his 1000 watt smile.

"And do you think Missy would take a liking to me going for someone like you?"

"What Missy doesn't know won't hurt her." he said getting close to her. "How about you and me go somewhere and get to know each other a little better."

"As tempting as that offer is I'm going to have to decline." she said moving away from him.

"Come on now don't be shy." he said wrapping his arm around

"Look jock I said no go try and fraternize some other poor unsuspecting freshmen."

"Look I'm not usually this nice to charties cases so be a little grateful."

"Is there a problem here?"

They both turned around to find Taylor there.

"No problem bud just trying to convince this lovely young lady to come home with me."

"Well you see that is a problem...because this lovely young lady is my girl. And I appericate it if you take your fucking hands off of her."

Dean step back holding up his hands in surrender. "My bad man."

"Yeah step the fuck off before I break your fucking face."

Taylor took Alex hand and walked off to his van.

"Thanks." she said buckling up

"Sorry I'm late I was talking to your..." he said trailing off

"My what?"

"I was talking to your grandmother."

"Really what about?" she asked curiously

"About you. She wants to make sure I have the best intentions." he said

Present day

Alex walked back to her cubicle to finish her work. She was busy concentrating when someone tapped her on the shoulder.

"Hey Alex." said Jenna

"What can I do you for Jenna?"

"Umm this is going to sound silly but that guy who was here..."

"Yeah?"

"I was wondering if he's your...are you two..."

"Your wondering if Taylor and I are seeing each other?"

"Yeah."

"Well it depends on how you would define 'seeing'."

"I just wanted to know cause I am intrested in him.

"Here's his number.." she read it off to her.

"Thanks Alex."

"No thanks now maybe he can leave me alone now." she turning back to do her work.

At the end of the day Alex packed up and left to go home.

"I thought you never come down." she heard as soon as she step off the elevator.

Alex turned to find Taylor standing in the lobby of the building she work in.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Waiting on you. Need a ride?"

"The subway is fine." she said walking around him

"It's not safe for a pretty girl like you. Come on its on my way."

"No thanks."

"Alex please let me give you a ride its the least I can do."

"The least you can do for what? Showing up at my house at midnight and leaving after you were done using me? No thanks."

Taylor grabbed her by the arm. "I am sick and tired of you and that fuck up attitude of yours. but it's going to stop." he said walking her to his car

"Get your fucking hands of me." she said snatching her arm from him

"Get in." he said opening the car door.

"No fucking way."

"Get in the fucking car." he said towering over her

Alex reluctantly got into the car. "Good girl." he said closing the door.

As Taylor drove off, Jenna stood watching them. "Bitch." she said

There was a unconfortable silence in the car as Taylor drove to Brooklyn.

"For what its worth I'm sorry..for everything."

Alex turned and looked at him. "You'll be recieveing a phone call soon."

"From?"

"Jenna Thomas."

Taylor thought for a minute. "The overly tan, fake bottle blonde chick."

"Yeah she's infatuated with you." she said laughing

"Thanks a lot." he said sarcasticly

"If it's any constellation she known for her head game around the office." she said laughing

"It's good hearing you genuinely laughing again."

Alex looked at him. "I haven't had anythig to laugh about in a while."

"Does that have anything to do with me?"

"It's not just you it's everything Taylor. I'm tired this career move isn't what I thought it would be." she said

"Then quit."

"I don't want to start over."

"Alex whether you want to acknowledge it or not your loaded."

"Taylor don't." she said not wanting to hear this again

"What you inherited nearly half of family dynasty."

"Taylor..."

"If I were you I tell them to kiss my ass."

Alex didn't say anything she just thought back to when she finally got what she wanted...to know her parents.

Two months before Graduation

Carol sat at the kitchen table eating lunch, Alex would be home real soon and then they would look for her a prom dress.

The doorbell rung and she got up to go get and was shock at who was there.

"Hello , may I come in?"

Carol stepped aside and let her in.

"Virgina, what can I do you for?" she asked take a seat on the couch in the living room.

"I know it crazy how I just showed up out of no where after almost 18 years,But my father recently passed away and he has left some things to Alex."

"Virgina I'm sorry about your lost and I don't mean to be rude but if I remember correctly your father is the reason why you're not raising Alexandra in the first place."

"Yes you are correct but..."

"But what? You had a choice and you choose a lavish lifestyle oppose to being a mother. And I have to say you giving her up was the best thing that ever happen to her and me."

"Mrs. Williams you have no idea how much I've regretted that descison I made but at the time I felt like I didn't have a choice. My father wasn't as kind and genious as the media made him out to be he was cruel,emtionless man to his family. I always wondered about her. I wondered if she looked like her father or me or both of us combined." she said with tears in her eyes

Carol got up and grabbed a photo album she has of Alex from the time she brought her home from the hospital and handed it to her.

Virgina open it and smiled, "She is so beautiful. Look at all that hair." she said flipping through the album.

"Her eyes...their gray?" she asked looking at Carol

"Yes..one day I got up to get her, she was about 5 or 6 months old, and she looked up at me and with those big gray eyes and smile. I knew they were going to be light but that was a shock."

"She's tall too...James is tall."

"Yes she definetly gets that from him."

"I saw a article in paper some months ago they were talking about her accomplishments at her school and where she was headed...it didn't have a photo but I could tell from the way it was written she was beautiful."

"I have to say she has a good head on her shoulders and wants to continued on...theres no telling where she can do." Carol said

"Grams..I'm home." Alex called out upon entering the house

"In the living room baby."

Alex walked into the room to greet her grandmother and her visitor."Hello." she said

"Alexandra this is Virgina Bedford...she's a friend of the family."

"Hi nice to meet you." Alex said shaking her hand

"Same to you." she said in a small voice

"Grams I'm go fix me a snack I work overtime in laps today."

"You're a athlete?"Virgina asked

"Yeah I swim." she said walking into the kitchen

"I should be going," Virgina said once Alex was out of earshot. "Here's the paper and digital copy of my father's will." she said handing her the contents from her purse.

"I'll give them a once over." Carol said taking the items from her

Virgina walked to the front door with Carol behind her, but she stop and turned. "Does she ask about me..us?" she asked

"Recently yes she has. Does she want to know more? I don't know. When she comes to me and ask who are and where she can find you...I'll tell her."

"Thank you."

"And I want you to do one thing for me?"

"Anything."

"Tell her the truth. No lies."

"I will I promise." she said and left

Carol closed the door and locked it.

"She seems nice. How come I never met her before?" Alex asked walking out the kitchen with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

"She's been away for a while."

"Okay I'm going to go do some studying."

"I really wish you would reconsider Prom."

"Grams why would I go to some stuffy party with all those stuck up jackass."

"Alex..."

"I know watch my mouth."

"Alex I really think you should go. I look at you and all rest of those girls at that school and you have them scared. For years they been told they're beauitful and smart and here you walk in that school and turns heads and have the smart to go along with it. A girl Prom is a right of passage. Don't let those stuck jackasses take away from you,"

"I don't know."

"And you a strapping young man to be your date."

Alex thought for a minute of what it would be like to walk in the venue on the arm of Taylor.

"I guess we could look for a dress this weekend." she said

Later on that night after Alex had gone to bed Carol snuck back down the stairs to watch the tape Virgina hads left her.

She pop it in and turn the volume up to where only she could here it.

On the screen was Vrigina Bedford father Elliott Grayson of Grayson Finaical. The man look fragile, his skin had a greyish color and he was hook up to all types if wires.

"Hello Alexandra my name is Elliott, Elliott Grayson I am your grandfather and if you're watching this video then I have passed on. You're probably about 18 years old now and as beautiful as your mother. 18 years ago I forced your mother Virgina to give you up,I was a fool. A racist fooled and I guess now God has showed what how he take care of those who think their mightier then Him. Your mother was in rehab when she met your father James, I of course disapprove because I only saw one thing..the color of his skin, but that didn't stop them to caring on their affair. Before you were born I gave your mother a ultimatum, either she gives you up for adoption and keeps her lavish lifestyle or she keeps you anf fortite her trust fund." he said and started coughing

A nurse came into view giving Grayson a drink of water, she also took out a syrgine.

"No. NO!" he said coughing

"You need it." the nurse told him

"I need to do this. And I need to do it not dope up." he said with a firm voice.

"Alexandra after I found I was sick and too far gone that all they can do is keep me comfortable,I did some soul searching and it lead me back to you." He said stopping to take a breathe. "My mortality made me realize that it is more to life than money, and that God see more than the color of your skin."

Once again the nurse stepped into view and gave him a drink of water.

"I can't take back what happen 18 years ago, I don' t think I even want to. I've read the newspaper articles about your achievements and it's obvious your grandmother Carol has done a fine job. That's why for your hard work and hers I'm leaving a hefty sum of my estate, which include real estate, shares in the business, jewelry and money...all together it equal out to the sum of $565,000,000."

Carol felt all the air rush from her lungs thought she was going to to have a heart attack. She couldn't believe what she just heard.

She looked over the paper work and saw that only half of what she getting. By the time she 25 she will be a billionaire.

"Carol I know your probably watching which is way I want you to wait and hold off on letting her know about her inhertience until YOU feel like she ready. I am for the grief I may have cause..I really am." he said and the video turned off