Chapter Fifteen

Axel doesn't help me decorate the Christmas tree, but I'm not particularly bothered by it. I've noticed he seems very uncomfortable with the idea of really celebrating the holiday, but I decide against asking him about it. I'm too thankful that he's actually letting me put up a tree despite his discomfort, and I don't want to ruin it or put him off any more than he already is.

Once it's all done, Axel hooks up the lights for me since I can't figure it out, flips a switch, and the tree lights up. I step back to admire the tree. It's tall and luscious and the perfect shade of green. I adorned it with white lights, ornaments of every size, shape and color, and finished it off with thousands of strings of rainbow tinsel. I had Axel top it with a golden star since I couldn't reach. I grin up at the tree and nod my approval.

"Looks good," Axel says from the couch. He's laying across the couch with his hands behind his head and his legs crossed languidly. I turn my grin to him.

"Thanks. Decorating the tree was always my favorite thing to do as a kid," I say.

"You do it pretty well," he replies. I go and sit on the smaller couch next to the couch Axel is on. I tuck my legs under me and lean on the armrest, not taking my eyes from the lit up tree.

"This will be the second Christmas I haven't spent with my family," I say softly, not really expecting a response.

"Really?" Axel asks, not looking at me.

"Yeah. I got taken last October, so I missed that Christmas… I just wish I knew what happened. I wish I knew whether or not my family is okay…" I say, my voice getting softer. There's a beat of silence before Axel replies.

"Wish I could tell you, kid." His voice is soft like mine, but I don't think anything about it. We continue admiring the tree in silence.

About half an hour later, I get up to get a snack from the kitchen.

"Hey, I'm gonna get something to eat. You want anything?" I ask. Axel doesn't respond, so I take a step closer to him. His eyes are closed and his mouth is open just slightly. He's breathing evenly, and I know he's asleep. Well, you did make him get up awfully early after he was up so late. Let him sleep. I'm about to continue walking when I stop myself. I continue staring at his sleeping face. Would he really do all this nice stuff for me if he was just going to suddenly change his act? All of his gestures have seemed so sincere: letting me use his studio, giving me free range of his home, complimenting me, letting me get a Christmas tree. I don't think someone would do that much if they were just going to suddenly become cruel and abusive.

He pulls me from my thoughts when he suddenly stirs and rolls onto his side. Some of his hair from where he didn't spike it properly falls over his face. Without thinking, I reach forward and gently brush it back, amazed by how soft it is. He smiles in his sleep. I smile just because he smiles.

"Oh, hello, Renton," I say when I walk into the kitchen. Renton is standing at a counter cutting up vegetables. He smiles at me.

"Hello, miss. Can I do anything for you?" he asks.

"Please, call me Iris. And no, I don't need anything. I just came in to get a snack," I say.

"I can whip something up for you real quick if there's something specific you'd like," he says, going to put down the knife.

"No, no. I don't mind doing it. You're busy anyway," I say with a smile before heading over to the pantry and grabbing a bag of chips. I put the bag on the counter a little ways away from Renton and pop a chip into my mouth. "So what're you making?" I ask as he dumps a handful of minced onions into a pot on the stove.

"Dinner. We'll be having chili," he says. "Axel prefers hot, hearty things in the winter.

"Why are you making dinner so early, though?" I ask with a glance at the clock. Noon.

"I like to slow cook chili and let it simper for a few hours. Makes the flavor richer." I nod before asking my next question.

"How long have you worked for Axel?"

"I started working for him after his father passed on four years ago. I worked for his father for twenty years before that," he answers. My eyebrows shoot up.

"So you've known Axel-"

"His whole life, yes. His parents hired me because he was born. His father was always busy with the company, so his mother needed the extra help."

"Axel hasn't mentioned his mother before. Is she still alive?" I ask as I crunch down on another chip. Renton shakes his head.

"She not. She passed away the Christmas Eve after Axel turned ten." I drop the chip I'm holding back onto the counter, my eyes wide.

"Is that why he hasn't celebrated Christmas in so long?" I inquire, realization dawning on my face. Renton nods.

"Yes, it is. At the news of her death, Axel's father lost it and broke everything Christmas related before burning down the Christmas tree. The holiday sort of became taboo after that."

"Oh, my gosh," I whisper. "Why on earth would he let me make such a fuss out of the holiday if it just makes him sad? If I had had any idea…"

"He wanted to make you happy. He understands your situation is strange for you, so he wanted to give you some sense of normalcy, even if it was just for a little while," he explains.

"Oh…that's so…nice of him…"

"He's a sincere man, Iris. I can imagine what you've been thinking. You're waiting for him to pull the rug out from under you, right?" I nod. "He's not going to. He's not a bad guy, Iris."

"Then why has he gone through so many girls?" I ask, an edge of bitterness I can't explain in my voice. He shrugs.

"The first girl happened when the…industry was new. She panicked. The second girl was actually quite fond of him, but he let her go after realizing how incredibly ditzy she was; he absolutely can't stand stupid people. The third girl tried to attack him with a blow dryer, destroyed multiple things in the house, tried to attack him with a knife, and then tried to kill him in his sleep. The strange thing was that he hadn't even laid a hand on her before she tried anything. Needless to say, he let her go as well. The last girl ran off after he had given her a sufficient amount of new clothing. He's just had a string of mentally instable girls."

"But has he ever hit any of them? Or…had sex with any of them?"

"Never had the chance with the first. He never hit girl number two, but he did lay hands on the third and fourth at some point. And yes, he did have sex with girls two and four, but not unless they were willing. He's not a rapist," he says evenly. I swallow and look down.

"Why'd he hit number four? I understand the reasoning behind three, but why four?"

"She tried running off three times before she succeeded. Axel let the first time go like he did with yours, but didn't do the same with the third and fourth attempts. He gave you a fair warning about that, though, if I recall properly." My eyes snap up, surprised that Renton had heard that.

"Do you hear everything that happens around here?" I ask, slightly impressed. I see him smile a little.

"More or less, yes." I smile. A silence engulfs us for a little bit before I put the chips away.

"Well, I'm going to go read a book or something. I'll see you later. It was good talking to you, Renton," I say with a smile.

"You as well. I'll see you at dinner," he says, returning the smile. I have my hand on the door when he speaks up again. "Iris?" I turn at look at him and find him staring at me resolutely.

"Yes?" I ask.

"If you give him an honest chance, I think you'll find that you actually like him." I smile softly at him.

"You know what? You might be right," I say back. I turn back to the door.

"But are you going to actually try to find out?" he asks softly. I don't look at him this time.

"We'll just have to see, I suppose."