CHAPTER 17
JANUARY 27, 2014
It was noon and Allie was bored out of her mind. She was no longer allowed to attend her NA meetings because her father thought that if the court had requested for her to attend said meetings for ninety days, then that was all she needed. He explained that it would be a crutch to her addiction and that would make her weak. She spent most of her morning lying on the couch as she watched the snow melt from the warm sun. The Asset watched her, like he always did. There was a slight change to his demeanor since he had been with the young woman. She had noticed it, but she just brushed it off. The Asset also noticed a change in Allie's behavior. For the first week, she would ignore him and pretend he wasn't even there. Since the weeks passed, she spoke more and tried to get him to eat something. Mostly because she wanted to make sure he was human. Allie only talked to him simply because there was no one else to talk to. She missed interactions with other people.
"Soldier," Allie turned to face him. He stood on the other side of the living room with his back against the wall. His eyes met hers, and she knew that was his way of saying he was listening. "Am I allowed to go out for a walk? You know, get some fresh air?"
"No," he replied.
Allie sat up on the couch in a sitting position, "Okay. Well, then I will just do my adventures in the backyard like I always do." She sighed dramatically as she stood from the couch. She walked over to her purse to take out her cigarettes and lighter. She put a cigarette in her mouth and headed to the sliding glass door. She sat herself down on a chair. The Asset was so quiet, she did not even hear him open the sliding glass door. She jumped in her seat when she saw his shadow approach her. "Oh, Jesus!" she exclaimed. "You almost gave me a heart attack," she snickered at him as she lit her cigarette and puffed on it. "So, you decided to join me."
"It's quiet," the Asset responded.
Allie quirked an eyebrow at him. "In the house, you mean?"
He slowly nodded his head.
"Sorry, about that. Dad doesn't care for television. He says it rots the mind."
"No," the Asset said shortly. There was a moment of silence before he continued. "It's quiet... without you."
LATER THAT NIGHT...
Allie and her father sat at the kitchen table while they ate in silence. Allie mostly moved her food around her plate and nibbled on her pot roast. Pierce would look up at his daughter on occasion.
"You're not eating," he noted. "It might be good for you."
Allie dropped her fork on her plate in shock. "Are you calling me fat?"
"I didn't say that," he raised an eyebrow. "I noticed you've been gaining some weight," he said nonchalantly as he took a sip of water from his glass. "Maybe some exercise would do you some good."
Allie inhaled deeply from annoyance. "You have me trapped inside this fucking house. How do you expect me to exercise?"
"I have a mission for the Asset. He will be gone for a week. Things at the office are getting a little chaotic without you around, so I think it would be best for you to come back and Rumlow will escort you to and from work."
She could go back to work. She sighed in relief. It wasn't exactly what she wanted, but it was better than nothing. She could interact with other people besides the Asset. She looked up at her father and smiled in agreement. "Alright, I have no problem with coming back to work. Can I go back to the meetings?"
"Alexandra-," he began. "We've talked about this. I am not repeating myself. End of conversation," he said sternly.
JANUARY 28, 2014
The office was chaotic. Everything Allie had taken the time to file properly was completely disorganized. It took her the majority of her day to refile everything in correct order. Her father's office floor was covered in beige colored files and a few random spreadsheets she found laying around. She stacked a few files by date and put them off to the side. Documents and social security information were alphabetized. She groaned from frustration as she picked up a stack of files and dropped the heavy stack onto her father's desk with a loud bang.
"Hey," a voice spoke out from behind her. Allie jumped and put a hand against her chest from being startled. It was only Rumlow. "Sorry, didn't mean to scare ya," he smiled at her.
"Fuckin' A," she said under her breath. "What do you want?"
"I'm supposed to take you home," he replied with a smirk.
Allie sighed. "I'm going to be working a little late tonight."
Rumlow shrugged. "Fine by me. Take your time."
She rolled her eyes and continued to do her work. When she realized Rumlow had not moved from his spot in the doorway, Allie looked back at him. "Why are you still here?"
"Wow," he chuckled at her. "I thought you would be nicer since our last date."
"This isn't a date," she snapped at him. "Nor was the other time."
"Really?" he furrowed his eyebrows together as he advanced toward her. "I remember you... and me," he stared down at her, "naked in a bed."
"I recall being fucked up on half an eight ball and six shots in. I was under the influence," she crossed her arms.
He scoffed at her, "We still had a good night."
Allie decided to ignore him for the rest of the evening and continued to organize the files until she was finished.