Previously on Mysterious Attraction…

RECAP

Lexie sits in her bedroom finally relaxing and her phone begins to ring.

Lexie: Hello?

Carter: You were married?

Lexie: Oh god. (she covers her face) How did you find that out?

Carter: It’s called Google.

Lexie: All of that should have been taken down, at least I thought I paid someone to remove everything.

Carter: Yea well apparently they didn’t do the best  job. I mean I did have to pull a few strings but-

Lexie: You went snooping through my past?

Carter: What can I say I learned from the best. Besides it’s not as if you’d ever truly be honest with me right?

Lexie hears commotion on his side of the call

Lexie: Where are you?

Lexie’s door bell rings

Carter: I’m downstairs.

Lexie: Are you crazy? I’m not letting you up here.

Carter: Let me up.

Lexie: No.

Carter: Lexie.

Lexie: Carter I’m telling you right now, I’m not letting you in, just go home. I will talk to you about this tomorrow.

Carter: Fine, if you won’t let me in I’ll find another way in.

Lexie: You do realize I have security that can kick your ass right?

Carter: I do.

Lexie huffs and buzzes him in

She’s waiting for him at her door when he gets off the elevator

Carter notices her in her night gown, and looks her over

Carter: Really? (He gestures to her silk night gown lingerie.)

Lexie: God, (she realizes and ties her robe quickly) I didn’t exactly expect you.

Carter: Oh you didn’t… Maybe you were expecting Joe.

Lexie: Stop it. (she glares at him)

Carter: You didn’t think I’d ever find out? You never let me forget that I’m married, constantly making me feel like what I’m doing is so horrible when your just as bad. You never even thought to tell me that you were married??

Lexie: You are something else you know that? You forget you’re the one who’s still legally, “happily” married and you have the nerve to stand there and judge me. Don’t push your insecurities and guilt on me! I didn’t exactly force you into this. If I remember correctly you made the first move.

Carter: (glares at her) Lexie. You were married! Married. And you never bothered to tell me that you were some other guy’s wife…and you claim to want a future with me…

Lexie: I do want a future with you… (mumbles) whether or not we actually get to have one is a different story…

Carter: (glares at her annoyed) How could you keep this from me?

Lexie: I have my reasons ok? You don’t know the full story.

Carter: And who’s fault is that?

Lexie: That’s not fair. I never forced you to tell me anything about your marriage.

Carter: Yea, because that was our arrangement… and you hated me talking about my wife.

Lexie: Ok so there you go, you proved my point, that was our arrangement. And I didn’t hate you talking about your wife, I just figured if we were gonna do this thing, it didn’t make sense. We were in this for the thrill of the present. Our pasts were never supposed to be a factor.

Carter: And neither was my wife, but you never stopped reminding me of her, did you? But Lexie, … our pasts are no longer in the past…they’re coming out. Besides we’re talking about building a future together … we can’t just focus on the present anymore, we have to talk about our pasts too. We have to get to know each other from all angles. Everything is a factor now. We’re in love. And if you wanna be with me,  I need you to talk to me.

Lexie: I think by now we’ve been intimate enough for you to realize that I’m not exactly good at the whole opening up thing.

Carter: You don’t sayyy (he smirks)

Lexie: There are just some things that I don’t like to talk about, and my past with Joe is one of them. I just wish you could respect that. Nothing that happened with Joe, is going to affect how I feel about you, so why does it matter?

Carter: It all matters Lexie. I mean how can you say that your history with Joe doesn’t affect us. I mean you are who you are because of him, because of something you both went through. You guard your heart from the world like you’re waging war. And I know it’s because of him.

Lexie: It isn’t just because of him, I wouldn’t give him that much credit. (she rolls her eyes)

Carter: If you expect to have any kind of future with me, and I hope you do, that type of mentality, of not sharing your whole heart with someone, it doesn’t work for me. That’s really unhealthy, especially in a relationship. I just… I don’t understand how you can trust me with your body but you can’t trust me with your heart.

Lexie: (sighs heavily and her eyes begin to tear up) it’s just different ok? It’s physical, not emotional. I’m not so good with emotion.

Carter: Lexie…you’re kidding me right? You don’t think the physical part of our relationship includes emotion? I mean that’s as emotional as you can get.

Lexie: I didn’t mean it that way. I love you. You know that I love you, I’m done trying to hide that.

Carter: Could of fooled me.

Lexie: Carter-

Carter: You say you’re done hiding, but yet every time I get within a mile of your heart, your walls go up and you run.

Lexie: It’s not personal.

Carter: Oh please Lex, don’t give me the whole it’s not you it’s me crap ok? Just…just talk to me…

Lexie: Carter, there are dark skeletons in my closet ok? Things that you may not understand and if I tell you them you may never wanna be with me again.

Carter: Is that what you think?

Lexie shrugs

Lexie: I guess I’m just trying to prolong the inevitable.

Carter: Lexie… I’m not gonna leave you. We’ve been though A LOT of shit in the past year…together….and I’ve always found my way back to you. That has to count for something right?

Lexie: You deserve better than me. You have better then me. And she loves you.

Carter: And I love you.

Lexie: And what am I just supposed to believe that all your feelings for Kelly are just gone…vanished into thin air?

Carter: No. I mean I’ll always love Kelly. But the same way that you and Joe don’t belong together anymore, I don’t think Kelly’s my destiny. I just think she was meant to prepare me for the real thing. (he kisses her)

Lexie: If I let you in…you better not break my heart…

Carter: I won’t.

Lexie: Because I just don’t think I could bounce back from that…not when it comes to you…

Carter: I’m not going anywhere, (smiles and hugs her)…besides I know you could easily kick my ass so…

They both laugh

Carter: Talk to me, please.

Lexie: (sighs heavily) Ok…you asked for it.

Carter: I did. (he pulls her into the chair across from her bed, and onto his lap)

Lexie: Joe and I met in high school. He was a jock and I was a cheerleader, so naturally the whole world thought we were a match made in high school heaven. Only high school wasn’t exactly heaven for me.

Carter: Why?

Lexie: Joe was a year older, and way more experienced then I was. And so when it came down to my first time, I was really nervous, and things just didn’t go as well as one would hope.

Carter: Meaning?

Lexie: Meaning that we probably weren’t as careful as we should have been?

Carter looks at her

Carter: You got pregnant?

Lexie: (Nods and begins to tear up) I was scared to death. I was only 16 and I remembered thinking that I wanted to do the right thing, I knew I wasn’t ready, but I knew that I could do it, if I really put my mind to it. And Joe was willing to step up, so we got married and I figured you know, I’d get a job, Joe would get a job and we’d make it work. My father wasn’t happy at all about the situation but he really admired Joe for attempting to step up. But when I went back to the doctor’s for a routine check up, after my first trimester… I found out that, I was no longer pregnant. And next thing I knew Joe was going off to college and I was left to pick up the pieces.

Carter: You miscarried?

Lexie: I didn’t even know it. I mean I was just a kid. They say that, you know you can usually feel that sort of thing, maybe not right off the bat, but you can sense something’s wrong. You know there’s usually a reason, but I had no idea. How’s that for mother’s intuition?

Carter: You couldn’t have known. This wasn’t your fault.

Lexie: I didn’t understand what could have happened. I did everything I was supposed to do, I ate right, I took all my vitamins, and I just lost it. I know that it wasn’t my fault, the doctors told me that I couldn’t have prevented it. But for a while I blamed myself and in turn I blamed Joe for leaving and going after his future, when I couldn’t even fathom having one.

Carter: I’m so sorry (eyes begin to tear) I had no idea that you were carrying this kind of thing around.

Lexie: No it’s fine…you know what they say, no use in crying over something you’re never meant to have. (wiping her tears)

Carter: I don’t believe you were never meant to have it.

Lexie: Really?

Carter: Yea. I just think that maybe it wasn’t the right time, and he wasn’t the right guy.

Lexie: And you think you are?

Carter: I think I could be, if you’d give us half a chance.

Lexie: And what about your wife?

Carter: I’m getting really tired of hearing you ask that.

Lexie: Well I think it’s a valid question Carter…

Carter: Not anymore. (he grabs her and kisses her.)

So I’m thankinggg the tech gods that I was able to retrieve all my documents from my laptop and it is in working use for now, hopefully it stays that way…anyhow as promised…the show must go on…and because I’m TWO weeks behind in Mysterious Attraction… here’s a rare Saturday post…

Previously on Mysterious Attraction…

The next day Carter walks up to Lexie’s office door and hears voices

Lexie: I told you to keep things professional and hear you go again, doing the exact opposite.

Joe: I wish you would just hear me out for 5 minutes.

Lexie: I don’t want to, nor do I have to, nor do you deserve to be heard out. What you and I had was a long time ago, and had it not been for my father, you wouldn’t even be here. So just be grateful that you still have a job and leave me alone.

Joe: This is about Carter isn’t it? You do realize he’s married right? It’s never gonna happen for you.

Lexie: Carter is none of your business, and he and I are…we’re nothing. And even if we were you would not be someone I could talk to anyway, so you can just get out.

Joe: I can’t believe after everything we’ve been through, that you can’t even just give me 5 minutes.

Lexie: I don’t like digging through my past ok, it’s the past for a reason, and I’d like for it to stay that way. One more word of this to anyone, and I will have you replaced so fast you won’t know what hit you.

Joe: Fine, I hear Skully’s looking for a few men?

Lexie: See right there, that’s why we would never work. Because the fact that you would try and make a joke like that, knowing what he’s done to my family… just proves that you are still mentally 18 years old; the same irresponsible, disrespectful child you always were.

Joe:  Lexie, I’m sorry. I was just trying to grab your attention; I didn’t mean that.

Lexie: I think you did. Get out.

Joe: I love you… I love you. And I know that somewhere in your heart, you still love me. Or at least you could.

Lexie: I don’t love you. Understand that. In fact I’m not sure I ever really did…Ok? Get that through your thick head.

Joe: So you’re saying that what we had all those years ago, was nothing, meant nothing to you?

Lexie: I was a kid. And I didn’t know any better.

Joe: Wow…

Lexie: I’m not ignoring the fact that we had a history, I’m not ignoring that I had feelings for you, I just don’t think it was love. I mean at 16 and 17 how can you really now what love is. Because if it was love, it wouldn’t have fallen apart so easily, and you wouldn’t have left so quickly.

Joe: I’m sorry. I truly am. Leaving you was the biggest mistake I ever made.

Lexie: You and I are never going to be together. We just, we weren’t right for each other back then, and we aren’t right for each other now.

Joe: Lexie? (tears well up in his eyes)

Lexie: Just go, please. I’m not going to ask you again.

Carter ducks to the side

Joe exits and Carter knocks

Lexie answers the door

Lexie: Oh god, I can’t do this right now.

Carter: I’m not here to fight, I was just in the office picking up some paperwork and I heard the yelling… are you ok?

Lexie looks at him, she smiles faintly.

Lexie: I’m always ok.

Carter: You know you don’t always have to play the strong girl. You’re allowed to lean on someone.

Lexie: No, because whenever I let my guard down, I get clobbered. So, no I don’t need a shoulder to cry on, or a man to lean on.

Carter: I know you don’t need one, but how about you just humor me, and let me be the guy that takes care of you for once.

Lexie sighs and looks away.

Lexie: There is no way…

Carter: There’s no way… what?

Lexie: Forget it.

Carter: Ok…um…I guess I’ll just go then…(he goes to walk away then stops and turns back.)

I’m sorry I just have to know what’s the deal with you and Joe?

Lexie: There is no deal. (she’s pretending to sift through paper work)

Carter: Is that why you’re avoiding making eye contact with me, (leans against her desk and lifts her chin to meet his gaze.)

Lexie: I’m just busy.

Carter: Ah, busy?

Lexie: Yes.

Carter: But you have time to talk to Joe?

Lexie huffs and glares at him

Carter: Are you trying to make me jealous? Because I have to say, it’s working.

Lexie laughs

Carter: There it is.

Lexie: What?

Carter: There’s my smile. (cups her face)

Lexie sighs

Carter: Look I know that you’re going through something, and I just want you to know that I’m here if you need-…I’m here if you want me to be.

Lexie: (smiles) Thank you.

Carter: Did you really mean it when you said we were nothing?

Lexie: What do you think?

Carter: I honestly…I’m not sure…I mean you flip flop so much I…

Lexie: Of course I don’t think we’re nothing. I just don’t exactly know what we are.

Carter leans over and kisses her

-He exits-

Lexie stares after him, dumbfounded

Later that night Carter is online on his computer.

Carter P.O.V

Something wouldn’t let me let it go. The fact that she and Joe have some sort of past that I don’t know about was pretty much enough to drive me completely insane so, I googled and I googled. I googled my ass off and even may have called in a few illegal favors of my own, and what I found was enough to make me want to kill him!

Carter rushes out of his house and jumps into his car

STAY TUNED!

What did Carter find out?

And where is he headed to in such a rush?

PLUS more to come with Lexie’s secrets….will she finally tell Carter about his true identity?

******

Happy Saturday…

(And pssst….for anyone interested, Chapter 5 will be up tomorrow in a rare Sunday post…to make up for my two weeks of not updating.)

*I do not own any images, gifs, etc. All belong to their rightful owners/creators!*

-<3-

Hey all….for anyone out there is cyberspace who have read along with my recent little online story; “Mysterious Attraction”….This week’s chapter segment will be post poned due to the untimely demise of my laptop….some of the new chapters are on there and I am unable to get any access to my documents….this all really sucks! And I apologize, and hope to be updating soon! May all the tech gods be with me! Thanks!

-<3-

Happy Weekend

 

Previously on Mysterious Attraction…

RECAP

Lexie sits in her office. She is looking at a photo of Carter on her cell phone, she wipes away a small tear, she scrolls to the left and a picture of her and Joe pops up.  Lexie presses delete and the image dissolves.

A knock is heard…

Lexie dries her tears

Lexie: Yes?

Joe pokes his head in

Joe: You wanted to see us.

Lexie: Yes I did. Come in.

Brice follows behind him

Lexie: Actually Brice, you are dismissed. I appreciate your efforts and you have been nothing but helpful. So thank you.

Brice glances at Joe who flashes a look of fear his way

Brice: No problem Ms. Lexie. Glad to have been of assistance.

Lexie nods toward him with a small smile, Brice exits

Lexie gestures Joe to sit

Joe: I realize that you’re probably not too happy with my performance today… and I –

Lexie: No. I’ll do the talking.

Joe: (blurts out) I love you.

Lexie gives him a look of disbelief

Joe: I understand that there is still so much between us that is gonna take time to forgive, but I am willing to work on it. I’m willing to fight for you. Because I know that we had something special.

Lexie: That’s funny because, I don’t seem to remember you thinking I was worth the fight all those years ago. Remember you left; you left when I actually needed you the most.

Joe: I was a kid, I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. I didn’t understand how I could be there for you, when I couldn’t even understand the situation myself.

Lexie: And what about me, Joe. I was a kid too. But I was the one who suffered the most. But no you never thought about me, did you? You only thought of yourself. My god it’s like I’m surrounded by selfish men! (covers her face in frustration). No wonder my father loves you… never mind the fact that you deserted me. But you know what… turns out I didn’t need you.

Joe: I’m sorry.

Lexie: Well you’re a few years too late.

There’s another knock on the door

Lexie walks over to the door, opening it, her breath is caught when she sees its Carter

Carter: Hi.

Joe: You’ve got to be kidding me.

Lexie turns back toward Joe

Lexie: Joe, you can go.

Joe: Nothings been resolved.

Lexie: There’s nothing that needs resolving, other then the fact that you need to keep your personal business out of this business.

Joe: And how do you expect me to do that, considering-

Lexie: Considering what…there’s nothing to consider…so whatever you’re after, just quit while you’re ahead.

Joe glares at Carter and stalks out of the office

Lexie turns back to Carter

Lexie: Can I help you?  (walks back toward her desk)

Carter: Why so formal? (laughs mildly)

Lexie: It’s just business.

Carter walks in and closes the door behind him

Carter: Are we back there again?

Lexie: You can leave that door open.

Carter smiles

Carter: Why are you afraid to be alone with me? (laughs walking closer to her desk)

Lexie: I’m not afraid of anything.

Carter: Ah, except love right? (Locks eyes with hers)

Lexie: Clearly you don’t know me well enough to make that judgment, kind of, the same way I don’t know you that well either.

Carter: I’m sorry, am I missing something?

Lexie: No. But apparently I was. So you can just stop acting like you actually care about me. I mean I’ve been part of your business plan all along, haven’t I?

Carter’s confusion is evident in his expression

Carter: I do care about you. I thought that we’ve covered this already.

Lexie: Carter I know ok. I know.

Carter: You know what?

Lexie: I know why you’re really here.

Carter: Ok. And why am I really here? (crosses his arms and leans against the nearby file cabinet, with a smirk)

Lexie: I think you should go.

Carter: (teasingly) You are seriously off your game tonight.

Lexie: Yea you know that tends to happen when you risk your life to save the wife of the man you love.

Carter: Well I came here to thank you. What you did was-

Lexie: Don’t worry about it.

Carter: What is with you?

Lexie: Just go please. Go home to your wife.

Carter: It’s your father isn’t it?

Lexie looks up at him

Lexie: Why would you assume this has anything to do with my father?

Carter: Because unlike you I think I know you pretty well. And I know that if you’re this on edge, it must have something to do with him. So what did he do now? …Wait a minute is he the one who orchestrated this whole thing?

Lexie: Yes.

Carter: Oh my god, Lexie!

Lexie: I had nothing to do with it, ok? If that’s what you’re thinking.

Carter: That wasn’t what I was thinking. I’m just a little surprised and confused.

Lexie: The day that you came back and told me…

Carter: That I loved you?

Lexie and Carter exchange glances

Lexie: …Well that was the same day that we had that fight, and I kept pushing you away-

Carter: Yea I kept telling you how much I loved you, and you kept pushing me toward the door. I remember it well. (pained expression)

Lexie: I only did it, because I had gotten a call. At first I didn’t recognize the voice and they basically insisted that I cut all ties with you and wire half a million dollars to an address in Chicago within the next week or something horrible was going to happen to you. It scared me to death, so I did it. And then when you told me that Kelly was missing, I realized something.

Carter: What?

Lexie: I realized that it all made sense. There were clues all along, and I was just too stupid and too preoccupied with my feelings for you that I didn’t realize what was going on right in front of me.

Carter: So your father kidnapped my wife to what- keep us away from each other?

Lexie: Essentially.

Carter: That’s one hell of a tactic!

Lexie: Oh believe me I know and I am dealing with him. He was completely out of line. But I guess he was just trying to protect me in his own demented way.

Carter: Protect you from what?

Lexie: From getting my heart broken.

Carter: By me?

Lexie: Who else?

Carter: (smirking) I don’t know that Joe guy seems to have the hots for you.

Lexie: Joe doesn’t have the power to break my heart.

Carter: Lexie?

Lexie: Look. I’m not this girl, ok? I’ve never relied on a man, and I’m not gonna start now. Especially on a man who is already spoken for. So… if that’s all, then maybe we should just find a way to stay as far away from each other as possible.

Carter: I don’t think I can do that.

Lexie: Well you’re gonna have to try.

Carter: No.

Lexie: No?

Carter: No. Look tonight when I didn’t know where you were or what was happening, I was ready to lose it. I love you, and I know that this can work, if you just give me time. Give me time just to figure out how to tell Kelly.

Lexie: Wow. The other side really scored with you. I mean you’re just so dedicated.

Carter: Ok there you go again, not making sense.

Lexie: Are you really gonna stand there, and play this game with me?

Carter: Isn’t that kind of our thing. You scowl and yell at me, and I try to act like it doesn’t make me love you more?

Lexie: You are really good. I have to admit, I was really convinced. I mean after all this time, you deserve an Oscar for your performance.

Carter: Ok Lexie, you gotta help me out here baby? What in the hell are you talking about?

Lexie: Don’t “baby” me.

Carter: What is wrong with you?

Lexie: Why don’t you go back and tell your father, that if it’s a war he wants, he’s got it.

Carter: What does my father have to do with us?

Lexie: Stop it, ok? Just stop it. I’m tired of this, just own up to it!

Carter: Own up to what?

Lexie: How you’ve been infiltrating my family’s business since the first day I met you. How it was all just some scheme to get Skully just a few steps ahead of us.

Carter: (laughs) Are you insane? First of all, I worked for Skully after we’d been whatever you wanna call what we’ve been doing for the past year. And if you remember correctly I didn’t last very long working for the other side. So what are you talking about? And why are you mentioning my father?

Lexie: Are you drunk?

Carter: Are you?

Lexie: Carter who’s your father?

Carter: I’ve told you about my father, his name is John and he’s a painter.

Lexie glares at him; she squints and purses her lips trying to read him

Carter: What’s going on?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lexie walks over to him and kisses him, he kisses her back

Lexie pulls away and looks at him

Carter: Not that I mind, but what is with you? (he laughs)

Lexie turns away

Lexie: You don’t know anything about this do you?

Carter: No… I have to admit I’m pretty lost.

Lexie: So this thing, (gestures to the space between them) this is real?

Carter: You mean, you and I? Yea I’d say it’s pretty real. I mean it feels pretty real to me.

Lexie begins pacing the room as if she’s trying to make a decision

Carter: Lexie? You wanna fill me in here…

Lexie: (asks abruptly)  How was your childhood?

Carter: It was relatively normal, I mean my parents weren’t exactly poor but we struggled for a while, but I always had what I needed. Why are you asking? (laughs)

Lexie: Oh my god…

Carter: What?

Lexie: Carter, is there anyway that you…maybe your parents aren’t who you think they are?

Carter: No, I’m pretty sure my dad’s name is John and he’s a painter, and well my mom’s name is Joan and she’s a school teacher.

Lexie: Ok well, let me rephrase that, is there any way that you may have been adopted by John and Joan, and your real parents could… I don’t know… be floating about somewhere out there?

Carter: (laughs) Are you sure you’re not drunk?

Lexie: Oh my god, at this point I have no idea. (covers her face)

Carter: Ok I’m gonna go out on a limb and say that your father is spreading some lie about me, that has made you question weather or not I’m actually in love with you, so why don’t you just tell me what it is.

Lexie: No because, if I say it, then that’s just going to be yet another lie he’s told me. (begins to cry)

Carter: Lexie, (pulls her into his arms) hey…what’s going on? You can talk to me, you know that.

Lexie pushes him away

Lexie: I need you to go.

Carter: Lexie?

Lexie: Please.

Carter: Don’t do this again, don’t push me away.

Lexie: I just need time, ok? I’m sorry but I just- I don’t know who I can or can’t trust anymore and I just, I need to think.

Carter: You can trust me.

Lexie just looks away

Carter: Ok. Fine. But don’t waste time thinking about weather or not my love for you is real, because I think that after that kiss, you can answer that question for yourself. I love you, call me when you’re ready, be good. (blows her a kiss and leaves)

Lexie exhales and the tears begin to poor.

STAY TUNED!

 What will happen between Lexie & Carter?

And more to come with Carter and his wife Kelly and Lexie’s past with Joe.

PLUS Lexie and her father have a few things to discuss, don’t you think???

**I do not own any of the images, photo shopped images, and gifs, they all belong to their rightful owners/creators!**

Happy Weekend!

-<3-

Previously on Mysterious Attraction…

RECAP

MEANWHILE…on the road…

Kelly: Um excuse me but are we almost at this hotel?

Driver: Yes ma’am, just about a few minutes away.

Kelly: Um would you happen to have a phone that I could use?

Driver: Sure do ma’am  (hands her a cell phone)

Kelly dials Carter’s number

Carter is sitting in a car trying to hot wire it, looking back to see if Joe and Brice have caught up.

Carter gets the car started

Carter: Yes! (pulls out and starts driving,  his phone begins to ring, pulls it out)… Lexie?

Kelly: …Carter?

Carter: Kelly?

Kelly: Yea!

Carter: Kelly, oh my god, are you ok? Where are you?

Kelly: I’m ok, I’m in a black car service. I’m on my way to some hotel…Your friend Lexie found me, she told me to have the driver take me to a hotel.

Carter stops his car and sighs

Kelly: Baby?

Carter: Yes I’m here.

Kelly: Where are you?

Carter: …Kelly are you in New York?

Kelly: Yea I never made it to Chicago, I was on my way to the airport and then I got this email saying to meet at a warehouse in New York instead. I thought it was a bit odd that they’d change locations so late, so I was all set to blow it off, when two big guys came out of nowhere and grabbed me and put me in the back of some huge van!

Carter: Jesus Christ! Kelly… Are you ok?

Kelly: Yes.

Carter: Did they hurt you?

Kelly: No.

Carter: Kelly don’t lie to me!

Kelly: Carter I’m not, they didn’t hurt me, I swear.

Carter: (exhales) Thank god, well the driver’s taking you to me. I’m outside the hotel. I’ll see you soon.

Kelly: Ok. Carter?

Carter: Yea…

Kelly: I love you.

Carter covers his face in shame

Carter: I love you too. So much.

Meanwhile…CUT TO-

Brice: Hello boss?

Lexie: Carter’s wife is on her way to you. How’s everything going?

Brice: We kind of lost him.

Lexie: You what?

Brice: Joe and Carter got into it, and when I turned my back to try and talk some sense into Joe… well Carter took off.

Lexie: Find him.

Brice: Already on it boss. (hanging up with Lexie, stops in relief seeing Carter step out of the car.)

Brice: Dude, really?

Carter: I’m sorry but I couldn’t just sit there. I had to at least try.

Joe: Well you didn’t get very far.

Carter: I would have, if I didn’t get the call that my wife was already on her way here.

Brice: Yes, and so is Ms. Lexie (gives Carter a look of concern)

Joe: (smiling sarcastically) Ahh the tangled web.

Brice: That’s enough Joe… Look I know Ms. Lexie is going to want to see with her own eyes that you are ok, but you having your wife around… it’s going to be awkward…

Carter: I’ll deal with it, don’t worry.

A black car pulls up and Kelly rushes out

She runs into Carter’s arms

He hugs her tightly

Carter: Oh my god, I’m so glad you’re ok.

Kelly hugs him back tightly

Carter looks at her

Carter: You sure you’re ok?

Kelly nods

Kelly: Yea I’m ok (smiles)

Carter: Where were you? Who took you? (cups her face)

Another car passes by

Lexie sits in the back seat, watching the reunion

The driver begins to slow down

Lexie: Keep driving, and go around back.

Kelly: I don’t know. Alls I know is your friend- Lexie, Was it? She saved my life.

Joe: How about that. (smiles)

Carter glares at him

Carter: So these people did they hurt you?

Kelly: No, I told you Carter, they never hurt me, (strokes his face lovingly). It actually felt more like I was a pawn. I don’t know… but I feel horrible I left your friend there, but she kept telling me to go. She said that she had some unfinished business with whoever took me.

Carter: Yea Lexie’s got a complicated life.

Joe: I’ll say.

Carter: Can you just shut up…this doesn’t concern you.

Joe smiles and holds his hands up in mock surrender

Brice’s Phone rings

Brice: Hello?

Lexie: I’m here. Report to my office please, we need to discuss a few things.

Brice: Mr. Carter and his wife are still here boss, am I to bring them up as well.

Carter glances over at him

Lexie: No, Just have one of the driver’s take them home.

Brice: Ok, you got it boss… (hangs up) The boss says you are welcome to take one of the cars home.

Kelly: I’m so confused who are you?

Brice: The name’s Brice ma’am. (holds his hand out to her)

Kelly shakes it

Carter: Brice and I work together

Joe leans against the building watching

Kelly: And he is?

Carter: You don’t need to know him, we’re not friends.

Kelly: Ok, well then…. So who’s your boss…

Brice: Why Ms. Lexie is…

Kelly: Lexie is here?

Brice: Yes.

Kelly: Oh my god, Carter… Lexie is your boss, how have I never known this. Why haven’t you ever told me?

Carter: She’s a pretty private person, (shrugs, trying to dodge any questions about Lexie).

Kelly: Well, I have to go and see her, she saved my life…

Carter: No baby… we’ll handle that another day ok, you’ve had a really crazy week; you should just go home and rest…

Kelly: Ok, well then maybe tomorrow?

Carter: Maybe.

Carter turns to Brice

Carter: Thanks for everything man. (Brice nods and waves to Kelly.)

Carter opens the car door for Kelly and they both get in and drive off

Carter’s eyes linger toward Lexie’s office window, and Kelly cuddles into him

Brice and Joe turn and walk toward the entrance to the office building

Joe: (laughing) This is going to blow up in his face so bad, and I can’t wait to watch.

Brice: You do realize that Ms. Lexie’s in love with him right?

Joe just stares at him

Brice: I mean you wishing for this thing to blow up, means her getting her heart ripped out. For a guy who claims to love her, you’d think you’d want to wish her happiness.

Joe: He’s married. That’s a fact. She can never be happy with him.

Brice: I don’t know…I wouldn’t rule Mr. Carter out just yet.

Joe: What? Is that the reaction of a guy that looks like he’s leaving his wife… did you see him hug her…

Brice: Yea, but I also saw how worried he was about Ms. Lexie…You know it isn’t impossible that he may just leave his wife for her. I mean not every guy is stupid enough to let Ms. Lexie go. (walks away and into the building entrance)

Joe stares after him, his expression one of pure guilt

CUT TO…

Lexie sits in her office. She is looking at a photo of Carter on her cell phone

Lexie’s Flashback…

Lexie’s Voice Over:

I remember that night. It was early on in our arrangement if that’s what you’d call it. It sure as hell isn’t a relationship, even though I know that’s secretly what I’ve always wanted it to be, what I’ve always thought of it as. I remember it was the first night we actually had a meaningful conversation, and it wasn’t just about the sex, or the attraction. But there was actually substance to he and I. We talked about our families and our likes and dislikes, it was really sweet. It was one of those moments that I treasured, but it was fleeting because I knew that we couldn’t go anywhere. I remember getting up to use the bathroom and thinking that I actually missed him. Just a few feet away, a room away, and I missed him. What sense did that even make? And then I realized it, the thing I had been avoiding from the first moment we were together…I was falling in love with him. And it was something that scared me and made me feel safe at the same time. I thought I had known love before, but this was just different. And it was a feeling that I really wanted to hold onto, for the rest of my life. So on my way back from the bathroom, I took a moment to myself, and I just watched him, and I remember just involuntarily reaching for my phone and snapping the picture. As if I wanted a token of the moment I knew I had fallen in love with Carter. He never knew I took it. And when I came back to the room, I just acted like everything was fine and we just parted ways, while he left me to head home to his wife.

Lexie wipes away a small tear, she scrolls to the left of her phone gallery and a picture of her and Joe pops up.  Lexie presses delete and the image dissolves.Lexie sighs and then A knock is heard…

Who’s at the door?

Lexie seems to be feeling a lot emotionally…betrayed by the man she loves…

STAY TUNED!

The Carter/Lexie face-off  is coming up!

Happy Weekend!

**I do not take credit for ANY of the images, gifs, or photo-shopped images

used, all belong to their rightful owners!**

-<3-