Alexa
Good morning, Alexa. I said to my reflection in the mirror.
It's my day off, so I'm going to lie around all day, eating yummy treats and watching melodrama. I love my weekends. I've even completely forgotten about my novel, especially since I have no chance of getting it published anyway.
Last night was a very exciting evening for me. But Arthur's behavior made me a little uncomfortable. Or rather, the way he looked at me, my legs, my figure. It was as if he wanted me. Yes, he himself admitted that he was attracted to me. But he would never cross that line, never ruin our friendship.
Suddenly, the phone rang.
"Hey, Alex, how are you?"
"Good, how are you?"
"Me too, listen, I'll be passing through your neighborhood and I'd like to come over, we need to talk."
"Okay, what would we talk about?"
"You'll know when I get there," he answered and hung up.
I wonder what he wants to tell me? Well, I'm going to take a shower.
About ten minutes passed when suddenly there was a knock on the door. I quickly strapped on a towel to open it, I didn't have time to change.
"Hello, Arthur. You didn't even let me shower in peace. What was so urgent?"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your shower routine. But it's really urgent."
"I'll just sit down and you can get dressed."
"Come on, I'm not naked in front of you, I'm wearing a towel. Am I making you uncomfortable?"
"No."
"So what did you want to talk to me about?"
"Why don't you offer me a drink first?"
"Arthur, I don't keep alcoholic beverages in the house, so I can only offer you juice or mineral water."
"I'll settle for juice."
"Okay," I took a carton of juice from the table and poured it into his glass. He acted very strange to me.
" Here," I handed it to him, and he immediately took a few sips.
"I almost read your novel. And I'll tell you one thing - it's a brain blast. I've never read anything like that in my life."
"What's that supposed to mean? Did you like it or not?"
"Of course I liked it. I loved it, especially your fantasies."
"They're just fantasies, nothing personal and nothing to do with me."
"Well, yes, fantasies, only very vivid and stirring."
"Is that what you wanted to talk about? My fantasies?"
"No, that's not what I came to talk about. I think I know someone who can help you with the money to publish it."
"I wonder who the philanthropist is? Who can give me money without asking for a refund?"
"That would be me."
"Seriously? Did you think long and hard before proposing it to me?"
"A long time," I said in all seriousness.
"It's not funny, Arthur."
"I'm not joking. You and I are friends, and friends are supposed to help each other."
"What are you up to?" I wondered with utter bewilderment, for in fact his words seemed strange to me.
"You're my friend, I've never hit on you, and I didn't want more from you, right?"
"Yeah, what's your point?"
He didn't answer but came up behind me and hugged me gently.
"Alex, I want you and I to live out all your fantasies in the novel to the smallest detail. To live out their feelings and emotions. Especially the sex scenes," Arthur ran his fingers over my bare shoulder, and I shuddered.
"That's what you want, isn't it? You want to be Christine, to be a defenseless, helpless toy in Hartman's hands? You want to experience every feeling and emotion, don't you?"
"Stop it, Arthur."
"But why? Why would you deny yourself that pleasure?"
"My novel is about a murderer and a criminal psychologist, there's no way you can try it on. So don't even try it."
"You don't think I could do a killer for that kind of fun? I'd do anything for that. I can't even imagine what it would be like."
"Arthur, that's not the point. This isn't right. It's all stupid, after all!"
"What is it, then, Alex? Anyway, it's up to you. If you agree, I'll transfer the money into your account, and it will give you the opportunity to publish your book in the world's best publishing house."
"You're talking down to the last detail? But my heroine dies at the end. Are you going to kill me?" I looked at him with fear in my eyes.
"Yes, you will become famous posthumously."
"You are not normal. I'm sorry I let you read it," I wanted to get as far away from him as possible, but he wouldn't let me.
"Where are you running away from me? You have no way out anyway, Christine," oh no, he was speaking in the words of my heroine!
"Isn't that how you described her words in the novel? He grabbed me and pinned me against the wall with his hard body."
"I don't want to, I won't agree to it, let me go," I kept wrenching away.
"You're lying. You're afraid I can make you feel all the things you described so beautifully in your novel, the things you so desperately dream about, the things you want so badly, but you're afraid to admit it to yourself."
In a way, he was right.  He's good-looking and sexy, and I'm sure he's good at that, too. But I am afraid of him, of the possible attachment to him after all, because initially there is a sexual dependence on the partner, which then willfully turns into emotional attachment and love. Namely, that light and unearthly feeling - love.
"So that's your answer?" He asked, clasping my hair in a fist and pulling my head toward him.
"Come on, you're not a little girl, so don't act like one. You're beautiful in any clothes, even a towel. But it would be interesting to see you without it, started pulling the knot, trying to expose my breasts."
"Arthur, let me go. Why don't you forget everything I described and just give me the flash drive with the novel," I pleaded, covering myself with my hands.
"No, Alexa, I don't, I want the other thing, I want you."
"I don't want your help, let me go."
" Alexa, you're really something! Did you believe it? Do you believe that I'm capable of this? "
"Yes, I believed it."
"Oh, come on! It was a joke. You don't get jokes at all."
"You're such an idiot, Arthur!"
"Alexa, calm down."
"Stay away from me. Go away now, go away," I started yelling at him because he made me so angry! What - he just pissed me off with his idiotic outing, which he thought was fun.
"Come on. See, I can have a good imagination, too. I can be a good actor, too."
"I get it, but don't joke around like that anymore," she asked her best friend, already calmer.
"I really want to help you with the money."
"I'll take your help, but you really hurt me. You can not joke like that."
"Okay, I have to go now. I hope you'll forgive me, though, and I'll see you later," he added before I opened the door and let him out.