Stranded | Enemies to Forbidden Lovers ✔️

Chapter 28

I squint my eyes at him while he smiles. I inspect all of his features, "no, but looks can be deceiving. And besides men usually are the ones in the wrong."

He holds the bar table and laughs making me smile a small smile. There's a warmness about this man. Maybe he will be a good choice for tonight. "But seriously, who is this woman? Business meetings, that I know of, don't usually result in a shouting match. You and this women must be close."

He turns his full body to me and rests his head on his hand. His hair drops a bit over his face. "You're very curious? Are you a spy here trying to kill me? Because if you are, then I'm going to tell you it's not going to work out for you."

My eyebrow twitches, "what makes you think that? Is it because I'm a woman?"

He laughs and a tray of fries are placed between us. "I have you know I'm not saying you can't kick my ass because you're a woman. I'm saying it because you're like a stick. And with the wrong amount of pressure on your body, I could break you." A stick? That's what happens when you don't have the five food groups in your meals for a year. "Also, Ms.Whatever-your-name is. I am also a feminist and one of the best kinds."

I cock my eyebrow at his last statement. "The best kind? And what does that mean?"

"I treat women like human beings, who can do anything and even more than I can. I work alongside three capable women and I trust those women with my life."

"Hmm, sounds very feminist of you Jackson. And those women, you're meeting one of these ladies today at this bar?"

He picks up a fry and places it in his mouth. Slowly I watch him chew. When he swallows, I see him finally open his mouth. "Are you going to eat, Ms. Tequila shots?"

Just like that, he burst the tension. He's avoiding the question. "I have a name. Hell, you've probably seen me all over television as of late."

"Oh really? So you're a celebrity? Some type of actress. Maybe a Youtuber? I'm a big fan of this one guy he's name is Liam. I watch his videos everyday."

I scoff, has he not turned on a television? He hasn't seen me? The girl stranded on an island for a year? "No, no, I'm not. But, why I'm on television doesn't matter. My name is Alice."

"Alice...Alice," he repeats. I blush when I hear him say my name. It's slow as if he's putting the pieces together. "Your name sounds very familiar. I feel like I've heard it quite a few times or seen it at least."

"Maybe in your dreams," I joke.

He laughs a bit, "oh so it does seem like you have a sense of humor."

"I do, and a good one at that. I've just been having a bad year."

"Well? Elaborate? Come on, I've told you about my meeting with a scary woman and you've told me nothing about yourself."

"Well, I wouldn't have to if you just opened your phone."

He takes out his phone and I watch him. Instead of him beginning to scroll through his phone and seeing Joseph and I. He places his phone on the bar and eats another fry. "I don't want to stuff hear about you from the news. I'll rather hear about you from your mouth. So, Alice," his voice is low. "Why are you here in a hotel bar wearing a very tight dress, drinking your sorrows away?"

I don't know what it is about Jackson but I want to tell him. "Because I'm in love with a married man." He stops chewing and then swallows the half-chewed food in his mouth. He snorts and then laughs. "What? What's so funny?"

"Wow, Alice, wow. Try, having feelings for your dead bestfriend's fiancé."

"Wait! What?" He's in the same boat? Seems like loving a taken person is a common norm.