REYNOLDS ✔️

CHAPTER 1

Alexander was alone in his home. Eliza and Phillip were still upstate with Angelica. Alexander was exhausted. It was as if his mind has been separated from his body. He couldn't keep his eyes open. He stared at the papers scattered across his desk, he did a lot this week, but he couldn't help but feel that it wasn't enough. He felt weak and he wanted to fall asleep, but he knew couldn't, he had to finish these essays. John Jay and James Madison were depending on him. He placed his elbows on his desk and placed his head in his hands. After a few minutes of him staring into space, he heard a knock. He got up and answered the door, and to his surprise it was her, it was Maria. She looked distressed and she was anxious about something.
"Maria-"
"Um, hi, can I come in?" She constantly kept turning around, as if someone was following her.
"Um yeah, sure." Alexander said, a bit hesitantly. Maria quickly closed the door behind her. She then looked outside the window, she kept moving back and forth, back and forth. Alexander couldn't help but notice, he couldn't help but wonder why she was here.
"Maria, are you all right?" He watches her pace across his foyer, her hand on her blood red lips. It takes her a minute to stop pacing and answer him.
"Can I tell you something?" She looked at Alexander, their eyes locked.
"Sure." He replies, then crossing his arms. Maria walked over to the couch that was nearby. "May I?" She asked. 

"Of course."  

"The reason I was crying when you saw me last, wasn't because of some fight I had with my husband, we have those all the time, but sometimes...it escalates." She paused, tears forming in her eyes.She took a deep breath before she continued. "He got so angry, he started pushing me, but then the pushing turns to hitting." Alexander was shocked, he couldn't understand why a husband would do that to his wife. He could see that it was hurting her to tell him about it. It hurt his heart. It was as if she was reliving the memory as she told the story. "But this time, this time...I was scared for my life. He was going to kill me." She looked at Alexander as she spoke tears rolling down her cheeks, and onto her hands. She looked away from him and began to sob. Alexander went over to comfort her.
"Maria, I'm so sorry to hear this." He sits down next to her and hands her a tissue.

"I don't need you're pity sir, I'm used too it." She says wiping her tears. 

"You shouldn't have to "get used too it."" He looked at her with genuine concern. Their was a moment of silence, Alexander and Maria looked at each other as if they were having a conversation with their eyes.

"I'm sorry for barging in," She broke the awkward gaze. "I didn't know who else to turn too. You gave me your address if needed anything and you happened to live right by me, so I just thought-"
"No it's fine. I wasn't actually expecting you to come. But I am here whenever you need help."
She smiled at Alexander, this made him blush a little. Maria knew that it was time to lure him in. As much as she didn't want to, she knew had to, for her son.
"Alexander, you're very kind for letting me into your home. Most people wouldn't let a poor, abused woman, like me into their houses." She flipped her hair seductively, showing off the curve of her neck. Alexander gulped and couldn't help but stare. Her whole demeanor changed in a split second. He felt that the sweet innocent woman he just met, wasn't who he thought she was. 
"Yeah, I mean who wouldn't." He said. She looked at him seductively, her lips slightly parted, her legs crossed, and purposefully showing off her chest and neck. Alexander knew he had to get out of this situation without being rude to the poor woman. He couldn't let his emotions take over. He had a wife and a son, he couldn't disappoint them.
"Maria, it's really getting late, maybe I should walk you home." He said.
"You're too kind sir." She stood up from the couch and walked over to the front door first. Her hips swaying as she walked, she looked so desirable to Alexander. So many thought were running through his mind.
"C'mon Alexander, this is the only chance you're going to get."
"No! You can't to this to Eliza, to Phillip.."
"Maybe just once-"
"Sir!" Maria said, making Alexander come back to reality.
"Are you alright?" She asked, her eyes full of worry.
"Oh I'm fine." He lied straight through his teeth. He knew what was going on, he didn't know how to avoid it.
They headed out the door, Maria's arm in his, they walk at the same pace. Alexander's heart is racing most out of fear, the rest out of exhilaration. They finally reached the house, and Alexander stopped at the door.
"Well goodnight Maria."
"Wait!" She stopped him.
"Come inside, just for a moment, my husband's not home. I can make you some tea, it's the least I can do." She says sweetly.
"Say no!" He says to himself.
"Okay sure."
"God dammit, what have I got myself into."