Chapter 151: A Time With Alexander
For the next few hours, Alexander drilled the art of turning, navigating, and spatial awareness into her head. He was a patient teacher, but he didn’t hold back on the details.
"Watch your mirrors as you enter the bend, April," he’d say, leaning back but keeping a sharp eye on her hands. "Don’t just look at what’s right in front of the bumper. Look where you want to go, and let your hands naturally follow your eyes."
Whenever she executed a smooth, flawless curve around the fountain in the courtyard, he’d offer a bright, genuine smile. "Excellent. You’ve got a natural feel for the weight of this thing."
April didn’t verbally respond to his praises, though she soaked in every bit of his advice like a sponge.
She didn’t want to waste time on small talk when she could be mastering the vehicle. She wanted to know the exact friction limits of the tires, how the weight shifted when she tapped the brakes, and how to thread the massive Jeep through the narrowest stone pathways without scraping the sides. Her silence wasn’t a lack of interest; it was sheer, quiet determination.
Around midday, the engine sputtered and died. The beast had officially run out of gas.
"Well," Alexander chuckled, checking his watch. "Looks like the Jeep decided it’s lunch break."
They climbed down, but instead of having to call for a delivery or wait for a driver to fetch fuel, Alexander discovered several gallons of gasoline neatly stacked in the corner of the garage.
He stared at the fuel reserves, a look of mild bewilderment on his face. "Did you have these prepared beforehand?"
"No," April said simply. "But I think Mr. Reed has the garage full for convenience sake."
Alexander shook his head, a mixture of amusement and curiosity swirling in his eyes. He hadn’t thought of that for his own rides, but he should probably emulate Xavier Reed and start stacking up his garage.
His garage wouldn’t be the only thing he needed to stack though. He would need to fill an entire warehouse with gasoline just so he could keep driving his cars around the yard when he got bored of staying inside once the apocalypse hit.
But then again, as he stared at the gallons, he began to wonder if he should be worrying more about himself than the fact that she may get sore from overworking herself on the wheels. But he quickly brushed the thought aside. He was thoroughly enjoying his time with her.
During their lunch break in the shade of the veranda, the quiet, intense atmosphere of the driving lesson completely dissolved. To Alexander’s delight, April became surprisingly active in the conversation. The trigger? Winecraft.
"I actually downloaded it after our last session," Alexander admitted, pulling out his phone with a sheepish grin. "But I keep getting overrun by monsters the moment night falls. What’s the trick to securing a perimeter early?"
April’s eyes practically lit up. "I’m glad you asked," she tilted up her non existent glasses. "You came to the right place, Alexander."
And for the next hour, she walked him through the most efficient resource loops, detailing different defensive building styles, and debating the merits of stone walls versus iron barricades.
She talked about the game with a genuine, infectious enthusiasm that made Alexander laugh. It was a stark, fascinating contrast to the quiet woman who had spent the morning ruthlessly conquering Xavier’s courtyard turns.
Once lunch was over, they headed back to the Jeep. The moment her hand touched the steering wheel, the casual gamer vanished, replaced instantly by that strict, unwavering focus.
This time, Alexander barely had to say a word. April moved the vehicle with a newfound confidence. She instinctively checked her blind spots, anticipated the tight corners of the estate’s winding roads, and handled the braking with smooth, practiced ease.
She didn’t start accelerating to high speeds yet—there was no need to push the engine in a courtyard—but she had officially gotten all the basics down.
Normally, the next step would be taking the vehicle out onto a busy public road to test her skills in real traffic. But April had absolutely no intention of doing that. Why on earth would she bother learning traffic laws and dealing with angry commuters when the entire system was going to collapse in a matter of weeks?
Out in the wasteland, there would be no stop signs, no speed limits, and no traffic police. There would only be the road, the broken down vehicle and probably a child’s missing blood-dirty shoe. Well, she wouldn’t get to see it because she would be home the whole time.
She just wanted to practice driving so she could at least be able to take herself for a spin around her huge compound.
By the time the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in deep shades of orange and violet, they finally called it a day.
They retreated to the villa’s spacious, modern lounge to cool off.
April sat on the plush sofa, her muscles admittedly tight and aching from the hours of holding the wheel, though she felt a deep sense of accomplishment.
She and Alexander chatted casually, occasionally pulling up their phones to compare their Winecraft progress and playing a few quick rounds of a mobile co-op game.
It was a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere, the sound of their light laughter and casual banter filling the high-ceilinged room.
Alexander would sometimes pause to stare at her. The way her lips as they curved, the way her eyes lit in excitement. This was so very unlike her. Who knew the game would make her this excited? He was worried she would find it a nuisance once he started bothering her about his gaming progress but it was the contrary, and he was so glad he took up the game.
Just then, the front glass doors of the villa opened, and the calm, commanding presence of Xavier Reed stepped into the entryway, returning from his day at the office.
Xavier stopped at the threshold of the lounge, his dark eyes instantly taking in the scene.
He looked at the two of them—lounging comfortably on the sofa, their shoulders nearly touching as they laughed over their phones, the warm evening light casting a soft, peaceful glow over the room.
His gaze lingered on Alexander’s relaxed posture, then shifted to April’s face, catching the residual traces of a rare, genuine smile that was already beginning to fade now that he had entered.
Xavier’s expression remained perfectly unreadable, a polished mask of corporate composure.
He didn’t say a word asking how the driving lessons went, or about the silver sports car parked outside, or the cozy atmosphere he had just interrupted.
He simply gave them a polite, curt nod of acknowledgment and then turned toward the grand staircase.
Samuel followed a step behind him, carrying a heavy leather briefcase and keeping his head respectfully low after giving a nod at April as well.
But just as Xavier reached the top of the stairs, he paused.
He didn’t turn around, keeping his back to the lounge as his deep, smooth voice carried effortlessly down the open foyer.
"Miss April," Xavier called out, his tone entirely professional, yet carrying a cold, quiet weight that cut through the lingering warmth of the room. "Samuel will be free starting tomorrow. You are welcome to continue utilizing his services to hoard more of your... supplies."
Without waiting for her reply, he stepped onto the upper landing and disappeared down the hallway, Samuel quietly trailing in his wake.