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Obsidian - Chapter 2

Without question, it could be said that Mia Hastings was a morning person. She liked to wake up strictly before the sun rose as it gave her a feeling of confidence, like she had the upper hand on the massive ball of plasma. So, she was up and about at around 5:30 am.

Now, to say her apartment was a shit-hole, as she liked to describe it, would be a massive overstatement, especially in a place like New York and in a neighborhood like Tribeca.

However, when you grow up in an acre-sized property and are part of the über-rich 2% of the world population, anything aside from that would be a definite downgrade; Despite the circumstances, Mia wasn’t particularly snobby but rather not accustomed. When you have it all handed to you, and suddenly you have to fend for yourself, it can be a bit of a trainwreck.

So she gagged as the fork left her mouth, getting a good taste of the scrambled eggs she had just finished cooking minutes ago. She sighed, giving up on her cooking journey and grabbing some yogurt instead.

"How can you mess up scrambled eggs?" she thought, letting out a big sigh.

After the punch that the small setback had made in her ego and in the confidence juice she had for the day, she decided to go somewhere where she had more reign - her closet.

A strapless leather-like corset, a long purposely worn-out denim skirt with a side slit–obviously, long black high-heeled boots, bracelets, earrings, rings, an obnoxiously expensive diamond-encrusted Patek Philippe watch, which she never took off, and the most ridiculously small black handbag you can imagine. Her hair, always down and in contained chaos, and her makeup subtle but visible.

Beauty always came naturally to Mia, effortlessly weaving through her life much like the privileges that accompanied her affluent background. While she, like any human, had her share of awkward years during her formative phase, her journey through adolescence was marked by a transformation akin to an unfolding flower. Mia's appearance seemed to defy the usual struggles of self-discovery, as if the art of looking good was engraved into her very being.

Her features, meticulously curated and showcased, reflected a careful grooming that hinted at a certain artistry. It was not just about wearing the right clothes or applying the perfect makeup; it was an intuitive sense of what complemented her unique attributes and emotions. Mia exuded an air of confidence, born not only from her upbringing but from an innate understanding of her physical self.

Content and playfully admiring herself in the mirror, Mia's excitement bubbled over, prompting her to almost leap from her room to the living room couch. The plush, dark-green velvet-like sofa, large enough to accommodate five people, embraced her with its inviting comfort.

A plan formulated in her mind as she dialed the familiar number on her phone, watching the also familiar name on the screen. She had decided that she didn’t want to abide by all of her father's rules and was determined to find a workaround. So, she was ideating an escape plan or something that could buy her more time - or buy her anything, for that matter.

“You realize it’s fucking early, you psycho?” a groggy voice answered on the other side of the line.

“Hi Benny,” Mia replied, unconsciously smiling at her brother’s voice.

The Hastings family tree was a bit tangled and extensive, not worth getting into at the moment. But one thing could be said: Mia loved her older brothers, Benjamin and Sebastian, twins, in that order.

She would say she liked Ben better, as he was less prone to lecturing her and giving her a hard time, but, in truth, she loved them both equally — even if they didn’t share the same mother, as she didn’t with any of her other siblings.

“A curse or a blessing?” She would often think.

“Hey, doll,” Benjamin said, his voice a little muted on the phone. “What’s cracking?”

“No one says that anymore,” she pointed out, rolling her eyes. “And it’s not that early, anyway.” She quickly glanced at her watch, her eyes widening as she realized it was indeed quite late, or she was about to be quite late.

“Hey, I need a favor,” Mia continued, unconsciously rolling a piece of her hair on her finger.

She heard some movement on the other side of the line, as if Benjamin was getting out of bed—or in, she couldn’t tell. Then, a big sigh.

“Mia, my hands are tied,” he finally spoke. His tone was soft, loving, and ultimately, apologetic.

“I haven’t even told you yet,” she protested, her brows furrowing.

“Dad… you know how he is. I can’t help you much,” he said. Mia held back the impulse to hang up the phone, not wanting to let her anger control her actions.

“Benjamin, you don’t know how it is. He is—he—I need some money,” Mia left out, practically whining. “Ben, I’m dead serious.”

There was a pause on the other side of the line, and she felt the now-usual frustration growing in on her.

“Listen, I’ll go visit you soon. I can’t fight dad on this; he is… really angry,” Benjamin spoke.

“I don’t want you to visit,” Mia quickly replied, and quickly regretted. She sighed out loudly. “I’m sorry, I do want you to. I just, I can’t even use the cards,” Mia continued.

“I know, it’s fucked up. Just give him time; he’ll come around. I’m sure of it,” he said, trying to give some reassurance to his sister, even if he didn’t fully believe it.

“He won’t, he’s the devil,” she said, and she heard Benjamin audibly laugh.

“Hang in there. I’ll try to talk to him, alright?” he added.

“Thank you, Ben.” Mia let out. “Could you at least send me an Uber or something? I’m late to work.”

"An Uber? Late to work?" He responded, the surprise evident in his voice. Mia could almost tell he was raising an eyebrow as he spoke.

"Yes, stupid. That's my life now. Can you?" She said, her cheeks growing hot as she grew tired of giving explanations, and it was only the start of the goddamn day.

He reluctantly agreed, unsure of how to even use the app. When he finally did, Mia got inside the small vehicle and, to the surprise of no one, arrived at the giant building thirty minutes late.

She entered with ease, took the elevator, and clicked the heels of her boots into the floor as she walked through the busy room towards her workstation. There, she was quickly greeted by none other than the handmaid of the devil, as she now liked to refer to her.

"Late again, Amelia," Mia quickly said, interrupting the older woman as she opened her mouth to speak. "I know, I got caught up with something..."

She received a glare from Miranda and a subtle eye-twitch – she resisted the urge to smile.

"You come in here early and you leave late. Is that clear? Filming starts in two weeks, and we need to sort out all of the wardrobe. Zak's waiting for you in the fitting rooms," Miranda spoke, her tone never failing to make Mia's skin crawl, as if she was purposefully wanting her to feel like a useless worm. Mia fought the urge to roll her eyes and simply crossed her arms, concentrating on keeping her big mouth shut for once.

"Fourth floor, room 3," Miranda continued, her voice now louder as she failed to get any kind of response from Mia.

Mia threw her arms in the air, turned around managing not to say anything, and started walking towards the elevator.

"And we'll talk about the dress code later," she heard Miranda say in the distance.

"Dress code?" Mia pondered as she walked into the elevator. The last thing she needed was this little piece of freedom taken away, especially for some simpleton outfit that she wouldn't like at all. She refused in her head. No dress code.

"There you are, my little polished diamond." Zak stretched his arms out toward her, and Mia felt his warm embrace around her as he affectionately wrapped her in a hug.

"Sorry I'm late," Mia replied, still in his arms.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," he joked, his green eyes lighter in the daylight.

"I'm so hungover; it's sickening," Zak continued, now plunging himself into a chair and throwing his head back. "And we have so much to do today." He whined at Mia.

In a different scenario, Mia could've soaked in the experience with much more relish. While not well-versed in the intricacies of filmmaking, the world of crafting clothes was a familiar embrace for her. She found a peculiar liking for her father's brand, despite its undeniable connection to him. The designs, fabrics, and meticulous attention to detail spoke to her, creating a bond that stretched beyond mere family connections.

Yet, Mia had a knack for shelving her emotions. She swiftly redirected her thoughts, honing in on the challenges and prospects awaiting her in the day ahead. The vibrant atmosphere of the film set was becoming almost like a refuge, providing a momentary escape from the intricate web of her personal life.

Similarly, a wave of uncertainty coursed through Alexander's veins. While no stranger to the silver screen, this marked his debut as a producer. The dynamics were shifting; earning money differed from investing it, especially in a project of such magnitude. Insecurity wasn't a familiar companion for him, nor did the prospect of financial matters typically ruffled his feathers. Wealth, after all these years, was a resource he possessed abundantly.

However, this venture held a unique significance. It wasn't just about capital; it was about aspiration and the desire for a successful outcome. Alexander had poured time and effort into the pre-production phase, meticulously overseeing every detail. As he juggled also learning his lines for the role he'd play in the film, he extended the invitation to some close friends to join the project. Their presence, familiar and comforting, served as a constant morale booster.

A faint smile played on his lips as he observed Joel engrossed in studying his script. The tranquility of the moment shattered when the abrupt sound of a cup meeting the table echoed through the room.

"This jet lag is killing me. Can we go get a refill?" Joel sighed, gently placing the papers next to the table and standing up from his chair.

The Swedish actor, also a close friend to Alexander, stood just shy of 6'2, shorter than him, yet his distinct frame seemed to occupy more space in the room. His hazel eyes fixed on his older friend.

"Alex?" he called, breaking Alexander from his thoughts. Alexander looked at him, realizing he had missed part of the conversation. Furrowing his brows, he leaned forward, attempting to concentrate on what Joel had just said.

"Coffee run?" Joel asked again.

"Definitely," Alexander replied, feeling fatigued from the lack of sleep of the previous night.

His long strides made almost no sound against the polished concrete floors as he walked side by side with Joel towards the break room.

The room exuded a dim ambiance, adorned with golden industrial lights hanging from the ceiling. Along the back wall, a long carved wood bar was the centerpiece, complemented by recessed lighting illuminating it from the floor. An array of cups, coffee machines, and additives were enticingly on display.

Moving toward the bar, Alexander was greeted by a delightful sight. Standing at the wooden bar was Mia, accompanied by Zak, the head of the costume department. Alexander stopped just shy of her, the desire to reach out and touch almost overwhelming.

As Mia spun around, laughing at something Zak had just said, she bumped into Alexander. His large hand swiftly clutched her forearm, preventing her from spilling her drink. Her eyes traveled up his well-built chest, meeting his gaze.

"Careful there," he cautioned, his voice resonating with a delicious deep tone that momentarily left Mia speechless. Nodding in a daze, she couldn't find words. He looked incredibly good, donned in a casual black sweater and jeans, sleeves rolled up to reveal his smooth skin. Realizing his hand lingered a bit too long, Alexander pulled away.

Joel, catching Alexander's gaze fixed on Mia, raised his eyebrows at the unexpected behavior of his usually more reserved friend.

"Oh, hi," Zak greeted, giving the two of them an appreciative glance. "If this isn't my lucky day," he added with a playful smirk, earning a laugh from Joel.

"Hey, Mia. I had the chance to work my magic on this one during fittings earlier. Meet Joel," Zak introduced with a smile. "And this one, you already met yesterday. You were on your knees, if I remember correctly."

Following Joel's laughter, Alexander noticed Mia's lack of hesitation in response to Zak's comment. The image stirred a reaction in him, making him look away with a chuckle, trying to dispel the suggestive thoughts.

"Hi. Mia," she greeted the pair, deliberately avoiding exclusive eye contact with Alexander. He couldn't help but notice her soft lips curving as she spoke, and his eyes were drawn to the mesmerizing movement of her long earrings, casting subtle flashes of light. Almost unconsciously, his gaze traveled down her neck, appreciating the way her outfit sculpted her body perfectly. He fought to look away, once again. Observing Joel's subtle glance as well, Alexander frowned.

"Nice to finally meet you, Mia," he said, his eyes fixed on her, savoring the natural way her name sounded on his lips. Mia felt her heartbeat quicken, yet she stood confidently, not shying away from the attention, maintaining a composed exterior despite feeling like a total wreck inside.

"Long day ahead?" Joel asked, gesturing toward the two very-full cups of coffee Zak and Mia were holding.

"God, tell me about it," Zak replied, rolling his eyes and appearing somewhat annoyed. "You actors got it easy, I swear."

Alexander's smile widened.

"Are you an actor as well?" Joel inquired, his eyes fixed on Mia, who couldn't help but notice how pretty his hazel eyes were.

"Oh no, I'm on wardrobe—kind of," Mia replied, shrugging and furrowing her brows a bit as she spoke.

"Kind of?" Alexander humored, now intrigued.

He stretched his arm to grab a cup from behind her, leaning towards her and closing the distance between them. Not too close to make her uncomfortable, but near enough to catch the scent of her sweet perfume. After a moment, she stepped aside, clearing up space to let him prepare his drink, keenly observing his swift movements.

"Yeah, it's complicated," she paused. "But I guess I'm on wardrobe."

"Mhm," Alexander hummed, his eyebrows pressed together and a slight smirk on his face. Mia bit her lip, almost instinctively, her back pressed into the wooden bar, as she took a good look at the tall man standing close to her.

"Ah, we gotta get going," Zak interrupted, holding his wrist close to his eyes as a notification came in through his smart-watch. "But we'll see each other..." he paused to think. "At four? I think the meeting's at four, we'll see." He started to walk, gesturing towards Mia to follow along.

"It was nice meeting you," she softly said, and Alexander fought the urge to devour her right then and there. Her gentle voice echoed through his head. Mia offered Joel a warm smile, and then her eyes fixed on Alexander, who was already looking at her.

"It was nice meeting you too, Mia from wardrobe—kind of," Alexander spoke, grinning. She chuckled, and he thought it was magnificent. He then really struggled not to turn around as he heard her walk away with Zak.

"What the hell was that all about?" Joel inquired as soon as they were out of hearing range, poking at his friend.

"What was what about?" Alexander asked, taking a sip of his hot coffee.

"That," Joel replied, motioning towards the door where Mia passed seconds ago, a mocking smile on his face.

"Oh, shut up, totally unprofessional" Alexander rolled his eyes, brushing it off and half-smiling.

"Mhm," Joel continued. "If I didn't know you any better..."

"Uh-huh, if I didn't know you any better..." Alexander replied, and Joel shook his head, laughing, raising his left hand to show the ring he wore.

“Happily married, I’m afraid,” he said, smirking.

“Well, I’m happily single,” Alexander replied.

“I’m sure,” Joel teased. “I’m sure of it.”

“I truly am,” he replied, smiling but getting a bit defensive, having had this same conversation several times.

“What about the girl you were seeing, the one from London?” Joel inquired, also taking a sip of his coffee.

“Same old. It didn’t work out,” Alexander said, with a stoic expression.

But Joel knew better, knew him better. Alexander was probably the most centered person he had ever met, with a good family life and upbringing, and the dashing shine of fame hadn’t really affected him at all. However, if he had one flaw, it would be that he never stayed long enough to allow himself to fully experience intimacy and attachment with anyone.

There was this one girl, a long time ago, but it didn’t work out in the end, as he liked to say. Joel would often think that he really didn’t want to make it work, that maybe he hadn’t met the right person yet.

Joel raised his hands, giving up on the subject, and the pair went back to their secluded room.

Mia sighed in her workstation, once again left alone and managing order. Miranda had denied her entry to the famed meeting, despite Zak's suggestion that it would benefit her to start getting involved. Cursing Miranda a million times, Mia remained at her desk, matching polaroids to folders and organizing lookbooks for future reference.

As she held a photo closer to her eyes, the becoming familiar frame of Alexander caught her attention. He looked hot; there was no other way to describe it. Against a regular white backdrop, he sported military black pants, no shirt. Mia took her sweet time analyzing every detail of his well-built torso. Almost in auto-pilot, she carefully taped the photo to his folder, brushing her finger along his name.

From a young age, perhaps too young in her opinion, Mia had been aware of the effect she had on the male species. She noticed how they stumbled over their words, exchanged meaningful glances, and struggled to hold her gaze. Their eyes often wandered into the curves of her body. While she found it somewhat disgusting most of the time, she also enjoyed the knowledge that she held some kind of power over them. Right now, she yearned for that power over this particular man. For one of the first times in her life, she wanted to feel desired by him.

She heard the commotion of people leaving the conference room, and though she couldn't see clearly, she guessed the meeting was over when Zak approached her while talking to Sophie, co-head of set design, and Jeremy. A chuckle escaped her when Zak gave her a look, motioning towards the latter.

“Yeah, just planning and boring people talking,” Zak finally said upon reaching her. “You didn’t miss anything important.”

“This wasn’t so much fun either,” Mia replied, smiling.

“Yuck, I know,” he rolled his eyes. “Let’s go, we’ll cry about it tomorrow,” he motioned towards the exit.

“I… actually think I’ll stay a bit to finish this. Miranda will kill me if I don’t.”

Zak raised an eyebrow, hesitating for a moment.

“Look at you, being an obedient little mouse. Who knew…” he teased.

“Shut up,” Mia chuckled. “Maybe she’ll let me join the other meetings.”

“You know you’re kind of her boss, right? Since you own the company she works for,” he said.

“I don’t think I’m in a favorable position right now,” Mia replied, pressing her palms on the table, frustrated.

“Well, suit yourself, doll. But don’t stay too late, okay?” he said, a slight drop of concern in his voice.

“Yeah, yeah,” Mia brushed off as she continued with her tasks.

It was considerably late when Mia finally finished her work, even though a good chunk of the extra time was spent on her phone, a subtle act of protest, she thought. Putting her phone in her purse, she turned off the small lamp and made her way toward the elevator, impatiently pressing the button six times.

“Leaving?” a voice from behind made her jump. She turned to see Alexander.

“Sorry,” he quickly added, chuckling.

“It’s fine,” Mia replied, offering him a comforting smile. “Yeah, they totally exploit me, working hard, all of that.”

And Alexander thought of a few ways he could exploit her.

The elevator doors opened with a loud sound, and Mia stepped in, followed by the tall man. He pressed -1, and she pressed 0.

Alexander furrowed his brows, noticing she wasn’t headed to the underground parking.

“Are you taking a cab home?” He inquired, almost unconsciously.

Mia looked at him, confused.

“Yeah, I think so.”

“Mhm,” Alexander hummed. “You’re not from around here, are you?” He grinned, his eyes holding her gaze. He laughed at her confused expression.

“You can't really be walking around the city with a watch like that,” Alexander added, gesturing towards Mia’s wrist.

“Oh,” she said, realizing he was probably right. “I hadn’t thought about it.”

Alexander stretched his arm to press the button to close the doors as soon as they opened on the ground floor.

“I’ll take you home,” he said, more as a statement than as a question.

“That’s really not necessary,” Mia started, but Alexander gave her a stern look that made her snap her mouth shut instantly, an uncommon occurrence for her.

“It’s not a problem,” he added, smiling.

There was something about elevators—the noise, the limited space, God knows what—that always seemed to multiply and elevate sexual tension to the max. And God, was there tension. They stepped outside onto the parking space, and their arms brushed together as they did so, perhaps for less than a few seconds but enough to make Mia shiver. He didn’t seem to notice.

“So, why are you here so late?” Mia asked, the sound of her heels resonating in the almost empty space. “Are you having a secret affair or something?” She teased, wanting to see his reaction.

“No affairs,” he added, his lips curved into a half-smile. “I’m also a producer, so I had to stay a bit later."

“Oh, so you’re one of the big bosses,” Mia added, playfully looking at him through her lashes, testing him.

He nodded with a subtle grin on his face and started walking towards a shiny, black, Aston Martin parked up against a reserved space. He took note of how Mia didn’t even flinch when she saw the expensive car, and he started to put 2 + 2 together in his head—no reaction, the expensive watch, the way she carried herself—and it intrigued him a lot.

He unlocked it, pulling open the passenger side door for her, then grabbed her hand, easing her into the seat—taking a good and hard look at her full cleavage while she entered, before walking around to the other side, silently thanking whichever higher power for a second to breathe and clear his head.

“This girl,” he thought, shaking his head.

After she gave him her address, the car took off. Alexander didn’t need GPS, knowing the city well enough to navigate the streets with ease. He drove with one hand, palm pressed to the wheel, guiding it smoothly as they traveled through the city.

Mia nibbled on her lip, peeking at him out of the corner of her eye. Alexander’s right hand rested on his lap, violently wanting to be on hers.

“So… where are you from?” Alexander broke the ice—or the tension—taking a quick glance at her, and her bare shoulders.

“Seattle, I guess,” she replied, hesitant.

“I guess—kind of,” Alexander laughed. “You’re being very mysterious, you know that?”

Mia laughed, her eyes fixed on the way Alexander’s face changed completely as he smiled, like a beam of light illuminated him from within.

“Sorry—”

“It’s complicated,” he interrupted, teasing.

Mia hummed, and her lips curved into a smile.

“I was born there, and my family is from there, but I spent a lot of time abroad at a boarding school,” she began, surprising Alexander with her sudden honesty and openness. “And… My father got me this job, so I’m not sure of where I fit.” Mia added before giving him time to ask more questions.

He raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders.

“Ah, good old nepotism,” he paused, taking a moment to look at her. “My dad got me a bunch of jobs as well; he was an established actor before me.”

“Well, my case is the other way around. He got me this as a punishment of sorts,” she complained, and Alexander almost melted at the sweet way she pouted. Then he chuckled.

“How come?” he inquired.

Mia hesitated for a moment, not wanting to get into the subject. She had an objective, after all, and it had nothing to do with her personal life. She had this obscene tendency to overshare and hadn’t noticed she had been feeding him more than she wanted.

“Okay, okay, too much about me,” she said, leaning closer to him, resting one of her elbows on the center console of the car. Alexander tensed up at the sudden closeness but kept his stoic expression, making Mia fight the urge to roll her eyes. Was he being hard to get, or was he just not interested in her?

“I want to know about the famous actor in front of me,” she said intently.

Alexander tightened his grip on the steering wheel and let out a hefty sigh, a subtle smirk playing on his face.

“I’ll bore you to death,” he replied, his tone lighthearted.

“Well, then no more information about me,” she said, sitting back in her seat. Her hand brushed against Alexander’s knee as she adjusted, causing him to catch his breath.

“That’s a shame,” he responded.

Peeking at her, he noticed she was trying to suppress a smile, gazing out the window. Instantly, he felt more at ease and confident. The car glided smoothly, hugging the sidewalk in front of her building. The air felt tense with anticipation.

Mia’s mind raced, pondering what to say.

“Thank you,” she said, turning to lean on her side against the seat. “for the ride." She continued, “It was very kind of you.”

“My pleasure. Are you okay getting in?” Alexander's tone was serious, genuinely concerned for her safety.

Delving into her small purse, she pulled out her keys and jingled them in front of his face. He nodded. “Good.”

“Well, drive safe.” She smiled, leaned over, and planted a kiss on his scruffy cheek, dangerously close to his lips. “Goodnight, Alexander.”

His lips curled up at the sound of his name from her lips, and he had to physically restrain himself from reacting.

“Goodnight, Mia.”

He leaned down slightly to watch her enter her building, not looking away until she got inside safely. He would’ve walked her to her door, but he was worried it’d seem like he was trying to sleep with her. As bad as he wanted to, he thought it would be unprofessional.

As soon as her door closed, he slammed his head back into the seat and let out a groan. Pulling away from the sidewalk, he sped the whole way home.

------------------------------------------------- Notes: I'll probably go back and edit a couple of things but I wanted to post this today cause I'll be traveling this weekend and it's been long enough already lol love y'all CC: @differentcatcat

#alexander skarsgard #alexander skarsgard fanfic #alexander skarsgard smut #obsidian fanfic #skarsgard

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