Chapter 38
Chapter Thirty-Eight
SIX WEEKS LATER
Emerson
Life was wonderful. Alex and I were wonderful. In fact, we were perfect. Was that possible? Yes. With Alex and me, it was. I was running some errands, thinking about him, missing him, and craving his kisses. Looking at my watch, I decided to pick up lunch, bring it to his office, and surprise him. After picking up some salads, I headed to his building. As the elevator doors opened, I stepped out and headed to his office. Apparently, his secretary, Olivia, must have been at lunch because she wasn’t at her desk. When I reached his office, I noticed the door was slightly open. As I was about ready to knock lightly, I saw him through the crack of the open door. My eyes widened, and my stomach fell sick with what I saw. He was locked in an embrace with Bella. The two of them, alone in his office, hugging, and not a quick hug, but a long embrace. My heart started pounding out of my chest, and my breathing was hard. Like a mad woman, I went to the stairwell and flew down thirty flights of stairs. Making it to the lobby, I ran out the front doors of the building and down the street to where I had parked my car. Once I was inside, uncontrollable tears streamed down my face. When I finally calmed down as much as I could, I drove home. My mind was a train wreck, and I needed to get a grip on myself.
When I arrived home, Jenna was in the kitchen. She could tell something was wrong the minute she turned and looked at me.
“Are you okay? What happened?”
Did I tell her? We had become very close since I moved back, and she trusted me with things she had never told anyone. I needed to talk to someone, so I sat at the island.
“I went to Alex’s office to bring him lunch and I found him in there in a tight embrace with Bella.”
“WHAT?!” she exclaimed.
I wiped my eyes as the tears started to fall again.
“Did he see you?”
I shook my head. “No. The door was only open a crack.”
“Emerson.” She took hold of my hands. “There’s a perfectly reasonable explanation. There has to be. Alex would never do that to you. He loves you so much. I have never seen him so happy.”
“I don’t know anymore.”
Parker was whining at me.
“Okay, stop right there. You’re jumping to conclusions. Once you ask him about it, he’ll tell you, and everything will be all right.”
“I’m not going to ask him about it. I’m going to wait and see if he tells me. If he doesn’t, that’s when the real trouble will start.”
“You’re overreacting. He’ll tell you. He would never keep anything from you.”
“Maybe. I don’t know. I’m going upstairs and lie down for a while before meeting Adam and his girlfriend at the club.”
“Can I get you anything?”
“Thanks, but no.” I got up from the stool, picked up Parker, and went upstairs.
I opened my eyes when I heard the bedroom door open, and Alex walked in.
“Hi, sweetheart. Are you okay?” He sat on the bed's edge and rubbed my back.
“Just a little tired.”
Parker went crazy and was jumping at him. He kissed my head, got up, and started changing out of his suit.
“How was your day?” I bravely asked.
“Shit. Total shit.”
I could tell something was bothering him.
“Why? What happened?” This was his opportunity to tell me.
“Just everything that could go wrong did. Nothing for you to worry about.”
Nothing for me to worry about? Was he serious? Was he not going to tell me? Strike one.
“Are you sure you feel well enough to go to the club's opening?”
“I’m fine. I’m going to take a shower.” I climbed out of bed.
“I’ll join you.” He smiled.
I put my hand up. “No. I started my period today.”
“Oh. Okay. I’ll go shower downstairs.”
He left the room, and I stepped into the shower. I couldn’t believe I had lied to him about my period. Just as I finished showering, he walked into the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. He was so fucking sexy with his ripped body and soaking wet hair, but the image I saw earlier was playing in my mind over and over like a bad movie.
“Didn’t you have your period two weeks ago?” he asked.
“What are you? The period keeper? Fuck, Alex. I can’t control when I have my periods.”
“Why the attitude, Em? I just asked a simple question, and your pills control your period. So obviously, something is wrong.”
“Yeah. Maybe something is.”
“You need to go see a doctor then.”
Oh my God! He wouldn’t stop. One little mistruth, and he made a huge deal out of it.
“I’ll call and make an appointment.”
He gave me a small smile and left the bathroom. As I put on my makeup, I decided to give him another chance to tell me about today.
“So, what happened today? I know you said it was nothing for me to worry about, but I would like to know.”
“Just business stuff, Emerson.”
Strike two.
He obviously wasn’t going to tell me, so I dropped it, for now. I finished getting ready and I could smell his damn cologne infiltrating the bedroom. Shit. Walking into the closet, I slipped into a black and white strapless sundress and had trouble zipping it up.
“Here, let me get that for you,” Alex spoke as he walked up behind me and zipped up my dress. His lips softly touched my bare shoulder.
“Thanks.”
“Are you ready? Traffic is a bitch at this time, and Phillip is waiting for us downstairs.”
“Yep. I need to put on my heels,” I spoke as I grabbed them and walked out of the room.
Alex
Man, Emerson was certainly PMS’ing tonight. I was worried that she got her period so soon, which also meant no sex for a few days and after today, I needed her more than ever. I didn’t even care if she was on her period, but she did. I didn’t attempt to talk to her in the car because it seemed like everything I said was wrong and irritated her. So, we rode to the club in silence.
A good friend of mine had opened a karaoke club, and we were going to celebrate it. Adam had just met this girl named Renee a couple of weeks ago and thought it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce her to us. He told us that he really liked her and couldn’t wait for us to meet her. Climbing out of the Bentley, I held my hand out to help Emerson. Surprisingly, she took it and climbed out.
“You look so sexy. Just looking at you is making me hard,” I whispered in her ear.
“Sucks to be you,” she responded, deadpan.
I sighed. This was going to be a fun night.