Chapter 13 #2
My stare narrowed in on her hand on his arm.
The level of fury and violence that assaulted me at the mere sight of her body touching him frightened me.
This wasn't normal. I'd literally seen a woman slip David her number at a bar, and I hadn't responded with this amount of visceral emotion.
I closed my eyes and took several fortifying breaths.
Black eyes greeted me when I finally opened mine, startling me.
"Alice," Acheron addressed me, his eyes showing blue once more. "I shall leave you in Tatiana's very capable hands."
With one last lingering look, he turned swiftly and exited the room. I watched his retreating back until it disappeared around the corner, my heart still pumping at an erratic speed.
“Shall we?” Tatiana's sharp tone interrupted my tortured thoughts. She glared at me, her mouth curled in clear annoyance.
I schooled my features and indicated for her to proceed. "After you."
I caught an eye roll before she turned on her heel and stormed off, not bothering to check that I was following.
Begrudgingly, Tatiana was rather knowledgeable about the project.
She seemed to know each room of the apartment, its use, and how it should be furnished.
All my questions were answered promptly, and any issues that arose, we troubleshooted or she simply flipped her hair and confidently stated, "I will ask Acheron tonight when I see him. "
By the time we started to wind down our meeting, my jaw ached from grinding my teeth, and a dull ache was building behind my eyes. Every time she insinuated an intimacy with Acheron, I bit my tongue and envisioned all her teeth falling out.
"Okay, well, we are done," Tatiana dismissed me. She turned on her tablet and started tapping away.
It was my cue to leave, but curiosity made me hesitate. I used the excuse of packing my things neatly away to stay a while longer, despite the less-than-pleasant company.
I cleared my throat. “How long have you worked for Mr. Angelou?” The question was out of my mouth before I could stop it.
Watching this tall, otherworldly beautiful woman made me feel several types of ways. This was the kind of woman I pictured Acheron with. Not me with my flat hair, short stature, and dimpled ass.
Tatiana glanced up at me, appearing startled for a moment at my question. Her cool eyes assessed me carefully. "Many years. He and I share a long history. Both personally and professionally.”
“I…see.” I'd already surmised that their relationship went deeper than work, but it still hurt to have it confirmed.
She sighed impatiently before clicking her tablet off. “A word of warning—Acheron likes variety. A lot of it. You are not the first person to be infatuated with him, or to turn his head. And you will not be the last," she promised.
I bristled at the insinuation. “I’m a married woman.”
Now you remember, Alice.
I pushed the shame aside—the realization that I hadn't spared David a second thought while I was seething at Tatiana's connection with Acheron.
She snorted and flicked her glorious hair over her shoulder. “Like that’s stopped him before.”
My stomach bottomed out at her words, but before I could respond, her phone beeped.
A satisfied smile curved her red mouth as she read the message. “Please excuse me. It's Acheron. He needs me.”
For the duration of the day, I fumed over what had happened.
Why should I care if he was fucking Tatiana?
I didn't, of course. I mean, it was highly unprofessional to shit where you ate, but that was his problem.
I just didn't want it to interfere with my work, that was all.
The last thing I needed was some bitchy assistant taking credit for the hard work Von had diligently put in.
When I made it home that evening, I found David at the stove making dinner.
“Hey, babe. How was work?” he automatically asked without turning around.
I dumped my bag on the floor and walked straight to him.
His sound of surprise was swiftly muffled when I jerked him around and yanked him down for a kiss.
He paused briefly before his mouth moved against mine, tangling his tongue between my lips.
My hand slid down his stomach before I grabbed his crotch and rubbed it.
“Whoa! What’s gotten into you?”
"Nothing." I panted, shifting closer to him. "I just missed you today, that's all."
I lunged for him again, licking at his mouth as his hand grabbed and squeezed my ass.
"Shit!" He immediately pulled away when an alarm went off. "That's the chicken. Why don't you go upstairs and shower while I get this ready?"
"But—"
He kissed my cheek and patted my ass. "We can carry this on after dinner. I don't want it to burn." Then, he turned around and grabbed the oven mitts.
I stared at him with my mouth agape as he started to lift the hot pan from the oven. With a heavy and conflicted heart, I turned away and trudged up the stairs.
Once I was in the bathroom, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I took in my disheveled hair, my wide eyes, and flushed cheeks. Disappointment gave way to shame as I realized what I had been about to do.
I may have initiated my failed seduction—but it was Acheron that I truly wanted.