Chapter 17 #2
I whirled around and hit him with a glare. "He's my husband," I hissed, well aware that the other guests were openly staring.
Acheron's grip loosened at my declaration, and I took advantage of his weakness and escaped. My footsteps thundered against the marble floor as my frantic gaze bounced around the room in search of my husband.
Thankfully, I caught up with him before he could leave the penthouse.
"David! What's going on?"
"How do I get out of this fucking apartment?" he raged as he stormed through the hallways.
"David, talk to me." I tried to grab his arm, but he just shook me off. "What's going on?"
He whirled around in fury, his face flushed and his eyes narrowed in anger. “As if you don't know," he seethed.
I shrank back at the naked fury I spied in his wild, accusatory stare. "I-I don't."
"Acheron?" he snarled. "Acheron?"
At my wide-eyed gaze, he shook his head, disappointment darkening his features. "You've been saying his name in your sleep for years."
My breath sucked in, and I stumbled back in shock. "Wh-what?"
"You moan his name in your sleep. Yeah, it doesn't take a genius to work out what you dream about," he spat out.
"I thought you were having an affair, so I looked through your phone, your emails, old letters…you name it, I looked. But then it all stopped for a while, and I forgot all about it. But in the last couple of months, it started up again—and now I know why.”
Disbelief rattled me at his words. What the fuck? How could that be? It wasn't possible. I hadn't even heard of Acheron Angelou until a few months ago.
The silence stretched between us as I attempted to process his accusation. Unfortunately, David took my silence as a confession, and so I hurriedly grabbed his arm when he turned away in disgust.
"No! David, you've got it all wrong -"
"Are you having an affair with him?" His eyes dared me to deny it.
"What? No!" I glanced away.
"But something happened."
His wounded eyes met my guilty gaze.
"We…we kissed," I confessed. The shame of those words hit me deep, but it was nothing compared to the pain in my husband's eyes.
His breath sucked in at my words. I stepped forward, pleading with him to stay. "It was just one time—"
"Yeah, fucking right!" he exploded. "Don't fucking lie to me."
I flinched. David rarely swore. The knowledge that I'd hurt him so deeply slayed me. "It's true. I only met him for the first time when I started this project."
"Then why the hell have you been saying his name in your sleep? How many Acherons do you know, hmm? How many times have you met someone and they're like, 'Hi, my name is Acheron. It's a completely normal and common name that you hear all the time,'" he sneered.
I shook my head. "David, I-I-I don't know. I don't know what's going on, or what you think you heard, but I promise you, I only met him when I started working on this project."
He glared at me, his eyes disbelieving. "Just met him…but spent enough time with him to kiss him."
The blood drained from my face as the impact of his words hit me. I stepped forward and placed my hands on his chest. "David. I'm so sorry. I know you don't believe me, but I was going to tell you about it after I wrapped everything up. Let's go home and talk about this. Please."
He glanced at me, his eyes tortured and conflicted. I felt his body lean into my touch, but then he glanced up, and his face reddened. With a harsh laugh, he tore away from me. "Come to save the day, Acheron?"
I whirled around, my eyes widening when I spotted Acheron standing there with an impassive look on his face. He wouldn't even glance at David. His focus was entirely centered on me.
"Acheron, get out of here!" I hissed.
His eyes flared, and I realized it was the first time I'd addressed him by his first name.
"Forget it. She's all yours," David sneered. "Just a word of warning, she's a frigid bitch and is bat-shit nuts."
"David." I gasped, my hand flying to my chest. I knew he was hurting, but that was uncalled for.
"Do not go after him."
I glared at Acheron. Why was he still here? "Listen—"
"Yeah, stay here with your precious Acheron, you fucking slut."
I gasped again and spun around. "David, I know you're pissed, but—"
"Watch your fucking mouth," Acheron roared.
His voice seemed to rumble through the small hallway.
"You treat her with respect, or I'll rip your head clean off.
" His voice had grown deep, as if an echoed speaker had been placed under it.
His eyes darkened, and for once I didn't bother to decipher how or why.
"Whoa! Whoa! Acheron, it's okay. He's rightfully upset."
"I do not care. You do not ever let a mere human disrespect you like that. You are worth ten of him."
Oh, Christ, this really wasn't helping. I turned back and found the hall empty. David had left.
"Let me go," I demanded as Acheron grasped my hand. I tried to shake him off, but he was freakishly strong.
"It is not safe!"
I glared at him. "What are you talking about?"
"Sir." My body jumped at Von's sudden interruption. "We need you urgently. He has been spotted."
I didn't know who he was, but I used Acheron's distraction to take off and follow after my husband.