Chapter 53
Fifty-Three
W e fell into a rhythm over the next few days. Everyday, Maia and Ali joined me at the gardens, amusing themselves whilst I situated myself in one spot or another, sketching and making notes.
The day would draw to a close and I would return to the hotel, leaving my muses behind. I ate in the suite, or in my bed, or at the table by the pool, but always alone. Whether Alfie was avoiding me on purpose or not I wasn’t sure, but he was keeping true to his word of giving me space.
For three days I didn’t see him, the only time he felt close was at night when he lay in his own bed mere metres away and every night in the early hours of the morning, I heard the slam of his door and retreating footsteps as he headed for the gym.
I missed him, the shrapnel in my chest throbbing with that familiar ache. It hurt but I could breathe, it didn’t consume me like it would have once. I wondered if Alfie felt the same way. I hoped he did. I hoped he was healthy now.
After an evening swim, I walked through the empty lobby of the hotel, my wet hair trailing down the back of my white robe.
For the first time in days, I was alone outside of my own suite.
Maia had reluctantly agreed to go to bed after I’d argued that there were security guards posted all over this place, I was hardly likely to be kidnapped here.
Instead of finding the empty hotel eerie, I found it peaceful. I felt more at home here than I did in Alfie’s house in London. This is what Alfie’s mind was really like. A blue paradise, not that cold palace.
I stood alone, waiting for the lift when a strange noise interrupted my silence, a scrape of a chair on the floor.
I shrugged it off until it was followed by a breathy moan.
I bit back a grin, it sounded like one of the maids was getting lucky…
but the tone of that voice was too familiar and alarm bells started ringing.
Angie.
I looked down the hallway. That area was sealed off with plastic sheeting and was strictly off limits to me.
Was she hooking up in the office? It was none of my business but?—
“Alfie…” Her words were cut off by more moans, sounding as if they’d been swallowed by kisses. Blood rushed in my ears and my head started spinning.
No. No…he wasn’t, he couldn’t.
Before I could decide whether to follow the voices and see them for myself, the lift doors opened and my feet dragged me inside, almost against my will. I slumped against the wall, bent double. My stomach churned as if I might throw up.
Oh god. Oh god .
Was I this stupid? Had I really been this blind?
The doors opened and I stumbled into the suite.
This wasn’t happening, it wasn’t . How could he?—
“Lo? Are you alright?”
I turned, heart pounding to find Alfie coming down the stairs, wearing only sweatpants, clearly fresh from a shower.
His brows knitted together. “What’s going on?"
“I thought you were with Angie…”
He shook his head. “I left her to finish the meeting with Dexter.” The architect. Just like that, I started to breathe again. “Baby?—”
“I heard her…she was…they were…”
“Fucking?” He looked faintly amused. “Yeah. She thinks I don’t know.”
I took a breath, trying to calm myself. “She said your name.”
“Probably warning him I might catch them.” Alfie seemed uninterested but his expression grew serious as he looked at me. “You thought it was me she was fucking.”
I nodded, wrapping my arms around myself. Alfie reached for me and I flinched away from him. “Don’t.”
Alfie’s mouth set in a grim line, displeasure clear on his too handsome face. “Lola, come here.” I didn’t budge, but I didn’t fight him either as he stepped closer and wrapped his arms around me.
For long moments I held myself stiff but eventually, the gentle rubbing of his hand on my back soothed me enough to relax into his bare chest. I released a sob that didn’t quite turn into tears.
“Lo, I wouldn’t.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. I knew that he was telling the truth. Somewhere inside I knew that. With or without me, there was no future for Angie with Alfie.
“Have you been avoiding me?” I mumbled the question, my cheek pressed against his chest, his skin still soft from his shower. It felt wrong to allow myself this comfort from a man who had violated me, but if anyone deserved comfort it was me.
“I’m just giving you space.”
I was grateful for that. I looked up at him. “Does it hurt being away from me?”
His eyes filled with that softness he saved just for me. “Yeah, it hurts.”
“But you don’t feel crazy?”
He paused, thinking about it. “Not in the same way. I think about you all the time and I want you in my bed so I can get a decent night's sleep but no, I don’t feel insane like I used to.”
His words had a strange effect on me. Half of me was nostalgic for the intensity of our old relationship, the other half of me knew how good it was that we were leaving it behind.
Our old relationship would never have led anywhere sustainable.
It was fucking and fighting, there was no future in that.
“Me either.”
His eyes softened. “Look at us, all grown up.” He released me, giving me my space back once again without me having to ask for it. “Speaking of Angie and Dexter, the three of us are going out to dinner tomorrow night. Will you join us?”
That was the last thing I wanted to do, which was why I had to do it. Besides, I’d brought a pretty outfit with me, it would be a shame to waste it. “I’d love to.”
I wasn’t sure what surprised me most, Angie not ripping into me for wearing non-designer clothes to a michelin star restaurant, or the fact that Alfie hadn’t put us in a private dining room.
I’d never eaten with Alfie in public before and I was expecting to be stared at the whole time, but after recognising more than one famous face in the restaurant, I figured the establishment was upscale enough to be safe from prying eyes.
Dexter was charming, he had an easy manner, a smile that met his eyes and seemed oblivious to the sour looks Angie threw my way whenever he engaged me in conversation. Looking at the two of them, you would never know they’d been getting dirty in the back halls of a half-finished hotel last night.
I took a bite of my steak, savouring the flavour. I was regretting wearing the leather skirt Keira had loaned me, it didn’t allow much room for eating but the pale pink satin shirt I’d paired with it was perfect for the warm night. I took a breath, shifting slightly as I swallowed.
“I told you you shouldn’t have worn that skirt.” Alfie’s smile was smug and I scowled at him.
I took a sip of my wine and my gaze was once again drawn to Angie as Dexter whispered something in her ear. She smiled, almost shy, a brightness in her eyes I’d never seen before.
That’s when I noticed the brunette approaching our table, a glass of red wine in her hand. She gave Angie’s sleek chic style a run for its money and like Dexter, looked to be in her late thirties. The woman's eyes fell on him and right then I knew we were about to have drama.
Dexter looked up, his face falling as he saw her. “What are you?—”
Her glass of wine tipped over Angie before he could finish his sentence. Angie let out a scream, her chair scraping on the floor as she stood, every eye in the place suddenly turning to us.
“Did you really think I didn’t know?” The woman glared at Dexter before she turned and stalked away.
I stared at her retreating form in shock–had that really just happened?
Hushed whispers echoed around the room. Biting back a sob, Angie grabbed her purse and hurried towards the bathrooms.
Dexter looked torn, staring after Angie as she ran away. Alfie took a sip of his sparkling water, seeming unfazed but I knew better. He was furious.
“Follow your wife and make sure she doesn’t bring that shit to my business,” he said, keeping his voice low he looked Dexter square in the eye. “Your personal life stops at your front door.”
Dexter nodded. “Got it.”
I sat quietly as he hurried out of the restaurant and a team of servers began cleaning the mess. “He’s married? He doesn’t wear a wedding ring.”
“He stopped wearing it a few months ago. I don’t get involved in my employees personal life. You shouldn't either.” He continued eating his meal, putting on a nonchalant facade until the prying eyes turned back to their own dinners.
I tried to do the same but I could feel my conscience tugging at me.
“Where are you going?” Alfie asked as I stood up.
“To give Angie a clean shirt.” The frown on his face said he didn’t believe me. “No drama, I promise.”
I found Angie in the bathroom, crying in one of the stalls. There was no one else in here so I unbuttoned my shirt and shrugged it off, leaving me only in the silk top I wore underneath.
“Hey,” I knocked on the cubicle door, “I brought you a fresh shirt, it’s uh…it’s not Chanel. Sorry.” I dangled it over the door and a moment later she took it.
“You can go, Lola.”
I contemplated doing just that but my stupid conscience wouldn’t allow it. Yes, she was a prime bitch, but I was determined to be the bigger person.
“Come on out. Let’s see the damage, I’m sure it can’t be that bad.” I heard her huff but the door opened, revealing bloodshot eyes and mascara stained cheeks. My shirt sagged over her chest where she was a few cup sizes smaller than me. I plastered a smile on my face. “You look great.”
Angie scowled at my obvious lie and headed for the mirror. She pulled a make-up case from her clutch and started fixing her face.
“I don’t need you to be nice to me, you know.”
“I’m being nice for my own conscience, not your sake.” I folded my arms, leaning against the counter as she dabbed mascara from her cheeks. “You had this coming.”
“They’re separated, not that it’s any of your business.”
I rolled my eyes. It annoyed me how pretty she looked, even with damaged make up and blood shot eyes.
“Were they separated when you started sleeping with him?”
“Yes. We haven’t even…we aren’t sleeping together.”