13. Alexandria
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
alexandria
The click of my heels against the polished marble floor of Sterling Capital sounds crisp, authoritative, and completely at odds with the way my coffee is swirling in my stomach.
It was dumb to drink caffeine on an empty stomach when I’m about to talk to my boss after walking out in the middle of the workday.
With my luck, it won’t be my husband who gets me fired; it will be myself.
I pause in front of the mirrored elevator door of the private elevator, smoothing down the front of my black pencil skirt, double checking that I didn’t spill anything on my cream silk blouse, and lightly touch the chignon secured at the nape of my neck.
How I got my wild curls tamed in the bun with one go is beyond me, but I’m going to count my lucky stars.
I look like the same Alexandria Renee Holland, except now I have the last name Lombardi. That is, once I get my butt to the DMV, social security office, and the bank. I haven’t told Dante yet, but I will be hyphenating my last name. I want a piece of him but also want to retain myself.
Nobody walking by me right now would ever guess that less than two hours ago, I was completely naked, thighs spread, panting with desire with my not-so secret billionaire husband.
I take a deep, steadying breath, step off the elevator on Vik’s floor, and make my way toward my corner office.
The floor-to-ceiling glass walls in the building allow the natural light to shine through.
Vik’s door is open; he beat me to work yet again. I’m slacking big time, and while I don’t have a designated start time, it would be nice to beat my boss here occasionally.
I drop my bag to my desk, noticing the stack of contracts on my desk to go through, but I ignore them. I have something else to take care of first.
“Vik, I am so unbelievably sorry about yesterday,” I blurt out at the entrance to his door.
He doesn’t have a chance to look up to see who’s interrupting his morning routine.
“Leaving early like that was completely unprofessional on my part. I rushed out without a moment’s notice.
I didn’t even finish my files or turn off my computer.
I promise you, it will never happen again.
“Yes, it will,” Vik counters smoothly, shaking his head with a light chuckle.
“And stop groveling, Alex. It’s not you, it’s your damn husband who should apologize, which I hope he did.
” He sets his red pen down on the paper, resting his chin on his hand, and has an amused grin on his face that does not match his sharp eyes or his pristine business suit.
“Plus, Romy coming home in a great mood more than made up for it.”
“I’m not groveling. I’m taking accountability for my screw-up.” I blink at his blasé attitude.
“You’ve covered my ass on more than one occasion,” Vik says, leaning back in his leather chair, crossing his arms comfortably over his chest. “Taking a little time away from your desk isn’t going to kill me, especially if taking a personal afternoon means you come back looking slightly less frazzled or like you are about to jump out of your skin.
It’ll be better in the long run. Happy employees make me more money.
Go, get your work done and give Dante hell. ”
I open my mouth to shoot back a sharp, witty rebuttal about my work ethic, but the distinct low rumble of a man I know all too well, along with the heavy, familiar footsteps I’ve heard time after time lately, makes the words catch in my throat.
Dante.
He steps into the office like he owns the entire floor.
Devastatingly handsome, clad in a black three-piece suit that fits his broad shoulders, lean torso, and muscular thighs; it’s custom tailored to utter perfection.
His dark hair is combed back, his jaw is freshly shaven, and he carries a sleek leather portfolio tucked casually beneath his arm.
Yet, despite his immaculate appearance, the look in his amber eyes glows with quiet admiration—he looks like the man who’s claimed exactly what he wanted, and everyone in the room knows better than to question it.
My heart does a flip in my chest.
When we parted ways early this morning outside my apartment building, he needed to make a detour to his penthouse to change out of yesterday’s clothes.
Right before he kissed me completely senseless, he gripped my chin, dipped his head, looked straight into my eyes, and informed me in that low, uncompromising tone of his that this would be the last we’d ever be doing the exhausting back-and-forth commute between our places.
I was then informed to be prepared for professional movers to show up at my apartment by the end of the week to pack up my life to be situated between the penthouse and his place in Medina.
Remembering the sheer nerve of him bossing me around, I immediately snap out of my Dante-lust-induced daze. I step forward, placing my hand on my hip and pointing a sharp, warning finger straight at his chest.
“Dante,” I say, my voice dropping into a stern, quiet whisper. “Remember the rules. You promised me. No interfering with my career and definitely no surprise visits.” Dante edges in closer, his lips twitching with that slow, playful smirk that drives me utterly helpless.
“I’m following the rules, wife.” His gravelly voice is smooth as he holds up the leather portfolio.
“I really am here to talk business. Vik invited me in to personally discuss a mutual property we’re looking to acquire.
” I narrow my gaze at him, refusing to back down.
I hold up two fingers, pointing them directly at my own eyes, then flipping them around in the air to point straight at his striking face.
I mimic the sharp non-verbal ‘I’ve got my eyes on you’ gesture.
Behind me, Vik chokes on a not-so-covered-up laugh. He’s thoroughly enjoying the power struggle unfolding in front of him. Dante doesn’t flinch a single inch. Instead, he takes another large step forward, invading my personal space and completely ignoring the professionalism I’m trying to maintain.
He reaches out, his long, thick fingers cup my cheek, and my head lifts up as he dips his knees to be on my level. Before I can utter a single word or protest, he leans down and presses a soft, lingering kiss on my lips.
It’s a quiet, tender display of possessiveness. A not-so-subtle reminder of the desire we shared all night that thoroughly undermines my tough exterior and turns my knees to mush.
“Be good today, Alexandria,” he murmurs against my mouth. His thumb brushes lightly over the apple of my cheek before he lets me go. I stand there for a second, attempting to regain my composure as I smooth down the front of my skirt once again.
“Fine. Business only. I’ll be at my desk actually working,” I relent with a soft, defeated sigh.
“Have a wonderful day, wife,” Dante calls out, his tone dripping with satisfaction.
I roll my eyes, and as I walk out of Vik’s office toward my desk, I smile.
At least his kiss will hold me over until this evening, or however long he pretends to keep this professional in the office, and after this morning, I can already tell that won’t happen where Dante is concerned.