Chapter 31 – Alana #2
“More than my job’s worth not to, Alana. You know that. I’m sure he’ll be totally fine with you working with your ex-boyfriend,” he says with a quirk of his eyebrows. He can be so deadpan sometimes. I snort out a laugh, even though the situation is far from amusing.
“Yeah, right. Of course he will. Anyway, I don’t even know if I am going to work with him yet. I’m trying to work out what his angle is.”
“I have every faith in you, Alana. How about I make us that fresh coffee while you think on it,” he says as we reach my office.
“That would be great. Thanks, Hugo.”
Fifteen minutes later, I’m setting up some new spreadsheets, and Hugo is looking out of the window a little bored, when there’s a knock on my open office door. I look up to see Bobby standing there.
“Hey, Alana, can we talk?” he asks.
Hugo turns around and gives him the full Navy SEAL glare. Alejandro-by-proxy.
“Hugo, can you give us a few minutes please?” I ask with a sigh.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Alana,” he replies, his eyes narrowed.
“It’s just a few minutes. You can wait right outside. I’m not going to climb out the window.”
“Fine,” he snaps as he stalks toward the door.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of her,” Bobby adds with a grin. He’s trying to be cute, but he gets more than he bargained for. Hugo fixes him with his stare. Bobby does well not to pass out.
“Yeah? You lay one finger on her, you upset her in any way, and I will break every bone in your body, cabrón,” he snarls as he walks out of the room and slams it behind him.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I say, getting down to business. I’ve got enough stressful things going on in my life without adding the ghost of boyfriends past to the list.
He sits down in the chair opposite me, without being invited. “I wanted to see you again. And when I found out you worked here, I looked into the place. It’s a great cause, and I want to help. The app idea had already been suggested, but now I’m rushing it along.”
“Okay. But how did you even find out where I work?” It’s not exactly a secret.
I hold meetings, talk to donors. The role of a fundraiser is a fairly public one.
But given my personal position, I’ve always asked Kristen to keep me as low-profile as possible.
My name or photo isn’t on the shelter’s website or social media, and everyone here just knows me as Alana.
“You’d be surprised at the type of information I can get my hands on, Alana,” he chuckles, as though he’s some kind of international man of mystery. I raise my eyebrows at him impatiently.
“But why? Why did you want to see me?”
He shakes his head, considering his next words. Possibly prepare a lie. In the end he sighs, spreads his fingers out on the desk.
“To be honest, I was worried about you. That husband of yours seemed like a bit of a jealous asshole. Then I looked into him too. Do you have any idea who he really is?”
I frown at him. “Of course I know who he is, Bobby. I married him, didn’t I?”
“But he’s bad news, Alana. The guy is a stone-cold killer.”
“You know nothing about him, Bobby. Or me.”
“I know enough. And you can’t even come to work without one of his goons following you around.”
“Hugo is my bodyguard. He’s only here for my protection.”
“Exactly, Alana,” he says, leaning forward towards me.
“You married a guy so fucking dangerous that you need a bodyguard! And you’re working here, at a place that looks after abused women…
it’s pretty obvious you need help. You’ve got in over your head.
I get it, he’s a good-looking guy, and you’ve lived a protected life.
You were probably swept off your feet before you realized what he was.
But I’m here now, and if you need an out, then I can help you.
I can get us both out of here right now and take you somewhere he’ll never find you.
You don’t have to put up with his shit if you don’t want to. ”
I stare at him in absolute amazement. I search his face for a lie, but I see that he genuinely means it.
Yes, Alejandro can be jealous. Yes, he is possessive.
And I’m damn sure Bobby’s concern on my behalf is also based on the fact that he was humiliated by my husband.
But that whole speech of his was so far off base.
I don’t know quite where to begin putting him straight.
I shake my head, taking a deep breath. If I start shouting, Hugo will think I’m in danger, then break down the door and snap Bobby’s neck.
“That’s enough Bobby. Don’t say another word, please.
First of all, how dare you come in here and criticize my life choices?
How dare you pretend to truly know me, just because we shared a teenaged crush?
You don’t know me at all. Let me make something very clear to you.
Alejandro Montoya is my husband. I know exactly who he is, much more than you do.
I know everything about him, and I accept it.
I’m sorry if that doesn’t fit with your image of me, Bobby, or at least the me I used to be when I was a pathetic lovestruck little girl, but I’ve changed. ”
“Nobody changes that much. And I do know you. You’re sweet and kind and gentle…”
I stand up, slamming my hands down on the desk. He jumps a little, which I enjoy.
“I am not so sweet, Bobby. Alejandro makes me happy. I love him, with all my heart. My heart isn’t just sweet and kind and gentle anymore.
It’s fierce and passionate, and it beats for him and only him.
I’m not being coerced. I’m not being controlled or abused.
I am devoted to my husband, to our life together.
As for you? You can leave. Right now. We will not be working together.
We will not be spending time together. I hope you still want to help the shelter, that you’re a decent human being, but you won’t be getting me as part of the deal.
I don’t trust you. Hell, I’m not even sure I like you.
Now, get out of my office before I call my ‘goon.’ Who, by the way, is a decorated military hero. Not a ‘goon.’ Goodbye.”
He looks momentarily taken aback but soon recovers.
If he genuinely came here because he thought I was a woman in trouble, and because he wants to support a good cause, then maybe he’s not one-hundred-percent asshole after all.
But the way he’s gone about things? Sneaking around behind my back, setting me up, insulting my husband?
That makes him at least ninety percent asshole.
He stands up too, his face pinched and angry.
“Seems I had you pegged all wrong, Alana. I thought you were still the same sweet little girl next door I remember. Looks like I was mistaken. And yes, I will still support the shelter, because I genuinely meant that. And maybe I’d also hoped things would change between us.
That I’d get a second chance. But now I see things more clearly.
We were together for two years, Alana, and I waited for you all that time.
I was a young man, and I had needs. I was desperate for you to want me as much as I wanted you, but it never happened.
I guess at least now I know why. You like the bad guys.
You get off on the danger. Maybe if I’d killed someone you’d have let me fuck you too. ”
“Get out!” I snarl at him. “Before I have Hugo come in here, rip your arms off and shove them up your ass. Actually, forget that—get out before I do it myself.”
He straightens his tie, rolls his eyes. “Don’t worry, I’ve got the message. Some point down the line, when you realize you’ve made a terrible mistake marrying a possessive psycho like him, don’t say I didn’t warn you, that I didn’t try to help. I’ll be seeing you, Alana.”
“No, you won’t Bobby,” I say firmly.
He finally walks out of my office. I lean back in my chair as blood thunders in my ears. I’m so angry I could kill someone myself.
“Are you okay?” Hugo asks as he walks back into the room. “That douchebag looked pretty pissed as he left.”
“I am now,” I nod. “What a jerk!”
“Want me to go kick his ass?” he offers.
“As tempting as that is, no thanks. He’s not worth it. Let me finish up here real quick and then we can go home.”
“Good,” he nods in agreement. “I’ll feel much better when you’re safe at the house.”
Yes, so will I.