Page 11

Alex

“You really fucking embarrassed me, Eri. Christ, even Sophie behaved better tonight.”

It was a low blow, but no less true. He wasn’t sure what had happened to his normally attentive wife this evening, but she’d gone from loving and dutiful to aloof and unpredictable.

Who could have imagined she would hit it off with Marcus so completely?

And there was no getting around that fact.

Everyone who saw them tonight could tell they had a connection. Alex just had to figure out what kind of connection.

“I didn’t mean to embarrass you, Alex. And I’ve already said I’m sorry. What more can I do?”

They were in the back of a cab, heading towards home after what should have been a successful night. But Erica’s behaviour had riled the band of gossiping twits that seemed to congregate towards company events.

All of which did nothing to help his reputation with the London Group.

He still couldn’t understand why his most solid client had suddenly got cold feet. They were the first contract he had scored and the two companies had grown together. Now they were ready to turn their backs on him for who knew what reason.

You know the reason.

He ignored the nasty voice in his head, reminding him of a couple of choice words from his last meeting with the London Group’s representatives .

“…hard to ignore rumours of infidelity…”

“… reputation to upkeep…”

“… No one would trust a cheater…”

Alex clenched his jaw, pushing the thoughts away. They were overreacting, and just like he told them, even if the rumours were true, nobody cared.

Well, apparently the London Group cared.

“Look, you know this party was about damage control,” he said, turning in his seat to look at Erica. “And you haven’t helped matters.”

“Because I laughed at a joke? Jesus, Alex, you’re acting like I fucked the guy and charged a viewing fee.”

“But you—”

“Laughed. At a joke.” Reaching into her bag, she pulled out a battered cigarette packet. “I really think you need to calm down.”

“I thought we quit smoking,” he said, gesturing to the pack and momentarily derailing the conversation. “You know how I feel about cigarettes.”

“And you know how I feel about controlling behaviour,” she scoffed. “Alex, I need you to back off.”

He recoiled in shock, trying to remember a time Erica had ever spoken to him in such a manner. It was true, once upon a time they were both smokers. But they had given up together and were happier for it.

At least he thought they were.

Yet again, something had changed about his wife without him knowing.

“Do you mind if I smoke?” She asked the cab driver.

“Not if you share,” the guy replied. “I’m all out for the night.”

Erica agreed, reaching between the front seats to hand over an already lit cigarette. Muttering his thanks, the driver gestured for her to carry on.

Alex wound down the window to allow the rapidly building wisps of smoke to leave the cab.

He couldn’t stand the smell of burning tobacco.

“What was so funny, anyway?” He asked. “I’ve never heard you laugh like that before.” No one had made her laugh like that, and it killed him that another man had enjoyed such a moment with her.

“Nothing in particular,” she replied with a shrug, taking a drag of her cigarette. “And it would take too long to explain.”

“I don’t like this,” Alex said. “I don’t like that he clearly has a thing for you.”

“Oh, please,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Marcus is a married man. You’re being paranoid.”

“Sophie is married. It doesn’t stop her!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realised his error. He held his breath, praying she’d skate past it.

“Okay. Marcus is happily married and clearly adores his wife. Personally, I don’t know what he sees in her.”

“Damn, Erica. That’s far too much of a bitchy comment for you.”

He’d never heard her speak about someone like that before. Erica had always been sweet and kind to a fault.

She scoffed again, rolling her eyes. “Sorry I insulted your little girlfriend.”

Panic made his heart leap as he turned to face her, searching her features for any hint that she might know his secret.

She watched him expectantly, as though she were waiting for something. He just didn’t know what.

“Now who is the jealous one?”

It was the wrong thing to say. The very second the corner of her lips turned down, he knew he’d made a mistake.

“There is nothing about that woman to be jealous of,” Erica said, flicking her cigarette out of the window, hiding her expression from him. “She is a child in an adult’s body.”

“And what makes you say that?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. He couldn’t think of anything he had said that would make her think so poorly of Sophie.

“The fact that she bitched to you about her poor husband and his failing business. Or that she immediately swapped out personal and sentimental earrings for something more expensive.”

“They were ugly earrings,” he muttered.

“Or perhaps it’s the fact she follows you around like a lost puppy, just hoping you’ll pay attention to her. ”

“This is a change from our conversation the other day,” he said. “I offered to get rid of her.”

“And open yourself to a lawsuit? I don’t think so.” Erica sighed and looked out of the window. “It doesn’t matter, anyway; I have to get used to being around her.”

Alex reached for her hand, holding it between his. “Baby, don’t be a martyr. I can find grounds to let her go and she’ll be a distant memory. A single page of our story.”

Erica turned back to look at him, her eyes searching his. “That wouldn’t change anything.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I’ve agreed to help Marcus with his business, so I’m sure I’d still have to see her.”

Alex stared at her, not quite seeing her.

Had she just said she was working with the husband of his affair partner?

“What do you mean?”

“You already asked that,” Erica said. “I don’t know how to make it clearer.”

Alex released her hand, running his hand through his hair. “Erica, what the fuck do you mean?”

This was bad.

This was really fucking bad.

All it took was for Erica and Marcus to swap notes and start talking, and his carefully kept secret would quickly unravel.

“I don’t know what the issue is,” Erica said, unaware of his inner turmoil. “He was telling me about it this evening and it sounds like fun.”

“Work isn’t supposed to be fun ,” he scoffed. He was focusing on all the wrong things, and he knew it, but panic had taken over and it seemed his brain and mouth had disconnected. “ Why are you helping him?”

“I just told you, Alex.” She spoke slowly, as though he was having trouble understanding her. “Jesus, how much did you have to drink tonight?”

“Not enough, clearly,” he muttered as the cab finally pulled up in front of the house. He threw a wad of cash at the driver and ushered Erica out of the car .

“Alex! Will you calm down, please? You’re getting upset over nothing.”

“Nothing? Nothing?”

He slammed the car door shut and pulled her towards their front door. “I am not having this argument in the street for all our neighbours to witness.”

“I’m not even sure why we’re arguing,” she said, pulling herself from his grasp. “And I am more than capable of getting myself into the house, thank you.”

“Erica, so help me—”

“Are you okay there, love?”

Both Alex and Erica turned to look back at the cab driver, who had got out of the car and was looking threateningly at Alex.

“We’re fine,” Alex said.

“I was asking the lady, actually.”.

“I’m fine,” Erica said with a warm smile. “But thank you for checking. There should be more men like you.”

“And less like me?” Alex muttered. “Is that what you mean?”

“Jesus, you’re paranoid tonight.”

Taking the keys from him, Erica unlocked the door and kicked her shoes off. Alex followed behind her, flipping off the driver as he shut the door.

He took a deep and calming breath.

And then another.

She was right, of course. He was losing his shit for all the wrong reasons and derailing the conversation they needed to have.

He couldn’t even really explain why he was so angry. Why did the thought of Marcus and Erica getting along bother him so much?

Aside from the obvious, of course.

Perhaps it was the irony of it all that wasn’t sitting well with him. The sense he was being bitch slapped with karmic justice.

How many times had he got off on taking another man’s wife? And within one encounter, that same man now had Alex’s wife acting out of sorts.

“Erica, can we talk? ”

“If you mean to actually talk , then yes. If you’re going to continue to lose your temper over nothing, then I’d prefer to go to bed.”

“I won’t lose my temper,” he said, not sure if he meant it or not. “I just want to explain myself.”

She nodded, leading him into the living room and pouring herself a drink. For perhaps the first time in their marriage, she hadn’t so much as offered him one. He stared at the drinks trolley in shock before forcing himself to step forward.

“So, you wanted to explain yourself?” Erica said, watching him serve himself. It felt like a deliberate move.

A power move, even.

“Yeah.” He knocked back a mouthful of scotch as he scrambled for something to say. “Look, you haven’t been yourself tonight.

“I’m going to stop you there, Alex,” she said, shaking her head. “You are responsible for your own actions, just as I’m responsible for mine, And I am not interested in an explanation that lays the blame at my feet.”

“That’s not what I meant,” he said, loosening his tie. “I just mean it threw me off to not have you by my side.”

“Please. You’re not that incapable that you need your wife by your side holding your hand.”

“What is with you tonight?” Alex said, banging his glass on the trolley. “Why are you being so mean ?”

A flicker of a smirk lingered on Erica’s lips before she straightened her features.

Something had definitely changed since the beginning of the night. When they had got ready for the party only a few short hours ago, Erica had been in a great mood and acting normal.

But one evening in the company of his guests (and one guest in particular), she had become catty and unreasonable.

“I wouldn’t say I’m being mean,” Erica said, her eyes on his. “A bit more outspoken, maybe.”

“What did you and Marcus talk about?” He asked. “What could he have possibly said to have this much impact on you. ”

“It’s nothing to do with Marcus,” Erica said, rolling her eyes. “This is about you and your hatred for a bloke you don’t know just because I got caught laughing with him.”

“When you were supposed to be with me! Erica, you let me down—”

“So why did you start the damn speech if it was so important to have me there with you?

“This is pathetic, Alex. Pathetic . We sound like high schoolers.”

“Look, I just don’t want you working with him. It’s as simple as that.”

Erica knocked back her drink and stood. “And as you have neither explained yourself nor given me a reason not to, I’ll not entertain this any longer.”

“Why do you need an explanation?” He asked. “Why can’t you just appreciate that this makes me uncomfortable?”

“Because I like the sound of Marcus’ business, and I want to be involved. I think it will be fun and I am finally doing something for me.

“I don’t know what your issue is with him beyond the idea you have that he might have a crush on me, but you either trust me or you don’t.”

“Of course I trust you,” he said.

“Then you know it doesn’t matter about anything else, or who is looking in my direction. You trust me, you know I haven’t, and won’t, do anything.”

“But he might—”

“Sophie might,” she countered. “I don’t make demands of you, Alex. I don’t ask you to cut out every woman who might potentially have a crush on you.”

“But that’s different!”

“And how is it different? Because it impacts you this time?”

Yes.

But he couldn’t tell her that. Nor could he ever adequately explain himself without coming across like an asshole .

How was he supposed to explain the ego boost whenever some hot twenty-year-old crushed on him, but when the roles were reversed, he took it as an insult?

Erica was his. And she didn’t need the reminder that there were other options outside of him.

“Look, Erica, we’re going around in circles, and I think I just need to state it clearly.”

“By all means,” she said, gesturing for him to continue.

“You’re demanding all these explanations from me, but the simple fact is you don’t need one. You are my wife, and as such, you won’t do anything that I feel is inappropriate, or will reflect poorly on our image.” He released a heavy sigh. “I hate to put my foot down on this, but I am. You’re not the type of person to make her loved ones feel uncomfortable, so we both know you won’t do it. Conversation over.”

Erica sighed as she stood, nodding with a saddened expression. He hated making her feel this way, but if this was the only way of putting a stop to her friendship with Marcus, he wasn’t above using emotional manipulation.

“You’re right,” she said. “That’s the end of the conversation.”

“Thank you. And look, I’m sorry it’s come to this. But it’s for the best.”

Erica laughed a low and cruel sound. “Oh, no. Alex, honey, you misunderstood me. The conversation is over. But I’ll still be working with Marcus.”

“But you just said—”

“No. You just said.” She laughed again, pulling another cigarette from her bag. “I believe my words were I wasn’t going to entertain you without a valid reason.

“You’ve failed to give me one and so I’ll continue to do what I want. If that makes you ‘unhappy’ and ‘uncomfortable’… well, that sounds like a you problem.”

“Erica—”

“I’ll say no more on the matter, Alex. Now, I’m going into the garden to smoke, and then I’m going to bed.”

She stepped towards him, kissing his cheek as she passed while he stood frozen in shock.

“Don’t worry, darling, you’ll get used to this new me. Goodnight. ”

He remained in place as she disappeared, staring at the spot she had just left.

Did she refuse him? Disregard him? Did she choose another man over him?

It seemed unfathomable, yet somehow, he knew this was just the beginning.