Page 67 of The Boss and the Wedding Mess

She replies with a flood of question marks and a text in all caps: “WHAT HAPPENED? LONDON? TELL ME!”

By then, I’m already in the shower.

After I've put some clothes on, I rush back to the living room. Vanessa is still buzzing with excitement, demanding: “Don’t leave me hanging!”

I record another message while brushing my hair, trying to keep it short: “Hey, I’m back. So, I need to leave right now. I want to go to Alex. We slept together. When I woke up, I thought I’d dreamed it, but no—it really happened. I’m remembering everything better now. I’ll tell you more when I come over later. Gotta go now!” I send it off. Damn, only 27% battery. Not much. I need to find my power bank. Wasn’t it with the camera? I rummage through the drawer and actually find it. One charge out of three. Well, that should be enough.

I shove everything into my purse and leave my apartment.

Thanks to GPS, I’m in front of Alexander’s house in half an hour. It’s on a quiet street, lined with villas and single-family houses. Perfectly kept front yards, luxury everywhere. It’s immediately noticeable that there’s no trash on the street or potholes. This must be a nice place to live.

I find his house and park in the wide driveway. He even has double garage. Is Alex a luxury car guy? Probably.

I need to gather myself before I give him hell.

Okay, stay calm. Everything will be fine. I can handle this.

One last look in the rearview mirror, then I grab my things and step out of the car. I hope he's home, otherwise I don't know what to do with all this anger.

Chapter 20

Alexander

I’m standing in the kitchen when I notice that London has opened the single-view image. A satisfied grin spreads on my face as I turn on the coffee maker. I wonder how she’s reacted to it. If only I could see her.

My enjoyment is disturbed, however, as Stephanie starts bombarding me with pictures again. She's been spamming me for days with photos and videos from her honeymoon. There was even a room tour that went on for eleven whole minutes. After that came photos of the beach, the resort, the food, and many selfies in various outfits and bikinis. But one thing is missing: where are the couple photos?

I’d actually wanted to give Marc some peace during his honeymoon, but Stephanie’s behavior doesn’t entirely sit right with me. So, I text him:Hey, is everything okay with you and Stephanie? Did you have a fight?

The pictures make it look as though she’s vacationing alone, not honeymooning with the man she loves.

“No, but she’s acting strange,”Marc replies instantly. Lucky timing—he’s on his phone too.

Me: What do you mean? Jet lag?

Marc: No, it’s her mood. She doesn’t want sex, she’s constantly on her phone, we don’t even cuddle. She went to see your secretary. I thought they’d cleared everything up?

Me: Yeah, Stephanie is convinced you didn’t have an affair. She assured me of that. Maybe the flight threw her off?

Marc: She’s cold and distant. Last night she cried, and this morning she was alone on the beach. It doesn’t feel like a honeymoon.

Me: Want me to talk to her?

Marc: I’m her husband—that’s supposed to be my job. But yes. I need your help. I’ve already tried, but she keeps avoiding me.

Me: Is she alone right now?

Marc: Yeah, I’m by the pool at our villa, but she’s off at the beach somewhere.

Me: She just sent me another picture. I’ll call her.

Marc: Whatever this is… I love her. But right now, I don’t feel like she loves me. It’s so strange. I don’t even recognize her anymore.

Me: Anymore?

Marc: This is how she used to be with me, years ago. But after we got together, she was clingy and sweet. What if she regrets the wedding? What if she saw your assistant’s interruption as a sign not to marry me?

Me: Something is off, I agree. I’ll call her and get back to you right away.