Chapter 21

Sophie

Watching through the frosted glass of Alex's office window, Sophie felt her stomach drop as the two figures embraced.

After months of whispering in Alex's ear and sowing those seeds of doubt, she thought she had finally got everything she wanted.

Their drive and fuck down the motorway was the most terrifying, exhilarating and intense orgasm of her life. Multiple times she was sure she was going to die.

But they made it out alive and Alex had taken such good care of her.

What followed was a night like no other. They had found somewhere quiet to park up and fucked over every inch of that car, inside and out.

The evening ended with them laying on the bonnet, still naked and watching the stars wrapped in a blanket that Alex had found in the boot.

She thought that was it. That somehow, against the odds, she had won.

What a fucking idiot she was.

The next day, she heard nothing from him. Not one text to check in with her. Not one missed call. Hell, even her messages went unread as though he had completely disappeared.

She couldn't figure it out.

Not until the following day when he had walked into the office hand in hand with Erica, both beaming from ear to ear.

What the fuck was that all about?

She'd given him the cold shoulder for the rest of the day and ignored all of his attempts to draw her into his office .

No way was she going to allow him to fuck her when he had treated her so poorly. He thought he was so slick, that he could use her feelings for him against her.

Well, no more.

She hadn't let him touch her for over a week and a half now and with only one day left before the building closed for Christmas break; he was running out of time to try win her over.

Having Erica in his office was not helping his case.

She missed him. As stupid as that was, and boy did she know it was stupid, she missed him desperately.

It didn't help that her home life fared no better. It was one thing to compete with Erica for Alex's affections (they were married, after all), but it seemed even Marcus had fallen under her spell.

It was all Erica this, and Erica that , and isn't she so fucking perfect and special? Sophie jabbed her pencil against her notebook, snapping the lead and leaving a dent in the page.

She sighed, tossing aside the pencil and straightening herself out.

This was no good, driving herself crazy like this.

What had happened to her? If old Sophie could see her now, she'd tell her how pathetic she was. Since when did Sophie Crowe (née Hayward), let any man have any kind of hold on her?

She used to be the kind of woman who had men chasing after her. She used to fund an entire night out on the back of men who wanted something from her, and she commanded attention wherever the fuck she went.

And now?

Now she was chasing an unattainable married man whose obsession with his wife ran so deep that he pulled a stunt that could have killed not only him but a dozen more people.

Because Sophie had figured it out now that the motorway was nothing to do with her, and everything to do with Erica.

Of course it was about Erica. Why had she tried to convince herself otherwise ?

It was Marcus that clued her in, although he did so unknowingly.

She'd taken to eavesdropping on his conversations with Erica, trying to find anything she could use against them.

He'd spoken to her the day after the motorway, asking if she was okay after her fight with Alex. After that, everything pretty much fell into place.

She'd put her life at risk, not because Alex wanted her that badly, but because Erica had pouted over something stupid.

Honestly, at this point, Sophie couldn't tell if Marcus and Erica were innocent or not. She still believed in her gut they had not slept together, but her eyes couldn't help but note the way Marcus lit up when he spoke about her.

Even if they hadn't crossed that line, she was fairly sure Marcus wanted to.

And that bothered her more than anything.

What was it about Erica that made men bow down to her? Sure, she was pretty enough, but she seemed so fucking boring. It was insane to Sophie that anyone could stand to be around her.

Seriously, what did she have that Sophie didn't?

Approaching laughter pulled Sophie from that line of thought as Alex and Erica left his office all full of smiles.

Oh, how perfectly nauseating.

"I shall see you later, darling," Erica said, wiping Alex's mouth with a giggle. Just what had they been doing in there?

"I'll be counting down the minutes," he replied, smoothing his thumb over her cheek with such tenderness that Sophie wanted to weep.

He'd never been like that with her. Never even came close.

Dickhead.

"Sophie?"

Looking up, she saw Erica standing in front of her. "I was just saying goodbye, and wishing you a merry Christmas when it comes. Marcus tells me he has a big surprise for you. "

Sophie's heart leapt with excitement. That was news to her, but given everything that had happened, she was happy to see Marcus still knew where his priorities lay.

She stole a glance at Alex to see his reaction, only to find him leafing through some documents. She barely stopped herself from rolling her eyes. He wasn't fooling anyone. She knew he was listening to every word.

"Oh? I didn't think you two were talking." Sophie replied. "I never see you around anymore."

"Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it isn't happening." Erica winked at her, and Sophie resisted the urge to slap that smug smile off her face.

"And what are you two doing?" She asked. "Anything special?"

"Oh, yes," Erica replied, shooting a glance at Alex, who finally looked up from his documents to wink at her.

Asshole.

"We have big plans. Life changing , actually."

What the fuck did that mean?

"How lovely for you," Sophie said through gritted teeth. "Well, I won't keep you."

Erica smirked a touch, her eyes flashing with amusement. She knew exactly what Sophie was doing.

"Give my love to Marcus, won't you?" Erica smiled. "And tell him I'll see him real soon. I've got one hell of a gift for him, too."

Shut up. Shut up. Fucking shut up!

"Will do! Goodbye now."

Casting her gaze down to her notebook, Sophie grabbed the phone and dialled the first number she could think of. Anything to look busy.

Erica gave her a finger wave before rejoining Alex as the two of them shared a cosy goodbye.

What the hell had just happened?

What life-changing plans had she been talking about? They were already married, so that wasn't it, and she couldn't imagine Alex was the type for a vow renewal. Besides, that wasn't life-changing.

Oh god, she wasn't pregnant, was she ?

Surely not. Surely Alex would have told her if that was the case. It would be cruel otherwise.

And what was the gift for Marcus? Who did this woman think she was getting her husband a gift? Sophie hadn't even got him one yet.

Why would she when they'd been so distant recently? It wouldn't surprise her if her gift from Marcus was divorce papers.

Not that she'd sign them, of course.

Not until Alex's marriage was over, too. Why would she give up her home, as crap as it was, to live fuck knows where?

Marcus was her safety net, and she wouldn't give him up without good reason to.

"Hello, River Communications."

Sophie pulled the phone away from her ear and frowned. She had drowned out the sound of the ringing so that a human voice suddenly in her ear startled her.

Glancing over and seeing Erica long gone, she mumbled, already replacing the receiver.

"Wrong number, sorry." Pulling a face, she glanced around the room.

Everyone was so busy with work, getting those last hours in before the Christmas break, no one had noticed her sitting there battling her inner turmoil.

Why was she slaving away in a job she didn't love, for an asshole of a boss, where everyone was so wrapped up in their own issues, they couldn't even see she was struggling?

"Sophie."

Jumping at the sound of Alex's voice, Sophie whipped her head around, seeing him standing outside his office. He had his arms folded over his chest, his expression blank.

Now people were turning to look. She didn't have to see them to know they were craning their necks, desperate for a bit of gossip.

"My office," Alex barked, leaving no room for argument. Part of her wanted to stay in her seat and continue to give him the cold shoulder, but this wasn't her lover speaking to her .

This was her boss, and if she didn't move her ass, she wouldn't have a job for much longer.

Reluctantly, she pushed away from the desk and avoided everyone's gaze as she walked past Alex and into his office. Taking a seat without being asked, she crossed her legs and stared out of the window behind his desk, refusing to look at him as he sat.

"You're acting like a petulant child, Sophie. Stop it."

Rolling her eyes, she continued to look past him, counting the pigeons that were roosting on the building opposite them.

"Dammit Sophie, I will not ask you again," he said, slamming his hand down on the desk. "Fucking look at me."

Dragging her gaze from the window, Sophie forced herself to look at him, ignoring the murderous look on his face.

"I would like to remind you that regardless of anything going on in your personal life when you are in this building, you are to be nothing but professional—"

"Which I have been," she interjected. "Save the speech, Alex, and get to the point."

"Well, no. You haven't been professional. I've had multiple people ask me what's wrong with you."

Huh. Perhaps people had noticed.

"I've answered phones, filed documents, and made sure you've never missed an appointment. I've made sure everyone has access to what they need and kept the staffroom well stocked.

"Tell me where I haven't been professional, Alex?"

"That right there," he said, gesturing towards her. "Calling me Alex and speaking with attitude."

She barked out a laugh and shrugged. Fuck him. It was he who told her anything other than his name was too formal. And that was before they'd started fucking.

"Okay, Sir. I'll remember that going forward. Is that everything?"

"No, it's not everything Sophie. Are you fucking kidding me? Why are you being so cold towards me? "

Anger boiled in her veins as her lip curled. She could unleash every thought she'd had the past week, or she could play him at his own game.

"I'm sorry, sir. I believe we have a closed-door policy. Personal stuff left at the door, remember?" She smiled sweetly at him.

"Sophie, so help me God, if you don't answer me right now, I'll find cause to fire you."

"Do it then," she said, meeting his gaze confidently. "Fire me."

"Stop it," he said, a vein throbbing in his temple. "Use your big words and tell me what your problem is."

"You are my problem," she said simply. "Now fire me, or let me get back to my work."

Pushing his chair back, Alex jumped to his feet, moving around the desk and grabbing her arm before she could stop him. Pulling her to her feet, he held her close to his chest.

"Don't test me, bitch. I fucking own you, and you know it."

"You own shit," she spat. "Get your hands off me."

"Why should I?" He asked, his eyes darkening, his free hand grabbing her backside and pulling her flush against his crotch. "Especially when I know how much you love my hands on you."

Sophie's mouth went dry, her confidence shattering.

This was the downside to enjoying the kind of sex she did. A commanding tone and rough hands were enough to make her melt.

And he fucking knew it, the bastard.

"I've outgrown you," she said. "Only last night I invited Marcus back into my bed and he reminded me what I've been missing."

"Lying bitch," he said, his head swooping and capturing her lips in a kiss. It was a possessive kiss, his lips hard against hers until her lips pressed against her teeth. He meant to punish her, to remind her of her place.

And God help her, she was allowing herself to fall into the trap.

She was so angry with herself. So angry at him .

"No!" She said, pulling away from him. "We are done , Alex!"

"We're not done until I say so," he growled. "You are mine ."

"No!" She raised her hand, using as much force as she could muster to bring her palm flat against his cheek in a slap so hard that the sound echoed around the room.

He released her, covering his cheek in shock. "Sophie—"

"No! I was yours. I would have done anything you asked. I did do anything you asked. And then you put my life in danger and didn't have the decency to fucking call!

"We are finished, and I want nothing more to do with you. To save you the effort of firing me, I quit. I fucking quit.

"See you around, Alex."

Without a backward glance, she left the office, slamming his door behind her. Gathering her shit from behind her desk, her hand shook as adrenaline raced around her body.

What had she done? What had she done?!

Not giving herself time to second guess her actions, Sophie left the room with her head held high, a broken heart and a case of instant regret.