Chapter 36

Marcus

ONE YEAR AGO

"Will you stop fidgeting?" Marcus said, looking down at Sophie as they rode in the elevator. "You're making me nervous and I've no reason to be."

Sophie chuckled, checking her appearance in the mirrored wall and adjusting her dress for the hundredth time that evening.

"Sorry," she said. "I don't know why I'm so jittery."

"Because you don't want your lame oaf of a husband embarrassing you in front of your colleagues."

Marcus laughed. Sophie didn't.

"It's not that," she said. "You're not lame, nor are you an oaf. It's just our first professional party, you know?

"I get it," Marcus said as the elevator rumbled to a stop. "Best behaviour, I promise."

The doors pinged open, and Sophie tugged him into a beautifully decorated reception hall. People gathered in small groups, swapping small talk and pleasantries and holding various beverages.

Sophie ignored them all, making a beeline for a man he recognised as her boss. Alex Carr. In the flesh. He turned his gaze to watch them approach, a smile lingering on his lips.

"Sophie, you made it," he said, leaning to kiss her cheek. "And you've brought…?"

"My husband, Marcus," Sophie said, smiling back at him. "Marcus, my boss, Alex."

Marcus took his hand, shaking it firmly.

"My wife is around here somewhere," Alex said. "Remind me to introduce you later."

"Sure thing." Marcus nodded, glancing around the room for a woman who looked like she'd be married to Alex. When he turned back, Sophie and Alex were still smiling at one another. Something about the smile made him uncomfortable, but he refused to be that kind of man. The one that worried over nothing.

They had only been married for a year. Now was not the time to get paranoid when she had given him no reason to. Sophie promised herself to him and made vows to him. She wasn't the type of woman to break those promises.

As though she could tell he was thinking about her, Sophie took his hand, lacing their fingers. She smiled up at him and his heart soared.

He trusted her.

He had no reason not to.

PRESENT DAY

If someone had told Marcus he'd be sitting in a coffee shop, waiting to meet the man he had swapped wives with, he'd have laughed at their faces.

As it happened, he still found the entire situation quite amusing.

Erica had been blowing up his phone all morning. She was trying to give him as many pointers as she could for dealing with Alex. While he appreciated her concern, he was ready to face the man himself. He found it surprising Alex had agreed to this meeting at all, though Marcus suspected it was just for the chance to pay him back for punching him in the face. Whatever his reasons, it seemed he stayed true to his word, entering the coffee shop a short while later.

Hostility rolled off him as he made his way over to Marcus' table, pulling out a chair and taking a seat without exchanging pleasantries. "Can we make this quick? I'm on a meter."

"It will take as long as it takes," Marcus said cooly. "Since I'm here on Erica's behalf, I'll take my time. "

"Why are you here, anyway?" Alex asked, curling his lip. "Who is Erica to you?"

"That's none of your concern." Taking a sip of his coffee, he regarded Alex over the rim of his mug. He'd lost weight since the last time they'd seen one another, and there were dark circles under his eyes that weren't there before. With wrinkled clothes and hair longer and unkempt, he wasn't as put together as he used to be.

Something or someone was clearly causing Alex a lot of stress, and in Marcus' opinion, it couldn't have happened to a nicer bloke.

"That's a bullshit answer," Alex spat. "Are you fucking my wife?"

"Just returning the favour," Marcus replied without missing a beat. He was going to pay for that, but the look on Alex's face made it absolutely worth it.

"You know, I always thought you were a spineless twat," Alex said, his voice low as he leaned across the table. "From the moment I first shook your hand at the company's anniversary party."

"Is that so?"

"Do you know how fucking thrilling it was to shake your hand, look you in the eye, and still smell your wife's pussy on my fingers?" Alex smirked at him, his eyes flashing. "There you were making small talk, sucking up to your wife's boss and all the while she was practically eye fucking me standing right next to you."

"Well, you live and learn, Alex. Sophie is no longer my concern."

"Don't do that," Alex laughed. "Don't pretend that it doesn't drive you fucking crazy knowing you lost her."

"No pretending," Marcus said, shifting in his seat and clearing his throat. "Believe it or not, I'm over Sophie. I wish her well, but I want nothing to do with her."

Alex looked dumbfounded. A fact that Marcus took great pleasure in. He had spoken without thinking, but once the words left his mouth, it surprised him how honest they were. He was over Sophie and had been for some time .

Perhaps it was because of the nature of their divorce - Marcus had never been the type to forgive infidelity. But the more accurate reason was simply Erica.

If only he could summon the courage to have the talk with her. It had been a couple of weeks since they slept together, and they had said nothing. It was so difficult navigating their day-to-day when her being nearby was testing the limits of his patience. He wanted to kiss her so badly.

To touch her.

But until she made it clear she felt the same way, he wasn't going to be the one to make a move. His fragile heart couldn't take it.

"You're lying," Alex said, grabbing Marcus' attention once again. "How can you be over her?"

"Well, cheating whores aren't really my thing." Marcus shrugged, signalling the waitress for another coffee. "I'm sure she's much happier with you."

"Of course she is," Alex scoffed. "I can give her things you couldn't even dream of. Unlike you, I am a real man."

"Lovely. Well, believe it or not, I didn't come here to have a pissing competition with you, Alex. So, if we could move on."

Marcus took a slow breath shifting in his seat. Keeping his cool was proving more difficult than he expected it to be. And Erica once loved this man? Or perhaps she still did. Who was he to know?

"Like I said, I'm here on Erica's behalf," he said, meeting his gaze before that thought could linger. Alex stared back at him, giving nothing away. "She would like to know why you haven't signed the divorce papers yet."

"Tell her to ask me herself."

"She has asked you," Marcus said. "Multiple times, if I recall."

"None of your business."

"You're right, it's not," Marcus agreed. "But I think your clients would like to make it their business."

Alex tensed in his seat, turning a dark gaze on Marcus. "What did you say? "

"Having a few teething issues with the London group, by any chance?"

"It was you, wasn't it?" Alex's voice was thunderous as his hand curled into a fist on top of the table. " Why would you do that? You already fucked with my marriage!"

"Please. You think I was going to let you fuck my wife without any retaliation? I spoke to the London group long before I ever wrote that letter to Erica."

"You son-of-a-bitch," Alex snarled.

"I resent that," Marcus said. "My mother is certainly not a bitch."

"Don't get smart, fucker. What did you say?"

"None of your business," Marcus said, using Alex's own words against him. "But believe me, I said enough to explain why they're suddenly nervous to work with you."

Looking like he wanted to hit him, Alex silently seethed, his eyes darting around the cafe. After a moment, they settled back on Marcus, his breathing slightly heavier.

"So, you're blackmailing me?"

"Blackmail is such a dirty word, Alex. I'm not blackmailing you." Marcus thanked the waitress as she placed a fresh mug of coffee on the table. He took a sip and let Alex sweat for a moment. "All I'm doing is suggesting you make a start on those divorce papers, or your clients are going to learn a little more about your character."

Alex scoffed, pushing the table away and spilling some of the coffee. "Oh, do your worst, dickhead. Those divorce papers are going to stay in my desk drawer where they've been since I got them."

"That's fair." Marcus shrugged. "I'll let Erica know."

He stood up from the table, throwing down a couple of notes. With a small nod towards Alex, he left the coffee shop, leaving him with his thoughts. If he played this correctly. Alex would follow him in less time than it would take Marcus to reach his car.

"Hey, asshole!"

Right on cue.

He turned to face Alex, waiting for the impact he knew was coming. Bracing himself, he groaned as Alex's fist made contact with his face, knocking him back on his ass. Trying to push himself to his feet, he stumbled as Alex laid into him, fists flying as Marcus couldn't help but laugh.

"What's funny, prick?" Alex scoffed, grabbing Marcus' collar and shaking him. Spittle flew into Marcus' face as Alex breathed through his teeth.

"Oh. I just thought you were more shrewd of a businessman." Marcus laughed again. "You should know to never play your ace so soon."

"What do you—"

"Smile for the camera," a new voice said. Marcus smirked darkly as Josh stepped out from an alleyway, pointing a camera at them, filming the entire interaction.

"I'd say your clients wouldn't like seeing this side of you," Josh said with a triumphant expression. "I told you I'd get you, fuckface. No one fucks with my sister and gets away with it."

Alex released Marcus with a start, scrambling to his feet. "You set me up!"

"Guilty as charged." Marcus raised his eyebrows. Pushing himself to his feet, he brushed off his clothes and prodded at the bruise already forming on his face. "I'll tell Erica to expect those papers in the next couple of days. And if not… well, I think the London group will turn their backs on you for good this time, don't you?" Laughing, Marcus turned away, heading to his car with Josh.

"Your move, Alex. Make it a good one."