Still looking at me, Malory’s already narrow eyes squint at me. The ping of the elevator causes her to lift her head. She looks over at Alexander, whose jaw is so tight I’m afraid his teeth are going to break. Malory walks toward the elevator but before she gets in she stops. Her eyes skirt towards me, again, for a second before zeroing in on Alexander. “Not everyone is willing to give it up as easily as you are.”
She walks into the elevator and the doors close behind her, leaving me and Alexander alone in the waiting room. I have no idea what that exchange was about and I have an awful feeling I don’t want to know.
Alexander walks over to me and I temporarily lose my balance when he takes my hand and pulls me through the double door and into his office. My feet find traction as they scurry behind him.
I have so many questions to ask him but my feelings are momentarily pushed aside as I take in the room we have just entered. This isn’t a typical office. This is a command center.
The room takes up half the floor. Granted, the building gets narrower as you get to the top, but there is no denying the immensity of the room. It is divided into four sections. To the left is what looks like the main office area with a large desk in front of floor-to-ceiling windows. An equally massive chair sits behind it. The sky is dark tonight so I can see a stunning view of the city with the buildings lit up like Christmas.
To the right side of the room is a seating area with furniture of black and gray and closer to the entrance is a conference table. Directly in front of me is a bar, fully stocked and large enough to host a party. The room is accented with glass tables, a mahogany honeycomb ceiling and golden eyes that are staring at me, waiting to say . . . something.
“How do you know Malory?”
I have to bring myself back to the scene I just witnessed between him and the gorgeous woman with dark eyes and a wicked smile.
“She came by the school a few weeks ago looking for you. She was rude to me, and I was mad at you anyway, and I had no intention of delivering her message to you.” I take a second to swallow even though my mouth feels dry. “You said she was with you in Italy. Is there something still going on between you two? Because I can’t—”
“There is nothing going on between me and that woman,” he says, taking me in his arms. “Long ago but not now. Not since I met you.”
I want to know how long ago, but would it really matter if it was two months or two years? He told me he’s been in love with two women in his life. I appreciate his honesty but I hate the idea of knowing there are two women in this world he loved, or perhaps still loves. “Is she one of the two?”
His eyes search mine trying to understand my question. “One of the two?”
I raise my brows waiting for him to answer me. His brows furrow a bit and then relax as he realizes what I’m asking. He takes in a breath and then slowly exhales. “No, Emma. She is not one of the two.”
I take a deep breath of my own. He’s been with other women before. I’ve been with other men. Well, I’m sure my number is a teeny tiny fraction compared to his.
“Does she work with you? Why was she here?” I ask, trying to make sense of the situation.
“She used to work for me but was fired. Our professional relationship ended a long time ago but I kept her around in my private life for,” he looks around as if trying to find the most tactful word to use, “company.”
Okay, maybe I don’t always appreciate his honesty.
It makes me wonder how low his self-worth is that he would spend time with someone just for sex even though he clearly despises her.
With extreme pressure on my arms, he looks me square in the eye. “Emma, I don’t want you anywhere near that woman. If you see her again I want you to call me immediately.”
Why doesn’t he want me near Malory? I’m pretty sure I’ve already heard the worst of it. What could she possibly say that he doesn’t want me to hear?
He feels my resistance and pulls me toward him. Taking my head in his hands, he skims the hair on the right side of my head and curls it behind my ear.
“Don’t go there. I know what you’re thinking. I have nothing to hide. I meant it when I said this is it for me. No more running. I’m here. Are you here with me?”