Chapter 7 – Unexpected
Athena
“Your mum sent me to pick up the documents,” I say flatly.
I’m finally in the Royal Bastards office and it’s taking all my strength to keep myself from smacking him.
Maybe I should just sign those damn divorce papers.
“Did you hear me?” I snap.
Alex pauses, reaches over to his desk, and grabs a bottle of water before leaning back like he has all the time in the world.
He watches me for a second, his expression unreadable. “What’s with the attitude? Are you still sulking over the divorce?”
“I’m actually celebrating.” I retort, crossing my arms. “I want to be as far away from you as possible.”
Alex smirks, leaning against his desk like he has just heard the most entertaining line.
“Funny. You say that, yet here you are. Always finding a reason to be around me. If you’re so eager, why don’t I have the signed
papers on my desk?”
“You’ll have them tomorrow morning or tonight should you remember you have a-” I catch myself before saying the word home.
“If you’ll be at the house tonight.” I rephrase.
“Not yet. I’ll tell you when to sign them. Granny is sick, remember. So we have to be careful about this.”
“Yeah. Or else I’ll end up taking the fall for you and Leah’s shit.” I retort.
“Did you get jealous? Is that why you’re here?”
I scoff, rolling my eyes. “Oh, don’t flatter yourself. If your mother hadn’t called me, I wouldn’t be anywhere near you.”
He hums, pretending to think, and then he says with a sarcastic tone, “Such a good little wife.”
I glare at him. “Ex–wife.”
“Not yet.” His voice is smug, and I hate the way it sends a shiver down my spine. “We still have time before the paperwork is
finalized.”
“Not in any way that matters,” I snap. “Now, just give me the damn documents so I can leave.”
Alex sighs dramatically. “You used to be much more pleasant. What happened?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” I tap my chin mockingly. “Maybe it was the part where you threw me aside like trash. Or the part where you
let Leah drape herself all over you like a desperate puppy.”
1/3
His expression darkens at the mention of Leah, and for a second, I think I see a flicker of something in his eyes–regret? Guilt? I
don’t know, and I don’t care.
Well, I do.. but I’ll take that to the grave with me.
“Jealousy isn’t a good look on you, Athena,” he says smoothly. His accent is thick and rough.
I laugh, the sound sharp. “Jealous? Of Leah?” I step closer, meeting his gaze head–on. “I wouldn’t be jealous of that woman if my life depended on it. You, on the other hand, clearly can’t get enough of her. You do have poor taste. Now give me the documents or
you’ll drop them off yourself!”
He clenches his jaw. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I shrug. “Maybe. But the lipstick on her mouth and the undone buttons on her shirt say otherwise.”
His brows meet. “What are you on about?”
“Don’t take me for a fool, Alex. The documents. Or will you deny that you and Leah had it going?”
His face hardens.
“I don’t see how that’s any of your business. She will be my real wife anyway.” He answers dismissively while sliding over
documents towards me.
“Right.” That is all I can say.
He takes a step closer, and for a moment, I think he’s going to say something cruel, something that will tear me apart even more.
But instead, he smirks, and that annoys me even more.
“Why do you care so much, Athena?” His voice drops, his eyes locked onto mine. “Why do you let it get under your skin?”
I refuse to answer. I refuse to give him the satisfaction.
“I don’t.” I turn away. Grabbing the documents.
I can feel him. So close up my breathing is becoming hard labor. He smells so good and with any slight movement, our hands will
touch so I remain frozen to my spot.
He just kissed another woman. I’ll be damned if I’ll let him touch me.
But looking at how cold his eyes are, I doubt he’s ever even wanted to touch me.
I reach for the documents, but just as I grab them, he places his huge palm on them keeping them in place.
I glance up, my patience running thin. “What now?”
His voice is low, teasing, and dangerous.
“On second thought, I want to talk to mum so I’ll drop these off for you. You can go back home.”
2/3
I look at him, “Home?”
“Yeah, or whatever it is you do, I don’t care.” he grabs the documents and leans back in the seat.
Is he serious right now?
He doesn’t even know I’m in my final year of medicine? Does he even know a thing about me or have I been truly nothing but a
nobody holding his true lover’s place?
I pull my hand back and spin on my heel. “Go to hell, Alex.”
As I storm out of his office, my heart is hammering. Not from anger. Not from frustration. But from the one thing I refuse to
admit to myself.
I wanted his love and it’s ruining me.
And that is the worst part of all.
I walk through the parking lot, gripping my phone tightly in my hand, my heart still hammering from my argument with Alex. I
just need to get out of here. Away from him.
I still have an hour before my class starts so maybe…
You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.
Standing right by my car, arms crossed and a smug smirk painted on her lips is Leah.
