Two weeks have passed since Alex mentioned a certain Racheal, and I still can’t muster the courage to ask him who she is because I’m terrified of the answer.
“Are you alright, love?” Alex inquires. I shake my head but nod slightly. “Did you not enjoy the food?” he asks, and I shake my head again.
“The food is great; I just couldn’t stop thinking,” I say with a faint smile. Alex takes my hand and kisses it gently.
“I chose this restaurant for our first anniversary, and I remember how much you loved it the first time I brought you here,” he adds cheerfully, and I smile again.
I absolutely adore this man.
“Thank you, Alex,” I whisper, looking him in the eye.
His happiness is clear, and I don’t want to ruin it. I bite my inner cheek and keep eating.
“I was thinking of going out to party tonight, but if you’re not up for it, we can just stay in,” he suggests. I shake my head, smiling slightly in response.
“Whatever you want is fine with me,” I agree, and Alex smiles without showing his teeth. “By the way, Emily invited me to stay at her place tomorrow; that’s okay, right?” I ask, and he shakes his head.
“I’m not your father, honey,” he chuckles, and I join in. “You’re free to do what you wish, as long as it doesn’t involve other guys or drugs.”
I continue enjoying my delicious pasta while stealing glances at Alex.
Being with him has been wonderful, but I can’t shake the fear that he might be thinking about another woman. What if he meets her again and decides he loves her more than me? Or worse, what if he’s cheating on me? I need to stop fixating on her! With a sigh, I rub my forehead.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks, and I nod, feeling frustrated. “You seem off, almost upset,” he remarks, and I look straight into his eyes.
“I’m fine, Daddy,” I lie, and though Alex seems unsure, he eventually nods.
As we dine, Alex talks about a meeting from earlier where they discussed expanding into the U. S. He talks passionately, and I pretend to listen while my mind races with thoughts like:
Is she pretty? Does she have a nice body? Did he ask her to call him Daddy too? Will he love her? Is she even younger? I swear I’m losing my mind.
When Alex pays, we both stand up, his hand linking with mine as we walk to his car. He helps me into the passenger seat, and once he’s settled in with his seatbelt, he takes my hand again- a habit we’ve established while living together. I once enjoyed his hand resting on my thigh, but I also find comfort in simply holding hands.
“Do you want to watch a movie or go to a bar?” he suddenly asks, leaving me a bit bewildered. “You know, tonight,” he prompts. I open my mouth, hesitating before finally saying, “Surprise me.”
“I need to head to the office quickly, but I promise to take you home afterward.” I nod, and that’s our course of action.
As soon as we arrive at the office, his secretary greets us, and we exchange pleasantries. In the elevator, Alex kisses me as soon as the doors close, and I giggle, running my fingers through his hair while his hands roam over my blouse. I moan softly at his touch.
Just before the elevator doors open, we pull apart, and I stifle a laugh at Alex’s tousled hair.
Once in his office, he rummages through some papers while I sit on his couch. Suddenly, the door swings open.
“Hey,” Niall says, and I wave back. “I have a question for both of you,” he continues, making his way toward Alex. I take a cushion and settle in. “Do you have the contracts ready?” he asks. Alex hands him the papers I had helped him review earlier; the paid sex was thrilling.
“What’s your question for me?” I ask, looking over at Niall, who sits next to me with a sigh.
“Has Emily said anything about me in the past few days?” he asks, looking concerned. I shake my head, making a face at him. He sighs, then notices my hand and frowns. “Where did you get that ring?” he inquires, and I tilt my head.
“I’ve had it for years,” I reply, puzzled at his response. He examines it closely.
“It looks a bit familiar,” he mumbles thoughtfully. “It resembles an engagement ring,” he mentions, and I shrug.
“Maybe you saw it at the store where my father bought it,” I suggest nonchalantly.
I do cherish the ring; it’s white gold with a slightly blue diamond. My mother once said she doubted the diamond was genuine, but she urged me to cherish it because it was one of the few mementos I have of my father. I miss her dearly.
“Yeah, that must be it,” Niall whispers, still skeptical. I decide to brush it off and change the subject.
“Are you and Emily dating?” I ask, watching him fidget with his neck.
“It’s complicated,” he replies, and I grimace. Alex approaches.
“And you judged me for dating Nina; I hope Emily makes you pay,” he jokes while lighting a cigarette.
I puff my cheeks as the smoke drifts toward me. I’m not bothered by Alex smoking, but I can’t stand the smell.
“What’s up? You don’t look too happy,” Alex teases. I let out a breath and shake my head.
“I just really dislike the smell of cigarettes,” I admit quietly.
Alex cups my face and gazes into my eyes, saying, “You’re beautiful.” I feel my cheeks warm. Looking down, I bite my bottom lip.
Alex crouches to meet my eye level, stroking my face while the smoke ignites my senses. He flicks the cigarette ash to the ground. I sigh and glance at Niall, who watches us with amusement.
“Well, finally someone calls you out on your smoking habit,” Niall chimes in, and I scowl.
“I don’t mind Alex smoking; it’s just the smell I can’t stand,” I clarify.
Alex takes a puff before tossing the cigarette to the ground and stepping on it. I roll my eyes.
“Niall, give us a moment, will you?” Alex requests, his eyes fixed on me.
Niall raises an eyebrow but respects the request, leaving the office without hesitation. Once the door is shut, Alex locks it, then looks at me.