Page 121 of Checkmate
Damn, when had he become such a pussy?
He used to have a backbone.
“You know this is important to me, Soph. Why are you being a pest about this?”
“I thought I was important to you?” Scoffing, she tossed the covers aside and climbed out of bed. He watched her tits bounce as she crossed the room. He held back a frustrated groan and sat up.
“Where are you going?”
“I’ll sleep in the spare room,” she said, pulling the door open with more force than necessary. “Since I’m that much of a pest!”
“Sophie!” His tone was sharp and commanding. It might as well have been a whisper as she left the room without so much as a backward glance.
This was the part where he should roll over and go to sleep. She had given him exactly what he asked for—peace and quiet to prepare for the coming day. He would be a fool to give in to her and chase after her.
He cursed his foolish ass as he tossed the covers aside, grabbing a robe and shrugging it on as he left the room. “Sophie, come on. Don’t be like that.”
Fool.
“Be like what?” She asked, leaning against the wall further down the hallway. She hadn’t even made it to the spare room. So confident he’d chase her, she didn’t bother.
Fucking hell, what had he become?
“Storming out like that,” he said, gesturing behind him to their now-empty room. “Come back to bed.”
“Well, what else am I supposed to do when you’re calling me a pest?”
“I’m sorry, okay?” He wasn’t sorry. He had nothing to apologise for but now was not the time. “Look, I’m just wound up, and I need to sleep. I spoke out of turn.”
“You care more about your clients than you do about me.”
True. But again, now was not the time.
For a moment, Alex considered telling her exactly what was on his mind. He’d tell her that the affair was the biggest mistake of his life. Aside from her looks, he valued nothing else about her. She’d finally know that she was only slightly more preferable than his hand and that sex with her was becoming a source of dread for him. More than anything, he’d tell her he wanted her out of his house, out of his business and out of his life.
But then, the thought of his clients finding out that he was even more drama than they already believed him to be kept him quiet.
In his line of work, he needed to look as though he was in control of every aspect of his life. Better they believe him a love-sick fool who could not resist the attention of his pretty receptionist than a cheating asshole ruled by his dick.
Ironically, Sophie was both the cause of their doubt and the reason they stayed.
It shouldn’t be this way.
His work ethic and the results he produced should be proof of his worth. But appearances were everything. If Alex couldn’t prove that he was an excellent investment, no one would trust him to represent their company.
“That’s not true,” he said, taking a step toward her. “It’s because I care about you so much that this is so important.”
“Don’t play me for a fool, Alex,” Sophie said, slapping away his outstretched hand. “That doesn’t even make sense.”
“Doesn’t it?” He chuckled without humour. “Sophie, if the London group pulls out of this deal, do you know how much money I stand to lose?”
She shook her head. “No. But I don’t care about that!”
“Don’t you?” He asked. “Because I seem to remember you complaining about the ‘crappy flat’ you lived in with Marcus. I definitely recall you mentioning, on more than one occasion, how you wished he was more like me and could provide you a life you deserved.”
“But that was different,” she insisted.
“Not from where I’m standing.” He leaned over her, his hand resting on the wall above her head. “Sophie, once we’ve settled the divorce, I’m already going to lose a chunk of money. If the London group goes, the other clients will get spooked, and before you know it, you and I will be in our own crappy flat.”
