Page 128 of Checkmate
“It isn’t,” she admitted. “Not really. But here you are with all these options for me, asking my opinion, wanting my input.”
“I’m asking a pretty big thing of you, Erica. Why wouldn’t I include you?”
“I guess I didn’t realise how important this sort of stuff was to me. Alex made all my decisions for me, he took care of everything. It’s nice to have some independence.”
“So what does that mean, Erica? Are you buying this house with me or not?”
Sure, she could go it alone and find some shitty flat to rent for the sake of an easier life. God knows after the last six months, she didn’t need more drama in her life. But on the other hand, it would have been a much more difficult six months if Marcus wasn’t there with her day by day.
Buying a house with him was a risk.
But it would be one hell of an adventure.
“There’s one more thing we need to discuss before I say either yes or no,” she said, chewing her lip.
“Okay, what’s that?”
“My divorce,” she said, sighing and rubbing her temple. “Alex still hasn’t signed the papers, and until he does...”
“Yeah, I get it. You don’t want him to use a house in the divorce.” He nodded once. “Is that the only thing stopping you?”
Erica spread a slow smile and chuckled. “Yes, Marcus. Presuming we can get the funds together and nothing fucks us over, the only reservation I have is Alex and the divorce.”
“Well, in that case, perhaps I should pay him a visit,” Marcus said with a grin. “Man to man. What could go wrong?”
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.
