Page 165 of Checkmate
He put his phone down, meeting her gaze. “I’ll love her when she’s here, I’m sure. What’s the matter? Hormonal?”
Maybe she was. But still, that wasn’t the answer she wanted to hear. Shrugging, she grabbed some clothes from the closet, dressing swiftly. “Would you feel the same if Erica was pregnant?”
His head tilted, looking her up and down. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “I think so. Why so many questions about Erica?”
“Do you still love her?” She asked, fastening her skirt and smoothing it over her bump.
“No.” He shook his head, shifting uncomfortably as he moved off the bed and approached her. “Not the way I used to, anyway.”
“Do you wish she was here instead of me?”
“What? Sophie, no. What’s got into you?”
She shrugged again, chewing her lip. Then why hadn’t he sent off the divorce papers yet? “Hormones, like you said,” she lied. “Sorry, I’m certifiable.”
“You’re worrying about nothing,” he agreed, kissing the side of her head. “It’s all going to be okay, Sophie. I really believe that. Let’s go, yeah?”
Top drawer of his desk.
The words kept playing on repeat as they drove through the early morning traffic. They were making good time, and Alex was in a particularly good mood. Part of her wondered why, the other part of her fixated on those papers.
Underneath the black diary.
Over and over, the words repeated until she was sure she’d go dizzy from them racing around her mind. She walked into the office building with Alex’s arm around her waist, not even sure when she’d left the car.
Surely Erica was lying.
There was no way the papers would be there, There was no way she couldn’t check.
As had become their daily routine, Alex led her to her desk, making sure she was situated and comfortable. He knelt on the floor in front of her, wrapping her arms around her waist and placing a gentle kiss on her bump. All for show, of course. Her heart ached as she wished for just one moment where his affection towards their daughter was real.
“My angels,” he murmured, cupping her cheeks as he stood. “Just call me if you need anything, baby.”
He kissed her while Sophie looked over his shoulder. Was anyone falling for this? She wondered. Did she look like the idiot she felt she was? Alex bid her farewell, locking himself in his office as Sophie forced herself to concentrate on her morning chores.
Top drawer of his desk.
She returned a bunch of phone calls, arranging and rearranging Alex’s meetings.
Underneath the black diary.
She typed up the latest promotional pack, ready for Alex to proofread.
Top drawer of his desk.
The pile of envelopes she had been ignoring for days seemed to organise itself as she worked through them one by one.
Underneath the black diary.
Her once drab keyboard, murky from overuse, now gleamed after a thorough cleaning.
Top drawer of his desk. Underneath the black diary.
Top drawer of his desk. Underneath the black diary.
“Sophie?” Alex clicked his fingers in front of his face. “Sophie, are you paying attention?”
Shaking her head, she blinked a few times, forcing herself to focus on Alex. Her cheeks flamed as she saw his associates looking at her as though she belonged in some sort of facility.
