Page 19 of Checkmate
Sophie frowned, still rooted to the spot despite her brain yelling at her to get out of there.
“So why aren’t you trying something?” She asked. “You’d usually be all over me by now.”
“Because I understand the definition of insanity, and I’d rather not put it into practice.”
“I don’t understand—”
“Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. You’ve made it clear. You’re not interested in any sort of intimate relationship with me. Well done, you’ve got your wish.”
Wait, what?
She was supposed to be the one that rejected him. Not the other way around. It was insulting that he wasn’t falling at her feet, begging for a taste of her.
“Marcus—”
“Sophie! Either shut the fuck up and get out of my face, or shut the fuck up and bend over.”
Woah.
“You can’t talk to me like that—”
“I can talk to you however the fuck I want. Make your choice. You’re giving me a headache.” Stubbing out his cigarette, Marcus raised an eyebrow in challenge.
Something about the way he acted reminded her of Alex. So disconnected. So distant. And for the first time in weeks, she felt a stirring of attraction for him.
He was her husband, after all. She should be sleeping with him. Before she could doubt herself, she turned around and made a show of bending over the back of the sofa.
She heard Marcus laugh in that same harsh, condescending way. There was a scrape of wood on wood as he pushed his chair back and scratched the wooden flooring.
And then he was there, a hand on her hip, the other on her shoulder. His fingers moved higher, grabbing her hair, and wrapping it around his hand. With a sharp pull, he tugged her to a standing position as his breath fell against her ear.
“I’m not going to fuck you, Sophie,” he whispered, sending chills racing across her neck even as she whimpered in protest. “No. I’m going to leave you high and dry and show you how fucking awful rejection feels.”
Releasing her, Marcus took a step away. She looked over her shoulder before turning to face him. “Why are you being like this?”
Marcus scoffed, moving back to his desk. “If you haven’t figured it out yet, Soph, that’s not my problem. Don’t worry, though. Soon enough, everything will be crystal clear.” He lit yet another cigarette. “Now just fuck off, will you?”
She didn’t need telling again.
The sting of rejection left a sour taste in her mouth. Her eyes watered beyond her control, and a lump formed in the back of her throat. She didn’t even care about Marcus, so why was she bothered by his callous attitude?
Because no one of his calibre should ever be in the position to reject someone like her.
She was so embarrassed. So completely mortified.
Her bedroom was only a handful of steps away, and yet the walk to the door felt like miles, with each step bringing another wave of humiliation.
She slammed the door behind her and stared at her discarded work clothes. She caught sight of herself in the mirror and tore at the bodysuit that earlier had brought her so much confidence.
Naked and with tears streaming down her cheeks, she climbed into bed, pulling the covers over her head. She didn’t have to worry about Marcus finding her like this.
He had made it painfully clear that he didn’t want to be anywhere near her right now.
She should feel elated.
Instead, she couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps she was losing her touch. Alex didn’t want her outside of his dick, and now Marcus couldn’t stand to look at her.
She wasn’t sure why the men in her life had suddenly turned on her, but she was going to make damn sure they paid attention to her in the future.
