Page 45 of Checkmate
“That’s not what I meant,” he said, loosening his tie. “I just mean it threw me off to not have you by my side.”
“Please. You’re not that incapable that you need your wife by your side holding your hand.”
“What is with you tonight?” Alex said, banging his glass on the trolley. “Why are you being so mean?”
A flicker of a smirk lingered on Erica’s lips before she straightened her features.
Something had definitely changed since the beginning of the night. When they had got ready for the party only a few short hours ago, Erica had been in a great mood and acting normal.
But one evening in the company of his guests (and one guest in particular), she had become catty and unreasonable.
“I wouldn’t say I’m being mean,” Erica said, her eyes on his. “A bit more outspoken, maybe.”
“What did you and Marcus talk about?” He asked. “What could he have possibly said to have this much impact on you.”
“It’s nothing to do with Marcus,” Erica said, rolling her eyes. “This is about you and your hatred for a bloke you don’t know just because I got caught laughing with him.”
“When you were supposed to be with me! Erica, you let me down—”
“So why did you start the damn speech if it was so important to have me there with you?
“This is pathetic, Alex. Pathetic. We sound like high schoolers.”
“Look, I just don’t want you working with him. It’s as simple as that.”
Erica knocked back her drink and stood. “And as you have neither explained yourself nor given me a reason not to, I’ll not entertain this any longer.”
“Why do you need an explanation?” He asked. “Why can’t you just appreciate that this makes me uncomfortable?”
“Because I like the sound of Marcus’ business, and I want to be involved. I think it will be fun and I am finally doing something for me.
“I don’t know what your issue is with him beyond the idea you have that he might have a crush on me, but you either trust me or you don’t.”
“Of course I trust you,” he said.
“Then you know it doesn’t matter about anything else, or who is looking in my direction. You trust me, you know I haven’t, and won’t, do anything.”
“But he might—”
“Sophie might,” she countered. “I don’t make demands of you, Alex. I don’t ask you to cut out every woman who might potentially have a crush on you.”
“But that’s different!”
“And how is it different? Because it impacts you this time?”
Yes.
But he couldn’t tell her that. Nor could he ever adequately explain himself without coming across like an asshole.
How was he supposed to explain the ego boost whenever some hot twenty-year-old crushed on him, but when the roles were reversed, he took it as an insult?
Erica was his. And she didn’t need the reminder that there were other options outside of him.
“Look, Erica, we’re going around in circles, and I think I just need to state it clearly.”
“By all means,” she said, gesturing for him to continue.
“You’re demanding all these explanations from me, but the simple fact is you don’t need one. You are my wife, and as such, you won’t do anything that I feel is inappropriate, or will reflect poorly on our image.” He released a heavy sigh. “I hate to put my foot down on this, but I am. You’re not the type of person to make her loved ones feel uncomfortable, so we both know you won’t do it. Conversation over.”
