Page 84 of Checkmate
Casting her gaze down to her notebook, Sophie grabbed the phone and dialled the first number she could think of. Anything to look busy.
Erica gave her a finger wave before rejoining Alex as the two of them shared a cosy goodbye.
What the hell had just happened?
What life-changing plans had she been talking about? They were already married, so that wasn’t it, and she couldn’t imagine Alex was the type for a vow renewal. Besides, that wasn’t life-changing.
Oh god, she wasn’t pregnant, was she?
Surely not. Surely Alex would have told her if that was the case. It would be cruel otherwise.
And what was the gift for Marcus? Who did this woman think she was getting her husband a gift? Sophie hadn’t even got him one yet.
Why would she when they’d been so distant recently? It wouldn’t surprise her if her gift from Marcus was divorce papers.
Not that she’d sign them, of course.
Not until Alex’s marriage was over, too. Why would she give up her home, as crap as it was, to live fuck knows where?
Marcus was her safety net, and she wouldn’t give him up without good reason to.
“Hello, River Communications.”
Sophie pulled the phone away from her ear and frowned. She had drowned out the sound of the ringing so that a human voice suddenly in her ear startled her.
Glancing over and seeing Erica long gone, she mumbled, already replacing the receiver.
“Wrong number, sorry.” Pulling a face, she glanced around the room.
Everyone was so busy with work, getting those last hours in before the Christmas break, no one had noticed her sitting there battling her inner turmoil.
Why was she slaving away in a job she didn’t love, for an asshole of a boss, where everyone was so wrapped up in their own issues, they couldn’t even see she was struggling?
“Sophie.”
Jumping at the sound of Alex’s voice, Sophie whipped her head around, seeing him standing outside his office. He had his arms folded over his chest, his expression blank.
Now people were turning to look. She didn’t have to see them to know they were craning their necks, desperate for a bit of gossip.
“My office,” Alex barked, leaving no room for argument. Part of her wanted to stay in her seat and continue to give him the cold shoulder, but this wasn’t her lover speaking to her.
This was her boss, and if she didn’t move her ass, she wouldn’t have a job for much longer.
Reluctantly, she pushed away from the desk and avoided everyone’s gaze as she walked past Alex and into his office. Taking a seat without being asked, she crossed her legs and stared out of the window behind his desk, refusing to look at him as he sat.
“You’re acting like a petulant child, Sophie. Stop it.”
Rolling her eyes, she continued to look past him, counting the pigeons that were roosting on the building opposite them.
“Dammit Sophie, I will not ask you again,” he said, slamming his hand down on the desk. “Fucking look at me.”
Dragging her gaze from the window, Sophie forced herself to look at him, ignoring the murderous look on his face.
“I would like to remind you that regardless of anything going on in your personal life when you are in this building, you are to be nothing but professional—”
“Which I have been,” she interjected. “Save the speech, Alex, and get to the point.”
“Well, no. You haven’t been professional. I’ve had multiple people ask me what’s wrong with you.”
