Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 27436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27436 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 91(@300wpm)
“Spill it. What did you do?” Nolan asks. I look around at the men who have been more like my brothers for years, the men who know every dark corner of my life.
“I’m married,” I state clearly, not mincing words. The silence that falls over the office is absolute. Even Dom, who usually has a quick remark for everything, stares at me.
“You’re what?” Rafe asks with confusion.
“I married Alexandria Holland over the weekend in Vegas,” I reiterate, my tone leaving zero room for doubt. “She’s sitting at her desk right outside the door, wearing my ring.”
“Holy shit, you actually did it. Good luck, man. I think you’re going to need it.” Dom lets out a loud laugh.
“I’ll take it.” My eyes move to the woman sitting at her desk.
“And she’s currently trying to figure out how to annul you,” Vik adds, looking from his computer screen to mine. Fucker is doing a remote log-in to her computer, and it’s a damn good thing he’s not looking at her phone. Friend or not, I’d kick his ass.
“Do the girls know yet?” Nolan shakes his head, a wry smile pulling at his mouth.
“Not yet,” Vik replies. “Which means Dante is a walking dead man the second I make a call.
“I don’t care who knows,” I say, standing from the couch, straightening my suit jacket and fixing my cuff links before I look at the group. “In fact, I’m making sure everyone knows. Starting right now.” I walk out of Vik’s office. Alexandria is sitting at her desk, holding the receiver tightly against her ear, pretending to be engaged in a work call.
“Alexandria.” I capture her attention, my deep voice cutting through the soft hum of her typing on her keyboard. She freezes instantly, her shoulders locking up as she slowly turns her head to meet my gaze. I lick my lips, letting my eyes hold hers, challenging her in a way while simultaneously conveying she lost this battle. “I suggest you tell your friends before I do it for you.”
Her eyes go as wide as saucers and a gasp escapes her lips. For two seconds, she sits there in utter shock as she realizes I’m publicly throwing down the gauntlet in front of her boss and my friends.
Then her fiery spirit flares right back up, ratcheting up a notch. With a sharp, violent motion, she slams her work phone down into its cradle with an aggressive clunk that rattles her desk. She doesn’t break eye contact with me as she reaches down, grabs her leather bag out of her desk drawer, and slings it over her shoulder. Then she stands up, her chair rolling backward, and lifts her left hand in a fist, making sure I can see the diamond, and then slowly, deliberately, extends her middle finger straight in the air as a parting shot.
She turns on her high heels, which, by the way, do amazing things for her ass and legs, and marches toward the elevator, keeping her finger in the air and leaving a trail of silence behind her. I stand watching, my hands in my pockets, rocking back on my heels. My wife walks away from me, and this time, I’m letting her go. She can run all she wants. She’ll still be in my bed tonight.
CHAPTER SEVEN
alexandria
My thumbs fly across the screen of my phone, hard and fast, nearly cracking the glass. Not really, but I’m so damn mad it sure feels like I could. I’m practically vibrating with rage as the elevator descends to the lobby. Dante’s arrogant, handsome face is burned into my retinas, but ordering me around, essentially giving me an ultimatum, is making my blood boil
“Tell your friends before I do,” I mock-mimic the infuriating man.
Alex: CODE RED. I REPEAT, CODE RED. THIS IS AN EMERGENCY.
Alex: Get to my apartment as soon as possible. Bring your appetite. I have food and wine. Don’t ask questions until you’re inside.
I tell the group chat with Cory, Romy, Mischa, Gennie, Seraphina, and Jett.
Cory: Holy shit, who do we need to kill?
Romy: I’m on the move, although it’s not that fast.
Mischa: On my way!
Gennie: Grabbing a bottle of wine from the cabinet now, then I’ll be there.
Jett: Guys, I’m in LA until Thursday Someone FaceTime me or record this because whyyyyy.
Seraphina: Shit, I’ll be there as soon as I’m done with this appointment. Don’t start without me and @Jett we’ve got you covered.
I stare at Jett’s response, hating that she won’t be there as I walk through the glass doors of Sterling Capital, and instead of flagging down a cab or calling a call, I decide to walk.
I don’t notice the others as I walk, the blaring of city noises, horns, cars, the vibrating thrum of everyday life as I march nearly twenty minutes in high heels until I make it to my apartment building. I unlock my door and push it open with more force than necessary, causing it to nearly fly into the wall until I catch it at the last possible second. Jesus, that would be interesting to have to explain to the maintenance department. Once I have my door closed, leaving it unlocked for my group of besties, I go about taking off my corporate armor immediately.