The next day at work, the sharp click of familiar footsteps made me bok up from my computer screen. Alexander was heading straight for my desk, his face tight with barely contained emotion. My stomach clenched as I recognized that look it never meant anything good.
“You yesterday… he started, his voice carrying an edge I’d never heard before.
I kept my expression professionally neutral despite how my pulse quickened. “Did you need something?”
“You didn’t come home last night!” His voice rose slightly, drawing curious glances from nearby cubicles. ‘Running around all night do you have any idea what people will say? A young woman like you.”
“Excuse me?” I set down my papers carefully, fighting to keep my voice steady. “Since when do I need to report my whereabouts to you?”
Alexander’s face darkened as I stood to leave. He caught up in two quick strides, grabbing my arm. “Summer! Where were you last night? It was Brandon, wasn’t it? That bastard – do you even know what kind of person he is? How could you just spend the night with someone like that? Have you thought about what people will say?”
“Enough!” The word burst out. My mind flashed to Brandon – his quiet strength, the way he always seemed to appear when I needed
him most.
“He’s not the kind of person you think he is.” I said firmly.
“Summer, how could you disappoint me like this?” Alexander’s eyes were wild with something that looked unsettlingly like possession. “How could you do this to me?”
Before I could react, his hands shot out, grabbing my shoulders with bruising force. The world tilted as he shoved me into the empty elevator, my back hitting the wall hard enough to knock the breath from my lungs.
“Let go!” I gasped, fear and fury warring in my chest. “Alexander, you’ve lost your mind! Let me go!”
He pressed closer, his cologne suddenly suffocating. “Tell me the truth – did you sleep with him? Answer me!”
Terror gave me strength. I thrashed against his grip, managing to land a stinging slap across his face. “Look at who I am! I’m Summer, not Victoria. If you want to go crazy, go find Victoria!”
The mention of his fiancée’s name had an unexpected effect. Instead of backing off, he suddenly wrapped his arms around me in a crushing embrace.
“Summer, I’m sorry,” his voice turned sickeningly sweet. “You know you’re the one I really love. Victoria… that was just a moment of weakness. She seduced me, Summer.”
“Let go, I could barely breathe through his grip. “Let go or I’ll scream.”
“Go ahead,” his tone turned ugly. “Scream. And I’ll tell everyone how you’re still in love with me, how we were together first. Summer, I know you’re angry about Victoria, but you have to understand – she has Capital Corp shares. I had no choice. But once we’re married and those shares are mine, I’ll divorce her. Then we can be together.”
The words hit like physical blows. With strength born of desperation, I drove my knee up between his legs. The moment his grip loosened, I lunged for the elevator buttons.
1/2
“You don’t love me anymore, is that it?” He wheezed, still managing to catch my wrist. “So you’ve fallen for that thug instead?”
He’s not a thug. The defense came automatically. I took a deep breath, meeting his eyes steadily. “And go fuck yourself.”
My phone’s shrill ring felt like an ice pick through my skull. I stared at the screen for long moments before finally answering
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