Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

Chapter 38 ~ Vanilla scent

ATHENA

"I really don't want to be here." I protest.

Alex doesn't even glance at me as he adjusts his cufflinks, his green eyes scanning the racetrack. "It's just for two hours. We'll go home soon. I couldn't reschedule this."

I cross my arms, shifting uncomfortably in the wooden seat. The air is thick with the scent of freshly cut grass, leather, and expensive cologne. The cheers of the crowd rise and fall as another race begins, hooves pounding against the dirt track like a drumbeat.

I couldn't care less.

The only thing I want is to go home.

Alex, however, sits perfectly composed beside me, looking every bit the powerful billionaire he is. I must say I did wonder how an orphan girl like me landed auch a man, but I've been too scared to ask.

We have a dinner coming up where I'm supposed to meet his grandmother, and I'm a nerve wreck.

It's been a week since that incident, and even though I've been wanting to get some sun, this wasn't how I envisioned it.

"You could've left me at home," I mutter, my fingers tightening around the glass of water in my lap.

Alex finally looks at me, his expression unreadable. "No."

One word. No explanation.

Another thing I've come to learn about Alex is that he's extremely hot but also very annoying.

I exhale sharply, turning my gaze to the track. Another race is starting, the announcer's voice booming through the speakers.

A group of thoroughbreds burst out of the gates, their jockeys leaning forward, urging them faster.

The crowd roars.

I don't react.

Because the only thing I can focus on is Alex.

Or rather, how he's been acting these past few days.

He hasn't left the house.

He's been working from home, his laptop always within reach, but his eyes constantly flicking toward me like he's expecting me to collapse at any moment.

Every ten minutes, without fail, he finds a reason to check on me.

Do you need anything?

Are you hungry?

Are you tired?

Are you cold?

it was a coincidence. But then I realized that he's been watching me. Monitoring

disappear if he

we are, sitting in the VIP section of a horse race, pretending everything is

adjusts his watch, his fingers brushing

It's subtle. Barely noticeable.

But I know better.

the senses out the window, and I hold my breath, every hair on my body

at him from the corner of my

me, you know." I

but his voice remains

back to

my thigh. A casual touch. Light. But

good thing I wore a suit, too. Otherwise, his hand on my bare skin would throw

I wonder if he feels even a slight shiver when

I swallow hard.

in a crisp navy

he greets with a firm handshake, his gaze briefly flicking to

He asks with that smile that looks painted on.

splits

borrowed her, would you? I seem to have some medical issues lately." He flashes him another one of sick

He is testing him.

his

man looks at me unsettles me, and suddenly, I'm grateful he

better than that. Mr. Brown." Alex

are dancing with flames and

friends Alex. You can call

it. His eyes stay on Alex, hard with challenge, waiting to see

he's in his late forties with too much gel in his hair.

muses, swirling the whiskey in his glass.

fingers flex slightly against my thigh. It's the only sign that Arnold

confusing me with someone else,” Alex says

amusement doesn't reach his eyes. "Is

the blood running

lips into a thin line.

threat. It's a

I couldn't imagine it being more than a

talking about. He never

between them. It's suffocating, thick

quite understand.

Alex doesn't blink.

Arnold doesn't blink.