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?

few times, I thought it was a coincidence. But then I realized that he's been

he looks

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

adjusts his watch, his fingers brushing against my wrist as he

It's subtle. Barely noticeable.

But I know better.

I hold my breath,

the corner of my eye. Trying

babysit me, you know." I blurt

his voice remains calm. "I'm not babysitting

back to

thigh. A casual touch. Light. But firm

wore a suit, too. Otherwise, his

even a slight shiver when we

I swallow hard.

dressed in a crisp navy suit, his salt-and-pepper hair neatly

man of the hour!" he greets with a firm handshake, his gaze briefly flicking

that smile that looks painted on. "My personal doctor."

heart splits into

you? I seem to have some medical issues

He is testing him.

his

brutal rejection, but something about the way this man looks at me unsettles me, and suddenly, I'm grateful he didn't sell

sure you know better than that.

dancing with flames and daring him

friends Alex. You can call

there's no humor in it. His eyes stay on Alex, hard with challenge, waiting to see if he'll

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

muses, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "You never used to mind

slightly against my thigh. It's the only sign that Arnold has managed to push a button. But his

must be confusing me with someone else,” Alex says smoothly. "I don't share what's

doesn't reach his eyes. "Is that so? That's quite possessive for a

the blood running

thin line. Like that sentence

a reminder, and

imagine it being more than a

is Alex we're talking about. He

It's suffocating, thick with tension I

quite understand.

Alex doesn't blink.

Arnold doesn't blink.