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?

But then I realized that he's been watching

he looks away for

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

adjusts his watch, his fingers brushing against

It's subtle. Barely noticeable.

But I know better.

the window, and I hold

from the corner of my eye. Trying to

don't have to babysit me, you know." I blurt

voice remains calm. "I'm

to

A casual touch. Light. But firm enough

suit, too. Otherwise, his hand on my bare skin

feels even a slight

I swallow hard.

man approaches, dressed in a crisp navy suit,

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

beautiful woman?" He asks with that smile

splits into

I seem to have some medical issues lately."

He is testing him.

his

man looks

better than that. Mr.

flames and

too distant, we are close friends Alex.

His eyes stay on

with too

swirling the whiskey in his glass. "You

the only sign that Arnold has managed to push a

confusing me with someone else,” Alex says smoothly. "I

the amusement doesn't reach his eyes. "Is that so?

be the blood running

line. Like that sentence

threat. It's a reminder, and

couldn't imagine it being more than

talking about. He never gives out

stretches between them. It's suffocating, thick with tension I

quite understand.

Alex doesn't blink.

Arnold doesn't blink.