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 watching

disappear if he looks

sitting in the VIP section of a horse race, pretending

brushing against my wrist as

It's subtle. Barely noticeable.

But I know better.

window, and I hold

at him from the corner of my eye. Trying to

don't have to babysit me, you

jaw tightens slightly, but his voice remains calm.

huff, turning back to the race. "Could've

hand rests on my thigh. A casual touch. Light. But firm enough to keep me

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

if he feels even a slight shiver when

I swallow hard.

man approaches, dressed in a crisp navy suit, his

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

that smile that looks painted

splits into

you wouldn't mind if borrowed her, would you? I seem to have some medical issues lately." He

He is testing him.

his

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

than that. Mr. Brown."

dancing with flames and daring him

are close friends Alex. You can

chuckles, but there's no humor in it. His eyes stay on Alex, hard with challenge, waiting to

looks like he's in his late forties with too much gel in

in his

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

someone else,” Alex says smoothly. "I

his eyes. "Is that

blood running in

his lips into a thin line. Like that sentence is a code

threat. It's a reminder,

it being

about.

stretches between them. It's suffocating,

quite understand.

Alex doesn't blink.

Arnold doesn't blink.