ande

feet, and all I can see is her laughing with Marcus Rivera, actually laughing, that g

now we're in the bedroom and she thinks she can just walk away, pretend tonigh

third of the night, watch h

ot done

rns slowly, still in that ridic

y, Alexander? You've made

oked like you forgot your position tonight, chatting up my enemy at

"He was being nice to me, something you'v

my hands clench

t an agenda, he's using you to get to me, he wan

, what do you call what we have? What do you call this arrangement where you

signed your name to, one you're handsomely compensated for, or did

yee," her voice cra

are," I cut her off, my voi

to play the devoted wife in public, that means not flirting with ot

conversation with me, treating me like a human being, asking ab

of my scotch, th

t you call it? You gave him your nu

ugh gritted teeth, "for a potential partnership with th

to you, you will not see Marcus Rivera again, you will not call him, you will not spe

k free, "You're hu

er space, "That's nothing compared to what I'll

to me every single day?" her voice bre

smelling like perfume that isn't mine, every time I have to smile and prete

n I married you, Elena, an orphan with nothing, I gave you everyth

for any of this

oney and security an

ething to do with my hands bef

end of the contract, play your pa

ifts her chin, defiant eve

pretending? What if

bomb, I set down my glass very

that what you want? To n

es white, "

her, I have lawyers who can make it happen. Elena, The best lawyers money can buy, they will pa

ing an affai

lie, "imagine what a judge will think, imagine l

ce is barely audible, "how c

e stays with me, now get out of my sight

r the guest room door slam, hear the lock click, good,

ing her in her place, she needed to be reminded of the consequences of de

ember her face, the hurt in her eyes, the way her hands s

ver it, she

nd, Victoria's name flashing, C

k a suite at The Plaza for tomorrow afternoon, out of spite, out of rage, out o

te these, You think you control her but you're losing her, tick t

"I want to know who's sending these messages,

id answers, "a

ed to know everywhere she goes, everyone she tal

, th

I snap, "just do it, I need to know

my mind racing with possibi

na really d

ave enough to ri

ushed her too

ink, she won't leave, she can't, clause f

need to see my son, remind m

e small hand clutching his stuffed bear, he looks so innocent

what would Julian think of th

nough to understand that I kept his

ecision, I turn the lock from the outside, a new security measure

, she's standing in the hallway looking horrified,

coldly, "there have been t

this about controlling everything in

I say, "keep everything locked down, keep everyo

s pale, her voice drops

e of it, and you're about to lose everything because you're followi

," I say

Harri

y voice rises "mind

hallway, Julian locked in his room, Elena locked in the guest ro

feel like I'm t