Chapter 3 3

Isabella

I stared at the door Alex had just disappeared through, a hollow feeling spreading in my chest. My body was still humming with need, but my mind raced with suspicion. Who the hell has a client emergency at midnight? And why did he look so guilty?

I considered going back to my apartment, but exhaustion washed over me. The champagne buzz had faded, leaving me with a dull headache and the beginnings of what promised to be a nasty hangover.

"Fuck it," I muttered, heading to the bedroom.

I stripped off my dress, letting it pool at my feet before rummaging through the drawer Alex had cleared for me. I pulled on an oversized t-shirt and cotton shorts, then went to the bathroom to wash off my makeup. The woman in the mirror looked tired, her lipstick smudged and mascara slightly smeared under her eyes.

After brushing my teeth with the spare toothbrush I kept there, I crawled into Alex's king-sized bed. The sheets smelled like his cologne, a scent that usually comforted me. Tonight, it just made me feel lonely.

I tried to stay awake and confront him when he returned, but my eyelids grew heavy. The last thing I remembered before drifting off was checking the clock: 1:23 AM.

Sunlight streamed through the half-open blinds, hitting me directly in the face. I groaned, rolling over to escape the brightness. My hand bumped against something warm and solid.

Alex.

He was sprawled on his stomach, one arm tucked under his pillow, his face peaceful in sleep. His dark hair was messy, stubble darkening his jaw. I checked the time: 7:47 AM.

I watched him for a moment, trying to reconcile the man sleeping beside me with the one who'd rushed out in the middle of sex last night. He looked so innocent now, his lips slightly parted, his breathing deep and even.

As if sensing my gaze, his eyes fluttered open. He blinked a few times, focusing on my face.

"Morning," he mumbled, his voice rough with sleep.

"Morning," I replied, keeping my tone neutral. "What time did you get in?"

He rubbed his eyes, rolling onto his back. "Around three, I think. You were already knocked out. Didn't want to wake you."

"That was considerate of you," I said, unable to keep the edge from my voice.

Either he didn't notice or chose to ignore it. He stretched, the sheet slipping down to reveal his bare chest. "Sorry about last night. That client is a real pain in the ass."

"It's alright," I lied, sitting up against the headboard. "How'd the work go?"

"Finished just in time." He yawned. "Crisis averted."

"Great." I forced a smile. "I'm going to make coffee."

I slipped out of bed before he could pull me back in, padding to the kitchen to start the coffee maker. As the rich aroma filled the apartment, I leaned against the counter, trying to sort through my jumbled thoughts.

Was I being paranoid? Alex had always been ambitious, always putting work first. It was one of the things that had initially attracted me to him-his drive and determination. Lately, these "emergencies" have become more frequent, always pulling him away at odd hours.

The coffee maker beeped, jolting me from my thoughts. I poured two mugs, adding a splash of cream to mine and leaving his black.

***

The weekend rolled around faster than expected. After a busy week at the office, I was looking forward to some downtime with Alex.

I sat at the kitchen island, sipping my coffee and scrolling through Instagram. Sunlight bathed the open-concept space, highlighting the expensive finishes of his penthouse. Sometimes, I still couldn't believe I was dating a guy who lived in a place like this.

Alex wandered in, his hair still tousled from sleep. He was wearing only gray sweatpants that hung dangerously low on his hips.

"Morning, beautiful," he said, pouring himself a cup of coffee.

I glanced up from my phone, appreciating the view. "Good morning. Sleep well?"

"Like a fucking rock." He leaned against the counter, taking a long sip. "What do you want to do today? We could hit that new brunch spot on Melrose."

"Sounds perfect. I've been dying to try their avocado toast."

"Basic," he teased, nudging my foot with his.

His phone buzzed on the counter. He checked the screen and frowned slightly.

"Mark," he muttered before answering. "Hey, what's up?"

I returned to my Instagram scrolling, half-listening to his conversation.

"Today? Seriously?" Alex sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. Yeah, I can meet you in an hour... No, the usual spot... Yeah, I'll bring the files."

He hung up, shooting me an apologetic look.

"Work stuff?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

"Yeah, Mark needs to go over the proposal before Monday's meeting." He came around the island and wrapped his arms around me from behind, pressing a kiss to my neck. "Two hours, tops. Then I'm all yours for the rest of the weekend."

I leaned back against his chest. "Promise?"

"Cross my heart." His hands slid up to cup my breasts through my thin tank top. "And when I get back, we can pick up where we left off the other night."

Heat pooled between my legs at the memory.

He squeezed my nipples lightly before releasing me. "I'm gonna shower."

"Need company?" I offered.

"As tempting as that is, I'd never make it to the meeting." He winked, heading toward the bathroom.

I finished my coffee, listening to the shower running. His phone pinged on the counter. I ignored it. Then it pinged again. And again.

Three messages in a row? My stomach tightened. I glanced toward the bathroom door, hearing Alex humming some pop song.

It was wrong to look. Completely wrong.

The phone pinged a fourth time.

Fuck it.

I picked up his phone, expecting to see Mark's name. Instead, the screen showed three promotional texts from his cell provider and one from DoorDash about weekend specials.

"Jesus, Izzy," I muttered to myself. "Get a grip."

I was about to put the phone down when I noticed Sarah's name sandwiched between the other chats.

Sarah?

My thumb hovered over the screen. This was a violation of trust.

I tapped the notification.

The message thread opened, and my blood turned to ice.

Sarah: Last night was fucking incredible. Still feeling you inside me

Sarah: Can't wait to ride that huge cock again

Alex: Your pussy felt amazing wrapped around me. Next time I want to bend you over and fuck that tight ass

Sarah: Yes, please. My nipples get hard just thinking about it

Sarah: Miss you already, babe. When can I see you again?

The phone nearly slipped from my hand. My heart hammered against my ribs. Who the fuck was Sarah? And why was she calling my boyfriend "babe"?