Chapter 17
‘elda
My heart felt like it would fly out of my chest any second with the way it thumped behind my ribs. He just sked me where I was last night. Did he already know? Now, I wasn’t one to shy away from social nteractions or confrontations for that matter but at this point, I might as well hair disappear from here.
ven as I walked back to the dining area, it was hard keeping my hands from trembling so I had to clasp hem neatly around each other.
Are you okay?” Isabella enquired, a concerned look on her face.
orcing a laugh, I tried to play it off.
Sure! I was…just…in a hurry to get back to this sumptuous meal,” I chuckled.
Ah,” she nodded knowingly before repeating, “sumptuous indeed.”
lexander returned to where we were, staring at me as he shoved his phone into his pocket.
I’ve got to go now. Something has come up that needs my attention immediately.”
sabelle pressed a hand to her chest.
It’s not something serious, is it?”
You needn’t bother your head about it,” he assured her.
His eyes turned back to me briefly. Those eyes of his. So beguiling… I hadn’t had the pleasure of looking into hem last night while he fucked me hard and fast.
his man had seen and heard me come multiple times and had only just learned my name a few minutes go. We were practically strangers and at the same time, not.
Zelda,” he pronounced my name.
The way his lips caressed each letter had my back straightening, my breath quickening, my damn nipples ightening. The fact that this man had such a strong hold over my body irked and excited me at the same ime.
‘Alexander,” I said, mentally patting myself on the back for sounding like I had my shit together when I was
a mess on the inside.
13:52
Your “Secret” Italian Sex Language? I RECORDED EVERY. SINGLE. WORD
12.1%
Chapter 17
“It was nice meeting you. We will meet again some other time.”
Some other time, I repeated in my head.
“Same here,” was my tentative reply.
It was only after he left that I was able to exhale properly. For now, at least.
“He’s an intriguing man, isn’t he?” Isabelle mused near me and I couldn’t agree more.
The man was an enigma, an extremely good-looking, powerful, intimidating puzzle. But there were enough problems on my plate already.
“Come now dear,” Isabelle gestured back to the feast “The food’s getting cold.”
She led us back to the table, where Julian and his dad were still busy enjoying their meal and chatting. But as soon as Julian spotted me, he quickly helped to pull out my chair again for me to sit.
Weird.
It dawned on me that in all our three years of dating, Julian had never pulled a chair out or opened doors for me. I used to think these were simple tasks I could do myself and wondered why women expected them of the male folk. Now I could see it was all about showing respect, a way to let someone know you loved them.
The signs had been there all along but I had chosen to be blind to them.
The man in question shot me an aggravated glance, like he didn’t get why I was so mad at him.
Pointedly ignoring him, I picked up the cutlery, cut a piece of the steak and plopped it into my mouth.
Of course, Julian had to ruin the moment even further.
“I saw you getting cozy with Alexander,” he muttered for my eyes only, spitting the name out like an epithet.
“I’d advise you to keep your distance. He’s dangerous, Zelda.”
A part of me wanted to know what he meant by dangerous, but I was still mad at him, so ignoring him was the better option.
“So, when are you two lovebirds tying the knot?” Isabelle enquired, genuinely serious.
Julian forcefully grabbed my hand with a huge smile plastered on his face.
“We’re still taking things slow for now, remember?”
I managed to stifle a snort at that comment.
13:52
Your “Secret” Italian Sex Language? I RECORDED EVERY, SINGLE. WORD
12.3%
Chapter 17
“Wise choice, son. Especially since one of you is still unemployed and a liability.”
My fork paused on the way to my mouth as my brain scrambled to process that subtle insult.
“Speaking of liabilities,” he continued, his gaze boring into me.
“When are you going to get a job, Zelda? Being a housewife in this day and age simply won’t cut it.”
The cutlery clattered noisily in my plate as I tried so hard to hold on to my anger. Where did he get off, belittling and criticising me?
“Left to me, I would strongly advise my son to find a woman more career oriented and driven,” he added.
There was Charles’s blatant disregard for me, on one hand. It was like a slap to the face. What was even more insulting was that Julian didn’t bother coming to my defense. Kinda like he agreed with his father.
“Charles!” Isabelle was astonished. “Where did that come from-”
“I’ll have you know,” I snapped, “that I’ll be returning to work in the company.”
He blinked, seeming amazed that I had had the effrontery to talk back to him.
“You remember the company I owned, right? The company that helped me get you out of debt, my dear father-in-law to be?”
“That’s enough!” Julian ordered just as Isabelle queried, “Debt? What is she talking about, Charles?”
The man of the house went red with rage and sick sense of satisfaction hit me at just how murderous I had
made him.
“Get out,” he intoned in a dangerous voice. “Get out of my house right now!”
I was only too happy to comply and I told him that much.
“Gladly.” I sneered as I pushed back my chair and stood up.
I gave Isabelle a sympathetic smile. “I’m sorry for all this.”
I then stormed out of the room without a backward glance. Just as I got to the car, Julian grabbed me and spun me around to meet his angry face.
“What was the meaning of what you did in there, Zelda? What the fuck was that for?!”
“Oh, I’m sorry, was I supposed to sit back and lhim insult me?” I yelled.
Julian sighed condescendingly.
Your “Secret” Italian Sex Language? I RECORDED EVERY. SINGLE. WORD
12.5%
Chapter 17
“There you go again, being dramatic. It isn’t like he said anything wrong.” Julian argued.
“Well, I didn’t either. Everything I said was true. Or didn’t I pay off his debts? Look me in the eye and tell me
that’s a lie.”
“What’s gotten into you all of a sudden? You’ve changed,” he accused.
“You’re the one who’s become someone else, Julian. Perhaps you’ve also been like this, but I failed to see it on time. Wanting an open relationship, letting your dad talk to me as he pleases, never putting me first for once in your miserable life!”
And wasn’t that the saddest part of it all. Having to beg for his affection… Well, I was done with that.
Looking him square in the eye, I enunciated the words that had been sitting on my tongue since yesterday.
“I don’t love you anymore, Julian!”
13706
