Chapter 60: Little Flame

Chapter 60: Little Flame
Chapter 60: Little Flame

ALEKSANDER

As she walks out the door, leaving me without the answers I need, I have to fight the urge to go after her. But I know this isn’t the right moment. She’s angry, and I’m not exactly happy with her right now.

One thing, however, is perfectly clear.

No matter how hard she tries to pretend otherwise, she isn’t indifferent to what happened. What I did affected her enough to make her think I’m trying to buy her.

I should’ve seen that reaction coming. But I never imagined she could think so little of me.

I simply did what had to be done, I think, stepping away from the door.

I stop beside the desk.

And yet here I am.

And maybe this wasn’t the right decision.

Seeing her again…

Exploding for the first time…

I shouldn’t enjoy it this much.

No. Coming here was a mistake.

Suddenly, the door moves.

For a brief moment, I think it’s her, but confusion hits me when I see it isn't.

The young woman with brown hair and green eyes who steps inside looks surprised to see me, but her expression quickly shifts into an ironic smile.

“Of course… you,” she says.

She looks familiar.

Then I remember.

The friend.

“You know what? I don’t care if you’re the owner, a partner, or whatever… you don’t get to treat her however you want.”

I remain silent, deciding whether it’s even worth interrupting her monologue.

“I’m not going to let you play with her, got it?” she warns, her threat oddly amusing.

But I don’t have time for this.

"I'm quite certain this is none of your concern," I state.

“You’re wrong. Eve is like family to me, so leave her alone. I mean, you’ve already gotten what you wanted, so stay away from her.”

The fact that she's willing to confront me makes it clear she genuinely cares about Evangeline. But I don't know if I like the fact that she knows about us.

She also seems to see Evangeline as someone incapable of defending herself. Something I've already proven isn't true.

“If she told you about it, then you should know she didn’t do anything she didn’t want to do.”

“Don’t even try… you don’t know her.”

“She’s not a child. She’s perfectly capable of making her own decisions.”

She scoffs.

“I know your type… so like I said, don’t even try. You don’t deserve her, and you wouldn’t deserve her in a million years, but Eve… she deserves so much better. She definitely didn’t deserve for the second man in her life to turn out to be just another asshole. So maybe you took advantage of her trust, but that’s over. Got it?”

Second… man?

“What did you say?”

“I said stay away from her.”

“You said second man.” I take a step forward instinctively. “What does that mean?”

She blinks, as if realizing what she just said. When her eyes meet mine again, they’re filled with regret.

“That’s none of your business.”

“Answer me,” I demand.

“What does it matter?”

What does it matter?

Fuck…

She has to be messing with me.

“Is it true?”

She doesn’t answer.

“Yes or no?” I press.

“You’ve already done enough. Just leave her alone,” she says before walking out the door.

Fuck.

This has to be a joke.

This… can’t be true.

The second…

How?

That’s impossible.

I would’ve known.

But…

The ex-boyfriend…

She said they’d been together since college.

Her only relationship.

Was he the first?

Fuck.

It doesn’t make sense.

All this time…

How did it never occur to me?

If it’s true…

It changes everything.

If I was the second…

Maybe I misunderstood her.

Maybe the way she tried to forget that night, pretending it never happened, pretending it was nothing more than a fantasy, meant exactly the opposite.

That she was marked too.

And that I hadn't been wrong in the beginning.

But that would also mean that, all this time, I’d been trying to punish someone who never existed.

And now I’ve made her believe I only wanted to use her.

That would explain everything.

Her reaction today…

The anger.

Damn it.

That woman was telling the truth.

Ah, little flame…

It’s almost impossible to ignore the satisfaction that thought brings me.

Even so, I need to be certain.

I need to go over everything.

But not here.

Without wasting another second, I leave the publishing house.

“Where to, sir?” Grant asks as I get into the car.

All I want right now is to go to her and confirm that it’s true before this thought consumes me.

But I can’t.

Not yet.

I need to think.

“The apartment… for now.”

✽ ✽ ✽ 

Author's Note
Hi, everyone!
I hope you're enjoying the story so far.
I've seen your requests for more frequent updates, and I'll do my best to update more often.
I'd love to know what you think of the story!
Love,
Mary