Chapter 8
Iwalkedinto the lobby of Max’s building, nerves coursing through my body. I had no idea what I was doing, but when I looked at the door behind me, I knew I couldn’t back out. I had to move forward, and this was the first step to doingthat.
“Excuse me, ma’am. Can I help you?” The look on the receptionists face told me she knew I didn’t belong there, and I couldn’t blame her for thinking that. I probably looked like a completemess.
“Um, yeah.” I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “I’m here to see MaxWellington.”
I knew the moment the words came out of my mouth that I was sealing my fate. I never thought that one day I would be running to my boss, and not just that but running to Max, of all people. My world was crashing around me, but I didn’t know where else to go where I wouldn’t be judged. I wouldn’t hear people say horrible things about my husband. Because even though Adam was leaving me, he was still my husband. Until the ink dried on the divorce papers, I would keep this to myself. No one needed to know justyet.
I was escorted to an elevator off the main lobby. When I entered, one of the doormen put in a key and hit the penthouse button, waving to me just before the doors closed. As I ascended to the top floor, my phone buzzed. A text fromLilly.
Where are you?Adam said to tell him when you got here. That was almost an hourago.
Ichecked the time,not realizing how long I had been walking around before I ended up here. The elevator dinged, and the doors slipped open. I wasn’t expecting Max to be standing there waiting for me. He was in jeans and a shirt. The moment I looked into his eyes, a sob broke fromme.
“I’m sorry, this was a bad idea.” I tried to turn around, but he pulled me out of the elevator and straight into what seemed like the lobby to his place. I tried to pull away as the tears rolled down my face freely. “I shouldn’t have come here. I’msorry.”
“What happened, Alexa?” Max’s voice was soft, and I knew that, unlike Adam, he cared. He pulled me closer as I tried to hold him at arm’s length, but he clung to me, not letting me go. He had an arm around my waist and another on my neck, his hand buried in my mess of hair. I let my head rest against hischest.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t drag you into my mess.” My tears seeped into his shirt. I gasped as he lifted me up and carried me to what seemed to be a spare bedroom. Max laid me down on the bed and took my bag. He took my shoes off and covered me with a blanket. He didn’t ask another question, but instead left me alone. My phone kept vibrating as I placed it facedown on the nightstand beside me, but I ignored it. I closed my eyes for what I thought was a moment, trying to escape the horrific nightmare that was now my life, but I was awoken by yells coming from the other room. I flipped over my phone, seeing a few recent texts fromLilly.
Adam’s worried.He wants to know where youare.
I’m worried now.Callme.
Icalled Greg.You’re withMax?
It was midnight now;the last text had come about twenty minutes ago. The voices grew loudernow.
I dragged myself out of the bed, slipping from the room and into the hall to see where the noise was coming from. I knew this wasn’t my place to move around freely, but I didn’t think Max was one to have a screaming match in the middle of the night. When I went into the living room, I could see Max standing by the elevator with his arms out. He was holding open the doors but blocking the way aswell.
“She’s my wife. I know she’s in here. Now let me speak to her.” It wasAdam.
“She came here and not there for a reason, and you don’t get to call her your wife when she walks through my doors sobbing. What did you do to her?” It was like Max knew. Like he could read my face this afternoon when he found me in the bathroom and when I came here tonight. Maybe this was why I felt so safe with him. I didn’t have to tell him what was wrong, he already knew by just looking atme.
“What do you care? Who are you anyways?” I knew I needed to step in before this situation turned into something that itwasn’t.
“Adam.” His name came out as a whisper, and I was surprised either man heard me. I stepped closer to both of them. Max had moved from the elevator, and Adam was trying to step off it. “How did you gethere?”
“Lilly told me you were here.” His eyes were soft and careful. He knew Lilly didn’t know, and that was his advantage. I should have texted her when I left himearlier.
“You should leave, Adam.” I was still facing Adam, but I could feel Max move closer behindme.
“I’m taking you with me.” I held up my hand, motioning for Adam to stop as he stepped closer to me, but he didn’t take it as that. He tried to reach for my hand, but Max grabbed me first, pulling me towards him so my back was plastered against his front. Adam’s eyes widened in shock. Max spun me around and I only caught a glimpse of the anger in his eyes before I was behind him, hidden from bothmen.
“Alexa.” Adam’s voice sounded strained, but Max still held me tight tohim.
“Don’t say her name,” Max barked out. He still had one arm around me, holding me to his back. The muscles in his arm straining to keep methere.
“What are you doing here?” Adam’s question was weary. I stood on my tiptoes to look over Max’s arm, which was in my way. I could see the fear in Adam’s eyes. He had no idea what was happening, but neither did I. I hadn’t expected Adam to come here or for Max to act likethis.
“She’s safe here.” Max stole the words from my mouth, but they were true. I tried to push past Max again to get to Adam, to try to explain this, but Max held me still behind him. I was caged to hisback.
“You can’t stay here. Let me take you to Lilly’s.” The same soothing voice from earlier came out of Adam. He was trying to get me to do what he wanted. I ducked under Max’s arm, catching him off guard. I stood between the two men again. One hand stopping Adam from coming any closer, but this time he didn’t reach for me. The other hand was pressed against Max’schest.
“I want to stayhere.”
Fire rose in Adam’s eyes. “Who is he?” The venom in his voice made meflinch.
