Alexis' POV
All week, I'd attended all of the classes and as promised, Quinn had stayed out of my way, except for the first day when he'd come to inquire about the new instructor. Truly, I was enjoying the classes as much as I did when it was Quinn but deep down, it didn't feel so. I missed ogling him while he thought and performed different poses and I also missed his deep husky voice when he spoke. Although it felt as if things were different around the gym with an air of awkwardness charging around us, I couldn't blame him nor hate him for it. He was only doing my bidding. I'd asked for space and he was obeying my request.
Sometimes, I wished he'd go against my wish and try to make things work between us but I knew he wouldn't. I'd asked him to give me maximum distance. Also, it wasn't easy to watch the other women flirt with him after they realized that we no longer hung out together. Nothing was holding him back anymore so he could go after whichever one of them he wanted. These realizations didn't sit well with me but I had to accept them, move on with my life, and proceed with my self-growth journey. It was what I wanted.
It was Friday morning and the session had just ended. I'd been secretly searching for Quinn with my eyes around the gym since the moment I arrived and up until the end of the class, he didn't show up. But just as I was gathering my things to step out, I heard his husky voice. My head instantly whipped in his direction to see he'd just emerged from his private office. His eyes met mine as though he knew I'd been watching him all along. A heart-melting smile curled his lips and he winked at me. My cheeks heated up in mortification at thoughts of being caught in the act and I quickly looked away, rising to my feet with my bag over my shoulder.
When I looked up again, I saw him heading in my direction and I wondered if he wanted to speak to me as I waited, pretending to be replying to texts on my phone while watching him from my peripheral vision but then, when my eyes strayed to him for the third time, I saw one of the women in the gym standing beside him, with her cleavage pressed against his chest like she was offering them on a platter for him.
There was a coy smile on her face as one of her perfectly manicured fingers traced his biceps, tracing his tattoos, something I did with my eyes. Jealousy and rage clouded my vision, with a mix of annoyance as I inwardly wished I could shoot lasers at her from my eyes. At that point, I should have ignored the sight and left but I couldn't. It was as if I was glued to the spot, waiting to hear whatever she had to tell him, even though her motive was clear already from her body language and the way she kept on fluttering her lashes at him, eating him up with her eyes like he was her favorite candy.
"I was wondering if you'd be free this evening, Quinn," she drawled out in a velvety voice, winking at him.
"Is there any way I can help you, Miss Adams?" Quinn asked, taking a step away from her, but obviously, she didn't get the message and she stepped closer, attaching her arm to his and holding onto him like they were playing couples.
"Oh, it's nothing serious. It's just my organization is holding a fundraiser for orphanages and it'd be lovely to have you around. I know you'd love to contribute to the donations, and it'll be appreciated. Also, I'm sorry it's coming at this late hour. It wasn't planned,"
"That's wonderful, Miss Adams, but my evening is occupied already,"
I found myself smiling at his words but just when I thought she couldn't have him, she spoke again, making him another offer for breakfast, to show how truly desperate she was.
"It's no problem, Quinn. It's understandable. But you could send in your donations yeah? How about we get breakfast together and I could take the time to tell you more about my company and our motive? You could even partner with us if you're interested in the end. It'd be an honor to work with you and I'm looking forward to spending some time with you. There's a lot we could discuss and I assure you, it won't bore you," she winked at him, caressing his arms with her fingers.
For a moment, Quinn remained silent as if considering her offer, then his eyes strayed to mine and he quickly looked away like he hadn't seen me. For some reason, I expected him to decline but that wasn't the case.
"Very well, then. We could have breakfast after the class,"
"Oh, wonderful," the woman drawled, grinning from ear to ear as if she'd just won a lottery. I didn't wait to hear the rest of their conversation nor to see her celebrate her victory before storming out of the gym, with tears brimming in my eyes.
Honestly, I didn't know what I expected from him. Well, I'd told him I didn't want him and he wasn't about to wait around for me. But then again, it showed he really felt nothing for me. Maybe, just maybe, Candice was right about his motives concerning me? I questioned myself as I walked farther away from the gym, not even looking at where I was heading, but to get far away from him.
I hate the fact that he had so much power over my feelings when he meant nothing to me. I raged on internally, with a lump in my throat and tears threatening to spill from my eyes.
I will not cry because of him. He's not worth it, I am better than this. I repeated these words like a mantra as I walked, the tears almost blurring my vision.
Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me into a hard chest. A scream flew out of my lips but a palm quickly covered my mouth, yanking me into a nearby alley, and pushing me hard against the brick wall.