Emily rushed to the location Alexander had mentioned, her heart racing with concern. She had hurried through the streets, barely noticing the cold night air biting at her skin. The thought of Alexander being ill had filled her with such dread that she hadn't hesitated to leave the comfort of their home, braving the night for his sake. But as she arrived at the bar, she was met with an unexpected sight.
The moment she stepped through the doors, she saw them—Alexander, sitting at a private booth, laughing alongside Vanessa King. Her heart sank as realization hit her like a freight train. The worried expression she had carried with her dissolved into one of confusion and hurt.
Before she could fully process what was happening, Alexander's voice cut through the noise, loud and mocking. "See? I told you," he said with a smirk, turning to Vanessa. "The moment I say I'm in trouble, she drops everything to come running."
Vanessa clapped her hands in delight, her laughter ringing out as she looked Emily up and down with a satisfied smirk. "Well, well, isn't that just adorable?" she sneered. "You've trained her well, Alex."
Emily's face flushed with humiliation as the words sunk in. She had been played, tricked into coming here out of genuine concern for a man who apparently found her devotion amusing. Her eyes flicked from Alexander to Vanessa, trying to understand how the man she loved could be so cruel.
Vanessa, sensing the tension, leaned back in her seat, her eyes glinting with malicious intent. "You know, Emily," she began, her voice syrupy sweet but laced with venom, "since you're here, why don't you do us a little favor?"
Emily's stomach churned as she braced herself for what was coming. "What do you want?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Vanessa exchanged a sly look with Alexander before leaning forward, her smile widening. "I need you to run an errand for me," she said, her tone dripping with condescension. "Go to the nearest pharmacy and pick up some... supplies for me. You know, something to make sure tonight doesn't have any... unwanted consequences."
Emily felt as if the ground had opened up beneath her. The request was so demeaning, so vile, that for a moment, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. She looked at Alexander, hoping, praying that he would stop this madness.
For a split second, something flickered in Alexander's eyes—hesitation, doubt, maybe even guilt. But it was gone as quickly as it came, replaced by a cold, indifferent mask. He shrugged, his voice indifferent. "You heard her, Emily. It's not a big deal. Just do it."
Emily's hands trembled as she clutched her purse, her mind screaming at her to refuse, to walk away, but her heart was still too wrapped up in the hope that maybe, just maybe, this was all some sort of sick joke. But the way Alexander avoided her gaze, the way Vanessa looked so pleased with herself—it all told her that this was no joke.
The realization that the man she had loved for so long would stoop to such lows just to impress another woman was like a dagger to her heart. Yet, she found herself nodding numbly, too shocked, too hurt to do anything else.
"I'll be back," she whispered, turning on her heel and walking out of the bar, her footsteps echoing in the silence that followed her.
As she left, Vanessa watched her with a satisfied smile. "She's obedient, I'll give her that," Vanessa said, leaning closer to Alexander, her voice dripping with mock admiration. "You really know how to pick them."
Alexander's throat tightened, the thrill of Vanessa's approval battling with an uncomfortable knot of guilt in his chest. He wanted to say something, to tell Vanessa that maybe they had gone too far, but the excitement of being so close to rekindling what they once had overpowered any lingering doubts. He simply nodded, masking his unease with a smirk. "She's always been like that—loyal to a fault."
Vanessa's smile widened, and she slid closer to him, her voice lowering to a seductive whisper. "Well then, how about we celebrate? There's a nice suite waiting for us at the hotel just down the street."
The knot in Alexander's chest tightened, but the allure of Vanessa was too strong. He pushed aside the uncomfortable feelings gnawing at him and stood up, offering Vanessa his hand. "Lead the way."
As they left the bar, Vanessa's laughter echoed in his ears, and Alexander felt a sense of victory, as if he had won some twisted game. But deep down, a small voice reminded him of the price he was paying, a price he was too caught up in the moment to fully comprehend.
Outside, the air was cold, a sharp contrast to the warmth of the bar. As they walked to his car, Alexander's thoughts briefly drifted back to Emily—how she would be out there now, alone, humiliated, and completely unaware of the deeper betrayal that lay ahead.
Vanessa slid into the passenger seat, her eyes glinting with satisfaction as she settled in. "This night just keeps getting better," she murmured, her hand resting on Alexander's thigh.
Alexander forced a smile, trying to match her enthusiasm. He revved the engine, the powerful machine purring beneath him, and sped off towards the hotel. The thrill of the night, of being with Vanessa, was intoxicating, but in the back of his mind, Emily's hurt expression lingered, like a shadow he couldn't quite shake.
They reached the hotel in no time, and Alexander handed the keys to the valet, not bothering to look back as they walked inside. The lobby was lavish, all marble floors and glittering chandeliers, but to Alexander, it felt cold, sterile—much like his own heart at that moment.
As they checked in and made their way to the suite, Vanessa's excitement was palpable, but Alexander couldn't fully share in it. His mind was too preoccupied, too divided between the woman he had beside him and the one he had left behind.
Once inside the suite, Vanessa wasted no time, pulling Alexander into a deep, passionate kiss. He responded automatically, his hands roaming her body, but his mind was elsewhere—back at the bar, back with Emily.
"Stop thinking," Vanessa whispered against his lips, sensing his distraction. "Tonight's about us, remember?"
Alexander nodded, pushing all thoughts of Emily aside as he lost himself in Vanessa's embrace. But even as they moved to the bed, the nagging feeling of guilt remained, buried deep but never fully gone, a reminder that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't completely erase the woman who had always been there for him from his mind.