CHAPTER THEEE

CHAPTER 3

ALEX POV

The door swings open just as our lips touch.

"Alex, the samples just arrived and… oh shit."

Theo freezes in the doorway, his eyes going wide. The folder in his hands slips, papers spilling on the floor.

Ellis shoves me hard enough that I stumble back. His face goes pale as he moves to the other side of the table, putting distance between us.

"I'll just... I'm going... sorry..." Theo stutters, turning deep red as he quickly gathers the papers.

"Theo, wait," Ellis calls out after him but he's already out, the door closing behind him.

Ellis won't look at me,he just stares at the table gripping it tightly.Then he suddenly starts laughing.

"Ellis…"

"Don't." his voice crack. "Please don't."

I take a step toward him and he flinches.

"We need to talk about this.Theo just walked in on us."

I run my hand through my hair."I will talk to him,he won't say anything.

"You don't know that!" His voice rises.

"Three years, Alex. Three years fixing what you broke,you called me a mistake once." He rubs his eyes angrily. "And I'm right back here letting you ruin me again."

"That's not what happened." I swallow hard

"Isn't it?" Came his reply as he pulls at his hair the neat bun almost coming loose.

"One conversation and I'm right back here. Weak and pathetic. How do I stop these feelings..hmn?" His voice breaks and he stops, pressing his palms against his eyes.

I want to go to him. Pull him close and tell him he's wrong,tell him that none of it is true.

But the way he's standing there, arms wrapped around himself like he's barely holding it together, I know he won't let me close.

I open my mouth but nothing comes out.

How do I explain the selfish reasons that made me push him away with those words?

Ellis watches me struggle with my words, waiting for me to say something.

"Right." He turns away cold. "I'm not proceeding with this contract."

"What? No." I step in front of him. "You can't."

"Ellis, please." My voice cracks.

"We both need this project. I need it as much as you do too,I can remove myself from the project and let Maya take the lead. You won't have to see me or work with me directly."

"You think that makes it better?" His jaw clenches. "Get out of my way."

"Not until you listen to me." I replied

For a moment I think he might actually try to push past me. Instead he goes very still, his eyes searching my face for something. "Why do you care? You made it clear that I didn't matter."

"I was wrong."

"No, you were honest," he says with a shrug.

"Maybe for the first time, I'm being honest so that I can see the reality of it. I can't do this. I can't work with you and pretend that night didn't happen. That you didn't break something in me that I haven't been able to fix."

"Please move." His voice drops to barely a whisper. "I'm asking nicely."

What else can I do?, I step aside and he walks past me to the door, his shoulder brushing mine. The brief contact makes my skin tingle with fear and want.

Then he's gone.

I stand there, still feeling his lips on mine, and realize I've ruined this again.

Ten minutes pass and I'm about to call Maya to cancel when the door opens. Ellis walks back in, his face blank, followed by his team and Maya. He doesn't look at me as he takes a seat across from me this time.

Maya shoots me a questioning look but I shake my head slightly.

The meeting continues like nothing happened with curious eyes glancing between us once in a while.

Ellis talks about the project professionally while others take notes.He doesn't look at me once.

I should be listening and following up too but I can't stop watching his hand drift to his lips as he touches them deep in thought.

I know how those lips taste. Know the sound he made when I..

"Mr. Hawthorne?" Maya's voice cuts through.

"Yes.sorry..that's fine"

I have no idea what she's even talking about.

Ellis is already standing when I blink,halfway to the door and his team follows leaving behind the faint smell of his cologne.

Someone knocks on my office door a few minutes later.

"Come in."

Theo enters, closing the door behind him.

"Did you forget something?" I asked confused

"No... look, about earlier..."

"You didn't see anything," I say firmly.

"Right, exactly I didn't see anything." He shifts

"Not that I saw anything. But if I had seen something which I'm not saying I did,I wouldn't have told anyone,Just so you know."

I look at him for a moment.

Theo's been Ellis' manager for three years.He probably knows more than he's saying.I doubt he's one for gossip.

"Thank you"

"Is he... I mean, are you now..." He trails off awkwardly.

"It's complicated."

"Yeah, I got that impression." He fidgets with his sleeves before speaking again "For what it's worth, he looked pretty upset when he left,Like really upset."

I don't need the reminder, but somehow hearing it makes it worse. "I know."

He hesitates, like he's not sure he should ask. But I can hear the genuine concern in his voice and a little bit of curiosity.“ I mean, I saw you together at the Milan Fashion Week three years ago. You two looked... close and now this …"

“I screwed it up pretty bad I guess." I admit, the words coming out quietly. "Theo nods slowly. "And now you're working together"

"For the next three months." I say

He winces. "That's rough, man."

His words almost make me laugh. "You have no idea."

After Theo leaves,I work for five hours straight without break.

My hand's reach for the intercom to order a drink when my phone rings, displaying an unknown number. Thinking it may be a spam call I left it to ring again before picking.

"Hello?" I answer

I hear heavy breathing on the other end then Ellis's voice.

"Meet me tonight at Neon Bar, South Square by eight pm." His voice drops to barely a whisper. "If you make me wait this time Alex, consider the contract gone."