Love in the Time of Quarantine のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 81 - チャプター 90

I insisted that Lexi take the rest of the day off, and she didn’t fight me on it. I’d given every employee an extra “flex” day and told her to use hers. I had a few meetings this afternoon, so I still needed to work, but she didn’t need to be part of them. I could take my own notes. Honestly, I just needed her to tell me where to find a few things.I walk into the bedroom wearing nothing but my boxers and unzipped dress slacks. I’d gotten up to grab some water for both of us. By the time I return, Lexi’s nearly asleep, sprawled across the bed. I can’t help but chuckle, thinking about the workout I gave her this morning—and again over my lunch break.Unfortunately, I’ve got a meeting in twenty minutes, and I have questions for her.“Pet,” I murmur, setting the water bottles down on the bedside table. “Wake up for me. I’ve got a couple questions.”She groans, face half-buried in the sheets. I lean over her, and she reaches up to grab me, pulling me into bed. I lose my balance and land wi

I can’t believe I did that. I’ve never had a sub need to use their safeword with me unless they specifically asked me to push them to their limits. And for me to do that to Alexis?I was just so fucking angry. It was like I couldn’t control it.You know, one of the things that attracted me to being a Dom was the control—it forced me to keep a tight rein on my anger. Something that’s always been all-consuming ever since I realized my entire life had been planned out for me from the moment my family learned I was going to be a boy.Yeah, the anger eased a bit once I started taking control of my own life. And it eased more when my parents figured out I was going to do my own thing, no matter what they said.But it’s still a knee-jerk reaction whenever something really fucks with something—or someone—I care about. Like when I saw that resignation letter from Alexis in her inbox.How could she even be thinking about leaving me? How am I supposed to deal with that? I love her. And she said s

When I came back from the gym, Alexis wasn’t there. That wasn’t unusual—I’ve barely seen her over the last two days. I didn’t realize anything was wrong until I got into the shower.My hand reached out for the shampoo, eyes closed against the spray. I moved my fingers along the tops of the bottles, knowing Alexis’s shampoo and conditioner were always first—then mine.One bottle top.Two bottle tops.But where there should have been a third, there was nothing.I flailed my hand around, searching blindly for my bottle.Still nothing.I pulled back from under the spray and rubbed the water out of my eyes. And that’s when I noticed—all of her stuff was gone.Frantically, I scanned the stall again, like her things might magically appear behind me or in a corner I hadn’t seen. But no. Nothing.I stuck my head out of the shower, checking the bathroom counter. Her makeup, her hair products, her fucking toothbrush—gone.I stepped out of the shower, not even bothering to finish or shut off the w

One month later...“Ms. Clark, do you know where the projections for the Kellerman project are?” I call to my assistant, feeling like I’m losing my damn mind. I’ve looked everywhere and can’t find the paperwork.“Sir, I believe you left it in your inbox,” Robin calls from the hall. She’s been working with me since I returned to the States. There are a few other people in the office, but I think we’re the only ones on this floor. It’s nice not having to wear a mask except when she’s in the room.Robin’s learning curve has been steep. Understandable, since I worked with Alexis for nearly five years. She knew me better than anyone—what I needed, what I was thinking—before I even said a word. I try to push the thought of her away, but it hits like a gut punch every time. That ache in my chest. The one that steals my breath.I glance at my inbox, stuffed to the brim with things I haven’t had the energy or focus to deal with. Since Alexis left, I’ve barely been holding it together.I mutter

“What do you mean she left?” I demand, standing in what used to be Alexis’s apartment.It’s the day after I had Robin call the firm’s private investigator, Eugene Harvey. Obviously, the first place he went was Alexis’s last known address.But an hour after he arrived, he called me.“Boss,” he said the second I picked up—he calls everyone that. “You gotta get down here. I sent you the address.”“What’s going on, Eugene?”“She’s not here, boss. Got the building owner on his way. You come down and we’ll make a plan.”“What do you mean? She might just be at the doctor’s or grocery store.” I didn’t get the urgency at first. I hated the idea of her being out during COVID, especially while pregnant with my babies. She should be home, pampered and protected—with me beside her.“Boss, I knocked so much I woke her neighbor. She moved. She’s gone.”Gone?My brain short-circuited. Moved? Where? When?I’d hired Eugene expecting him to show up, knock on the door, and escort her to my office. Hell, I