Alex leaned back in his chair, studying her. Though he wanted to consider all she was saying but, she had hurt him with her words.
"Emma..." he began, trying to find the right words to tell her it was best they remained as they were now since he wasn't sure he wouldn't fall for her at the end of this.
Before he could continue, she interrupted. "I enjoy your company, Alex. I don't want us to keep avoiding each other, please. Can we stop this?"
After he left the house that morning without checking in on her or even leaving a ssage with Christopher, leaving her to feel alone and neglected, there was no way she would leave without resolving things.
His eyes darkened slightly. "But that was what you wanted. You wanted us to define our boundaries. You said this was only an arrangent and that I was overstepping. That's why I'm giving you your space," he said, and Emma sighed in exasperation.
"I know what I said," Emma admitted, her voice quieter now as she drew closer. "But that's why I'm here. To tell you that I don't want those boundaries to keep pushing us apart. After you left today, I realized I very much want your care."
Alex sighed, running a hand through his dark hair, making the few gray strands even more pronounced.
"Emma, I'm human too. You can't expect to just welco you back every ti after you push away. I get the pain you've been through, but not everyone has bad intentions like Jake."
Emma looked down, guilt washing over her. "I know that now. And I'll do better. I promise." She glanced up, her eyes softening as she added with a small smile, "Please forgive ?"
Alex exhaled, shaking his head as if trying to stay annoyed. But when Emma made an exaggerated puppy-dog face, he chuckled despite himself.
"Fine," he said, his voice gentler now. "I forgive you," he said, making up his mind to also make her fall for him if he ended up falling for her before the ruse ended.
Emma grinned. "Thank you so much, Alex. How about we celebrate with dinner? My treat. Any restaurant you choose."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "You want to spoil with my money?" he asked in a teasing tone.
Emma laughed. "No! Of course not. Don't you rember you paid for my designs? I'm using my money."
He smirked. "So, you're planning to spend your little money on , a billionaire?"
"I am," Emma said lightly. "If it earns your forgiveness. Besides, I'm married to a billionaire, rember? And he promised to spoil ," she said with a wink.
Alex laughed. "Fair enough. Since you're so insistent, I'll accept. Now that I thought about it, this is a first—any woman insisting on spending her money on ."
Emma opened her mouth to comnt but decided against it, smiling instead. "Thank God I'm a first for you on this one."
As they talked, the tension between them began to dissolve. When Emma finally left his office, she felt lighter and grateful for Ivy's advice on how to resolve things.
Alex watched her go, his thoughts conflicted but tinged with hope. Maybe, just maybe, things were beginning to change for them.
Imdiately after getting into her room, Emma leaned back on her bed, excitent bubbling inside her as she grabbed her phone and dialed Ivy's number.
She couldn't wait to tell her best friend about the dinner date she had managed to set up with Alex.
"Hey Ivy, guess what? I have a dinner date with Alex tonight, and I can't wait for it!" Emma said the mont Ivy answered.
"Hello, Em," Ivy replied, but her voice lacked its usual cheer.
Emma imdiately picked up on the weariness in Ivy's tone. "Ivy? You don't sound fine. What's wrong?" she asked with a worried frown.
"It's nothing serious," Ivy said dismissively, but Emma wasn't convinced.
She knew Ivy even though they were only just starting to bond again. Ivy was the liveliest person she knew, and things hardly got to her. If she was sounding this pissed and down, then it had to an it was pretty serious.
"Serious or not, you know I want to hear it. Please, tell what's going on," Emma urged, her voice soft with concern.
Ivy sighed, considering whether or not she should tell Emma about Hunter.
Maybe it was for the best since she also needed a second opinion on the issue. She would've asked Selena, but Selena seed to be taken by Hunter, and Hunter wouldn't give her the answer she needed.
Emma hadn't seen Hunter and hadn't had any encounters with him. This would make her a neutral body; Ivy thought as another sigh escaped her lips.
"Are you going to say sothing, or are you just going to stay there sighing? You know what? Maybe I should co to you, and then you can tell to my face that you're fine. Where are you?" Emma asked, making an involuntary smile curl up Ivy's lips.
"Its glad to have you worrying about like that," Ivy said and Emma rolled her eyes.
"That's not the issue, girl. Now, are you going to tell , or should I co all the way there?" Emma asked again, and Ivy laughed.
"I'll tell you," Ivy said, and Emma sat up.
"Good. Now spill it."
Ivy sighed before replying, "Well if you insist. There's this guy I t at the club on Friday—"
"A guy? Don't tell you're all moody because you've fallen for soone," Emma interrupted, chuckling as she tried to lighten the mood.
"Love? Please. That's the last thing I feel for this guy. I still bla Selena for giving the wrong address for her birthday party. If she hadn't, I wouldn't have t such an annoying person," Ivy said, feeling irritated all over again.
Emma frowned when she heard the irritation in Ivy's voice. "This guy must have done you really dirty," she said, and Ivy nodded.
"He sure did," Ivy hissed.
"Alright. Calm down, Ivy. Calm down and tell what happened," Emma said, taking a long breath and waiting to hear what the guy had done to Ivy.
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