A week later on a Friday evening, Alexander got back from his business trip. She was pretty sure he'd been with Ella but the knowledge no longer pierced her heart like it previously would. It was just a small throb, like a wound that was previously there, healed but leaving a small mark. A reminder. Maybe she was learning to let go. She had things to do and he was no longer part of her plan. She wasn't waiting for him this time around.
On the other side, instead of heading to the company and his office like was his norm, Alexander found himself rushing home. He just needed some rest, was what he told himself. Though unwittingly a woman's face came to the forefront of his mind. Beautiful eyes, sometimes hidden behind glasses. Scarlett Ariadne. She was probably waiting for him like she always did whenever she knew he was coming home from a trip. And the foods she cooked which he'd never eaten.
The maid, Cynthia, opened the door, greeting him and Alexander walked into the house with expectations in his heart which he neither realized nor acknowledged. Not seeing her in the kitchen or dining room, he proceeded to the bedroom in which she slept while taking off his tie. The room was empty. He went back to the first floor in an explicably bad mood.
"Where is she?" He asked Cynthia.
"Sir, Mrs. Kent left early this morning and hasn't been back since."
"Okay. Did she prepare anything for me?"
"No Sir." Cynthia replied both confused and scared. Under normal circumstances, her bosses did not interact like a normal married couple. Sir was rarely home whereas the Madam always had a shadow in her eyes, like her heart was broken beyond repair. However, the past few days Scarlett had been different, cheerful and vibrant. It was like she was reborn. What was even weirder was that Alexander was asking about her. But he was probably looking to start an argument.
"Okay!" Alexander replied, turning back and heading to the master bedroom. Even he didn't know why he was so angry and disappointed.
Meanwhile, Scarlett was seated in a private booth with Daniel. She'd finally agreed to his dinner invitation. Her plan was to inform him that she was married though in the process of getting a divorce, as he'd been so insistent in his invitation. Besides not many men wanted a divorced woman.
As they were waiting for their meal to be served, her phone rang. On checking her Caller ID, she was surprised to see Alexander's name. She didn't even remember the last time he'd personally called her. For a moment she debated on whether she should pick up or not.
She decided against it. It probably wasn't an emergency and besides, he didn't care enough to be bothered that she didn't pick up.
On the other side, Alexander was breathing fire. She hung up on him. For the first time since he'd known her feelings for him, she'd rejected his call. Was she finally over him? Highly doubtful since she'd been in love with him for so long. He contacted his assistant and asked him to trace her whereabouts. He didn't know why but Scarlett had been acting different and some part of him, though he hated to admit it, felt like something was slipping through his fingers.
A few minutes later, his assistant got back to him.
"Sir, Mrs Keller is dining at a restaurant..." Luke began but then paused.
"And? Which restaurant ?"
"Gotham's but she's not alone."
"Iris is with her? Figures, it's like they're joined at the hip, anything else?" At this point his anger had cooled down somewhat. She still cared, they were just having some girl time.
"Sir, not Iris. A man and from what it seems,they're pretty close." And his anger was back again, blazing hotter than before.
"Okay!" And he hung up. Unbelievable! Had she forgotten that she was a married woman? Hanging out with strange men now?
Cynthia was startled when Alexander left the house just as quickly as he'd arrived. She couldn't help shaking her head. She'd never worked for such a dysfunctional couple.
Alex drove himself and didn't even bother calling his assistant. For the life of him, he couldn't understand why he was so angry. Was it because she was on a date with someone else or was it because she didn't pick up his call? She hung up on him while having a meal with another man?
He soon found himself parked outside Gotham's and questioning his own sanity. What had gotten into him? Why was he here?
He called his assistant for their private room number and he got it. He then invited one of his friends to join him. Might as well have his lunch here. Soon Lucas joined him and they proceeded to the restaurant.
"Why the sudden invite? Very unlike you man" Lucas started as soon as he arrived.
"Did you have anything better to do?" Alex replied with his usual cold tone.
"No. Just surprising. But not against a free meal and drinks."
"Then just be quiet"
They walked in and were led to their private room which was coincidentally next to Scarlett's. Resisting the impulse to barge in, Alexander proceeded to his private room after which he proceeded to brood.
"What's wrong with you? You just came from seeing your white moonlight, you should be excited, so why the brooding?" Lucas asked and no reply.
"Problems with your wife?" He asked again
"Why so many questions? Just eat"
"Oh, looks like I touched a nerve. What's up with your vixen? Still trying to seduce you?"
"No."
"Oh so she's playing hard to get now? Change of strategy?"
And suddenly it was like a light bulb went on in Alexander's head. That must be it. She's trying to make him jealous. She still loved him. Well, she was delusional if she thought that he'd be moved by such antics. And his mood improved somewhat. Even he didn't notice that slight shift.