Divorced Heiress
Chapter 69

My nostrils were flooded by Alexander's exquisite and expensive perfume, his breath brushing against my hair, while his hands lightly caressed my back. For a moment, I felt tranquility as my legs lost strength.

I couldn't bear a second longer the warm contact of his body against mine, and I pulled away as if suddenly burned. Despite my attempts to free myself from his arms, his hands clung to my waist. I looked up to him, hoping to discover what was going through his mind at that moment, but his gentle gaze was unreadable. I couldn't guess what he was thinking.

I opened my mouth to speak, but the words stayed in the air when he spoke first.

-Why this sudden change?- He asked in a low voice. His eyes looked at me with a gleam that made them even clearer.

-If you didn't like it, you can let me go.- I said, hoping it would be a good enough excuse for him to release me. I didn't want to have to push him away forcefully and reveal to Paul that everything was just an act.

-Why do you think I haven't let go of you yet? You have no idea how much I needed a hug from you. Your arms have become my favorite place.- He said. When those words left his mouth, I was speechless. Though inside, I congratulated him on his cynicism. Just then, a clearing of the throat was heard in the office, providing the perfect excuse to step away from his arms and pretend blatantly that nothing had happened.

-Good morning, Sarah, I was looking for you.- Paul said, entering through the door and looking at Alexander with hatred reflected on his face. The latter returned the gaze with annoyance, as if he couldn't stand his presence or perhaps because he had interrupted what was his favorite place.-

-Good day, Paul. Well, you've found me. Is there something wrong?- I casually asked as I reached my chair behind the desk. I didn't know where I found the ability to remain calm and unruffled after what I had just done. Maybe it was the desire for Paul to realize that his plan wasn't going as smoothly as he thought.

Alexander also approached my desk, reaching the guest's chair, but he didn't sit down. He just leaned his hands on the backrest to give Paul an intimidating look, but the latter didn't flinch.

-I didn't think you had company.- Paul said, completely ignoring my question, and went past to confidently sit in the free chair as if Alexander wasn't standing by his side.

-Yes, and very well accompanied, until you decided to interrupt. Haven't you been taught to knock before entering?- Alexander responded, clearly annoyed. He didn't give me a chance to say a word, showing his irritation and anger at Paul's presence.

I looked at Alexander in surprise, as I didn't imagine he would dare to question Paul's manners. The last thing I wanted was for the situation to spiral out of control.

-Alex...- I mentioned his name warningly, in an attempt to calm his anger. He looked at me uneasily and didn't say anything more.

-This morning, I left you some roses. I selected them especially for you.- Paul said, completely ignoring Alexander's unfriendly words.

-Did you get them? Oh, I know, you had them put in water.- Paul insisted on the matter, as if he wanted to bother Alexander. It was only then that I dared to raise my gaze, while playing with the pen in my hand, and I met Paul's proud face and Alexander's expression of tragedy that almost made me burst out laughing, not to mention the injured lip that made him look so miserable.

-Thank you, I received them and had them thrown away.- I said. The smile on Paul's face disappeared immediately, and he looked at me with confusion and frustration. His cheeks gradually flushed, just as they did when he was angry. It was rare to see him like this, but I never enjoyed it as much as I did at that moment.

Alexander let out a slight laugh, completely eliminating that expression of despair and sat down casually in the chair he had been holding tightly all this time.

-What? But why? You had never thrown away my gifts before, what's going on? Sari.- He began to complain with a furrowed brow and soon fell silent, before giving the man next to him a look of anger. His expression relaxed as if he had realized something. -Don't tell me...- Before any speculation could come out of his mouth, I put the pen down on the table and looked at him expressionless.

-Paul, don't bother dwelling on it, we have returned to Paris and things are still the same as before, isn't that right?- I said referring to the fact that his opportunity had ended and now more than ever, I had to reject him, his persistence had a reason, and a very unpleasant one. -Is there something else?-

-Could we talk alone?- He asked after a few seconds of silence, in which he digested what I had just told him. It was clear that he didn't want to talk about it with Alexander present, but I had nothing else to say. Before, I didn't agree to his constant proposals to start a relationship and now, I was relieved that I hadn't made a mistake getting involved with him, I would regret it right now.

-I think I have been clear. Is there something we need to discuss?- I looked at him fixedly after my question. He didn't know it, but with that, I was referring to his secrets, to what he was planning against the Doinel family, but obviously, I wasn't going to talk about it, nor did it cross his mind that I knew about his plans. -Let's talk alone and...-

-Mr. Dubois, I think Sarah has been very patient and sincere with you, maybe you didn't understand her, but let me explain it to you. She told you no, don't you accept no as an answer?- Alexander intervened, interrupting what Paul had to say. I looked at him again with a warning. Being in the middle of our conversation didn't give him the right to speak for me, I didn't need anyone to advocate for me.

-What is your problem, Mr. Lancaster? Are you Sarah's defender? If I remember correctly, you hurt Sarah in the past and you dare to intercede for her. I remind you that thanks to your infidelity, we got divorced. You being here means nothing, you have no right over Sarah. If you're in this company right now, it's nothing more than a stroke of luck.- Paul confronted Alexander, bringing up the past and making me extremely uncomfortable, especially because right now I knew that Paul was the main cause that led Alexander to make that wrong decision.

Alexander stood up from his seat, his gaze fixed on Paul's face, almost immediately, Paul also stood up, facing Alexander. They were having a war just by looking at each other and I feared that at any moment they would come to blows, in which case I would have no choice but to call security. -My problem? You are my problem right now. I know that Sarah doesn't need anyone to defend her, she is very capable. I think you don't know her like I do, and I couldn't care less if we are divorced or not. As long as I'm here, I will defend her from jerks like you, even if she doesn't ask me to. I think you know the way out.- Alexander said that with so much hatred in his voice that for a moment I feared he would be the one to throw the first punch.

Immediately, I calmed down when I realized an important detail.

If Alexander reacted that way with Paul, telling him those things without even knowing him, it meant only one thing. And no, I didn't mean jealousy, because it was clear that he was rejecting Paul directly without giving him the slightest possibility.

-I see that you are very sure of yourself, Mr. Lancaster, I won't waste time with a small man like you. We have a pending conversation, Sari.- Paul said, leaving the office forcefully without waiting for any response, leaving me alone once again with Alexander. -You didn't have to bother.- I said when Alexander let out a loud sigh, his gaze turning back to me. He raised an eyebrow and his fingers lightly tapped the desk.

-Sarah, I want to ask you a question and I need you to answer me honestly. He said seriously and in his eyes I could see that he thought the same of me as I thought of him. I interlaced my fingers and rested my chin on them, just waiting for him to ask me the question, because I also had a question for him.

-Do you know? Is it true? Do you know what's behind that I wouldn't harm a fly- face?- He finally asked and I confirmed that he knew more than I thought.

I let my back fall against the backrest of the chair, while I looked at Alexander as seriously as possible.

-I know many things about him, but why don't you tell me what you know?- I answered, avoiding giving out more information than necessary.

-Do you know everything he has done to make our marriage fail? Do you know that he is trying to marry you and take over your father's company? Do you know that his mother is the one planning to destroy your family? Do you know that Mrs. Dubois wants revenge on your mother because your father fell in love with Mrs. Joelle and not her? Do you know that they have clauses prepared in case Paul marries you? And do you know the worst part? Those clauses leave Paul as the universal heir to all your assets and can only pass into your hands if you... die.-

My heart froze and I felt the warmth leaving my body. My legs trembled uncontrollably and for a moment I thought I was going to faint, as the tension dropped so much that I had to hold onto the desk because everything was spinning. I glanced at Alexander with a furrowed brow, not knowing when he had come to my side to hold me from behind, looking at me with concern while fanning his hand across my face.

-Sarah, my love, don't faint, have some water. Sarah, look at me.-

I raised my eyes to look at his worried face and immediately became aware of three things.

The first was that Alexander knew more than anyone else knew.

The second was that the Dubois family issue was bigger than I had imagined, they had even planned to kill me to take what belonged to the Doinel family for a simple affair.

And third, after almost four years, I heard Alexander call me "my love".