Committed (Betrothed 4)

“Alright…duly noted.” He was quiet on the line for a bit before he changed the subject. “I checked on Sofia at the hotel today.”

It was the first time I didn’t want to think about her. The conversation we’d had almost a week ago was still fresh in my mind.

“The manager there is kind of a young guy, maybe your age. I think he might be into Sofia…”

That didn’t surprise me in the least. “Everyone is into her.”

“Including me,” he said with a chuckle.

I was immune to his sarcastic remarks at this point.

“You want me to take him out?”

A bitter laugh wanted to escape my throat because it was so stupid. It was even stupider because she wasn’t my wife anymore. “No.”

“Are you sure? I can make it look like an accident.”

“She’s free to do whatever she wants.”

“But she’s carrying your baby.”

“I doubt the guy has much of a chance with her anyway.”

“Well, actually, he’s kinda hot.”

Both of my eyebrows rose. “What did you just say?”

“I’m just giving you all the information. He’s not some fat, ugly guy. He’s young, and he’s in shape. And they work together all the time, so he has good access to her.”

Someday, another man would sweep her off her feet, and she would forget about me. There was nothing I could do to avoid it. I was tired of trying to fight fate to have the woman I loved. It was too much work, and it always blew up in my face. “It’s gonna happen sometime…let it be.”

Ash was quiet for a while, as if he had no idea what to say to that. But he continued to sit on the phone with me, as if that was the only comfort he could provide. “I’m sorry all of this is happening to you. You don’t deserve it.”

I closed my eyes and let the words repeat in my mind. I didn’t want anyone’s pity, but I appreciated his understanding. The person who used to understand me down to my core was long gone. I pushed her even further away. I had no one to blame but myself. “Thanks, man.”

6

Sofia

Two weeks had come and gone since I’d screamed at Hades. Anytime I thought of him, my heart still palpitated with rage. I didn’t want things to be this way, but I had to stand up for myself. I had to set the record straight.

I used to love that man with all my heart, but now I was so angry with him.

I stayed busy at work, working longer hours at the hotel because I had nothing else to do. Andrew’s room was ready to go, and I didn’t have any friends in the city. I had my mom, but she wasn’t my favorite person to hang out with.

I was sitting in the office doing paperwork when Antonio walked inside. “Hey, how’s it goin’?” I guess he was a friend. He was a person I worked with on a daily basis, one of the few interactions I had.

“Good.” He sat down in the chair across from my desk. “I’m the hotel manager, but you seem to work longer hours than I do.”

I shrugged. “I’m a bit of a workaholic.”

“Not a bad thing. But you are an expectant mother. You should take it easy. I can handle things around here.”

I smiled. “That’s very generous, but I like to stay busy. Keeps me sane. If I stay home all day thinking about giving birth to a fat baby, I’ll lose my mind.”

He chuckled. “Understandable.”

I turned back to my paperwork and expected him to leave, but when he continued to linger, I lifted my gaze again. “Is there something you needed?”

He leaned forward slightly and rested his forearms on his knees. “This is kinda awkward, but I’ve been thinking about it a long time.”

Was he about to ask me for a raise? He’d been a hard worker, and he was there early in the morning and late at night. If he asked for a raise, I would give it to him. I believed your business was only as strong as your employees. If your employees were happy, your business would be happy.

He paused for a long time before he continued. “Would you want to have dinner sometime?”

I stared at him incredulously because I couldn’t believe what he just asked me. I was a woman who was more than seven months pregnant with another man’s child. I was twenty pounds heavier than I usually was…and that had nothing to do with the baby. “Uh…”

“If you say no, I totally understand. No pressure, no hard feelings. But we seem to get along so well, and I feel like we have a connection. Can’t blame a guy for trying, right?” Now he looked at me expectantly, waiting for my answer.

I continued to be shocked.

The longer I was quiet, the more uncomfortable he became. “Forget I asked. It’s unprofessional.”