Mr and Mrs (Alexa Riley Promises #1)(19)

“As long as we stop for food after. Your son is hungry. Again,” she laughs and presses her body to mine, and I hold her to me.

“I can make you food before we go,” I say, wanting to make sure she has what she wants.

“No, I’d like to go out. We’ve been cooped up in this place for so long. It feels like a cage.”

Her words make my back stiffen, but if she notices, she doesn’t say anything. Maybe it has to do with before. She’s only been here a week, and the comment throws me off. I knew she didn’t like this place when we first moved in, but I had hoped it would be a place we could have made ours. Instead, it sounds like this may have been the opposite for her.

“Then that’s what we’ll do.”

Kissing the top of her head, I take her bag and carry it to the door, placing it beside my own. When she’s ready, we go to the car and make the drive over to the office. I can feel it in my bones. The sooner I get her out of this city, the better.



I hold Molly’s hand as we exit the elevator on the floor of my former office. I haven't been here since the night Molly left me, and now this place feels hollow and empty. Not like the place I'd spent years devoting every second of my life to. I'd built a great empire, but for what? I was lonely.

I don’t know how I devoted so many years of my life to this place, especially the last year, knowing I had my Molly waiting on me at home. I’m beyond obsessed with her, and I thought my love would push her away. I thought that my overwhelming need would smother her light, and I didn’t want to do that to her. But now, there is no other option. I can’t hold back anymore. Once this is all taken care of today, never again will I let her out of my sight.

We walk towards my old office and I look over to see Cary sitting behind the desk. It surprises me that Ryan hasn’t gotten rid of her, especially after the last time I spoke to him on the issue. As if hearing my thoughts, Cary turns from her computer to greet us with a smile on her face. When she sees Molly and me standing there, her smile drops, her face turning stark white as she stares at Molly.

Suddenly, I feel Molly’s hand squeeze my own, and then her palm feels a little cold. I look at her and see she has a vague look of panic on her face.

“Molly, you okay, my love?” I pull her to me, holding her chin so she’ll look in my direction. “Molly?”

She shakes her head a little as if clearing a cloud, then smiles at me. “Yes. Sorry. Don’t know where I went for a second.”

The door to my old office opens and Ryan comes out. We shake hands and he leads us in, closing the door behind us. Before we get to pleasantries, I ask about the situation at the desk.

“I thought we discussed the assistant,” I say, giving him a stern look. The last thing I need is a scandal chasing my coattails as I leave the company.

“I know, and I’m sorry. After you left in such a hurry, I didn’t have any back-up. There haven’t been any issues of what we talked about.” He looks over at Molly and then back to me. “I don’t foresee any turmoil, but I’ve got my eye on it in case there need to be changes made.”

I nod, understanding that it’s his decision to make.

Ryan goes to his phone and hits a button. “Cary, can you bring me the file for Mr. Tanner to sign?” He clicks off without waiting for an answer, and I’m glad to be getting this closed up.

“Okay then. Let's get this signed so we can be on our way.”

Moving to take a step forward, I feel Molly’s hand tug behind me. I look back at her and see her staring at the couch. Her eyes narrow, but she won’t look away from it. Before I can ask her what’s wrong, Cary walks in with a folder in her hands.

Molly looks up at Cary, and then to the couch, and all the color drains from her face. It looks as if she’s seen a ghost, and her knees start to buckle.

“Molly!” I shout, bending to catch her before she hits the floor.

Cradling her in my arms, I walk her over to the couch and sit down with her in my lap, looking her over to make sure she’s okay.

She starts to shake a little, and I open my mouth to tell someone to call an ambulance when her hand comes out and slaps me hard across the face.

To stay the sting is a shock would be a vast understatement.

“What the hell?” I say, looking down at her.

“You,” she says and glares at me with so much hate and anger. It’s a look I’ve never in my life seen on her sweet face. Then she turns to Cary, who is standing dumbly a few feet from us, and points to her. “With her.”

“It’s not what you think,” Cary says, taking a step towards the two of us.

“Don’t you come near me,” Molly spits at her and tries to scramble from my lap. “Let me go, Phillip. Let me go or I swear to God, I will scream this place down.”

“Scream all you want. I’m not letting you go. Now tell me what’s wrong.” I hold her tighter, showing her how true my words really are. “Be careful, Molly. Think of the baby,” I plead, not wanting to hold her too tightly.

My worry makes her stop moving instantly, the fight going out of her. She’s breathing heavily like she’s been running, and she shoots daggers at me. I can’t remember a time she’s looked at me like this. It’s breaking my heart.

“Molly. Talk to me. What is going on?”