Blasphemous (Torn #3)(76)
“She loved it so much that you had to buy it?” I said before taking a big gulp of my cognac.
Dimitris let out a sigh, understanding where my question came from. “She’s a woman. Women love beautiful things and Claudine is one of them.”
Buying presents for my lovers were a norm when it came to these things, but I hated it when women blatantly demanded it. It only made them look money hungry and unattractive to me. “Does that bother you at all? Women are getting aggressive with their demands. Nikki wouldn’t shut up about this jewelry she wanted, so I had it shipped the next day so she would leave me in peace.”
“Tell me about it. Pain in the ass.”
“Are you worried about the pre—nup?” I looked at him, scrutinizing his reaction.
“Honestly? No. The woman was just not interested with anything that was connected to me—including money.” He gulped his drink in one sitting. “I actually still need to break the news to my parents that I got married and am going through a divorce. My lawyers are working around the clock to get it done quickly, but my grandfather got a whiff of it yesterday. He’s furious and wants to talk to me first before he tells the rest of my family. So, I’m waiting to go back to Athens until after the premier in LA. At the same time, my parents want to meet Claudine and I already promised to take her.”
“Sounds like it’s going to be ugly.”
“There’s been no record of a divorce in my family. This will be a first. I understand where he’s coming from, but it has to be done.”
“Claudine’s meeting the folks? Isn’t it too fast for you to get this serious about a woman? Are you in love with her or what?” Hell, Dimitris was complicating his life further.
“My parents are excited that I’ve been with the same woman for over six months now. They think it’s serious. I can distract them with that while I deal with the divorce in the background. Well, the divorce proceedings are halted by my grandfather until I see him and explain myself, but Claudine can still distract my parents when it all does come to light.”
“He could do that? Is he a judge?” I flagged a waiter down for a few more drinks to be brought to our table.
“No. My grandfather is an eighty-one-year-old man who secretly likes to watch romantic movies. All I have to do is explain that it was a momentary lapse in judgment and that I got carried away with amazing sex. He’ll understand.”
If I had married Emma and she wanted a divorce, she would have to chase me all over the world because I sure as hell wouldn’t give her one. It really was crazy, this thing I had for her… there were just not enough words to describe it.
“I hope it all works out for the best. You never know, Lindsey might change her mind and come after you.”
“She went straight to another man’s bed a week after she got back. Why would I want a woman like that?” he spat out, disgusted.
Hell. “How’d you know?”
“Because I went to go see her that following weekend. Even if I was only there for a few hours, I just wanted to see her. So I left and never looked back,” the Greek said in a tone packed with obvious distaste for his estranged wife.
I didn’t know Lindsey that well, but from what I observed, she was a smart woman who was sweet, but had a vicious streak in her. I don’t know, but I somehow didn’t see her cheating.
But then again, people could surprise you when you least expected it.
B
When we got outside her room, I offered to open the door for her. Even though I appeared calm, jealousy was eating me raw, rotting its way into my heart.
It festered there, mocking me as the images of Jacques and Emma walking out of the exhibition for twenty minutes before coming back inside, doing God knows what.
Even the thought of kissing her cheek was too much at the moment. “Have a goodnight, Emma. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
She paused, her gorgeous eyes saddened at my announcement. “Oh, you’re not coming in? I thought we could chat for a while.”
It was hard, but I had to decline her. I needed space and maybe to drown in a bottle for the night. I shouldn’t even be jealous because Emma was single. She could do as she pleased, date as she pleased and f*uk who she pleased. “Maybe another night. I’m exhausted and all I want to do right now is rest.”
“How about you sleep here tonight?” she blurted out.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea, Emma.”
Emma suddenly looked defeated as if she really wanted to spend time with me. “Okay… I’ll just see you tomorrow then. Goodnight.”
Her disappointed look tugged at my heart. Damn. “Give me half an hour, I’ll be right back.”
“Are you sure?” She handed me her keycard. “I have an extra inside. You can keep this one so you don’t have to knock.”
Nodding, I immediately left and went straight to my own suite. Taking my time to shower and cool my heated head for a little bit.
Thirty minutes later, I was in her room and we readied for bed. Even her silk chemise that used to get me excited didn’t do much tonight. I really was that affected by her time with that Frenchman.
We were now in bed, but I was rotting in my own misery. Except for my ‘hello’ earlier, I hadn’t said another word to her. I was on my side, faced away from her as I recalled the events again, obsessing about it when she spoke behind me.