Page 46 of Undefeated Love
Alex took a deep pull on his excellent Scotch. He didn’t need fortification for what he was about to do, but the restaurant offered some of the best top shelf whiskeys in the area. Since he was there, he was going to take advantage of it.
As soon as the young man left, her smile was replaced by a piercing stare. So quietly no one else around them could hear, she asked in Spanish, “What the fuck crawled up your ass?”
Here goes. “We’re going to break up. Right here. Right now.”
“That’s not what we agreed on.” JJ’s eyes went round with terror before she schooled her face.
“I didn’t agree to anything, especially this engagement farce.” Alex matched her tone but didn’t hide his anger.
“I just can’t do this. Not now.” Her face turned pleading. “Alex,” she whined. “I just came back home from six intense weeks of filming in Europe. I’m exhausted.”
“You can do this, and you will. Right now,” Alex insisted. He raised his voice just a little. “You’ve been home for several days. Those bags under your eyes are from clubbing every night since you got home.” His grin was evil. “I saw your Instagram.” In his peripheral vision, he saw people at the surrounding tables start to take notice of their conversation.
“I had to go out with those people.” The whining started again. “I hadn’t seen any of my friends in nearly two months. They demanded we go out and celebrate my return.”
“Of course they did.” Alex leaned forward, his elbows on the table, and increased the volume. “I’m quite sure that never once did you think about your fiancé while you were bumping and grinding on other men late into the night at those clubs.”
The photographers two tables away had their cameras out, covertly taking pictures.
Excellent!
“Alex, why are you doing this? I don’t understand.”
He lowered his voice to just above a whisper so only she heard. “Roll with it. You didn’t have any problem coming up with words on the red carpet that ruined my life.”
“I take it Katlin hasn’t returned to you yet?” JJ smirked.
The look on her face and the tone of her voice angered Alex even more. The Ladies were correct; she had no respect for him, his needs, or his wants.
Alex stood. “You are the most self-centered bitch I’ve ever known. You don’t care about anybody but yourself. Or how anything is going to affect anybody else except you.
“I’m so glad I found somebody real. She is the total opposite of you. You only want me so you can use me. She loves me for me.”
Alex took a few steps away then turned around. “Keep the ring. It’s yours.” He gave JJ a sarcastic grin before he turned around and walked out of the dining room.
He stopped in the lobby and waited for the hostess to return while watching JJ. Her gaze darted around the room where people were staring at her. Two seconds later she broke down crying in a performance that would win her an Oscar had it been on film. She grabbed her napkin and dashed to the ladies’ room at the far end, passing the photographers.
He congratulated himself for inviting them to a free lunch. Of course, they had no idea who was paying for their meal.
When the hostess appeared, before she could say a word, Alex handed her his card. “Please bill my office for everything.”
He caught the eye of the valet as he stepped out of the door. The young man grabbed his keys and had his sports car in front of the steps in less than a minute. As Alex drove back to the Guardian Security Los Angeles office, he felt lighter than he had in months. He hadn’t realized how much the emotion of the JJ situation was physically weighing him down. At a stoplight, he lowered the convertible top and took a few seconds to enjoy the feel of the sun on his face.
Katlin likes the sun. I’ll buy her a convertible…as soon as she comes back.
Alex wondered how long it would take for the reports of their breakup would hit the news. More important, he wondered if Katlin would see it.
CHAPTER20
Two MonthsLater
Katlin Gone Five Months
“Jaysun, I’m ready,” Katlin told her bodyguard and chauffeur.
“About fucking time. Any longer and it could’ve killed you.” The recently retired Navy senior chief didn’t tell her anything new.
“No shit, Sherlock. I know my body considerably better than you do.” Katlin zipped her go bag closed. “Dr. Rustlin and I agreed that today worked best for everyone involved. You were there. We asked you and you said…” Katlin lowered her voice in an excellent interpretation of the salty former SEAL, “Fuck if I care. Whatever she needs.”
