Chapter Twenty Four - Different

"I don't think you're my best friend anymore," Lily complained over the phone.

I let out a sigh. "I wasn't feeling well. There's nothing more to it."

"You're pregnant, aren't you?"

My eyes grew wide for a moment. "No, Lily. I'm not."

"Then why did you skip college yesterday?"

"I told you I wasn't feeling too well and it was a Friday. So I thought why not have a long weekend."

There was a long silence before she sighed. "I wanna meet you."

"Yeah, I wanna meet you too. There's so much catching up to do."

"Come over."

"Today?"

"Yeah. Is there a problem?"

I thought for a moment. "Nope. I'll be there."

"Oh wait. Can I invite Mark too?"

I raised a brow at no one in particular. "I thought we were catching up."

"Yeah. With him."

I let out a laugh. "Okay. I'm used to being the third wheel anyway."

"You're the best, Scar," She laughed and hung up.

Picking up my phone, I went downstairs to have my breakfast but frowned upon not finding Alec at the dining table already. He usually gets ready before me.

Just then, I heard some shuffling and he appeared at the stairs, bringing a suitcase down with him.

"Are you going somewhere?" I asked once he was near me.

"Yeah. I've got a meeting in Boston."

My lips parted for a moment before I blinked. Was he going to leave me alone?

What kind of stupid question is that, Scarlet?

"Oh okay," I muttered.

There was silence between us and it seemed like he wanted to say something. I could almost see his hand twitching around the suitcase handle as he watched me.

Then, he started walking towards the elevators and I found myself following him.

"When are you coming back?" I asked.

He stopped and turned around. "After a day or two. Why?"

I shrugged. "Just wanted to know."

He held my gaze for a moment and then nodded.

I took a discreet step in his direction as he waited for my action. Lifting myself up on my tip toes, I planted a kiss on his cheek and leaned back.

"Have a safe journey," I offered him a smile.

The gleam in his eyes hinted a smile but he pressed his lips into a thin line and nodded again.

He turned around, called the elevators and left. I released a breath and turned to the living room.

Martha and I had chatted for over an hour as she showed me pictures of Mary's fancy dress competition who had dressed up as a doctor.

I couldn't help but go all awe over them. She was just too cute.

After breakfast, I left for Lily's house.

She gaped at me at the front door before pulling me in for a hug.

I let out a laugh. "Missed me, Lil?"

"Ofcourse I missed you, Scar. Come on in," She stepped aside to let me enter the huge living room.

Mark was at the couch, grinning at me as he got up to hug me. He was a fairly tall redhead with green eyes and an athletic body.

"There she is. Mrs. Sinclair," He teased.

"Yep. That's me," I laughed.

We chatted for a long time and then watched movies along with popcorn and cold drink. It was finally 5 p.m. when my phone rang.

My heart skipped a beat at the contact as I fumbled with my phone to pick it up.

Lily smirked at me while Mark was busy selecting another movie.

Pressing the answer button, I stood up to walk over to the window.

"Alec," I spoke.

"Scarlet."

A smile formed on my lips. Did he miss me?

"Did you get there?" I asked. Stupid question.

"Yeah. I just checked into the hotel after my meeting."

"Okay," I bit my lip to suppress a smile. "So what are you doi-"

"Can you go up to my room? I can't find a file. Maybe I left it back there."

I frowned. "Is that why you called me?"

There was a pause.

"Yeah. Why else would I call you?"

I licked my dry lips. "I'm not at the apartment right now. I'll call you back whenever I get there."

"Where are you?"

"I came over at Lily's."

Mark suddenly seemed to have found a good movie as he looked up at both of us excitedly. "Hey, what do you think about Warm Bodies?"

I gave him a thumbs up as Lily went over to him and they both got busy talking about something.

"Who else came over at Lily's?" Alec spoke and I could almost imagine him gritting his teeth.

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"Was that Ben?" He confronted.

"No. That was Mark."

"Who the fuck is Mark?"

I scowled. "Maybe I'll tell you if you ask politely."

"Don't test me, Scarlet," He spoke in a dangerously low voice.

"That's nowhere close to polite, Mr. Sinclair."

I heard his sharp intake of breath. "Who was that, Scarlet Sinclair?" He asked in a calm tone.

"Lily's boyfriend," I spoke with a smile.

"Oh," was all he said.

I burst out laughing.

"Why are you laughing?"

"Because you're funny when you're jealous."

He scoffed. "Jealous over you?"

"Obviously. Are you saying you're not?"

"Ofcourse. I'm not."

I smirked. "So you won't mind if I invited someone over at the apartment in the evening?"

"Someone who?"

"It could be anyone," I shrugged.

"You wouldn't."

"Is that a challenge?"

"No. An order."

I narrowed my eyes for a moment. "I thought we talked about you not allowed to order me around."

"And I thought we talked about you not going for other men."

I raised a brow. "We never talked about anything like that."

"We did. When you asked if I had a problem with you sleeping around with other people."

My heart skipped a beat as I recalled our conversation on that tree in Barbados.

"So you do have a problem?"

He didn't say anything.

"So if I do sleep with someone else, you'll be mad?" I asked again.

"Very mad."

"What exactly will you do?"

"I don't know. Maybe wait for him on the streets so I can run him over."

"What is that supposed to mean, Alec?"

"It means that I can do anything, Scarlet. So be smart. You don't wanna be responsible for someone's death."

"That's not what I meant," I rolled my eyes.

"What did you mean?"

I sighed. "Why would it affect you? Isn't it because you're jealous?"

"That's another way of putting it."

"Well, what's your way of putting it?" I pressed further.

"It's quite simple. You're mine. And if anyone touches you, I'll kill him."

My jaw dropped open at his response. He had never said anything like that before.

Was he drunk?

Heat rushed to my cheeks as I turned my face to the window so Lily and Mark couldn't see me blushing like that.

"I-I am yours?" I stuttered.

"Yes."

"Y-you're different," I breathed out.

"What?"

"You're different over phone and text," I took in a deep breath to calm myself. "You'd never say that in person."

There was a long pause which made me wonder if he was still on the line or if he even heard what I said.

"I'll talk to you later, Scarlet."

I opened my mouth to say something but the line went dead.

Sighing, I turned around. The love birds were still busy talking.

Once we got more chips and popcorn, we started watching the movie. I really enjoyed the zombie flick and at 8 p.m., I was ready to leave.

Lily insisted that I stayed over, also Alec wasn't at the apartment and I did consider the idea but knowing that she would probably want to force some unnecessary details out of me, I preferred leaving.

I reached the apartment back around 9 p.m. and sighed at the lonely surroundings, realizing that this was the first time I was here without Alec.

I miss him.

Didn't he ever feel lonely here?

Shaking my head, I went up to my room and changed into my comfortable pajamas, suddenly remembering that I had to check for a file in his room.

I went to his room and looked for a file lying around but couldn't find it. Instead of calling him, I typed a text and sent it to him.

I don't see any file in your room.

I sat down on his bed while waiting for a reply, running my hands over the soft covers.

My phone buzzed and I opened his text.

Nevermind. I found it.

Should I reply to that?

Okay. Goodnight.

No. Maybe wishing him goodnight sounds cheesy.

Okay.

I hit send. Good. A simple okay with no expection of a reply whatsoever.

I looked down at the bed and suddenly remembered the day I was going through his phone.

I was hoping to find out something about his family.

This could be my chance to dig into his past. I was home alone.

Would it be considered spying and impolite? I don't care. He has kept me in the dark and if he can't give me reasons for his actions, I have a right to look for them on my own.

With a sudden burst of excitement, I rushed downstairs to his study but to my disappointment, it was locked.

Ofcourse, Alec Sinclair wouldn't lock his study and leave the key somewhere in his house.

I still decided to check his room for the key but it was nowhere to be found. So he could leave his room to be searched by me but not his study?

What exactly was he hiding in there?

A secret room maybe?

But I've been in his study before.

We.....did it there. I would've seen a secret room.

Then, maybe the drawers?

Could he be hiding something or anything at all?

Was I being paranoid?

Roaming around the house suddenly seemed pointless and I felt like a fool for even considering the idea. Alec wouldn't leave information open like that.

It's all locked up in his study, isn't it?

But what could the secret be?

And could it really have somehing to do with me? Something to do with our marriage?

Why did he marry me? The question that had been haunting my brain since the day of the ceremony.

Releasing a breath, I decided to go to sleep. I wasn't getting any answers tonight.

Remembering that I left my phone in his room, I went to get it.

There was a text from him.

Goodnight, wife.

I forgot all about my spying in that exact moment and sat down on the edge of his bed, a wide smile plastered on my face. I quickly typed a reply.

Goodnight, husband x.

I added the kiss and waited for his reply but there was none.

I hope he atleast smiled to that.

Taking in a deep breath, I laid down and buried my face into one of his pillows, relishing at his faint scent lingering on them. I made up my mind instantly and pulled the covers on top of myself.

I was sleeping in his room tonight.

******

Warm rays hit my face, causing me to toss away from the light. Groaning, I buried my face into the pillow but knew I couldn't sleep anymore, so I removed the covers from my face and opened my eyes.

Then, I screamed.

Because of the figure propped up on the bed beside me, watching me.

I sat up in fright, placing my hand over my racing heart.

"Didn't take you for a pillow sniffer," He smirked.

My jaw dropped.

"What are you doing here, Alec? Aren't you supposed to be in Boston?"

I shut my eyes, taking in deep breaths and leaned against the headboard for support, then opened my eyes and fixed them on him.

His upper body was supported on his arm, his posture tired and intimidating at the same time. The first few buttons of his shirt were undone, his tie loosened and his shirt's sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

A smirk formed on his lips.

"What are you doing in my room, Scarlet? Aren't you supposed to be in yours?"

I blinked at him and then looked around myself.

I was in his room.

Yeah, I did sleep here.

"Uhh yeah. I was afraid to sleep in my room."

He sat up with an amusing look, crossing his arms over his chest. "You seem just fine sleeping there alone everyday."

"Uh y-yeah because you're around and......I can scream if....there's something...like a monster under my bed," I shut my eyes, cringing at the last part.

Help me, God.

"And what kind of refuge did you find in my room?"

I pressed my lips into a thin line and shrugged.

He closed the gap between us and placed his arms on either sides of me.

"You were missing me," He whispered, holding my gaze.

I lifted my chin up. "N-no."

His eyes darted down to my lips. "You sent me a kiss."

I frowned, then remembered the text I sent him last night.

"I-It was a t-typo," I hated stuttering.

He pressed his lips together, scrutinized my face closely and then, pulled back slowly.

I released the breath I didn't realize I had been holding and without wasting any time, got out of the bed, sprinted out of his room and locked myself in mine.

If I knew he'd be back by morning, I'd never sleep in his room.

Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I took a quick shower and went downstairs.

To my surprise, Alec was already there in the living room. He seemed to have just showered as his hair were dripping wet at the ends.

I couldn't help but admire him in tracks pants and the sexy black tshirt which accentuated his strong arms.

He must have heard my footsteps as he turned around.

I blinked and looked away for a moment, then walked up to where he was sitting on the couch reading a newspaper.

"You're not going to work today?" I asked, surprised.

"It's a Sunday."

"But you work on Sundays," I frowned in confusion.

"Not all Sundays," He muttered. "And I just came back an hour or two ago."

"Really? Aren't you tired? Why didn't you get some sleep?"

He raised an amused brow at me.

"Oh right. I was sleeping in your bed but last I checked there was enough space for two people on it. You were lying beside me anyway. Why didn't you just sleep?"

The smile that took over his lips seemed to be mocking me in some way.

"Something kept me awake."

I bit my lip in confusion and debated if I should ask him or not.

"What?" I asked.

He held my gaze for a moment.

"You."

"Me?" I let out a laugh. "I was asleep myself--wait--was I talking in my sleep?"

At this, he let out a laugh, causing his bright blue eyes to shine. I couldn't help but smile myself.

"No, Scarlet. You weren't talking in your sleep."

"Oh. Then what?"

He looked away from me and shook his head, almost like I was a stupid and then matched my gaze again.

"I was just really humored by the idea of you missing me so much that you chose to sleep in my bed."

My jaw dropped open.

Gritting my teeth, I scowled at him. "Okay. Maybe I did miss you a bit because I've never been alone in this apartment. That's all."

But the smile didn't go away from his lips.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Fine. Just because you didn't miss me, doesn't mean you get to make fun of me."

He got up and walked in my direction.

"You really think I would forget a file?"

He flicked my nose playfully and walked up to the dining table while I stood there, frozen.

Partially because of his cute action and partially because of what he just confessed.

Oh My God! He called because he was missing me.

A surprised laugh escaped my lips as I followed him to the table.

He sat down and started eating.

He missed me!

"Are you just going to stand there and stare me like a creep?"

I blinked and sat down beside him. Not knowing what to say, I chose to remain quiet and started eating.

We ate in silence but it wasn't an awkward one. Finally, when we were done, I went to the couch and started watching a movie, expecting him to go to his study but was surprised when he settled down beside me.

"I didn't know you watched movies."

"You don't know half the things I do," He gave me a side look, showing off his sharp cut jawline.

My breathing faltered when he lifted his arm and placed it around my shoulders, drawing me close.

Who was he and what had he done to Alec?

The warmth from his body made me want to snuggle closer but I kept myself composed and turned to the TV.

His hand gave a squeeze to my shoulder and I looked up at him once again, his eyes meeting mine.

"Am I different enough now?" He asked.

My lips parted slightly as I blinked at him.

I think I love you, Alec Sinclair.

Hope you guys liked it!

I know this was more like a filler chapter but there's more to come. Also, the end is kinda near! Thanks a lot for the support! ❤

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