Chapter Fourteen
Alice couldn’t believeit.Axel lived in a mansion.She walked next to him, dazzled by the sheer size of the house in front of them.He unlocked the door and invited her inside.Her jaw dropped when the lights came on.The chandelier glowed softly over marble floors and a sweeping grand staircase which curved upward.In the center, an ornate pedestal had an arrangement of bright yellow and orange flowers.She turned an almost full circle, taking in the set of archways which led to other rooms.
“You live here?But you only own a bar.How?”
“Hasn’t he told you it’s a bit more than that?”
She spun around at the sound of the female voice.Atop the staircase stood a smiling woman with luxurious golden locks.She was dressed in tight black leggings and a turtleneck which hugged her curves and accented her beauty somehow.The low growl coming from Axel had the hair on the back of her neck stand.He touched her lower back possessively.
“Scarlet, what are you doing here?”
The woman began walking down the stairs.
“This is the pride home, Sir.”She gave him a smile and a brief nod.“There’s also been a problem.We needed to speak to you but couldn’t reach you on your phone or in your city home since it’s being renovated, so the next logical step was to come here.”
Axel reached inside his coat.
“Shit,” he mumbled.“I must have left my phone in the bar.”
Scarlet chuckled.
“Clearly, you’ve had your mind elsewhere.”She gave Alice a once-over.Alice felt her cheeks redden.
“What has happened?”Axel asked.
Scarlet raised an eyebrow.
“Perhaps we should speak in private,” she said.
Axel frowned and sighed deeply.“I’m sorry Alice, I need to tend to this.”He took her hand and squeezed it.“I wasn’t expecting this, or I wouldn’t have brought you here,” he said.
Alice nodded dumbly.
“Of course,” she agreed automatically.“I’ll call an Uber and be out of your way.”
“No.”He grasped her shoulders tightly and looked into her eyes.“I don’t want you to leave.I just need you to wait, Baby Girl.”
“But you ...she ...me,” she babbled incoherently.Her mind raced.He wanted her to stay?
“There are no buts.There is no she.It’s just you and me.Understand?”He waited for her to nod.“Now, you’re going to be a good girl and wait for me here.I won’t be long.”
“Okay,” she whispered.
“Maybe she’d be better off waiting in the living room?”Scarlet pointed out.Amusement was clear in her features.
Axel scowled, giving the woman what looked like a warning gaze.
“Yes, you’re right.Come, Alice.”He took her hand and led her matter-of-factly under one of the arches.Alice couldn’t hide her gasp.The room they entered was a blend of luxury and comfort.The marble floors were softened with a plush rug.The oversized leather sofas full of throw pillows invited comfort.A grand fireplace commanded attention, crowned with a striking art piece of a pride of lions.
“Wait here,” Axel said.“I won’t be long.”
