Chapter 3
"Can I have your car keys for a moment?" I asked.
Alex looked at her warily. "What do you need my keys for?"
"I just want to get something I left in your car," I replied.
I'd once made something for him by hand and hung it from his rearview mirror. Back then, it had meant everything to me. But now, Alex wasn't worth that kind of devotion anymore.
"There's some of Emily's stuff in the car," Alex said. "Don't go digging through her things—" He cut himself off with a quiet exhale. "Actually, never mind. I'll come with you."
"Whatever," I replied.
We headed down to the underground garage.
Alex unlocked the car. I pulled the door open and reached up to take it down.
I'd tied it tight back then, worried it might fall off, which was tight to undo now.
My jaw tightened. Then I just yanked. It snapped free in my hand.
Alex frowned. "Hey, you broke it. Why did you do that?"
"It's broken, so what?" I said flatly. "You don't need it anymore."
As I was getting out of the car, I caught a glimpse of something small and black tucked in the crack of the passenger seat. I reached over and pulled it out, only to realize that it was a pair of black pantyhose.
Obviously, I knew exactly who they belonged to. So this was the "clothes" Emily supposedly left in Alex's car.
Alex pressed, "Are you done yet? Stop rummaging through my stuff."
With a blank face, I slipped the pantyhose back where I found them. "Done."
As soon as I stepped out, Alex hurried over, closed the car door, and locked it tight.
I couldn't care less. I crushed the thing in my hand and tossed it into the trash.
My phone rang. I picked up. "Hello?"
"When are you free? We can hold the wedding in a month, but let's get the marriage license sorted first," James said.
"Uh... there's really no rush," Olivia replied. "Getting the license is super easy now. We could just do it on the wedding day if you want."
Alex suddenly latched onto the keyword. "License? What are you talking about? Someone's getting married?"
On the phone, James asked, "Is that your ex?"
He'd already started calling Alex my ex.
"Yeah," I answered.
"Move out as soon as you can," James said.
"Okay," I replied.
"Just check your schedule for the marriage license, and let me know. I'll make it work whenever you want," James said.
After I hung up, Alex looked at me suspiciously. "Who was calling you this late?"
I said, "Someone wants to get a marriage license with me."
Alex snorted. "Seriously? You already pulled that stunt once. It's getting old."
I took a deep breath. "Oh."
"What do you mean by 'oh'?" Alex snapped.
"It meant I wouldn't ever bring it up again," I said coolly.
Alex nodded, satisfied. "It's late. I need to get back to Emily."
"Go ahead," I said, not caring at all.
As Alex was leaving, he turned back and said, "Just wait a little longer. Once Emily feels better, I'll marry you. You've been with me for so many years, and I won't forget that."
This time, I didn't say a word.
*****
The next day, I started packing my things.
I didn't have many clothes. The only thing I couldn't leave behind was my laptop. As a programmer, all my project code from the past few years was stored on it.
When James came to pick me up, he raised an eyebrow when he saw I was only carrying a laptop bag. "That's it?"
I nodded. "Yeah, just this."
"I thought girls liked to buy lots of pretty clothes and bags," he said.
Who didn't love pretty clothes and bags? Ever since Alex started his own business a few years ago, money had been tight for us. I pawned my jewelry, and I hadn't bought any new clothes in years.
I just packed my underwear and a few personal items and donated the rest to charity.
James glanced at my small laptop bag and said softly, "I'll take you shopping this weekend."
"No, that's alright," I replied.
"Why not?" he asked.
"I haven't gotten my paycheck yet this month," I said quietly.
James couldn't help but chuckle. "I'll give you an advance."
I licked my lips, still feeling a bit nervous. "James, are you really going to marry me?"
"Why do you ask?" he replied.
"Is your family pushing you hard to get married?" I asked.
"Yeah, they're on my case. Plus, being married makes the shareholders trust me more. It's good for the company," he said.
"I knew it. You evil boss will never do anything unless there's something in it for you," I muttered.
"Excuse me? What did you just call me?" he raised an eyebrow.
I waved my hands frantically. "No, nothing at all."
James smirked. "How about you update my contact name in your phone?"
"I'll do it right now!" I said, scrambling to change it.
I quickly changed his contact name from "Evil Boss" to "The Hottest Guy."
I held up my phone for James to see. "See? I changed it."
James shot a look at my phone and then pulled over to the curb.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
James took my phone, tapped away for a moment, and then handed it back to me.
As the car slipped back into traffic, I glanced at my chat screen.
He'd changed it from "The Hottest Guy" to just one word, "Hubby."
"Are you sure? We're not even married yet," I teased.
James raised an eyebrow. "Should we head to city hall right now?" As he said that, he started to turn the car around.
"Wait, James. Not today," I blurted out.
"So, what's your excuse this time?" he teased.
"My ID... is still with him," I admitted.
When I called Alex, he was out shopping with Emily.
She had just changed into a strapless mini dress, posing in front of the mirror, deliberately playing up her sex appeal.
When she noticed Alex staring at her, completely captivated, she quietly snapped a photo of him. Then she took a selfie.
She posted both on social media. The caption read, "Cupid must've made a mistake. Why did you come into my life so late?"
One photo was a sultry shot of her, and the other captured Alex in the background, gazing at her, utterly mesmerized.
She loved having him wrapped around her finger. It fed her vanity.
But soon, Alex's attention shifted. He frowned and picked up his phone.
"Olivia, didn't I tell you I'm with Emily these days? Why are you calling again?" he said impatiently.
"Where's my ID?" I asked.