Chapter 4
Xavier's clothes were all rumpled, like he'd been caught in the act and had to rush out before he could even get himself together.
He shot a cold look around the private room, and then his eyes zeroed in on my hand resting on the male model's abs.
"Claire." Xavier spat through gritted teeth, his voice icy. "You've really outdone yourself."
Sophie scoffed, reacting first with a snide laugh.
"What's with the drama, Mr. Chandler? Weren't you busy entertaining your side piece?" she shot back.
Xavier ignored her mocking and marched right up to me, grabbing my wrist in a vice-like grip.
His grip was so strong I winced instinctively.
"You really dare to come to a place like this? Don't you feel shameless?
"Come with me. Now," he snapped.
His voice was hard, and his eyes were stormy with emotions I couldn't decipher.
I caught sight of the lipstick smeared on his cheek and collar, and the glaring hickey on his neck. I scoffed.
If anyone was shameless here, it was Xavier.
I yanked my hand free from his grip, then pulled the male model beside me even closer, tilting my head back and shooting Xavier a flirtatious grin.
"What's your problem, Mr. Chandler?" I asked.
"What am I doing?" Xavier laughed.
He let out a laugh, more angry than amused.
Suddenly, he slammed his arm across the table, knocking the fruit platter and wine bottles to the ground.
The deafening crash of shattering glass mixed with his rage-fueled shout.
"Do you even know what went through my head when I heard you booked eighteen male models?
"Just the thought of you being around other men makes me want to kill every last one of them.
"Claire, you're mine. I won't let any man touch you, ever.
"Come with me now, and I'll pretend tonight never happened," Xavier shouted.
Watching Xavier go ballistic like that, I couldn't help but think back to how I used to be.
This was what losing it looked like.
I swirled my wine glass, took a slow sip, and spoke up.
"Come on, don't get all worked up, Mr. Chandler.
"It's all just for show with these guys, but my heart? That's always yours. You'll always be my man," I teased.
Xavier stiffened, caught completely off guard.
Confusion and shock spread over his face. He'd never looked so lost before.
He clearly never expected karma to come back and smack him like this.
I went on, sounding totally casual.
"Relax, none of them even come close to you. They're not even worth a strand of your hair, and nothing could ever shake your spot as the one and only in my heart.
"With them? It's all just a game," I scoffed.
Xavier's lips were pressed into a thin line, his eyes red as he stared at me, silent for so long it felt like forever.
Just when I thought he might actually break down and cry, he stubbornly repeated, "Claire, come with me."
"Claire, come with me," he said again.
For once, I actually heard a trace of hurt in his voice.
I just didn't get it.
He was always out there, hopping from one woman to the next, never once giving a damn about how I felt.
And now, all I did was rest my hand on some dude's abs.
No one gave him the right to be pissed.
I stood up and shot him a frosty look.
"Xavier, stop being so annoying.
"You know the rules of this scene better than anyone. You do your thing, I do mine. We both get what we want. That's just how it is, isn't it?" I snapped.
Xavier was frozen in place, so shocked he looked like he'd just been hit by a truck.
He stared at me with an almost unfamiliar gaze, like he was meeting me for the very first time and had no idea who I really was.
I didn't even spare him a glance as I brushed right past his shoulder, completely ignoring him.
Without looking back, I tossed out, "If you want this room so badly, Mr. Chandler, it's all yours.
"Let's go somewhere else, no need to let him kill the mood."
Sophie and the male models stood up right away.
As we walked past him, Sophie couldn't help but tease him.
"Well, never thought I'd get to see Mr. Chandler make that face in my lifetime. Guess I hit the jackpot tonight." She snickered.
Xavier didn't even bother to respond.
His eyes were locked on me, burning with barely contained emotion in his voice.
He shouted, "Claire. My patience only goes so far, don't push me—"
I cut him off, not even bothering to look back.
"If you can't handle it, then just divorce me," I shot back.
Then I walked right out of the room, never looking back.
Xavier's eyes stayed glued to me as I left, burning with shock, anger, pain, and a flicker of panic, emotions he couldn't hide or even name.
I knew that look better than anyone.
All these years, he always left me with nothing but his cold, unyielding back as he walked away, never once looking back.
Now, it was finally his turn to watch my back disappear, to taste what it's like to be the one left behind.
Honestly, it felt so damn good it almost made me want to cry.