Read Her Premarital Ex (The Alexanders Book 3) Online
Authors: Tina Martin
Tags: #suspense, #reflection, #true love, #unrequited love, #jealousy, #stalker, #fiction romance
“Desiree.”
“Don’t know why she’s
asking about me, but I’m glad I wasn’t here. I hate losing my
temper.”
“She asked how you
were...seemed disappointed when I told her you’d gotten
married.”
“Disappointed?”
“Yeah. She was faking like
she was happy for you, but I could tell she was upset.”
“Yeah...well, I don’t have
five words to say to her, so I hope she goes back up North and live
happily ever after.”
“She was cheating on me
with my best friend and I found out about it.”
“Ouch.”
“She tried to justify the
reason she did it by telling people that I was controlling, but
yet, when we were together, she freely traveled back and forth to
Chicago for weeks at a time...but I’m controlling.”
“That’s so
typical...trying to pin the blame on you for her
actions.”
“What’s that?”
“I’m glad she did what she
did. I’m so happy she cheated on me.”
“Well, if Desiree hadn’t
cheated on me, I would probably be married to her and miserable.
Instead, we broke up, I concentrated on my restaurants, then, to
get away from all the ATL drama she kicked up, I relocated to North
Carolina where my aunt introduced me to the woman I was supposed to
be with from the start. My soulmate.”
“Gabrielle.”
“Yep. Gabrielle. She’s all
the woman I’ll ever need for the rest of my life and
beyond.”
“Crazy how things work
themselves out.”
“Yes it is.”
“Meant to tell you the
reception was beautiful, man,” Patrick said. “Ain’t nothing like
black love and Gabrielle is a sweetheart.”
“Yes she is. That’s why I
love her. She’s certainly made me a better man. She’s the type of
woman that makes me
want
to be a better man.”
“I hear that. That’s what
I’m looking for.”
“Keep looking, brother.
She’s out there, and when you find her, trust me, you’ll
know.”
“Yeah...that’s what
everyone tells me.”
“This
day flew by really, really
fast,” Lalita said, finishing a cup of green tea.
“Sure did,” Padma said.
“Did you ladies enjoy yourselves?”
“Yep,” Gabrielle answered.
“Very informational. I got enough notes to write a
book.”
“The food service industry
seems very complex,” Gabrielle continued. “Requires a lot of hard
work and dedication.”
“Yes ma’am it does as I’m
sure your husband can attest to,” Padma said.
“Yes, he does.”
“So are we going
sightseeing since this is our last night here?” Lalita
asked.
“Not me,” Gabrielle said.
“I’m pooped. I need some sleep...think I’ll call my hubby and relax
for a bit.”
“All right,” Padma said.
“Lalita and I will walk around for a while, then.”
“Okay. Have fun guys,”
Gabrielle said, getting up from the table.
Ah, how
relaxing
.
Ugh. Not
again
. The smile quickly disappeared from
her face and she looked away from him, staring at her feet in the
water instead.
“Thought I’d find you in
here,” he said.
“Dilvan, what do you
want?”
“Just thought that since
we made some progress yesterday, we should celebrate.”
We made some progress
because I shook your hand?
“No thank you,”
Gabrielle replied.
“Oh, come on,” he said,
handing her a glass. “Here....just a few sips.”
“Red Moscato. It’s sweet,
like you. You like it?”
“Yeah. Pretty good,” she
replied, ignoring his compliment and enjoying the wine
instead.
“Good,” he said, glad to
hear her say she liked it because that meant she hadn’t noticed
he’d altered it a bit. If she drank only half of the wine in her
glass, it would be enough to render her unconscious for hours.
Dilvan couldn’t believe he’d stoop so low but it was the only way
to get close to her, as close as he wanted to be.
“Where’s my Mother and
Lalita?” he asked as if he hadn’t known. He’d watched them at
dinner and saw Lalita head out the front entrance of the restaurant
with his mother.
“Um,” Gabrielle said
blinking twice. All of a sudden her vision was blurry.
“Um...uh...they...um...they went sightseeing.” She sloshed the wine
around in her glass and took another sip.
“You didn’t want to go
with them?”
“No,” she said, placing
her hand on her forehead, trying to steady herself because she felt
dizzy all of a sudden. “I’m going to call...to call...um...call
Tyson and go to bed. I feel so sleepy all of a sudden.”
“Gabrielle, are you okay?”
Dilvan asked.
“Yeah. I’m...I’m fine,”
she slurred, then rested her head on his shoulder.
“Let’s get you to your
room, sweetie,” he said, standing. Leaving the wine bottles and
glasses by the pool, he helped Gabrielle to her feet, holding her
up by using his right arm as a brace around her, and holding her
small handbag in his left hand.
“You’re so beautiful,
Gabrielle,” he said as if she could hear him speak; as if she was
alert instead of unconscious.
Lalita
had just gotten off the elevator, headed to the room to
prepare for bed. Sightseeing had been an adventure for her,
especially since this was her first time visiting Chicago. Now, she
only wanted to call Prasad, check on the kids, take a shower and
sleep.
“Hey, Gabrielle, why are
you on my bed and why on earth did Dilvan Alexander just leave this
room?” Lalita asked with a hand on her hip, ready to confront
her.
“Gabrielle, wake up!” She
shook her more, but Gabrielle still didn’t open her
eyes.
Lalita
woke up to the sound of the shower. Gabrielle was up. Her
suitcase was on the bed. She’d already been packing.
Was she okay? Could she
recall anything from last night?
Lalita
had so many questions for her.
Lalita frowned again. “Why
was I sleeping in
your
bed? You were in my bed when I came back from sightseeing. Do
you remember anything from last night?”
“Um...yeah. I went to the
pool for a few, saw Dilvan down there. He offered me some wine and
then I went to bed.”