Chapter Twenty-Seven

*Genevieve*

I smooth down my dress and head back to Max’s table seeing him openly flirting with the young pretty waitress.

I feel sick to my stomach thinking about his poor wife and oddly I feel for Brittany, pregnant with this assholes baby thinking they are in love.

I’m glad I got the chance to tell Greyson, but I need to know more, what drives a man to do such things I cannot for the life of me seem to understand.

*” I was beginning to think you had left” *

“Not at all, this dress isn’t an easy one to navigate”.

He looks me up and down and licks his lips like that is supposed to do something to me.

*” mmm I can see that” *

The repulsion is real, even the feel of his eyes on me is making me uneasy. I take a seat careful not to show how I feel.

“So, I believe you were about to tell me about how you came to meet Brittany “

Taking a sip of my wine I lean back in my chair. He talks about how he knew she was Greyson’s ex, and he has no trouble taking his brother seconds if it gets him what he wants.

*” So, I convinced her I was going to leave my wife. We slept together multiple times; she is under some impression that we are going to be together but really she’s nothing but a lay” *

He laughs at Brittany’s naivety, Greyson told me he wasn’t a nice guy, but this is on a whole other level. He was just so open about the whole thing, even daring to laugh at his wife moreover his own child.

“So, what changed? Why is Greyson suddenly your target”

He looks over his glass at me, a short spell of silence between us.

*” You know for someone that claims to also dislike my brother you ask a lot of questions “*

The silence makes sense, he doesn’t think I’m for real and I’ve only gotten half a story from him right now. I need to think of something quickly to pull him back in.

“I’m just curious that’s all when I watch his downfall and take his money, I’d like to be able to revel fully in his unhappiness”.

I hold my breath hoping that it would be enough. He tips his glass towards me and then smiles.

*” I knew there was a reason I liked you, and I’m dam well sure there’s a reason my brother likes you “*

He once again fixates on my breasts, seemingly forgetting that I have a face. He looks back up to meet my gaze again.

*” You know it’s a dam shame my brother met you first or this whole situation could be with you “*

He winks at me and then continues on, like um supposed to be happy he wanted to have sex with me behind his wife back and get pregnant. Surely, he cannot think that was a compliment.

*” So, here’s the thing, I know Brittany has been to see Greyson and she has told him, But I have to tell you she really does think this baby is his. She has no idea I’ve been poking holes in the condoms” *

Sick.
That’s all I feel as he said that Sick to my stomach.

*” I know Greyson he won’t leave her alone to fend for herself and he for sure won’t tell my dad so that’s where I come in. Ill leak it to the press and then when our father finds out Greyson’s image will be ruined and ill still look like the devoted husband to Lily. “*

“I see, don’t you think there are a few flaws in that plan?”

*” What do you mean flaws” *

“Well for starters are you not forgetting that Greyson might find out, also DNA tests exist Max, what if he does one and finds it’s not his”.

I ponder over the question a little while.

*“It will all be done before that, in a few weeks’ time Greyson will be ruined and ill have everything I’ve ever wanted. I won’t have even had to lift a finger just nudge Greyson in the right direction of Brittany” *

“I see, you really do have everything figured out”.

*” You know I thought it did until you walked into the restaurant tonight “*

“What do you mean”.

*” Well, you’re an opportunity for me to really hurt Greyson. I’ve asked him if you and he are for real, but he seems to think you are, and yet you are sat here before me so interested in his downfall. Now I have someone who can push him that little bit further” *

“And what are you proposing I do?”

I take another sip of wine in the hope that he misses the grimace on my face, the thought of doing something to hurt Greyson is completely alien to me. Even if we were not in the situation, we are I would never hurt someone the way he seems to want, more to the point I’m not sure I could”.

*” Don’t worry Genevieve, I’ll let you know when the time comes, and you’ll have what you want by the end of it. Maybe I will too” *

He winks at me again but this time it is too much, pulling out my phone I check the time and see a message from Greyson and another from someone whose number I don’t recognise.

“Well, Greyson will be here soon. I think you can I have exchanged enough information for one night, I should get going”.

We both stand and Max extends his hand to me, I take it and shake not really wanting to touch him.

“It was nice to get acquainted with you, Max.”

I try to pull away but pulls me into his chest and drops he head to my ear.

*” When this is all over, I’d like to hear you scream my name Gen” *

I freeze not really knowing what to do and just like that he pulls away.

*” Who knew I’d have such a delectable looking sister-in-law” *

I smile and say nothing, just walk to the exit feeling as though I need to scrub every inch of myself just to get him off me.

I get inside the car, Jake having already pulled back around. Opening the text from Greyson.

*If he looks at you like that one more time I am coming inside *

**I am out of there now, you just go have your drinks will meet you around the corner and we can take your car home as we agreed, I’m going to get Jake to drive me to get a cup of tea**

“Hey Jake, could we find an open Tea room. Then circle back around to wait for Greyson”.

“Of course, Mrs Maddox”

“Jake I’ve told you a thousand times its Gen”.

“Sorry, of course, Gen”

He gets going and stops at a tearoom not too far away, I am way overdressed for this, but I head inside anyway wrapping my coat around my dress to not draw too much attention.

Before I get out, I check with Jack if he would like anything, he says no but offers to come inside. Declining I push the door open; I will get him something any way he looks like he could use a coffee.

After placing my order, the barista tells me to take a seat and he will bring them over, I stare at my phone screen and another message pops up from the unknown number.

*You cannot keep ignoring me forever Gen*

Deep down I know who it is from but tonight has already been enough, I don’t want to deal with him right now, I shove the phone back in my pocket.

“Wow, after all this time you would dismiss me so easily”.

I recognise the voice right away. Looking up I see Alex stood in front of me, he looks like hell. His once perfectly styled blond hair is all out of place, he has a beard now something which he swore he would never get.

It is his eyes that take me by surprise the most, dark circles adorn his once bright eyes, and they look as though he has lost his spark.

He takes a seat in front of me, just as the barrister brings my drinks over.

“I should get going”.

I grab the drinks and head for the door, just as I do, he grabs a hold of one of my arms.

“Please Gen wait, I just want to talk”.

I am about to respond when Jake pulls his hand off of me.

“Is there a problem here Mrs Maddox “

He has wedged himself just slightly in front of me and I can tell he has been told to watch out for Alex he’s looking at his as if he already knows him.

“Gen, please. Just ten minutes “

I would be lying if I said I was not interested in what he had to say, so I grab hold of Jake pulling him out of earshot.

“I’d like to listen to what he has to say, Jake, would you mind waiting in the car. I got you this coffee and please don’t tell Greyson”.

“Sorry I’m under strict instructions from Mr Maddox to never leave you alone with that guy”.

He throws Alex a glance, I never realised how domineering Jake could be.

“Okay fine how about we take a seat in both and you take a seat at that table right there, so you can see me?”

He ponders over it for a while before agreeing. I hear him mutter something about Greyson killing him under his breath.

“He will do no such thing Jake because he is not going to find out, neither of us is going to tell him and if we do it will be from me”.

He does not say anything but nods and takes a seat at the closest table to the corner booth, his body half facing it so it’s in his line of sight.

I head back over to Alex clutching the tea in my hands.

“I will talk to you in this booth Alex”.

He smiles at me, but it does not bring the same light to his eyes it once did.

“Let me just get a drink okay” I

I do not say anything and slide into the seat watching him place the order and head back over to the table. Once he sits down, he just stares at me, the silence is awkward as hell, so I do my best to break it.

“You know you look like shit Alex”.

He giggles.

“Never one to mince your words, Gen”


“What is it you wanted Alex; I don’t have that much time”.

“Right okay, sorry. “

He looks everywhere but at me.

“I guess I wanted to apologise, for the way I behaved”.

“You guess?”

“No, I do want to apologise, I never meant to hurt you in any way. What I did was stupid”


“You think?”

I roll my eyes at him and take a sip of my drink, waiting for him to continue.

“Everything with you and Greyson happened so fast, I just thought I’d have more time “

“More time for what Alex, what you did to me that day was awful. I needed a friend and instead, I got.”

I can feel myself about to cry, he was my best friend and his actions cost us everything. I breathe deep and stop talking trying to stop the tears from flowing.

“I thought I’d have more time to tell you, to show you Gen”.

“Show me what Alex, I lived with you for six months and watched you and Mia get along swimmingly until the day you didn’t”.

“But it was you, Gen, it was always you, even when I was with Mia, I would be thinking about you.”

“Is that meant to flatter me? Is that meant to make me feel better about what you did?”

“No, of course, it’s not, I just want you to understand.”

He runs his hands through his hair the way he always does when he stressed.

“I love you, Gen, I always have. When we used to speak in college, I prayed you would move here. Then when you needed somewhere to stay o offered right away.”

“But you were with Mia Alex, you should have told how you felt before letting me move in”.

“I didn’t think, I just knew I wanted you here and besides if I had told you, you’d still be in London right now living a miserable fucked up life with your brother. I didn’t just offer because of that I am still your friend”.

“I don’t Get it Alex. You know everything about me and on the day, I needed you most you were not there for me. I will never be able to forget that feeling. The feeling of panic at losing you.”

He reaches for my hands and holds them in his.

“Gen I am so so sorry; I will never be able to make up for my actions that night but if you’re willing, I would like to try. I miss you”.

“I miss you too”.

I do not look at him, I can’t face him, but I can’t deny that I miss him. I miss having someone to talk to, to confide in. I have Greyson but it is not the same as having a friend.

“Does this mean you’ll consider letting me back into your life?”

I pull my hands away.

“I don’t know, you need to be honest with me about how you feel. Things are different now”.

I twirl the ring around on my finger, it becomes a comforting distraction intense situation it reminds me of Greyson.

“I love you Gen. That’s the truth.”

I loudly sigh that is not what I wanted to hear.

“But Gen, I can see someone else already has your heart. And if I can only be your friend that is good enough for me, I just want you back in my life.”

Tears are now flowing; I am internally conflicted between having my friend back knowing he feels that way and I could never return it.

The selfish side of me wants to grab him and pull him in for a hug, but the sensible side is taking precedence tonight.

“I don’t think we can go back to the way we were before but how about we have dinner in a few days, at the pizza place around the corner from your apartment?”

“I would love that”.

Just as he speaks my phone starts buzzing Greyson’s name flashing across the screen, it dies, and I look over to see Jake answering a call he.

He puts the phone down and turns to me.

“Mrs Maddox, we need to go”.

I say my goodbyes to Alex letting him know I will text him about dinner before heading outside to see Greyson’s stood by his car on the sidewalk staring in the window of the tearoom.

Well shit, this is not going to go down well.