“I like to choose my battles.”
They both laughed.
“Let’s go take a shower,” he offered, helping her up.
After a very soft shower, in which he took care of her in ways that made her heart clench. She curled against him on clean sheets, the scent of sex still heavy in the air, Alejandra felt peace. She could face tomorrow. She could face anything. Because right now, he was hers.
40
CALLUM
Survive - Lewis Capaldi
When Asma had calledhim at the crack of dawn, while he was blissfully sleeping next to Alejandra slightly snoring, and urged him to the office that morning for a quick meeting, he had been this close to tell her to fuck off. He didn’t do it, but he had then received a message from Leif saying that he was sorry, that he had discussed with her about not calling him in but she hadn’t listened.
He needed to talk to her. Soon.
Alejandra’s therapist had her studio in Primrose Hill, and she had assured him she’d be fine taking the Tube there on her own. Since the office was close to his flat, it only took him a seven-minute walk to get exactly where he didn’t want to be.
The European Union had called again—apparently about another major research institute—and Asma wanted both him and Leif in the meeting. The persistent headache blooming at the base ofhis skull every time work came up probably needed medical attention.
The entire meeting had been pointless on his part. He had basically just been there to nod and fake smile, not once did Asma ask him something and he had to hold in the fucking rage he felt inside.
“I need to speak to you,” Callum said, following her out of the meeting room.
“Not now, Cal. I really need to answer a couple of emails, last night was wild with Omar,” and she literally slammed the door in front of his face.
“What the fuck,” he murmured, his jaw clenched.
“Are you taking my suggestion?” Leif appeared next to him, crisp in his suit, hands in his pockets.
“She’s not going to listen.”
“We’ll make her listen.”
“Clearly, now is not the right time.”
Leif sighed. “I’m sorry. Just go. If she says something, I’ll take the blame. We already fought this morning. I don’t see how our relationship can improve.”
“Are you okay, man?” Callum stopped to ask. “Between you and her…”
He took him to the side of the corridor, away from her door.
“No, I told her she’s a selfish bitch this morning, so I feel she’s pretty upset at me.”
Callum’s eyebrows shot to his hairline. “What?”
Leif shrugged. “I don’t think she’s a bitch, but I do think she’s selfish and she doesn’t see you are drowning in this office and I’m in pain daily. She’s the only one happy here, and she doesn’t want to see when other people are not…”
“Tomorrow, I’ll put a meeting for us three in the calendar and we’ll meet somewhere to chat. We need to fix this, this is getting ridiculous."
Leif nodded. “Now go, enjoy your day with Ale.”
He nodded, patting Leif on the shoulder, and headed for the door, and texted Alejandra to let her know he was on his way after stopping at home to change. They were planning to grab a bite around Camden and walk a bit after.
Just as he got to the entrance of the Tube, his mam’s name flashed on the screen. He sighed, put in his earphones, and picked up, stopping before entering to avoid losing signal.
“Is now a good time to talk to myonlyson?” she asked, clearly joking.
