Dear Ex Wife, Please take me back novel Chapter 153

ATHENA

“Hi,” Alex says, his deep voice a low whisper.

I ignore him.

Instead, I turn to Luca, narrowing my eyes.

“Call me Mrs. King one more time,” I say through gritted teeth, “and I’ll burn your house to the ground.”

Luca smirks like he’s actually amused. I make a mental note to knock that smile off his face one day.

Payback's a bitch.

That's for sure.

Then I shift back to Alex still standing before me, with his hand extended.

He is wearing a black and white tuxedo with his blond hair combed to perfection.

His cologne wraps around me but I maintain a straight face. I'll never admit how much I like his scent.

I don’t take his hand.

Instead, I step out on my own with my head held high, they wanted me here, fine.

They've got me.

I walk inside without glancing back knowing I'm turning heads as I feel a particular heated gaze on my back.

My body isn’t runway-thin, and it never will be. I’ve got curves and hips and an ass that made middle school hell. I spent years wishing I looked like Sloane, she is tall, willowy and flawless.

Supermodel material.

But that wish died the day I chose self-respect over starvation.

I embraced what I have. And tonight, it’s wrapped in midnight blue and making the room stare.

That was all it took for me to put society's stereotypes aside and embrace myself just as I am.

“Well look who we have here!” An annoying voice I thought I'd never have go hear again reaches my ears and I groan internally.

I try to bypass Melanie and her annoying goons. I mean, we are not in high-school for crying out loud!

“Extremely shameless if you ask me. Who did you sleep with to get a ticket?” She folds her arms and blocks my way.

I'm one second away from snapping. I know she's doing this to get a rise out of me and it might have worked had there not been a million cameras on stand by.

The last thing I want is Rayen having to hear how crazy his mother is from his friends at school.

“Mind your business Melanie.” I retort as I try to side step her but she block me again.

I step forward and step on her toes so fucking hard she has to bite her lip to stop herself from screaming in pain.

I guess I'm not the only one who isn't afraid of trending.

“Move or it won't just be your toes next time.” I warn in a whisper with a perfect smile on My face.

They think I can be bullied? I'm not some damsel in distress they knew back in med school.

He has a death glare on Arnold who chuckles like he had bet his money on this reaction,

“Ahhh, if it isn't Mr. King. Just the man I was looking for. I hope you don't mind, I just needed your doctor to diagnose my theory.” he says with a look of Satan.

Alex however, is burning hot even I can feel the heat of his anger. He reaches where we are and takes a seat,

“I don't like looking up to you. Go find a fucking chair in some corner.” He growls.

If Anorld is offended, he doesn't show it. That makes Alex stand.

He takes a step forward and Arnold takes one back. Then cocks his head to the side,

“I know your shit, Arnold. And unless you want it plastered on every newspaper tomorrow morning, which will ruin your barely existent political career, I suggest you be very careful who you approach?” The warning is lethal but the way he delivers it is even worse.

“Are you threatening me?” Arnold’s face twists. “Have you forgotten what card I hold over you?”

“You wouldn't hold shit on me even if I was the poorest. You know why?” Alex steps further into his space.

The next words are so low I almost don't hear them,

“Because you're just Elias Quinn’s fucking puppy trying to get validation so he'd throw you a fucking bone in the political world. As much as I don't give a shit about what you do,

Approaching Athena changes the whole ideal. I will burn everything you hold to the fucking ground and shove the same shitty card you claim to have over me down your throat. Because between us Arnold, I don't play when it comes to her.”

"Alex. It's-" I barely touch his arm when the lights go out.

My heart jumps to my throat as I feel like the walls start to close in on us.