Teasing Phoenix novel Chapter 22

Three days ago...

I growl in irritation when I hear her calling my name behind me.

How does she even know that I’m here in New York? I think I make it clear for her that I have nothing to do with her anymore, and she’s never going to have me back.

I face her, clenching my jaw to avoid swearing at her where everyone around can hear it.

“Are you stalking me now, Gabrielle?”

Of course, she doesn’t care how angry I am. She’s a bitch for a reason—an insensitive and selfish bitch!

She cups my face and kisses my lips so loudly.

I cringe. I can taste the lipstick on my lips, but she doesn’t taste like my princess. I grab her on her arms and push her away from me. I’m done being nice.

This woman won’t just stop ruining my life—she’s not satisfied once, she wants to ruin me again. I did everything for her—I was a loyal boyfriend, never cheated, but look at what she did to me, and now the evil spawn is back.

“What the fuck was that, Gabrielle? Are you insane? You can’t just kiss me like that. I have a girlfriend and for fuck’s sake, so stay the fuck away from me!” My anger creeps in my voice.

“Isn’t Sandra back to her den? What are you afraid of? That she might leave you? I’m pretty sure it’ll be sooner, Alex,” she says unhurriedly, then pouts and crosses her arms over her chest.

“I have no time for your delusions, Gabrielle!” I grit my teeth and turn my face away from her, but she grabs my arm and digs her fingernails into my arm.

She’s testing my temper, and I’m losing it.

“What the fuck do you want from me? Say it now because I will never give you another chance after tonight!” I pull my arm stronger, and it almost loses her balance, but I never feel sorry for that.

I narrow my eyes, but she just flips her hair over her shoulder and shows me her manicured fingers. Then takes strands of her hair and twists it as if she has all the time in the world.

“Remember I told you that I’m gonna have you back?” she asks, and I don’t give her attention other than looking at her blankly

She continues, “I mean it, Alex. I have something to use against you.

Jesus, this woman is unbelievable! I was so naive and blind. How did I even fall for her and suffer for her cheating?

I try hard to look unaffected, but my pulse is already throbbing in my neck. My nose is flaring and I can feel my blood boiling in my veins. “And what is that, Gabrielle? Make sure it is good enough to give you a second of my time.”

She walks towards me, but I take a few steps back.

“Don’t you dare come close to me!” I beckon to warn her.

“You will take me back, whether you like it or not. And you will break up with her and forget about her for good—”

I cut her off. “Or what? You will shoot me in the head?” Squinting my eyes while pointing my finger to my head. “You’ll spread our sex video all over the internet?”

“I don’t have to do that to humiliate myself, Alex. I have better than that. And we don’t have sex video in the first place. You should know me better before you threaten me that night,” she says, lifting her chin up to intimidate me.

I can’t help but think about what she has to blackmail me. I swallow the acid burning in my throat. “I don’t have time to chit-chat with you. Time is up!” I clap my hands and walk away from her for good, but I can still hear the clacking of high heels echoing in the parking lot—Gabrielle is still following me.

“You will take me back, Alex!” she yells.

I wave my hand like I don’t care, but her words affect me so much whether she has something to use against me or not—it pricks my skin and consumes my brain.

Hawk meets me halfway to Mom’s room with his brows meet together.

I shove my hands in my jeans pocket because I still feel unease after I walk out from Gabrielle.

My curiosity is overriding my brain. What if she really has something to use against me? And what is it?

“Are you okay? You look like you can spit fire?” Hawk is looking at me studiously.

I sigh heavily before I answer, “I met Gabrielle in the parking lot. How does she know that I am here in New York and I am going to the hospital? It’s not a coincidence,” I tell him and I can clearly hear the weary in my voice.

“She can use her charmed to ask info about you, Phoenix. Don’t worry if she will bother you again, let me handle it,” Hawk answers dismissively, but I can see that somehow he is affected as I am.

“And how will you handle it? She’s even going to blackmail me. She said she has something to use against me, Hawk,” I swallow the thickness forming in my throat.

“And what is it? Did she tell you?” She was just bluffing, and stop overthinking about it,” he scoffs.

“What if she really has?” I demand a response.

“Forget about it, brother.” He waves his hand. “Let’s see Mom again, then we can head home.”

I nod and follow him at a slow pace.

“Are you still staying in the hotel?” he asks, side-glancing at me.

“Yeah. It’s free, so why not take advantage of the King’s hospitality,” I chuckle.

“That’s not what I mean, dumb!” he guffaws.

I look at him while he is watching Mom through the glass window of her room. Mom is still sleeping due to the effect of the sedative.

“What I mean is you being alone, pussy-whipped.”

I know what he means, but I’m just trying to ignore his question because being away from Samantha is hard, and I feel empty.

My heart aches. I have to call her if I get back to the hotel. I missed her already. I wish I told her how I really feel for her, but I am just waiting for her to move in with me, then I tell her how much I care for her. And God, I’m so hard falling for her in just a short time.

“The coldest and the loneliest night I have to spend in the luxurious suite,” I admit.

His face lights up but hasn’t said a word.

“What?”

“Let’s head home.”

We go home in a separate car after talking to Mike for a few minutes. Howard sends me back to the hotel. I find out that he was Abby’s driver before marrying Seb, then now he’s driving mom.