CHAPTER 107: THE PLAN WORKED

Alexia’s POV

"So let’s say my plan worked perfectly and that your husband is trying to prove a point to your version of Liz." Lucy smirked, looking way too pleased with herself.

I shot her a glare, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. Yeah, her stupid plan did work—so well that I could still feel Aiden between my legs with every single movement I made. And the worst part? He knew it. The smug bastard probably planned for it.

But this wasn’t the plan.

I just wanted Aiden to have a taste of his own damn medicine.

The way he always put me second to Liz—like I was some backup option, someone to tolerate rather than want—it had infuriated me. Still infuriated me. Even if I wasn’t his dream wife, even if our marriage was never meant to be real, I hated the way he treated me like an afterthought. Like I didn’t matter.

And Lucy? Lucy, who believed my marriage to Aiden was the real deal, had driven me to the reckless decision of making him jealous.

Well, mission accomplished.

But now, I was the one suffering the consequences.

I rubbed my temple, letting out a deep breath. "This was not how it was supposed to go."

Lucy grinned, resting her chin on her hand. "Oh, come on, Alexia. You can’t tell me you’re not loving this just a little bit."

"I’m not."

I was lying.

Because the way Aiden had been acting ever since? The way he had kissed me this morning, the way he looked at me with those dark, possessive eyes?

It made my stomach flip.

Made my heart race.

Made me ache for something I shouldn’t.

And that was dangerous.

I couldn’t let myself fall into that trap.

Because at the end of the day, Aiden only acted this way because of his ego. Not because he felt anything. Not because he wanted me in the way I secretly wanted to be wanted.

This was just about control.

And I wouldn’t be a fool. Not again.

"Sure," Lucy said, not believing me for a second. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

I rolled my eyes and pulled out my notebook, pretending to focus on.

I needed to get through this day without losing my mind.

So yeah... Aiden was finally paying me attention.

But now, there was a professor involved.

And from the way Professor Sinclair’s jaw tightened the moment his gaze landed on the hickey on my neck, it was very clear he didn’t like what he saw.

Shit.

I shifted in my seat, feeling the weight of his stare burning into me. My fingers instinctively reached up, brushing against the sensitive mark just beneath my collarbone. Damn it, Aiden. Why did he have to make it so obvious?

I shouldn’t have agreed to his insane idea of intimacy without feelings.

If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be sitting here with a stupid hickey on my neck like some lovesick fool.

And maybe—just maybe—I wouldn’t be feeling this ridiculous mix of emotions right now.

Guilt.

Regret.

A strange, almost twisted satisfaction knowing that Aiden had claimed me in a way that was unmistakable.

I clenched my jaw, forcing my eyes back to my notebook, pretending not to notice the way Professor Sinclair’s expression darkened.

This was going to be a long class.

I forced myself to focus on my notes, but my mind was nowhere near the lecture.

I could still feel his gaze on me. Professor Sinclair wasn’t even trying to be subtle anymore. Every time I shifted in my seat, his eyes flickered to my neck, the hickey burning like a brand under his scrutiny.

Damn Aiden.

Damn his possessiveness.

This was not part of the plan.

I was supposed to make him jealous, not the other way around. Now here I was, sitting in class, struggling to keep a straight face while my entire body still ached from last night... and this morning.

My thighs clenched at the memory.

Focus, Alexia.

Lucy, sitting beside me, nudged me with her elbow. "He looks pissed," she whispered, biting back a smirk. "I mean, I don’t blame him. That mark on your neck? That’s a full-on ’she’s been wrecked’ hickey."

I glared at her. "Shut up."

She just chuckled, flipping through her notes like she wasn’t stirring up chaos in my already scrambled mind.

I chanced another glance at Professor Sinclair.

Yeah. Definitely pissed.

His usual calm, collected demeanor was gone. Instead, his grip on his pen was tight, his jaw locked, his shoulders stiff as he continued his lecture.

Shit.

I wasn’t naive.

I knew Professor Sinclair found me attractive. It was in the way his eyes lingered a second too long, in the way his tone softened when he spoke to me, in the way he always seemed to notice everything I did.

But we’d never crossed that line.

And now?

Now, Aiden had very clearly made his presence known in the most infuriating way possible.

I sank lower in my chair.

The last thing I needed was to get caught in some silent territorial battle between my husband—who didn’t even want to acknowledge his feelings—and my professor, who suddenly seemed to have an opinion about my personal life.

Lucy leaned in again. "So... did Aiden do it on purpose?"

I gave her a dry look. "What do you think?"

She snickered. "I think you love the attention."

I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "I hate you."

"Liar."

Professor Sinclair cleared his throat. "Alexia."

My heart stopped.

I slowly lowered my hands.

"Yes, Professor?"

His eyes met mine, sharp and unreadable. "Stay after class. We need to have a word."

Lucy lost it.

I heard her inhale sharply, trying so hard to contain her excitement, but her foot nudging mine under the desk told me everything.

Oh. Shit.

I nodded stiffly, my throat suddenly dry. "Okay."

He didn’t say anything else.

He just went right back to the lecture, as if he hadn’t just put me in the most awkward situation possible.

I sighed.

This was definitely going to be a long day.

Tobias’ POV

I blinked. Then blinked again.

Was I... hallucinating?

Because there was no way this was my boss standing in front of me right now.

Mr. Aiden smiling? Mr. Aiden greeting me first? Mr. Aiden not looking like he wanted to murder someone first thing in the morning?

Impossible.

I subtly glanced at my coffee cup, wondering if someone had slipped something into my drink. Or maybe I had finally lost my mind after working for this walking storm cloud for too long.

But no, there he was.

Standing in his tailored suit, hands in his pockets, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, and—God help me—was that a good mood I sensed?

Unbelievable.

"Morning," he had said, actually looking at me instead of just breezing past like I was a part of the office furniture.

I had stared at him. "Uh... good morning, sir?"

He hummed as he walked past me, the usual tension in his shoulders gone.

Gone.

That was when it hit me.

There was only one thing that could explain this miraculous change in attitude.

Mrs. Alexia.

I schooled my expression, quickly grabbing my tablet and falling into step behind him as we entered his office.

"Sir, your first meeting is in thirty minutes, and I’ve already arranged the reports—"

"I’ll look at them later," Mr. Aiden cut in, waving a dismissive hand as he sat down at his desk.

I almost tripped over my own feet.

I’ll look at them later?

This man, the same man who nearly ripped my head off last week for not having a report printed ten minutes ahead of schedule, was suddenly relaxed enough to postpone work?

I narrowed my eyes.

Something definitely happened last night.

I coughed lightly. "Sir... uh, is everything alright?"

Mr. Aiden’s fingers tapped against his desk, and he exhaled deeply. "Yeah. Why wouldn’t it be?"

I almost laughed.

That right there? That was the response of a man who got laid.

Not just laid—no, this was something else. This was a man who had been satisfied, thoroughly, deeply, possibly multiple times, to the point that nothing could ruin his mood.

I fought the urge to smirk.

"So..." I started casually, watching him closely. "Did you and Mrs. Lake have a good morning?"

His hand froze mid-tap.

Gotcha.

His jaw tightened just a fraction, but that damn smirk on his lips didn’t disappear. If anything, it deepened.

"Why are you asking me pointless questions, Tobias?"

Bingo.

I straightened. "No reason, sir. You just seem... different today."

His eyes flicked up to mine, and for a split second, I saw something unreadable there. Something dangerous. Something possessive.

"Let’s just say..." He leaned back in his chair, tilting his head slightly. "I made sure my wife won’t be able to forget who she belongs to anytime soon."

Oh.

Ohhh.

I cleared my throat, suddenly needing to check my notes because holy hell that was not something I needed to picture.

"Good to know, sir," I muttered, quickly scrolling through my tablet before he could make any more suggestive comments.

Mr. Aiden just chuckled.

And that was when I knew.

Miss Alexia was an angel from above sent to help me because the boss had become grumpier and grumpier with time.