Chapter 507 You Always Come To Me

Delia’s POV

“I’m annoyed, Tessa. There’s a difference,” I replied. “Jealousy would mean I actually believed you could take something that belongs to me. Just because you’re sitting in Elliot’s office doesn’t mean you’re going to become part of this family.”

Tessa gave me a cold smile. The shy expression she had worn at lunch was completely gone.

“We’ll see which one of us he keeps,” she said confidently.

“We’ll see which one of us he actually wants and which one he’s only using,” I replied. “Those are two very differentthings.”

Before Tessa could respond, the office door opened. Elliot walked inside and stopped when he noticed us standing there. His expression remained completely neutral. Somehow, that irritated me more than if he had looked angry. At least anger would have suggested that our presence affected him.

“Delia? What are you doing here?” Elliot asked calmly.

I wanted to slap that calm expression right off his face.

“I’d like to speak to you,” I replied. “Privately, if you don’t mind. Without my dear future mother-in-law listening.”

“Your mother, what?” Elliot asked, frowning.

“Well, Tessa here claims she’s going to become my mother-in-law,” I explained, then shook my head. “But never mind that. Can we please speak alone?”

“Of course.” Elliot turned toward Tessa. “You were just leaving.”

Tessa looked ready to argue. Her mouth opened, but Elliot gave her a firm look that immediately silenced her. She picked up her handbag and headed toward the door. Just before leaving, she turned and smiled at me.

“See you at Christmas,” she said sweetly.

“Buy yourself a chair first,” I shot back. “And perhaps a backbone. You’re going to need both.”

She walked out, leaving Elliot and me alone. He closed the office door behind her. Her perfume still lingered in the room, and I hated that almost as much as her smug expression.

“So you’re fucking Tessa now?” I demanded.

Elliot looked at me as though I had just insulted him in his own office.

“Delia, I might be fucking you, but don’t forget your place,” he warned me. “You’re my son’s wife.”

“Exactly. I’m the woman you’re fucking,” I shot back. “So don’t stand there acting as though I have no right to ask you a question.”

“Who I fuck is none of your business, woman,” Elliot replied coldly.

“It becomes my business when another woman sits in your office claiming she’s going to marry you!” I argued. “It becomes my business when I was in your bed one night, and the next day she’s telling me over lunch that you asked her out. Don’t pretend you don’t understand what I’m asking. I’m not Noah.”

“I never asked her to marry me,” Elliot replied.

“But you haven’t denied anything else,” I pointed out.

“Because I don’t owe you an explanation of every woman I speak to,” he answered.

“I’m not asking about every woman. I’m asking about Tessa,” I insisted. “Are you fucking her?”

“No,” Elliot answered firmly.

“Then why was she sitting in your office?” I demanded.

“Because she wants something from me,” he explained. “People come here when they want something, Delia. I decide whether they’re worth my time. That doesn’t mean I’m sleeping with them.”

“She told me you asked her out,” I reminded him.

“She heard what she wanted to hear,” Elliot replied dismissively. “Women have a habit of doing that. You included.”

“Don’t compare me to her,” I snapped.

“Then stop behaving as though you’re my wife and have a right to question me,” he warned.

“Oh, really?” I challenged. “Should I go home and fuck your son instead?”

“Well, he is your husband,” Elliot replied without hesitation. “Why are you asking me?”

His response hurt more than I expected. For a moment, I could only stare at him. Then I picked up my handbag, determined not to let him see how badly his words had affected me. My hands were steady, but my chest felt tight.

“Then don’t call me the next time you want someone in your bed,” I snapped. “And don’t let that arrogant little racer sit in your office pretending she’s already part of my family. If I’m nothing more than your son’s wife, then start treating me like one. Stop fucking me. Stop staring at my mouth whenever we’re together. And stop allowing another woman to go around telling people she’s about to marry into my family.”

“You’re the one who came here, Delia,” Elliot reminded me coldly. “You always come to me. Don’t start pretending this is about love.”

“I never said anything about love! ” I shot back. “I’m telling you that you can’t keep sleeping with me while another woman goes around announcing that she’s going to become my mother-in-law. If I’m no longer enough for you, just say it. Don’t make me hear it from Tessa while she’s sitting across from me in a restaurant.”

Elliot said nothing. He did not tell me I was wrong, but he did not reassure me either. He simply stood behind his desk, looking at me as though our conversation had already ended.

“Are we done?” he finally asked.

I swallowed the anger rising in my throat. “Yes. We’re done.”

I walked out before he could say anything else to hurt me. By the time I reached the elevator, my hands had started trembling. It wasn’t because Elliot had denied sleeping with Tessa. It was because I knew his denial meant very little. Elliot had a way of making me believe whatever he wanted, and I had already fallen for it too many times.