Page 23 of The Devoted Husband

“Yeah, I’ve been away at work,” he replied, leaning against the counter. “I think I left my card to the suite at my hotel in Atlanta. Can you give me another one?”

“Y-yeah, sure.” After a few taps and the swipe of a new card, Mandy handed it to him. “Is there...anything else I can get you?”

“I’m good for now, beautiful, but thank you.”

He shot her a wink that made her bite down on her bottom lip and smile before he headed toward the elevators.

In Sade’s suite, Atlas hid several cameras and microphones. He also logged into her computer and iCloud account to secure her new number. With it, he was able to hack her phone and email again. Pleased with his efforts, he headed out, confident he’d be able to win his lady back once and for all.

Hours Later . . .

“Am I crazy? I feel like I might be. I feel like what Atlas is doing is wrong. There’s no good reason to stalk someone...right? God, I’m so screwed up in the head I’m actually wondering if this man could truly love me, I guess, because the man I lovemost never put energy behind having me. Now, here Atlas is, doing literally whatever to have me. I can’t lie and say the obsession isn’t creepy, but it’s also a little cute. Still, those red flags can’t be ignored.”

She sighed.“I wished he would have just...been present from a distance and gave me space to make my way back to him. Now, I feel like I can never trust him. And don’t get me started on his family. It’s just too messy of a situation, but I can’t lie and say I don’t miss him.”

She paused. Atlas sat up in his seat, locked in. He watched her record a voice memo on her phone as she lay in bed. “I cried after my appointment earlier. I wished he could have been there with me. Since he’s unable to be my partner, that’s all the more reason for me to tell Dante he has a baby on the way.”

“No.” Standing, Atlas tried to conjure up a plan.

“I can’t believe I got myself into this mess.”

Dialing her number, Atlas lowered the volume on his computer. He stared at the screen as she watched her phone ring with his Facebook messenger call request. Her eyes rolled slightly before she said, “This can’t be a sign.”

Sade answered with, “Yes, Atlas? How did you get my number?”

“Ava,” he lied quickly. “I know you want me to stay away, but I just wanted to know how the appointment went. Is everything okay with you and the baby?”

Her body relaxed in bed as she smiled softly. “Everything’s fine. I heard his or her heartbeat, so that was cool.”

“Wow. Wish I could have been there.”

“Me too.”

“Baby, I know I didn’t go about things the right way, but I just...I want you to know that I love you more than anything in this world. I’ll continue to give you space, but if you ever need me...Please, remember I’m here.”

With a nod, she almost whispered, “Okay.”

“Get some rest, a’ight?”

Her mouth opened and closed, and Atlas held his breath...waiting for the invitation.

“We can’t be together, Atlas,” she said as if it was more for herself than him.

“I know, baby.”

“And . . . . I don’t want to play with your emotions.”

“I understand.”

Sitting up, she looked around her empty room. “Can you...Can you come to the hotel? I just feel really emotional and alone right now.”

“I’ll be there in less than an hour.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Atlas could barely contain himself as he ended the call and showered. Regardless of how often Sade said they couldn’t be together, she was his, and he wouldn’t stop until she realized that.

Sade

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