For Honor or Glory

Score One For Siblings

Chapter 67 

It was nearly two hours later, and Alex was fighting hard to keep a calm expression as Sephiroth made his move. She was almost gleeful when he pulled his hand back. A giggle nearly escaped as she leaned in, as she was only a moment away from a checkmate. However, before she could put the piece in place, the door banged open with enough force that it startled her, and she dropped the knight where it hit the board and scattered the pieces.

She looked up with a glare to see Genesis glaring back. As soon as their eyes locked, he said, "I was told the two of you came in here hours ago. What is the meaning of this?"

Alex stood slowly and worked to keep her temper from showing as she said, "What does it look like? More importantly, why does it matter?"

By that point, Sephiroth stood as well. He looked between the two others before he stepped away from the table and said, "I will leave you to talk."

Alex immediately grabbed his arm. She fought to keep her frown back as she looked at Sephiroth since he wasn't the one she was angry with. "You don't have to leave. We were in the middle of a game."

The general managed a smile as he extricated himself and said, "As soon as you picked up that knight, I knew I had lost. If you are not opposed, we can play again when you have time, and I will work to redeem myself."

Despite the glare from the red-head across the room and her own lingering anger, Alex managed a smile as she said, "I will hold you to that." Sephiroth gave her a nod before he made his way out.

As soon as he was out of the room, Genesis closed the distance. Alex's eyes widened when he took her arm, but her anger came back in spades when he said, "I will admit that you have made yourself clear. I have vowed to myself to allow you space to grow, but I cannot stand idly by when I hear you have been in a room alone for hours with that man."

Alex pulled her arm from his grasp and put her hands on her hips as she said, "You do not get to tell me who I can spend time with. That was always your problem and never your right. You cannot control me. I am my own person."

Much to her shock, he didn't get angry. Instead, he lowered his voice as he said, "I have had time to consider your words. Please believe that I also hope to retain our friendship. I will not interfere if you decide to move on, even if it hurts. I would rather see you cheerfully embracing a new relationship than continue to see you miserable. However, I cannot stand to think of it being with that man."

Alex almost snapped back, but before the words formed, something else occurred to her. She couldn't deny that Genesis stilled cared, even if she had already decided it wouldn't work. She wanted him to let her go and move on, but she had to ask herself how she would feel if their situations were reversed. How would she take it if he wanted to be with a woman that she hated? Not that she believed Genesis did hate Sephiroth, but his jealousy had always been evident.

She sighed as she looked into his eyes and asked, "Why? Can you give me one good reason why you think it would be bad, other than your jealousy?"

A look of rage passed over his face, but he didn't yell. He took a few moments before he answered, but that didn't keep the fire from his voice as he said, "So you admit that there is something between you? How long has this been going on? Or should I ask if this is the real reason you will no longer give me a chance?"

Alex felt like he had slapped her. She couldn't believe that she had just been considering his feelings, and then he acted like a prick. She shouldn't have been surprised, but it still hurt. Her rage showed when she said, "That is enough. I have no need to stand here while you spout hurtful nonsense because you can't seem to pull your head out of your ass. Any relationship I have in the future is none of your business. If I decided that I wanted nothing more than to sleep with every man that caught my eye, you would have no input. Not like you would have room to say anything."