My Husband Chose His Ex I Became His Regret novel Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

Lila

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I thought I’d be used to sleeping alone in a bed worth more than most cars, after three months of this arrangement. It is now 2:47 AM and I’m currently working on completing the Nakamura merger proposal that’s due tomorrow.

This has become normal. The late nights. The early mornings. The endless cycle of learning and doing and proving that I deserve to be here.

Except now I know I do deserve it. That’s the difference three months makes.

Three months ago, I would have felt completely apologetic about taking up space, questioned everything I did and waited for someone to tell me what to do or if I was wrong.

Now? I make decisions; stand by my decisions; present to the board; negotiate and not get intimidated.

I have become the Woman Aidan told me I could become; The Woman I wished I would become.

My inheritance has been sitting in accounts I check obsessively, still not quite believing it’s real. Fifty million dollars. My mother’s gift. My safety net. My fuck-you money for anyone who tries to make me small again.

Like my father.

The proposal that I have been working on appears as a blur to me. I blink several times, rub my eyes, and check the time again- it’s now 3:15 AM.

Of course, I should go home. However, if I leave now, I will have to return in six hours for our morning meeting, and the proposal is not finished yet…If any part of the proposal is not perfect, Mark Knight’s lawyers will find this fault and exploit it.

“You are having a meltdown.”

I am startled and and swivel my chair around.

Aidan is leaning against my office doorway; he is in dress pants and a white shirt; his sleeves are rolled to his elbows; he is not wearing a tie; his hair is slightly tousled; he looks tired yet awake and alert at the same time; it is as if he has been in the building as long as I have today.

“I didn’t know you were here,” I state.

“I don’t think you were listening to me; you were too busy panicking over the Nakamura proposal.”

He walks further into my office and places a cup of coffee on my desk.

I pick up the cup of coffee. It is exactly how I like my coffee; how did he learn this?

10:07 Wed, May 13 N

Chapter 33

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“How did you know I was still here?” I ask.

“Because I am still here,” he states as he gestures to the hallway where his office is located. “I can see the light to your office from my office; you have stayed at the office after midnight every day this week.”

“So have you, Aidan,” I stated.

“As the CEO it is my responsibility to be at work during ridiculous hours; as an Assistant VP you are supposed to have a life outside of work,” he states as he sits down in one of the visitor chairs, the chairs are made of expensive leather-just like the ones in his office.

“When was the last time you left for home before ten o’clock?”

I think about it. “Tuesday?”

“That was four days ago, Lila.”

“I know. But there’s so much to do. The Nakamura merger, the Zenith partnership follow-up, the quarterly projections, the-”

“Can wait until tomorrow.” His voice is firm. “You’re running yourself into the ground.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine; you are exhausted! You have dark circles under your eyes that the makeup you put on them are not covering,” he continued, maintaining his point. “And you have lost weight! I certainly have noticed the difference! Not to mention that this time of night you are on what would be considered your fourth cup of coffee!”

“You are counting my coffee?” I asked, shocked.

“Somebody has to do it, because you aren’t!” Aidan said as he stood up and walked around to my side of the desk. “Let’s go; I will be driving you home.”

“I have my own car!” I protested.

“You are so tired that you won’t be able to drive your car to get it home safely,” he said matter-of-factly. “I will have Marcus arrange for it to be taken to your apartment tomorrow!” As he was speaking, he was in the process of closing my laptop, picking up my things, and putting them in my purse. “No argument, Lila! This is CEO command that you must follow.”

Normally, I would argue with him about how I was fine and how I could handle all of this. But to be completely honest, I was just too tired.

“Fine,” I replied defeatedly. “But my proposal…?”

“Is already 95% complete, and is much better than anything Mark Knight’s team will produce,” Aidan assured me. “Let’s look at the proposal together tomorrow morning when we both have fresh eyes and clear minds.”

He helps me into my coat, when did I even take it off? and guides me out of my office with a hand on my lower back. The touch has become automatic over the past three months. Natural. Like we’re magnets that

10:07 Wed, May 13

Chapter 33

can’t help but find each other.

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The building is empty at this hour. Just us and the night security staff. Our footsteps echo in the marble lobby.

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