My Husband Chose His Ex I Became His Regret novel Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Chapter 35

Aidan

Three months ago, she never looked at me in the eyes before.

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This morning, Lila Stark and I went toe to toe arguing over projected margins without so much as a blink.

I recognized the shift before I registered it, how my breath caught in my throat as she strolled to the glass conference room with her tablet tucked under one arm, her back straight, her chin lifted, the woman who, just a few weeks ago was apologetic for having taken a seat now claimed her place without asking permission.

That alone was exhilarating.

“Glad you could make it,” I said, keeping my voice even.

She watched the clock on the wall, “I am only forty seconds late. If you are firing me for that, at least make it sound exciting when you do.”

I raised my eyebrow at her.

That spark again, flashing confidence, good-natured teasing, none of that had been there three months ago.

“Take a seat, Ms. Stark.”

She did so with an almost deliberate manner, legs crossed, shoulders square, and oh, so relaxed. She had a faint, citrus scent, and underneath that, something warm.

I cleared my throat and focused on the screen. Focus was necessary. Dangerous, even. Because somewhere between week six and week eight, I’d realized something had shifted.

I cared.

Not in the abstract, strategy-to-asset value way I felt about creating partnerships or alliances, but rather in a very real and troublesome way that would linger long after our meeting was over. In the way I became hyper- aware when she looked upset. In the way I saw her skip lunch, then she’d fix it without saying anything when she slid a plate toward me.

She noticed me doing that too.

“You’re staring,” she remarked playfully.

“I’m thinking,” I replied.

“What do you mean?”

“Are you ready for the next thing?”

She looked sober after this. A bit. Her hands squeezed on her stylus but then loosened.

10:07 Wed, May 13 N

Chapter 35

“I am,” she replied. “Whatever it is.”

There was a time, only three months ago, when she would have questioned if she were enough.

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I moved to a different screen to change the subject, “Knight Group will have a charity gala in a week.”

She almost flinched from me saying this but quickly recovered. Old demons.

“I know,” she replied with little emotion. “It’s all over the place.”

“You will be going,” I told her.

Silence.

The city buzzed outside the glass walls of the office. I sat still and watched her face flicker with expressions of fear, anger and determination before she finally nodded her head.

“Okay,” she said. “Under what terms?”

I was surprised to find I had a smile on my face. “As my partner.”

She looked up at me quickly. “As a business partner,” she added quickly.

“For now,” I added quickly.

She seemed to become flushed with color now, but it wasn’t because she was embarrassed, she was excited.

“Are you ready for the second phase?”

She appeared to be a little sour after I said this. A little bit. Her hand was gripping her stylus until I loosened

“I am,” she replied.

“Thank you,” she said.

“For what?” I asked shortly.

“For you not playing the knight in shining armor to me,” she replied, “but rather sharpening me.”

My heart was doing some very risky things in my chest at this moment.

“This clause is watertight from a legal perspective. However, from an emotional perspective, it is going to be viewed as aggressive,” she stated.

I tilted my head. “You are starting to think like a negotiator.”

Her lips parted into a smile. “You have taught me well.”

10:07 Wed, May 13

Chapter 35

I tilted my head slightly so that our faces were almost touching. I felt her breath against my cheek. For one moment, we both remained perfectly still.

She looked at my mouth.

I tracked the line of her lips down to the curve of her jaw before I finally stopped myself.

Out of the blue, she straightened. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry for what?” I replied.

She hesitated, “nothing.”

I snickered under my breath. “You are trouble.”

She smiled. “But you were the one who hired me.”

After that night, I walked Lila out to the elevator like we have done every day for the last couple of months.

“Tomorrow’s a huge day for you,” I said.

“Yep. My first solo presentation,” she smiled.

“You are going to rock it,” I assured her.

She hesitated as she pressed the elevator button. “You always sound so confident.”

“I am,” I said. “Confident in you.”

I could see her swallowing hard.

The elevator door opened. She stepped into the elevator and turned back to face me.

“Mr. Storm,” she said.

“Yes?”

“Why do you look at me like that sometimes? Like you are proud, yet afraid.”

Because I am.

“Get some sleep,” I said instead,

Her smile grew softer and felt more real. “Goodnight.”

With that, she turned and walked into the elevator.

I think I stood there longer than I should have.

The next morning, everything went off without a hitch.

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10:08 Wed, May 13 N

Chapter 35

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Lila’s presentation was perfect, concise, and full of confidence. The board leaned in, listening, engaged with each question she was asked, and she did not falter in her answers.

When Lila’s presentation ended, she was met with applause.

She let out a lung full of air and looked to me for reassurance.

I nodded once.

She beamed like the sun.

Once the board members started to leave, Lila ran up to me with excitement overflowing from her body.

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