My Husband Chose His Ex I Became His Regret novel Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Chapter 41

Adrian

She’s quiet for a moment. Then: “Can I ask you something?”

“Always.”

“Why didn’t you tell me it was just the two of us? When you first invited me?”

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Because I was afraid you’d say no. Because I wanted you to commit before you could overthink it. Because I’m selfish and wanted five uninterrupted days with you.

“Because it didn’t seem relevant,” I lie. “The team size doesn’t change the objectives.”

“Right. Objectives.” She takes another sip of champagne. “What are the objectives, exactly? Beyond the obvious partnership discussion?”

I pull out my tablet. All business now. Safer ground.

“The Lee Corporation wants to expand into Western markets. We want access to their manufacturing capabilities in Southeast Asia. The synergy is obvious, but the devil’s in the details.” I pull up the brief I’ve been working on. “They’re traditional. Family-owned for three generations. They value relationships over contracts. This meeting is as much about them getting to know us as it is about terms.”

“Getting to know us,” she repeats. “As in, they’re evaluating whether they like us as people?”

“Exactly. Which is why I brought you.” I set down the tablet. “You’re warm, likeable. You ask thoughtful questions and actually listen to the answers. People trust you, Lila. That’s a rare gift in business.”

She’s looking at me strangely. “You think people trust me?”

“I know they do. I’ve watched you in meetings. The way you engage. The way you make people feel heard. It’s not something you can teach. You either have it or you don’t. You have it.”

“I spent years having people tell me I was worthless. Forgive me if I’m still adjusting to compliments.”

The mention of Mark tightens something in my chest. “They were wrong. About everything. You know that, right?”

“I’m starting to.” She looks out the window. “It’s easier to believe it when I’m thirty thousand feet away from my old life.”

“Then we’ll stay at thirty thousand feet.” I stand, move to the seat beside her. Closer. “Look down there. See how small everything looks? How insignificant?”

She leans toward the window. Our shoulders touch. I don’t move away.

“That’s your old life,” I continue. “Mark. Your father. Everyone who ever made you feel small. From up here, they’re nothing. Irrelevant.”

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Chapter 41

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“And what are we?” she asks quietly.

Everything. You’re everything.

“We’re the ones flying above it all,” I say. “Building something they can’t touch. Creating something extraordinary.”

She turns to look at me. We’re close now. Too close. I can count the gold flecks in her amber eyes. Can smell her perfume, the jasmine one that’s been driving me insane for months.

“Aidan…”

Christine appears with dinner menus. The moment shatters.

“We’ll be serving dinner in thirty minutes,” she says. “Mr. Storm, your usual preferences are noted. Ms. Stark, is there anything you’d like specifically?”

Lila looks at the menu. “This is… this is a full restaurant menu.”

“We have a full galley,” I explain. “Christine can prepare anything you’d like. Within reason.”

“Anything?”

“Anything.”

She studies the options. “The sea bass sounds incredible. With the roasted vegetables. And, is it okay if I order the chocolate soufflé for dessert?”

“It’s more than okay.” I look at Christine. “Make that two soufflés.”

“Of course, Mr. Storm.”

She disappears. Lila is looking at me again.

“What?” I ask.

“You ordered two desserts without even looking at the menu. Like it was automatic.”

“You like chocolate. Why wouldn’t I order it?”

“Because Mark used to…” She stops. Shakes her head. “Never mind. Thank you. For the soufflé. For all of this.”

“Stop thanking me for treating you like a human being.”

“I’m trying. Old habits.”

I want to say something. Want to tell her that she deserves so much more than the bare minimum. That watching her discover what she’s been denied for years is one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever experienced.

Instead, I pull out my laptop. “We should review the Lee Corporation brief before dinner. I want you

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Chapter 41

prepared for tomorrow’s meeting.”

“Right. Work.” But she’s smiling. “Back to business.”

🙂

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We spend the next hour reviewing documents. I walk her through the key players, the cultural considerations, the negotiation strategy. She asks smart questions. Takes notes. Absorbs everything.

But I’m distracted. Hyperaware of her proximity. The way she tucks her hair behind her ear when she’s concentrating. The way she bites her bottom lip when she’s thinking. The way her knee occasionally brushes against mine and she doesn’t move away.

Dinner arrives. The sea bass is perfect. The wine is excellent. We talk about the trip, about Singapore, about everything except the elephant in the cabin.

The fact that we’re alone. Together. For five days.

The fact that every moment we spend together makes it harder to maintain professional distance.

The fact that I’m falling for her and have no idea what to do about it.

Dessert comes. The chocolate soufflé is exactly as good as I remembered. Lila takes a bite and actually moans.

“This is the best thing I’ve ever tasted,” she says.

I could make you say that about other things, I think. Immediately push the thought away.

Professional. This is professional.

“Singapore has incredible food,” I say instead. “We should explore the hawker centers. Street food there is world-class.”

“You’re going to take me to street food?”

“Why not? Some of the best meals I’ve had were from folding tables on the street.”

She’s looking at me with something like wonder. “You’re full of surprises.”

“So are you.”

After dinner, I show her the bedroom in the back. “You should sleep. We land at 8 AM local time. That’s a full day ahead. You’ll want to be rested.”

“What about you?”

“I’ll work for a bit. Sleep later.”

“Aidan, you need to rest too…”

“I’m fine. I’ve done this flight a hundred times. I know how to manage the jet lag.” I gesture to the bedroom. “It’s all yours. There are pajamas in the closet, toiletries in the bathroom. Anything you need.”

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Chapter 41

She hesitates. “This feels wrong. You should take the bedroom. You’re the CEO…”

“And you’re my guest. Take the bed, Lila. That’s an order.”

She smiles. “Yes, sir.”

The words send heat through me. I clear my throat. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.”

She disappears into the bedroom. I return to my seat, pull out my laptop, try to work.

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I last approximately fifteen minutes before I’m just staring at the screen, thinking about Lila sleeping twenty feet away.

This was a mistake. Bringing her on this trip. Spending five days in close quarters. Every moment makes it harder to pretend this is just business.

But I couldn’t not bring her. Couldn’t stand the thought of making this trip alone. Couldn’t imagine Singapore without her.

I close my laptop. Look out at the darkness. Somewhere below us is the Atlantic Ocean. Somewhere ahead is Singapore. Five days. Just the two of us.

Five days to either maintain control or lose it completely.

I don’t know which one scares me more.

The cabin is quiet except for the engine noise. I should sleep. Should prepare for tomorrow. Should do anything except sit here thinking about amber eyes and jasmine perfume and the way Lila looked at me when I told her she was meant for extraordinary things.

My phone buzzes. Text from Marcus: Singapore confirmed. Lee Corporation team expecting you 2 PM tomorrow. Hotel accommodations set. Good luck.

Hotel accommodations. Separate rooms, obviously. I made sure of that. Two suites on different floors.

Professional. Appropriate. Safe.

So why does the thought of separate rooms feel wrong?

I set my phone down. Close my eyes. Try to sleep.

And wonder what Singapore will bring, success or disaster, triumph or catastrophe, the beginning of something or the end of everything.

All I know is that whatever happens in the next five days will change everything.

I just don’t know if I’m ready for it.

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