My Husband Chose His Ex I Became His Regret novel Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Chapter 47

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Lila

I’ve already changed outfits four times, and I’m beginning to suspect this is less about making a good impression for my job and more about the fact that Aidan kissed me last night, and now I don’t know how I should act around him anymore.

The navy dress was too formal. The cream blouse with black pants felt too casual. The charcoal shift dress was kind of boring.

Finally, I went with the wine sheath dress, professional, polished, and, coincidentally, the same color that Aidan told me one day a few weeks ago that he liked on me but I definitely did not memorize this!

Pull it together, Lila. You have a big meeting to go to in an hour!

All I can think about is how Aidan’s lips felt against mine, and how he had his fingers through my hair and pushed me up against the door as he kissed me like he was starving for it. Also, I can’t stop thinking about how he left me there, because, according to him, he wanted to make a conscious decision to choose me and not just because he was trying to make out with me.

Who says that kind of stuff? Who has that much self-control?

Apparently, Aidan Storm says that. Aidan Storm can negotiate $1 billion deals without flinching yet turns into a mushy romantic for-

My phone vibrates.

Text message from Aidan: Ready to go. We should look over the materials one final time before the car

comes.

I look down at his text. It’s 100% business. It’s exactly what Aidan would send me on most normal business days.

Except today is definitely not a normal day.

I text back: 5 min at your suite?

A: See you soon.

I grab my portfolio, check myself out. Makeup is perfect, hair is in a sleek low bun and the dress fits perfectly thanks to Margot being a miracle worker.

I feel confident & professional and not like a woman that has been thinking about a loss.

The elevator ride to the 41st floor was the longest 90 seconds of my life.

I knock on his door at 8:05am.

He opens it right away.

10:10 Wed, May 13

Chapter 47

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For forty minutes we go through every potential problem, every question they may ask of us, every objection they may raise.

But, I am having trouble concentrating. I am conscious of each time Aidan moves closer to me. Each time we touch as he uses the tablet to point something out to me. Each time he looks at me and looks at my lips before he catches himself.

“Are you listening to what I am saying?” he finally asks.

“I am.”

“What did I just tell you about the manufacturing schedule?”

I didn’t hear a thing he said. “Something about.. Phased integration?” I guess.

He sets the tablet down in front of him, turns his entire body toward me, and says, “We cannot continue to pretend that nothing happened. Pretend that I didn’t kiss you last night. Pretend that we can just go back to normal.”

“You were the one that said we’d have to wait…” He knows I was being serious with that comment and frowns while rubbing his hair out of his face.

“I meant it…but right now, sitting here with you and trying to think of work while my mind is only on how this four days is going to be impossible.”

“What do we do then?”

“We need to be professional and complete this deal before the four days are up and…” His phone vibrates as he receives a text. “Our car is here; we need to go.”

Walking into the Lee Corporation executive conference room today is a very heavy and intimidating experience for me. All twelve of the executive team members including with William Lee at the head on one of the long sides of the table, his two brothers are sitting at each end of that side and the eight other executives too whom I don’t know are watching us with intense scrutiny.

“Mr. Storm, Ms. Stark. Welcome,” William states formally and gestures to the two seats opposite him to begin. Aidan has taken the lead in the meeting as he is very much in ‘business mode’ as he has been during previous meetings. However, he is different today; he is very much the alpha. He walks those assembled through the technical specifications with lightning precision, answers every complex question posed to him without a moment of hesitation, and completely owns the room with his commanding persona.

I’m watching Aidan and taking notes as I watch him go through his presentation so that I can absorb as much knowledge as possible.

While I am taking in a ton of knowledge from Aidan’s presentation, I have also noticed several things about him that I don’t believe I should have been noticing. For example, how his jaw tightens up at a critical moment in his presentation when he is emphasizing an important point, how he taps his fingers once on the table while he is thinking of what he is going to say next, and how he looks at me from across the room to see if I am following along with whatever point he is making.

“Ms. Stark”, suddenly states Robert Lee. “You have yet to say a word throughout this presentation but what are your thoughts on the cultural integration?”

10:10 Wed, May 13 N

Chapter 47

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At this point, I am literally the centre of attention in the room as all of the executives turn their heads towards me. Aidan’s face reflects no emotion whatsoever, but I perceive the faintest of nods, so I know I am going in the right direction. “Cultural integration is typically the toughest aspect to any merger,” I explain. I stand up and walk over to the projection screen and pull up the slide I prepared for this presentation. “Cultural integration, however, is also an essential element to all mergers. We are not only merging the two businesses, but we are merging the philosophies of the two companies, the work styles of the two companies, and the communication patterns of the two companies.”

As I go through our cultural integration strategy, I discuss how we will respect Lee Corporation’s already existing culture, while at the same time integrating the innovations of Storm Industries, how we will manage the transition of employees from one company to the other, and how we can maintain Lee Corporation’s success while enhancing it.

Robert continues to nod, James is writing notes, and even William appears to be impressed by what I am sharing.

Just before I sit back down, Aidan’s hand brushes against my back as I walk past him. Brief, hidden, but a silent, “great job.”

We continued with the meeting for approximately four hours. There was intensive discussion, with topics including: technical specifications, financial estimates, and timelines.

I participated only when asked. For the most part, I studied Aidan, trying to learn how he answered difficult questions, responded to objections, and when it was appropriate to push and when to yield.

He is brilliant; absolutely brilliant! It is breathtaking to see him work… like an artist.

We both return to our respective seats; the presentation resumes. But at this point, I have become hyper aware of my surroundings. I’ve now picked up on every glance sent from him to me. Every time our legs touch beneath the table and all of his attention is shifting between the Lee executives and me.

This is not good- we’re engaged in what is probably the most critical business meeting of this business trip and all I can think about is how desperately I want to be kissed again.

Stay focused Lila…be professional.

At long last, after what feels like another eternity, William Lee stands.

“Thank

“Thank

you Mr. Storm, Ms. Stark, for such a thorough job,” he says.

you, Mr. Storm, Ms. Stark. This has been very thorough.”

“We’re prepared to move forward immediately,” Aidan says. “If you’re ready to finalize terms…”

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