My Husband Chose His Ex I Became His Regret novel Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Lila

Many years ago, I figured out that Mark Knight liked when people feared him…

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So, as I strolled into the restaurant that Mark had chosen, an upscale, quiet establishment that was buzzing with people, I wore fear on my sleeves.

He was waiting for me.

Of course he was.

He usually arrives early. He does this so he can intimidate everyone else in the room before they get the chance to step into it. He sat at a table near the window with his coat hung neatly on the chair next to him. his phone face down on the table between us, daring it to make an interruption.

As soon as he saw me, his gaze sharpened.

There wasn’t relief. There wasn’t concern.

There was just possession.

“You’re late,” he said.

I purposely flinched.

“I… traffic,” I said, and I clutched my purse tightly as I slipped into the chair in front of him.

Mark’s gaze roamed over my body in appraisal. He measured me. He looked for any weakness in me.

Great.

Let him find it.

“Sit up straight,” he said in a voice no one else could ever hear.

I immediately sat up straight, my spine snapping rigid.

At that moment, something dark and very pleased crossed over his face.

“Now,” he said as he folded both of his hands together, “tell me exactly why you were with Aidan Storm last night.”

My breath caught. I lowered my gaze.

“He…he contacted me to meet with him,” I said. “I had no idea who he was at first.””

Mark chuckled softly. There was absolutely no humor in Mark’s voice. “Don’t insult me, Lila. You’re not that stupid.”

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Chapter 9

I swallowed. “The said he wanted to help ine Help me with work I never thought

“That is your biggest problem,” Mark snapped. “You never think.

I sank back in my seat, curling into myself

The silence continued to grow.

Mark leaned back in his seat and intently and thoroughly studied me as if I were a puzzle that had already been solved by him.

“You’re just pathetic.” He said, “You’re running towards a guy immediately he spares you a glance.”

“I didn’t run. I promise.”

He suddenly leaned forward. He dropped his voice in a very soft tone. “Do you know who Aidan Storm is?”

I shook my head.

“He is a guy who ruins businesses for fun,” Mark said, “A guy like that isn’t going to help a girl like you without

a reason.”

“I will not see him again, I will not,” I promised very quickly.

This was what he wanted to hear.

He relaxed his shoulders somewhat.

“Good,” he said, “Just because I’m divorced from you does not mean that you are free.”

His words hit like a punch..

I stopped cold.

“I have invested too much in you for you to make me look stupid right now,” He kept talking in a quiet, calm voice, “You are still my wife until the divorce is finalized, and after that…”

He looked at me with a hard stare.

“I’ll be watching where you go.”

I felt my chest tighten and said, “Watching where…?”

“You think you can suddenly start going places? Seeing people?” he scoffed. “No. You don’t get to act single just because I got tired of you.”

“I did not mean to…”

He held up his hand to cut me off. “You will let me know everywhere you go, and the people that you see, and you are to inform me immediately if Aidan Storm contacts you again.”

15:17 Tue, May 12

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“Okay.”

He smiled to me. “See That was not hard.”

He reached at ross and gripped my wrist firmly, but not painfully, on purpose

“I ala, do not forget your place.” He said in a quiet, soft voice. “You do not belong to Aidan Stormy world

I nodded with watery eyes. There was something cold and unmoving inside of me.

At that moment, he was finished with me.

“Good.” he said as he looked at his phone. “I knew you would see it my way.”

Then he turned and left without waiting for me.

He never does.

I sat for some time after he left staring down at the spot where he had laid his hand, my skin crawling.

The waitress came up to me cautiously, “Would you like to order something?”

I shook my head.

Outside my knees nearly gave way when the door of the diner closed behind me. I stood on the sidewalk inhaling deeply through my nose and exhaling slowly until the rapid beating of my heart slowed down.

I retrieved my cell phone from my pocket.

I hesitated for a second before typing.

He thinks I am afraid. He thinks he’s in control.

A few seconds after I sent my text about three dots appeared on my screen.

Aidan: Good.

I didn’t smile.

However, I walked away feeling like at least I had finally done what I felt was necessary.

The next morning, Storm Industries stood before me like a challenge carved in glass and steel.

I stood in the middle of the street for what seem a very long time, staring at the building as the many people entered and exited, some with much confidence and purpose, all dressed well and looking as if they belonged

there.

I did not belong there.

At least not yet.

15:17 Tue, May 12

Chapter 9

The inside of the building was extremely modern, with lots of straight lines and most of all, i did not show unnecessary or frilly decorations and furnishings, and had no wasted space, just lots of efficiency that looks good.

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Aidan was inside the building when I entered. He was not in his office but rather he was in a large conference room that had all glass walls which overlooked the building.

He didn’t get up when I walked into the room,I saw him looking at me as I moved toward him with an expression I couldn’t quite read on his face until he said, “You saw him.”

“Yes.”

“And”

“He thinks I’m weak. That I’m still his and I’m afraid.”

That seemed to amuse him; his lips turned up in the corners, almost like he was smirking.

“You have a folder in front of you,” he said and placed it down on the table between us.

It was a larger folder.

“This isn’t just a job offer, Lila,” he said to me.

I sat down slowly.

“It’s a contract.”

He pushed it across the table to me.

“You’ll work under me publicly, Lila. Not as an assistant.”

I opened the folder.

I couldn’t make sense of all of the fine print; the legal terminology, conditions and obligations; however. some of the terms jumped out at me.

Protégé.

Business partner.

Public presence.

I caught my breath.

“I will pay for your transformation,” he continued, “including your education, training, image, access…everything Mark Knight denied you.”

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