When Katrina and Don Santini tied the knot of marriage, it was a whirlwind romance that ended in a bitter divorce. Now, years later, they've both become successful in their own fields. But when their businesses start to falter, they're forced to come together to save them both. The contract they sign binds them together in more ways than one, and as they work to salvage their companies, their old feelings start to resurface. Can they make peace with their past and move forward together, or will their history be too much to overcome? As Katrina and Don begin to work together to save their businesses, they find themselves struggling to keep their feelings in check. The tension between them is palpable, and it threatens to derail their efforts. But as they spend more time together, they realize that the spark between them has never truly gone out. Can they put the past behind them and start again, or will their history tear them apart once and for all? And what will happen if they give in to the feelings that are so clearly still there? What if all this company bankruptcy was planned by Don?
Chapter 1 The Past Comes Knocking
Katrina was filled with dread and uncertainty, her mind racing with all the possibilities of what might happen next. Her body felt tense, her muscles frozen, as if she was about to spring into action at any moment. Yet she remained rooted to the spot, unable to move.
Santini's voice was like a siren song, drawing Katrina in despite her misgivings. She couldn't help but listen, mesmerized by the familiar cadence of his words. But with every sentence, her unease grew, like a dark cloud gathering on the horizon.
"I know I don't deserve your forgiveness," he said, his voice low and sincere. "But I need to tell you the truth about what happened. I need to make things right." Don said. She noticed his emaciated figure, but she couldn't lie that he was still as hot as before.
Katrina hesitated, unsure of what to say. But something about his words tugged at her heartstrings. After all, she had never stopped loving him, even after everything that had happened.
Don took a deep breath, and then he said the words that he had been dreading. "Katrina, I need your help. I need you to join your business with mine. I know it's a lot to ask, but I'm desperate. I need you." He spoke with confidence even though he felt ashamed of his past which had come to hunt him.
She couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for him.
"I'm sorry, Don," Katrina said, her voice cracking. "I can't do what you're asking. I can't risk my business. I hope you understand." She finally declined his offer which was what Don had expected from the start.
"Do you even remember me?" he asked, his voice breaking. She felt her heart harden like stone, yet beneath it all was a flood of memories of three years ago that threatened to drown her.
Don looked at her, his eyes full of sadness. "Have you really forgotten me in your heart? Is there really no space for me?" He asked dejectedly. Katrina turned away, her decision to ignore him as cold and hard as a block of ice.
As Katrina made her way back to her office, she felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. The emotional toll of seeing Don again was more than she had expected, and she found herself sinking into her chair with a deep sigh.
"Ma'am, are you feeling okay?" Selena, her secretary asked, her brow creased with concern. Katrina felt like a marble statue, cold and still, but inside, a storm raged.
Her head snapped up, and her gaze met Selena's. In that moment, she knew that her facade of composure had crumbled, leaving her exposed and vulnerable. "I'm fine," she said, her voice shaky and unconvincing. But Selena's expression told her that she wasn't buying it.
Just then, the door opened again, and Katrina's best friend, Emily, came bustling in.
Her eyes were shining with concern as she looked at Katrina.
"Katrina, what's going on? You look like you've seen a ghost." Emily said, setting her purse down and coming over to sit next to her.
Katrina glanced at Selena, who was still hovering in the doorway. "That's all, Selena. Thank you." She said, and the secretary nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her.
Katrina took a deep breath and looked at Emily. "I saw Don today," Katrina whispered, her voice barely audible.
"You saw him?" Emily exclaimed, her voice trembling with disbelief. "What happened?" she asked, her words failing to hide the worry in her eyes.
"His business is failing, and he wants to merge with mine. I think he's using this as an excuse to worm his way back into my life," Katrina sobbed, tears streaming down her face. The thought of him returning was like a dagger to her heart.
"Oh Katrina," Emily said softly, clasping Katarina's hand in hers. "I can't imagine how you must be feeling. Anger, hurt, betrayal... It's okay to feel all of it. You're not weak for having all these emotions, it just shows how strong you are. You've been through so much." Her voice was warm and comforting, like a soothing balm on Katarina's raw emotions.
Katrina's eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Emily. "I'm not sure how I'm feeling. Part of me is glad that I said no, that I didn't get caught up in his drama again. But another part of me feels like I let him down, like I should have helped him." She whispered, her voice quaking with emotion.
Emily squeezed her hand. "You did the right thing." She said, her voice gentle. "You can't save him from himself. He has to want to make a change for himself, or it won't work. Crossing with him again is a bad thing which you have to avoid."
Emily's words were measured and rational, but to Katrina, they rang hollow. Her friend's attempts at soothing her just felt like empty platitudes, failing to capture the complexity of what she was feeling. It was like trying to describe a rainbow using only black and white.
Without warning, the door flew open, causing Selena to burst into the room. Her eyes were wide with alarm, her face flushed and her breath coming in ragged gasps. "Miss Roberts, I'm so sorry to interrupt, but there's been a catastrophe," she said, her voice trembling, filled with urgency. "Some of our biggest clients has canceled their contract, and it's going to have serious repercussions for the company's finances." She sounded close to tears, her voice laced with despair.
With each word Selena spoke, Katrina's heart sank further and further. The news felt like a punch to the gut. Glancing at Emily, she saw the same look of dread reflected in her eyes. They both knew this was bad news, and that they were in for a rough time ahead.
"Wait, Miss Roberts, there's more," said Selena, her voice now tinged with delight. "I found a file on my desk, a billionaire was interested in stepping in to fill the gap left by the previous clients. The billionaire not only wants to merge his company with ours, but he's also offering to make you the CEO of the combined company. It's a win-win situation!" She exclaimed, barely able to contain her joy.
Katrina's eyes lit up as the words left her mouth. "It's a miracle!" She exclaimed, a smile spreading across her face. "Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, a new opportunity has presented itself. This could be just what we need to turn things around." She said feeling relieved from the tension slightly.
Emily nodded, hope beginning to replace the worry in her eyes. "This could be a fresh start." She said, her voice full of excitement. "We can put the past behind us and focus on the future."
Then, the two ladies looked at each other and shared a moment of understanding.
"That's incredible!" Katrina said, unable to contain her excitement. "But who is this mysterious billionaire?" She asked trying to show her gratitude to him in person.
"I was just coming to that." Selena said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a folded piece of paper. "The client's name is Don Santini." The name made Katrina's head spark. Her head felt like it was going to explode. Her stomach twisted into knots.
Katrina felt her heart skip a beat as she heard the name. "Don?" She asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Are you sure?" She asked again trying to be sure thinking Selena may have made a mistake.
Selena nodded, a knowing look on her face. "I double-checked the name. It's definitely him." The confirmation sent a chill down to Kat's spine.
Katrina felt like the world had just been turned upside down. She had thought she was done with Don and all the drama he brought into her life. And now, he was back, and he was holding the fate of her company in his hands.
It was too much to take in.
She sank into her chair, feeling as if the wind had been knocked out of her. Her mind was racing, trying to make sense of what was happening. And then, a horrible thought entered her mind. A sickening realization struck Kat like a bolt of lightning, What if this was all a ploy? What if Don had orchestrated this whole thing, just to get her back under his control? But would she make the company bankrupt because of trying to avoid her ex?
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