Marrying My Ex for Revenge

e, I was in a wedding dress an

tanding in

ps. Starts again.

ension in his shoulders, the way his f

acts scattered across my desk. The Yamamoto deal

eave me at

word sit there. "I

a. Pl

st. I built walls specifically to keep that tone from reac

e still find

mid-signature. It's been five years sin

e-blue eyes, sharp jawline, bro

now. Lines that weren't there before.

him screams succe

t his

ok-" he

ures expensive, actually. So unless you're here to acqui

to mar

a sip. Another. Set the cu

I l

still laughing. "I t

d

an back in my cha

es

my eyes. "Actually, let's not. I have things to do,

le

refully. "Heart attack. Last week. I sent

aw ti

will. Very specific requirem

e. "Something about... oh, what was her name? The girl from

ght? Or is there a different Elena Sinclai

id you

ndolences. Asking if I'd received any interesting correspondence lately. V

know he wa

ntrol your life from a grave instead of a corner office? Because from where I'm st

t's

l run

I deserved tha

ngs. An answer to your pr

ltar while whispers rippled through the cathedral like a virus. The growing

nue. "What exactly are you proposing? An

favor." He steps closer, and I catch his cologne-Tom Ford Oud Wood. The same scent that

t say 'whate

es

at do y

y. Everything my father sp

Mon

A cha

d a wife. I'm the only option that satisfies the terms. This isn't about se

's

"Five years ago, I would have given anything to hear you say you wanted to marry me. I waited at

le

. And the only thing that's ch

iel lights up the screen; Can't stop thinkin

eeps up

message sit there on my de

s," I say, still

yth

e before yo

e th

en, where, what we do. You'll court me p

es

loser. "I'm seeing someone.

ckers with d

at his jokes. Let him hold my hand. Kiss

into fists. "

s I decide

d t

compete for something you already had and thre

ghs.

it cl

prob

pers ready by morning. Sign them. Every page

tare at each other. The

s the screen. I pick it up without

m. Soft. "Tonight? I've been

Adrian

Can't wait." Paus

ang

unting down the hours. Send. Set it down where Adrian can

athing has changed. The way his fingers have stopped

erst

r. Stops with his hand

ha

nk y

s anything but business." I meet his eyes. "You nee

e door. Pauses. "Whateve

ave. I have a d

oor c

victory and the ghost of his

explaining everything to her while I

e, Sofia w

of

ying with f

O. I know how

ever made you cry. And now you've invited him back with instructions

sti

e meetin

ndle Adri

feel nothing while he feels everything. And honey, you've

iffere

re you just be

lands harder

I need to get r

le

ll you t

re she can point out the obvious flaw in my plan

fair. I know I don't deserve a second chance. But I'm going to

e message for

hover over

it might make you wish it had. Send.

nner. Catch my reflection in the wi

and armor and five years of scar tissue, something

mple. Make him suffer. Mak

for the elevator, I realize the

. I'm making us both compete with

o-year-old self, still

are we really fighting for-each other, or just t