These men never hesitated to call me when something had gone awry in their branches, or if they needed advice about what to do in their personal lives. A few had contemplated divorce when they got distracted from overeager younger women who were chasing after them and demanding they separate from their wives. That particular problem was wholly common around wealthy businessmen who got easily caught up with a young beauty who was ready to bend to their will as long as they supplied them with an allowance.
When I received those calls, them telling me they had left their wives and had moved out of their home, I usually tried to tell them to take it slow and let the sudden urge run its course before making such a drastic measure as divorcing their wives and abandoning their children in lieu of the new thrill they had found.
Some might think it was unethical of me to secretly intrude on their marital affairs; however, I believed men sometimes—most of the time—failed to think rationally before throwing caution to the wind. Men had a major tendency to become stupid. However, these were good, hard working men, and they simply needed a good reality check that other men could very well take their place if they carelessly and willingly threw their family away because of a young arse waltzing into their lives who was willing to please their sexual desires.
Therefore, testing their decisions, I would secretly hire an actor or two to pursue the neglected wife in a harmless fashion. Taking them out to dinner or occasionally being there to listen to their woes would do the trick. Once the strayed husband got a whiff of the news, something would instantly click, and in a matter of days, they would plead back in, wanting to reconcile and make amends for their sins.
The intrusive trick usually patched things for them, and if it did the trick, I knew it was worth it, because I truly believed good management started in a loving home. A good working man always had a good woman supporting him in the background. It allowed for me to feel secure that the company branches scattered all over the globe were safe and being run by men who could truly focus on what was at hand and what was needed to improve. Those appointed men were specifically chosen by myself, knowing they had the potential to make it work and succeed in the global field.
Claude Bonnet was looking at me expectantly, and I merely frowned at him. I hadn’t caught what he was asking.
“Beg your pardon, Claude?” I kindly asked.
“I was asking if your scheduled visit to Montreal next month is still taking place.”
Christ, that was next month? It had slipped my mind. “Of course. If there are any changes, we’ll call ahead of time. My secretary will be in touch with yours in regard to my arrival.”
The rest of the men then started to discuss the women I had dated in the past, wondering who I’d take as my companion on my travels. Little did they know that I was married, although I wasn’t ready to openly admit that. It was a temporary arrangement; subsequently, I didn’t see the need to broadcast it.
Zoning out of their conversation, I finished the half-filled wine glass just as something caught my attention through my peripheral vision. In the far corner of the restaurant was the cozier, “intimate” section, and there sat Ava. Sitting across from her was her newly divorced husband who was holding onto her outstretched hand on the table while both of his thumbs caressed her skin as they engaged in what appeared to be a very deep conversation.
The unforgettable feeling of my blood pressure spiking up rushed into my head and into my beating heart as if I was having a heart attack. My chest started to hurt like mad, yet I couldn’t tear my gaze off the intimate ex-couple.
We were barely past day one, and my wife was out seeing her ex-husband. Great, just bloody fucking great. Though Ava appeared to be calm, engrossed in the conversation, her body language didn’t seem overly eager to be near him. That was splendid; still, I wasn’t simply going to sit here and let the bastard have a chance at winning her back. I was done dealing with him, and I’d best get a move on if I wanted him gone and banished from our lives.
I muttered an excuse to call someone and strode towards their table as I flexed my hand, wondering what I was going to do next. Then, when I heard her infectious laugh, I almost lost it. Right there. In the middle of a restaurant during lunch rush.
Before reaching their table, Ava caught sight of me making my way towards them, and she immediately looked like a deer caught in the headlights before drastically pulling her hand away and hiding it underneath the table.
God, why does she look so guilty? I started to worry, but upon reaching them, Ashton’s dastardly attitude irked me the wrong way.
“Do you not see that you’re interrupting a private conversation, Chambers?” he snapped at me, infuriated.
I had a second or two to decide what to do. I could very well make a scene to prove a point, or I could walk out of there and figure this out later on. Better yet … yeah, the third option was much better.
Directing my gaze at Ava, I controlled the simmering jealousy that ricocheted through me. “You have three minutes to wrap this up. I’ll be waiting for you outside, lovely wife of mine.”
Unblinking, I didn’t pay a glance to either of them before I walked out the door, straightening my tie as I took out my car keys. Thank goodness I had driven today because I needed some time alone with Ava to discuss her lunch date. Taking my phone out, I texted Grant to tell the rest that I had to dash and take care of something rather important and will see them back at the office in an hour’s time.
Checking my watch, I noted the time as I kept glancing at the doors, waiting for her hasty exit. Two minutes had passed, and she wasn’t coming. The back of my neck became heated while my body tensed, debating what to do next if she didn’t come out as I had demanded.
Ten seconds past the three minutes, she breezily walked out the door, scouting for any sign of me. The instant she spotted me, she immediately looked away, her eyes downcast as she made her way towards me.
“Get in,” I said as I opened the door for her. Once she was inside, I closed it before rounding the car to get into the driver’s seat.
I didn’t glance towards her as she sat quietly, withdrawn. I started the engine, and it roared angrily, as if making it known how powerful it was. Driving a powerful sports car that could cruise up to four hundred kilometers an hour had its advantages when one was in a rush and trying to avoid traffic.
I wasn’t sure where I was heading, but I needed to drive swiftly until I could find the perfect spot to talk to her without being too far from the office. After all, I still had a meeting to attend to in an hour’s time.